HONOR TRIVMPHANT OR The Peeres Challenge by Armes defensible at Tilt Turney and Barriers In Honor of all faire Ladies and in defence of these foure positions following 1. Knights in Ladies seruice haue no free-will 2. Beauty is the mainteiner of valour 3. Faire Lady was neuer false 4. Perfect Louers are onely wise Mainteined by Arguments ALSO The Monarches meeting OR The King of Denmarkes welcome into England Tam Mercurio quam Marti AT LONDON Printed for Francis Burton 1606. To the most noble Lord the Duke of Lennox his grace First Position Knights in Ladies seruice haue no free-will To the Right Honorable the Earle of Arundel Second Position Beauty is the mainteiner of valour To the Right Honorable the Earle of Pembrooke Third Position Faire Ladie was neuer false To the Right Honorable the Earle of Mountgomery Fourth Position Perfect louers are onely wise To the Rightly Honourable and truely worthy Ladies the Countesse of Pembrooke and the Countesse of Mountgomerie MOST EXCELLENT LADIES Where perfect honour is ennobled with accomplisht perfection Beauty is not scant which euermore is the glorious shrine of honourable fauour else had I misconceited mine owne hopes and beene grauelled in mine own conceipts but my strong confidence is my confident warrant neither can ye distast that which explanes but what is done for you what is done by yours If the pleasure ye shall take in the Defenders who are yours by the defence which is for you be great then the acceptance cannot be lesse in reading the reasons for that defence especially being to you deuoted and onely to you deuoted What defects and weakely mainteyning arguments in the arguments there are your protection shal wipe off and the trueth it selfe which needes no lustre chiefly priuiledge I affect no singularity I boast no affectation yet can I not freeze in the one when I am temperately heated with the other To whom noble Countesses should I dedicate the ornaments of loue and beauty but to the beautifullest ornaments worthy to be beloued Neither doubt I but as these endeauours were willingly intended so will they as gratefully bee accepted Otherwise as I hope as I feare not I will be an alien to mine owne issue as vnworthy to be christined for mine since dis-esteemed in being mine Others who oppose themselues if not by Mercury perswaded I referre to be by Mars enforced So aduenturing at once all my deserts in your like or dislike I rest Deuoted to your honourable virtues I. F. To euery sundry opinioned Reader READER I Intend not to make any tedious Apologie if thou be my friend thou wilt censure friendly if a stranger indifferently if an enemie I esteeme thee not Then thus I write not to content each cauelling braine But eyes of noblest spirits he that loues mee Will thanke my labours and commend my veyne For any others enuy least it moues mee He that will storme at euery wrongfull hate Must not referre it to desert but fate Let Ladies smile vpon my lines I care not For idle faults in grauer Censors eye On whose opinion truth it is I dare not The merit of my studies to rely Heere is the comfort which doth cheere despaire I shall be lik't not of the graue but faire Meritum rependant venustae Honor tryumphant TO THE RIGHT NOble Lord the Duke of Lennox his Grace First Position Knights in Ladies seruice haue no free-will RIGHT NOBLE LORD HOw certaine it is both by the tradition of ancient and moderne iudgements avowed that euerie man is not borne for himselfe the communitie of the sawe and the authoritie of reason shall bee a Priuiledge sufficient but how much mistaken both the Philosophers of old and later Neotorickes haue been their owne ignorance makes manifest A man say they is partly borne for his Countrey partly for his Parents partly for his friends nothing or if any thing yet least and lastly for himselfe True yet had the sensible touch of passion toucht them with the feeling of a passionate sence how much more and more truely might they haue affirmed that the chiefest creation of man was next his owne soule to doe homage to the excellent frame of beautie a woman A woman the art of nature the liuely perfection of heauens Architecture for though Man be the little world where wonder lyes yet Women are Saints aboue earth's Paradise For what is he who is so absolute a Lord of himselfe so powerfull in his owne power so free of his owne affections as being ensnared in the pleasing seruitude of a gracious beautie can or durst to vndertake any occasion of remisnesse but his own hart wil be the first guilty accuser of his owne folly and his sincere repentance doe pennance in the language of griefe in the griefe of despaire Againe what is he then that being free from this captiued happinesse of loue as it were disdaining to stoope to the bondage of beautie will not at length feele the miserie of his scorne and be scorned in the wracke of his miserie besides may hee not be desperate of his owne merit to thinke himselfe the onely exiled abiect banished from out the acceptance of a Ladies fauour as also his owne vnworthinesse which cannot deserue so delicious a blessing say then such a one be entertained as a happie seruant to a more glorious mistresse how soone how much is his owne free rule of himselfe indeered to the commaund of a precious Goddesse neither then hath he neither is it meet he should haue any more domination ouer his owne affections Mars throwes downe his weapons and Venus leads him captiue the lustre of her eyes and the glorie of her worth are of such vnresistable a force as the weaknesse of his manhood or the aptnesse of his frailtie are neither able to endure the ones reflection or withstand the others temptation how then must he yeeld true not to captiuitie but freedome for to bee captiued to beautie is to bee free to vertue who would not put of an armour of hard steele and turne from his enemies to be enchained in pleasure and turne to a lady in a bed of soft down foolish hardinesse is hardened foolishnesse when securest loue is the loueliest securitie Loue once was free from loue and had a will To play the wanton wag he strooke full many And tooke delight soft thoughts of ease to kill Yet he himselfe was neuer spoyid of any Loue carelesse would go walke when by a groue Loue saw a Nymph when straight Loue fell in loue Cupid with Psiches fell in loue whose beauty Dazled the lustre of his wandring eye Forcing his heart deuote obsequious duty Vnto the wonder of her diety Herein was Cupid blind who els could see Loue now captiu'd his heart which earst was free Loue hath no power ere he gaine his rest But to impawne sweare promise and protest Alas what is it then that men in bed Will not vow vrge to gaine a maiden head Which being got they euer after stand
what armes on the behalfe of iustice doth maintaine and rightly maintaine that merely of it selfe Beauty is the maintainer of Valour TO THE RIGHT HONOrable the Earle of Pembroke Third Position Faire Ladie was neuer false RIGHT HONORABLE THe temperature of the mind follows the temperature of the bodie Which certaine axiome sayes that sage Prince of Philosophers Aristotle is euer more infallible Then doe not I a little maruell what arrogant spleen of malediction with teeth of iuyceles enuie durst to detract frō the worthines of Beauty terming it a particular blessing bestowed for a more general curse Terming it fickle deceitfull incōstant when if the sawes of authority be authēticall nothing can be more precious nothing in it selfe so vertuous Faire Ladie was neuer false Oh sayes some curious impostor Euge hominem a goodly theame much witt no doubt expected few proofes produced who will not sweare the contrary who will not beleeue the contrarie as his Creed vaine fondlings as many as so beleeue doubtlesse shall be so deceiued and doe penance for their errour in the gall of their distrust For if the temperature of the mind follow the temperature of the bodie text it is then without controuersie as the outward shape is more singular so the inward vertues must be most exquisite Nature is but the handmayd to heauen Beautie is the rarest workemanship of Natures power So questionlesse where the hand maid of heauen hath imparted her art the blessings of the Gods are plentifully abounding Neither will they make that lame which nature hath framed perfect For why can falshood lye hidden vnder the raritie of fairnesse no more than vice can lurke vnder the plumes of vertue which is meerely impossible Beautie is but a faire Inne to lodge more fairer guests within It is but the liuely colour of an excellent tasting wine It is the greatest good in it selfe that heart of humanitie can wish for If deformitie be the dreg's and scum of earths disgrace if it be as it is the curse of the Parents transgression layd vpon the child then contrarily must beautie be the immediate testimonie of heauens fauor why were people in times past called Giants Monsters but for the vgly appearance of their shapes Neither were they in body so mishapen as in conditions odious So then euen in them it is manifestly verified that foulest enormities harbour in fowlest formes then it followes that firmest vertues are shrowded in the fairest complexions Some indeed oppose an argument that Beauty of it selfe is a great good but the abuse most wretched common Yea so common that the very face of beautie is a presumption yea more a warrant of inconstancie to such is easily replyed Such abuse proceeds not from perfect beautie but from the adulterate counterfeit of beautie art Of this nature are those that being intemperately wanton striue with artificiall cunning to couer the defects of nature For true beautie as it is of it selfe a good so is it in it selfe simple innocent and harmelesse Into which no thought of vnkindnesse can penetrate and being once subiect to loue can neuer will neuer be tempted to loosnesse O strange sayes one oh heresie cries another palpably false falsely absurd do not Poets the pillars of your folly affirme that Venus forsooth your only Deity of your passions the queen of your thoughtts the boast goddesse of your loues was absolutely false to her husband else had Cupid been vnborne Aenoeas vnbegotten And yet lady was neuer faire false was not Helen of Greece made a Troian stale a scorne to posterities whose verie name is ominous to cuckolds Do not all chronicles of antiquity shew not only that the faire but the fairest haue prooued lightest and yet faire ladie was neuer false True the Poets say so who being thēselues lasciuiously addicted thought it great inhumanity at least iniurie that Beautie should be ingrost to the proper vse of one alone man Besides if Poets are to be credited Venus was a Goddesse not framed by nature but yssuing from the Gods therfore aboue humane apprehension Poets speak truth to warrant their writs and so was Venus faire they deuise fictions to approoue their wits so was she immodest with this Caueat that she was Venus was a troth that she was trothles a fiction Also Helen was counted faire because many affected her procur'd by her enticing wantones inuiting allurements Curteous I thinke she was therfore beloued faire neuer for then not fickle Indeed I acknowledge old writers being themselues past the youth of loue sunke into dotage haue inueighed against the dignity of that sex not vpon knowledg but mere supposition deming that because the worst are haunted of the worst for their lewdnes condemne the fairest for being faire as the principall inchantment Now so much differēce is there betwixt the wantō the faire as the wantō may be beloued but the faire wil not be wanton It is to be supposed that such as inclined to the loose ficklenesse of change are not of that excellent temper oftrue bewty because then they knowing their own merit as women of that nature do wold be by how much the more noted by so much the more tender of the preseuatiō of their honors report And somewhat precizely pardon troth prize their own value Scire tuū nihilest nisi te scire hoc sciat alter To be faire not admired is as a hiddē minerall yet to be admired not preserue that admiratiō is an vnvalued indignity But as ladies are fair so are they wise as they are both faire and wise constant Alas most know many fele that bewty is not easily woed to loue many bitter conflicts of oppressed griefs are to be indured ere they are won to listē to affection And at length being persuaded they were not so obdurat before to be sued to as they are now most constant in their loues most sincerely firme to their choice Experience teacheth it that stele is not soon hot yet being once fired is lesse easily cooled An exāple or two shal warrant the credit of the rest who could bee more industrious to his ladie thā Theseus was in gaining Ariadne who being conquered was euer most fast to him though iniuriously yea perfidiously forsaken of him Portia so inderely reuerenced Cato as she would for his preseruatiō swallow coles Alcest wold die for Admetus And Penelope the mirror of the Greeke matrons both for constancy Bewty wold neuer falsify her faith to Vlisses I my self shuld account such proofs inconuenient did not the proofe of my defence rely vpon former instances compared both with present latter times Diana renowned for beauty was more renowned for chastity insomuch as singularly truly fairest ladies cōtended to be her nymphs if trust to writers may be attributed rara praeclara according to the prouerbe that the fairest are the fairest that is the best best to be estemed what is more to be vrged for the
ratifying our maintenance but the exterior beauty is assurance of the interior quality To answere to euery vain obiection that some more nice wits only seeming witty in censure and misconstruction is not here intēded as fronti nulla fides the ficklenes of Cresseida the mutability of some Lais let it suffice they are fictions nugatory inuectiues of deseruingly abused poets or repulsed Annalogers ridiculous in the vnderstanding of the wise contēptible in the perseuerance of vnderstanding It is euen as impossible for ladies of quaintest formes to incline to thoughts of trothles impudēcy as for monsters of deformity to produce effects of vertue Needs there any other demōstration thē the admirable almost incredible ornament of chastity Lucrece the Roma dame the paragon of those times the mirror of those daies for rauishing perfectiō of beauty harmeles vnspotted Lucrece who did withstand lust to the eternizing her honor monumented her rape with extremity of death who is he to obstinate in his errour so wilful in his madnes so mad in his erronius wilfulnes as would not euen in the glas of Lucresias perseuerāce euē to the vttermost extinct of life se the wōder of bewty matched with the indiuiduat adiūct vnsoyled constancy Constantia est gemella venustatis indiuidua Three particularities there are that stand firme for this position examples already alledged approbation of iudgment newly rehearsed and ground of troth now to be verefi'de verefi'de said I the self assurance of the subiect is a testimony most probable if vice be the nourisher of vice vertue must be the effect of vertue that is sincerely a vertue which is a good that good is Beauty so herein fictions comprehēd truth as forma bonum yet ere I wade further be grauel'd in the ouze and quick sand of my own intention I am for the clearing of such as may misconceite my drift to make an Apology for my defence neither by my iust iustification of an apparant verity the wanton shall taxe my indeuours as ridiculous knowing their own imperfections nor challenge this as a due belonging to the encouragmēt of their lenity I confesse blush that occasion should be ministred of confession that many there are whose bewitching lookes drawe youth into folly and age into dotage rather madnes too many there are whose smooth counterfeit in the indiseretion of virility may passe for Beauty when the counterfeiters are so mutable as they are neither euer their own or euer certaine any on 's yea euen in great personages this loosnesse is an imboldning to the meaner rather a presidēt to the worst of offending the greatnes of their estates I speake of some that haue beene bolstereth out the cōmunity of licentious immodesty whose shames were they enameled in the tableture of their foreheads it would be a hideous visour to more deformed cōplections more enormious conditions Such there are who vnder the abhomination of luxury nicely termed kindnes import the pretexted glosse of beauties name to such are also mercenarye slaues intimated seruants against whom although my purpose is not to inueigh yet doe I here exclude thē frō out the assotiation of the faire let those be false beautifull they are not In thē the tēperature of the body follows the tēperature of the mind not the temperature of the mind the temperature of the body Of whom the philosopher insisteth As I said before so I here avow that the error of their enchanting amyablenes bewitcheth their adherents who being ensnared in the nets of their lasciuiousnes esteeme that prime beauty which they thēselues deliciously enioy For as the loose haue no substāce but fading art to attract so the excellētly faire haue no falshood to be soyled no cunning to beguile no visor to delude They are doues without gals swans without spots fawnes without spleene they are simple will not be trained faire cannot be tempted they are the pure colour of white without staine whose delicate eares by prophaned tongues may bee enforced to heare ill but whose vnmoued breasts by the fond cannot be enflamed to consent to il Herein are the bewtiful said to be Angels on earth for that as they exceed others in wonder of beauty so they excell all other in graces of vertue it shall not be amisse to answere to the maleuolent will of some witty maleuolent detractors Aduerse Women ô they are fickle falling starres Tydes in their ebbes Moones euer in the wayne Frost in the thawe saint hearted in the wars Of constancy yet constant in disdaine Women ô they are creatures most vnholly Borne for a scourge to men and curbe to folly Mulieri ne credas ne mortuae quidem Proofe Women why they are fixed lamps of heauen Shining bright lustre to the hearts of men Firme diamonds and faire bright lookes hearts euen Constant in scorne of motions where and when Princes for ladies praise haue fell at odds They are of men ador'd belou'd of Gods The highest blessing that to earth's vncommon Is mans perfection soule of life a woman Dijs compares foeminae Euery faire lady is louely but euery louely ladye is not faire so then the louely may be fickle but the faire cannot be inconstant what should I more say and yet what haue I saide that is inough what that can bee too much and yet is not to much since the only experiēce of the subiect cōmendeth his own worthines To such thē as credit it I wish thē a faire lady to misbeleuers infidels in loue this curse may their ladies be foule and so be loathsome yet false and repay them with the common crest 〈…〉 TO THE RIGHT Honourable the Earle of Mountgomery The fourth and last Position Perfect louers are onely wise Right Honourable PErspicax est amatorum vigilans ocellus praeuidet aduersa studet horis conuenientibus A perfect louer is neuer lesse idle then when he is idle neuer more busied then when least seriously imployed Wise seeming Censors count that labour vaine Which is deuoted to the hopes of loue When they themselues themselues much vainer proue By holding Louers labours in disdaine They haue forgot the wiles which made them tremble In heat of youth when youth their bloods did moue What wit they vse'd what teares they did dissemble Their now waxt shallow apprehensions then Were quick to see the worst wise to preuent it How they pleas'd fancie how they might content it How much their hearts differ'd from hearts of men How prouident they were to fawne to flatter To sweare vow vrge their griefe and to lament it Alas who would not doo 't in such a matter Loue makes men wise 't is not a feeling kisse That 's the true sport ther 's sport more sweet then this To which ere louers throughly doe attaine They must attend doe seruice grieue and faine For this with Ladies honours best doth fit Not to be conquered by Desire but Witt. In all ages both past and present neuer haue there beene more witty
such who doe frigescere ad ignem I do desist to inueigh against their cold spirits onely in this I hate them that I pitty them He who will striue to please each curious eye Must freeze in sdence But I care not I Let better fauours fauour mine indeuour The vulgartaunting shall affright me neuer May it please you to whom it is intended Then T' is glory to deserue though not commended Non omnibus studeo non maleuolis FINIS THE Monarchs meeting Or The King of Denmarkes welcome into England NOw had the haruest of the yeare brought forth The blessed frute of long expected hope And leueld with the toile of labours worth The crop of fatnesse to the trad's-mans scope Now were the blossomes ripened to the hand Of well deseruing sweat when all anon The mighty ruler of a peacefull land Began to take his wisht progression Calme was the sea and gentle gustes did blow A whistling gale vnto the flagges of peace Full were the streames and smooth soft tides did flow And gaue assurance of contented ease When on the bubbling beauty of fayre Thames Vrg'd by the princely loue of amitie A Christian King in state and maiestie Was entertain'd with sundry showes of games The siluer Christall streame was proud to beare The burthen of a person each way graced With all the rites of humane Loue and Feare In whose high lookes honour was liuely placed Much welcome was the tydings of this newes Vnto the royall eare of worthy Iames Preparing with all speed that speed might vse With his owne presence to ennoble Thames Looke how did Ioue salute the minor Gods Inuiting all in heauen at a feast Where no more awe was reuerenc'd no odds Betwixt his proper person and the rest So did these Princes meet in whose first meeting Ioy was aboundant in the truce of loue Each inter-changing a concordant greeting Which in the peeres of both did comfort moue Ambitious was the riuer of this honour Knowing the value of the weight she bore Grac'd that such fauour Kings bestow'd vpon her Bearing a richer burthen nere before Kings met and Kings saluted one another Eyther reioycing in the others sight Princes with Princes brother ioy'd with brother Each solacing the other with delight A goodly view of Maiestie it was To see such intimated league betwixt them They striu'd in kindnesse how they might surpasse Sporting the season which the tide prefixt them Like to a Prince in euery point aright He came and like a Prince was entertained With all the tipes of dignity bedight with all the friendship friendship could haue claimed O what a gladsome sight of ioy it is When monarches so are linkt in amitie How strengthened are those Empires with safe blisse Where two such Princes ioyne in vnitie Great both are in dominions yet more great In being vertuously religious Fresh blooming piety doth praise beget In godly zeale Let tyrants be litigious What He amongst the stoutest of contempt Full in command and fuller in disdaine Durst any threats of en'mity attempt Or to oppose himselfe against those twaine Those twaine so firmly are they matcht together So euerlastingly affectionate So indiuidually combin'd together As they loue none of both who do one hate Power with power realme with realme vnited hearts ioyn'd with hearts and hand imbrac'd in hand Should all the world of nations be excited Yet all the world could scarse those two withstand Nor is it faining shew of smooth pretext But doubtlesse troth of loue which brought him hither Let none with such suspition be perplext For then they neuer had thus come together Nor can it be suppos'd a Prince so mighty so worthy in himselfe so absolute Who hath so large a rule a charge so weighty would leaue his countrie but for meere repute Puissant is the Danish King and strong In all the sinews of approued force Valiant and able for to right the wrong That should proceed from any eager course It is no common thing seene euery day Scarce in an age to see so great a state From out his countries boundes to come away For visitation of an neighbouring mate It is no common honour that is done Vnto our happy land by his arriuing Much worth thereby and glory haue we won Our home-bred hearts with stranger loues reuiuing Two Kings in England haue beene rarely seene Two Kings for singularitie renowned The like before hath hardly euer beene for neuer were two with more honour crowned This may we boast and after times report How much the King of Denmarke grac'd our age A King of so much eminence such port By his arriuall did his loue ingage England with Denmarke Denmarke eke with vs Are firmely now in league conioyned in one Seauen Kingdomes now againe vnited thus Are strength'ned so as stronger can be none Then as a certaine and welwishing greeting We thus applaud the monarchs happy meeting HAyle Princely stemme of great magnificence Issue of royall blood who dost commence True instance of thy fast vndoubted loue And by thy comming certainely approue The pledge of peace thus low in humblest heart Regreetes vnto thy truce doe we impart With fit applause our thankes deuoutly running Giues welcome to the honour of thy comming Time cannot rase nor amity surcease Betwixt our realme and thine a long liu'd peace Whiles thoughts are vndefil'd and credit true From age to age this league will still renue And thou thy selfe great King of Danes wilt ioy Counting the hazards which thou didst imploy Daungers of thankes by tasting approbation Of spotlesse friendship with our willing nation We are not subtile French to fawne and flatter Nor Spaniards hot in shew yet cold in matter Trothlesse Italian fleeting Irish wiles Whose trust when most protesting most beguiles We deeme dishonour Germaine policies Or euer changing Indian sopperies We spurne Know we are English hating wrongs Bearing our thoughts decipher'd in our tongs Rather the sunne may in his courses alter Then we in true-meant trust our promise faulter Which of our chiefest emulating foes Can iustly taxe vs but we euer chose To die with fame then liue with infamy Purchas'd with disesteemed trechery What needs an instance rumor will auow VVe haue our troth ingrauen in our brow Who are in nature false ye free in name Are seruile slaues to feare and fooles to shame VVhat more we are thy friends and thou art our Thy loue is ours and our force thy power Long may this happy thred of faith be wouen And nere haue dissolution but with heauen Fatall and ioyous doth the knot begin Then who doth breake it first commits first sin Lo then great monarch with what words of zeale Thy comming wee imbrace and hopes reueale Of linkt coniunction prest to gratifie That loue which thou with loue dost ratifie Here speakes the clamour of a publicke voyce Which speaking all do publikely reioyce Thy safe arriuall England thankes the honour Which by thy presence thou bestowest vpon her Sounding lowd Ecchoes of thy Kingly fame And making trophees to adorne thy name The Clarions breath thy welcome Bells do ring Praise shoutes whiles all thy friends thus sweetly sing The applause Song for the King of Denmarkes arriuall IN the most happy season of the yeare When fayrest sun-shine glistered on the earth The royall King of Denmarke did appeare And tun'd the hearts of England full with mirth In goodly maiesty and princely cheere Euen in the fullest crop of haruest's birth When birdes with pleasant notes did sweetly sing To giue a hearty welcome to the King Prettily prettily With musick sweet Did Philomele merily and ioyfully and euer prettily The noble King of Denmarke greet Welcome to England Prince of high degree And all our song shall euer welcome be Our King himselfe reioyced in his sight His presence to the Court did breed delight Blithe was the country and the Citty proud Cornets with trumpets shrill did blow and lowd To welcome to our land With hearty greeting By our Kings command The Monarches meeting Which we fulfilling With loue and mindes willing Ioyn'd together Welcome hither Friendly and euer kindly The Danish King a Prince of high degree For all our song shall euer welcome bee To welcome all our notes and loue doth tend In that sence we began with that we end Cantibus carmine FINIS