This is the cause why Rome such paines doth take Her braine is lymbeck't for some queint deuice Her search doth diue into the Stygian lake Her broken strength she musters in a trice As flyes on sores or waters in a breach So are her troopes this Ile to ouer-reach AmoÌ„gst those lands which haue disclaim'd her power This land hath still maintain'd most worthy spirits Whose valour wisdom truth aloft did towre And challeng'd fame and glory for their merits As farre as Titan sends his lightsome rayes So farre the world resoundeth Englands praise How oft haue th' English curb'd the Spanish pride And vanquisht them in their owne seas and lands Who still did hope all Europe to diuide By colonies for Austria's line to stand But England onely hath them ouer-throwne And euer since their powre hath backward grown The Mid-earth sea the Indies East and West Haue seene and felt their prowesse and their force Their policie hath made them safely rest Within their bowres though Rome did them diuorce Though Spanish force and Romish curse agreed Yet England hath it selfe from bondage freed For since the Welsh all former hate did bury And loyall loue did vow to new made friends All Englands foes since that haue felt their fury And Wales like walls the English coast defends That now the Church and Vniuersities Do triumph dayly in these firme allies So now the English haue a new increase Of Northren friends in vallour like the rest So that all broyles of bordering warres must cease And now this I le may more aduance her crest What power so euer dares her Lions wake T is in their power a due reuenge to take Their bloud shall with the English bloud be matcht New bonds of loue shall cancell former hate They shall not now by fearfull eye be watcht All scorne shall dye the fuell of debate Like Gerion they shall their force vnite And loue with loue and faith with faith requite Thus from the world this once diuided I le Is now become a famous monarchie Though long it did it selfe with bloud defile Now is it crown'd with peacefull amitie Thus by the Lord of hoasts her stormes are calmed Thus are her wounds by his owne hand embaulmed Shal then earths wormes contend with heauens great king Shall flitting vagrants breake a setled peace Who for themselues a weake defence do bring Who see their Patrons power still to decrease Shall Rome declining to that height aspire To set a world within it selfe on fire Who cannot quench a flame so neere begun But yeeld to time and temporize for feare Shall others to her wayning power be wonne And on their necks this helplesse idoll beare Like to the Rocks whereon the waues do beat So are all those whom Romane curse doth threat The birds of th' aire and those caelestiall legions Which ouer vertuous Kings do alwayes houer These heare the speeches of the lower regions And to the highest will these wrongs discouer All power 's from heauen heauen will it defend And ill shall be to those that ill intend CHAP. 2. Inducement to vnitie WHen vapours moist and exhalations hotte Into the ayres mid regiment are hail'd The fierie fume cloud smoothered scornes his lott And breakes the prison where it was inthral'd Then ayery Cannons in such sort do thunder As if the firmament would cleaue a sunder So different humours on this earthly stage Send from their fantasies such store of vollies As if the world in his old wayward age Should make a rendz-vous of all his follies Yet their assaults the truth can no way scarre Nor fruitlesse passions reasons strenght can marre For Vnitie from heauen her selfe deriues And there her truest image doth remaine Who seekes her breach against himselfe doth striue And on his head his shafts returne againe Yet selfe-conceit strange paradoxes houlds As wandring Goates delight in change of foulds The first reason from the Trinity THe onely One distinct in persons three In glorious essence neuer is diuided Three Tapers light in one doe all agree And by this light th'elect to blisse are guided For mans dull thoughts heauens mysteries cannot see Except faiths windowes thence tralucent be Where quintessence of all perfections dwels How can there any difference arise Man blinde and fraile with sullen enuie swels His minde doth varie as his bodies guise Which is the cause that vnderneath the sunne There 's nothing soundly or in order done The generall Councels of the worlds great Clearkes Where publick good so fairely is pretended They are but pageants of some priuate querkes Where vice is masked and no fault amended The world growes weake and art must now sustaine What natures strength and vigor did maintaine When motions are on foote though neu'r so good And though propounders often merit praise Yet still by factions they are so with-stood That truth and right them-selues can hardly raise Some witts consent though somewhat they will adde Some witts triumph to make good causes bad But with Iehouah the true square of right The eye of truth the arme of strength and force Which sees all falshood in the darkest night And doth vprightly iudge without remorce How can their odds by any weaknesse be As man with man in strife too oft we see The second reason from the Heauens HEre is the perfect view of Vnitie To which the worthiest creatures do aspire The Heauens and Elements do mooue hereby Else to their Chaos they would soone retire If these should not their place and order keepe Men should not here on earth so soundly sleepe The circled motion of the spangled wheeles Which primum mobile about doth carry Proou's heau'ns great concord for ther 's none that reeles Out of his place or that maine course doth varie The changing Moone which earthly things presents Her course with other starres no whit preuents As maskers when they heare sweet Musick 's sound They tread their Measures by so perfect Art As if their bodies were by trauise bound Or that they were all guided by one heart So heau'ns great Orbs together runne their rings As they are charged by the King of Kings From th' Empyreall heau'n which doth imbrace The other heau'ns and all the elements All keepe true quarter teaching Adams race That they so leâ—rne to order their intents That lawfull concord they do neuer crosse Least ciuill discord bring a fatall losse The third reason from the Elements IF fire and water should their armies bring Into earths vallies they would all deuoure If ayre should from his triple station fling No creature could retaine his vitall power The earth would then her deluge plaints renew As once the borders Britaines strife did row The happiest gouernment they do obserue Which is the preseruation of the whole From this decree they neuer yet did swerue Since glistering starres carreer'd about the pole Twixt fire and water which are deadly foes The onely-wise
Th'vnlearnedst laick may the same descrie And see new fictions in these latter yeares Though rust and rest her former worth confirme Yet she to scorne all others dares presume With Protestants the Romists may not pray Although they pray as Christ himselfe hath taught Defiance they gainst hereticks must display Else with some heresie they shall be caught All other Scismaticks are miserable But Protestants are held most detestable None therefore must with Protestants conferre No bookes of controuersies they must see Rome feares the sight of these will make them erre And that a great departure there will bee Of Iewes and Greekes Rome hath no iealousies But Protestants she markes with Argus eyes Rome dreads the Protestants great constancie Their compleat armour to make strong defence With launce or Pen the Romists they will trie Their cause flies not the light nor seekes pretence They feare no force nor their intestine foes Since Truths Protector doth their plots disclose But for base fugitiues which Rome maintaines Which like the Turkish Azamoglens are For whom they 'l not their countries wrack refraine For whom against their parents they will warre But for her pardons which she doth ingrosse She had ere this beene purged from her drosse Rome doth on these Arch-policies relie She knowes that lewdnesse dayly will abound That varlets will vnto her Altars flie Where certaine expiation still is found And as for those which will dislike bewray Some renegadoes will their wrack assay The Cleargie is an huge part of each land By seuerall staires vnto one end aspiring And like eau'sdroppers in each place they stand A dissolution of each state desiring In troubled waters they desire to fish That they may serue them-selues with euery dish These by confession do each humor know And curb al thoughts which gainst themselues they find The discontent of Nobles they ore-grow Else by some fauour haughty spirits they bind None dare once stirre what ere they haue conceaued Least of their pleasures they be soone bereaued Kings mariages are made legitimate With neerest kinne against the holy Writ The lawes of Nature Rome doth violate And proudly shewes a selfe-aduancing wit Rome by her greatnesse doth her actions square And for Gods worship she takes little care The Catholick Kings feare least their titles faile Their mariages the Pope can disanull The nobles and the gentrie they do quaile With sundrie threats of which their writs are full The Friars vndertake the vulgar sort And vnto them strange stories do report These much preuaile with persons credulous And often manage secret businesse In great attempts they are not timerous And for employment still in readines In word they do austeritie maintaine Yet of their loosenesse doth each state complaine So Roman Vestals Venus disallow And with Diana seeme to haue abiding They seeme most constant in their solemne vow Yet are they famous for their oft back-sliding And by their weakenesse more they do allure Then by their constancie they could procure What euer serues to minister delight What euer may this humorous age content What obiect may giue pleasure to the sight Or to rebellious passions giue a vent All to the Romist shall auspicious be If in the Church no blemish he will see As for those Kings which stand aloofe from Rome And will not stoope vnto the Papall lure They 'r often blasted in their chiefest bloome Some bloodie Assassins Rome will procure Which will attempt some desperate enterprize Since for such acts Rome will them canonize So long she will with Princes scepters play So long she will both earth and heau'n prouoke That brooded Papists will her slights bewray Then shall she faile and vanish into smoke For kings which thought by mildnesse to appease Must then by rigour striue the heau'ns to please The bloodie Inquisition must awake The Protestants to some more strict accompt From sufferance since Romists courage take This folly they with woe should soone recount The stroke farre fetch 't doth make the deeper wound For which no cure or salue can ere be found And Britaine thou thy selfe must first acquite FroÌ„ those darke clouds which would obscure thy glory Constantine Henrie and my Iames inuite To dedicate to thee a liuing story For all these champions on thy soyle were borne Which euery where with fame will thee adorne The first was the first Emperour for Christ Which valiantly the Christians did defend The second was first King 'gainst Antichrist Which vnto Truth his helping hand did lend The last not least this Church and I le Vnites And to the Truth al Christian lands incites Great Constantine the world from idols freed Yet could he not the Christian iarres appease And Popish pride mine Henry hence did weed But scandalous rumours did his honour seaze Yet vnto these the world must fame affoord Whilst heau'ns with stars or earth with men is stor'd But Iames whose skill whose wil and zeale agree To winne the world vnto one Veritie In whome his foes no staine of honour see To wrong himselfe or his posteritie He stops the mouths of all the Stoike traine That they of nought but trifles can complaine In euery kind of knowledge he excels In Christian vertues euery Christian king His warie foresight wisedome's strength foretels Which tel-truth Time one day to light will bring His wisedome shall appeare by his great deeds Whereof as yet he hath but sowne the seeds He first must string and tune his Britanie Before he can his pleasing musicke make Hee 'le mend each craze the strings stops hee 'le trie Before he will performance vndertake Each practiser in this eare-pleasing Art Will first thus do before hee 'le play his part The Clergie he alreadie well hath tuned And with great care the false strings hath remooued Which would haue made the consort seeme vntuned And to the skilfull eare would harsh haue prooued This makes his wisedome and his zeale appeare To stop extremities in their carreer Both Romists and the Scismatickes are bold To countermaund the actions of their kings All Princes power by these are still control'd Yet must they raise themselues with Princes wings One on the Popes supremacie doth stand The other like Diogenes commaund Twixt Sylla and Charibdis Iames hath pass'd The King of kings his skill and helme hath guided Vnto the golden Meane hee 's linked fast His Church and He shall neuer be diuided From these the coole Etesiae shall blow To swage the fumes which shall from malice grow For though this little world haue many foes In forraine parts and in this center here Yet with the proudest constant Truth shall â—loze And keepe the list when they dare not appeare My Iames and His haue happily begun And shall in time Romes champions ouerrunne Let Spaine her proude imperious Church maintaine And with that plea excuse inflicted wrongs Let Belgia Fraunce and Germanie refraine That Vnitie which vnto peace belongs Let these their many-headed Sects commend Let Britaine still for
right with wrong contends 't is often seene The house of Lancaster gainst Yorke held out Till either house preseru'd but one poore sprout Rest rest in happines most happie soules Which did ingraft my York and Me in one Earth counts them fathers heau'n as heires inroules Those which preuent so many thousands mone Let others vaunt of victories in Fraunce True wisedome will this sacred knot aduance This mariage vnto England did procure Long peace good gouernement riches and renowne Warres lawes neglect and losse it did indure These were the weights which kept pore England down For all these mischiefes will that land disturbe Which peacefull lawes of concord do not courbe Too long I should Iehouah's presence loose Which in it selfe all happines containes If long discourse of Discord I should choose Or speake of halfe her selfe-inflicted paines Almost three thousand yeares this â—e did waile Whilst Britaines Peeres did Britaines Peeres assaile Both Wales and Scotland stood as lookers on Whilst bloudie Tragedies were on this stage Sometimes they tooke aduantage hereupon To shew the furie of a brothers rage But now their Vnion former hate must banish And all remembrance of old grudge must vanish My selfe haue Wales my Iames hath Scotland brought To ioyne with England in an endlesse loue The great Iehouah this for Britaines wrought That to themselues they should most faithfull prooue And that they should forbeare the least contempt Least from this league the heau'ns should them exeÌ„pt This is the act of Prouidence diuine Which hath decreed that this should be effected The world vnto such weaknesse doth decline That all had fail'd if this had beene neglected Such pride disdaine and enuie rules the hart That now the world must be maintain'd by Art Art Nature Heau'ns the elements and man Both home and forraine cares for Concord plead These all conclude do Romists what they can That slights no longer th' English shall mislead As iuggling trickes are nought when they are known So cunning slights when they abroad are blowne Let Henry Bourbon heire of Honours wreath Who forraine and domesticke iarres supprest Let him and th' other Henries death bequeath A warie caution to each loyall breast Oh let their blood a detestation breed Of Canibals which do on Princes feed Beware My Iames since thy great friend is slaine Who warn'd thee oft of daungers eminent Beware of Rome and others which would traine Thy royall thoughts vnto their priuate bent The Iuiâ— doth that tree of sappe bereaue To which by close embracements it doth cleaue But now me thinkes I heare high trumpets sound For some great good which t' England shall betide Her plaints in heau'nly parlament are found And right in earthly Sessions shall be tride This said he vanish'd promising supply When malecontents against this truth reply FINIS Errata pag. 12. in the Margent for creanto read creanti pag. 13. l. 27. for Artick read Artist pag. 15. l. 17. for maintaine read containe Polydâ— Virgiâ— hist. l◠〈◊〉 de q. cap. 1 â—arel in â—ife of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 cap 3 a Plutarch in the life of Pompey b Parsons and Tortus wronging the late Queene Elizabeth and King Iames. c Elizabeth the daughter of Edward the 4. d The arms of Yorke and Lancaster e Philip Conâ—â—â—es hist. lib. 4. cap. 7. f K. Iames. g Isa. cap. 58. â— h Math. 10.40 i Witnesse the writings of VVatson and the letter of Tresham k Henry the eight l Bartas in the 2. book of the 2. day of the 2. weeke m Ecclesiastes 4.12 England Scotland Ireland n Iustin. lib. 34. o In sreta um fluvij â—rruntâ—ing Acâ—id 1. p Mercurâ— Gollobelgi cus anno 1588.158 q Crefweâ— Andreas Philopateâ— r Iustin. l. 44. s Penitus toto diuisos orbe â—ritannos Virgil. Eglog 1. t Iesuits Seminaries with their perfidious adherents u In Venice x Hauing lost the far greatest part of Germany all the Northeast countries of DeÌ„marke Swethland great part of Poland Hungary the Lowe countries France y Angels z Prou. 8.15.16 Arist meteor lib. 2. cap 8 b Trinus in numero vnus in numine c August epist. 11â— d Psal. 19.6 e Psal. 48.6 f Arist. meteor lib. 2. cap. 4. g Micrâ—cosâ—os h Solomons song cap. 4. Plena deo similisqueâ—reanto Prudentius k Gen. 1.28 Psal. 4. l Psal. 104.2.19.22.23.24 m Oculus hominis anima animae ratio rationis relligio n 2. Cor. ca. 12.9 o Ex pacto non ex facto Bernard p 2. Corint 8.12 q Cyprian epist. 40. r Berosus s Quintus Curtius lib. 5. t Plutarch in â—he life of Theseus u Liui lib. 1 dec 1. Plutarch in thâ— life of Romulus x Tacitus lib 2 hist. cap. 15. x Plutarch the life of â—lexander â—odor Sic. â— 16. y Knowllesâ—n â—n the geneâ—all hist. of â—he Turkes z Theaâ— winc orbis de Turâ— â—mperio a Constantinople b Alexandria c Knowlâ— in the lifâ— of Amur the first d Nubi mens esâ— vinctaque fraenis vbi regâ— Boethi consola philosop lib. 1. mâ— â—he duke â—mmerâ—etter to â—ounâ—â—â— of 〈…〉 f Praesentiâ—bus semper insestalâ—uâ— tas Sen. de Tranq ca. g Hakluit Eng. voâ— vol 3. pag 〈◊〉 Mar de nouo 〈◊〉 pag. 1. Plutarch his life k Plutarch in his life l Moses m Deut. 34.6 n Num. 21.8.9 o 2. King 18 4. p Ioh. 3.14 q Mat. 11.28 r Dan. 12.3 s Tortura Torti pag. 361. t Mat. 27.45 u Lipsius de Romanorum machinis x VVatson y Tortus z Knowlles in the life of Baiazet the first a Machiauel Floren. hist. lib. 2. b Cic. offic lib. 1. c Plutarch in the life of Pyrrhus and Camillus c Paulus Venetus Knowls 〈◊〉 hist. of 〈◊〉 Turkes 〈◊〉 113. â—ellar de â—m Pont. â— 5. cap. 6. f Seductor Sweco Gaâ—lo ficaerius c. Carolus Molinaeuâ— Veritas poris fiâ—â— g Qua eximia plaerisque prclara videtur paâ—ua ducere for animi mnique ducdum est Cie Ofâ—ic lib. 1. h Boethius de cons. Pl. los. met 4. i Cic Orâ— pro Mare k Prou. 1 32. acquid aut replâ—tun Aclâ—ui at Epi. â—nmark m Mark 3.24 n Iosephus de hello Iudaico lib. 6. cap. 1. o Prouerb 18.19 p q Sixtus Quintus The ruine of Greece after Alexander r Iulius Câ—sar in the conspiracâ— of Brutus and Cassi. Plutarch the life of Iulius Cae◠〈◊〉 in life of man 〈…〉 hist. Sarazins Mamel Barbarie Russia u Imperator seruiebat orbis imperator militibuâ— Erasmi praefat in Sueton. u Taciâ— vita 〈◊〉 colâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—nry â— â—â—ffrey â—â—â—agenet
THE VISION AND DISCOVRSE OF HENRY the seuenth Concerning the VNITIE OF Great BRITTAINE Diuided into foure Chapters 1. Containing an Introduction 2. Inducements to Vnitie 3. The policy deceit and mischieuous spite of the vnderminers hereof 4. The danger of Diuision Related by T.G. Seneca ad Nouatum lib. 1. deirâ— Beneficijs humana vita constat et concordia nec terrore sed amore muiuâ— in foedus auxiliumque commune constringitur AT LONDON Printed by G. Eld for Henry Fetherstone and are to be sold at the signe of the Rose in Paules Church-yard 1610. To the truly religious and resolute Gentlemen of England louing their Country and the Truth therein professed WOrthy Gentlemen which by your words actions or writings shew your selues worthy of so good a cause to you which loue vertue for vertues sake without any other collaterall respect to you which are the stationarie soldiers of this Kingdome contemning the thundering cannon of Romish excommunication and the crosse-battery of domesticall artillery to you next to the maine columnes of this state I dedicate this short Poem as an applause to your constancie and as a Perdu to giue notice of the motions of our Aduersaries The reasons vrging me thus to expose my selfe to an infinitie of censures are these First the variety of floting humors generally discontented Secondly the diligence of Romish Pirats to surprise them Thirdly the drousie security of these dangerous times Lastly the vnseasonable curiosity of Sectaries which like Archimedes seriously busie theÌ„selues in drawing circles whilst their Country is in danger These considerations haue beene the weights and plummets to set my poore inuention on worke to performe some dutifull office to the State in the perswasion of Vnitie the chiefest bond of peace and happinesse and the surest fortresse against a million of straglers which hope to prey vpon vs in our disorder and confusion The Clergie hath already done their most faithfull and most commendable deuoire many of whose bookes will neuer bee answered It remaines that vertuous Gentlemen hauing ioyned experience to their learning and valour to their experience should shew themselues in the first rankes to beat back the golden hopes of the Romish Alcumists Cum semiviro Comitatu Neuer did England inioy a King more iudicious in matters of Diuinitie then now it doth Neither was there euer a more happy proiector â—f the Vnion and Vnitie of these kingdomes then Henry the seauenth by giuing his eldest daughter the Lady Margaret in marriage to Iames the 4. King of Scotland The one maintaines the Truth with his own Pen beyond the performance of any christian King The other perswades Vnitie in the Truth by anothers report If mine indeuours herein may any way confirme the constant or stay the wauering from wronging themselues and others I shall be more then satisfied If the euent shall prooue otherwise yet sholl it not repent me Operam praebuisse reipublicae si nihil profituram at conaturam prodesse Now for the manner of writing in verse the ancient custome of Oracles and visions in this kind haue preuailed with me to make tender of my best performance herein And the incomparable Salust Lord of Bartasse hath of late so aduanced Poetry by his graue maiesticall and pleasing verse that I can neither feare the scorne of verse in generall nor the obiection in particular of the vnfitnesse thereof for this subiect being in his nature nothing so deepe as that diuine subiect of du Bartasse his Poem Besides it was the practise of Solon by Thales in pleasing rimes to giue the Athenians the wholsome pils of vertuous precepts Orpheus Linus Pythagoras Theognis did the like Amongst the Diuines Prudentius Sedulius Iuueneus Paulinus Lastly that Kingâ—y Diuine Poet which was after Gods owne heart did martiall his heauenly meditations in a kinde of primordiall verse And although the number of Ballad-mongers and frothy Poems strained for gaâ—ne to please the vulgar may seeme to impaire the reputation of the auntient Vates yet there is no question but that perspicuous verse well couched comprising much matter in a narrow roome full of Historie naturall Allegories fit similes and materiall obseruations shall alwayes winne respect in the most waâ—ward new-fangled age Not in this assurance Gentlemen do I recommend these lines vnto yâ—ur view but hoping that being Schollers yee will not misconster being generous yee will not carpe being loyall yee will not disallow my dutifull deuotion Eminent fortunes haue eminent place to shew their loyalty but priuat men must learne of Seneca In privato publicum negotium agere The vision and discourse of HENRY the seuenth concerning the vnitie of Great Britaine GReat Pompey in a iollitie did boast That if he did but stampe vpon the ground Such swarmes of friends would aid him from each coast That Caesars forces he should soone confound So great his fortune and his prowesse were That fatall dangers he could neuer feare But my poore Muse an humble pace must creepe â—or feare of waking swarmes of secret foes My muse some vnfrequented pathe must keepe Least some in ambush her weake force inclose When graues thrones of Princes are attempted How may a meaner fortune be exempted Thus far o're eeue my thoughts to verse aspir'd Intending Britaines concord for their theame When suddenly againe my muse retyr'd Not daring to indure bright Phoebus beame A poem which it selfe can scarce defend Can litle helpe to other causes lend Whilst I for Albions weale did thus take care Dame nature crau'd her due and clos'd mine eyes With heauie sleepe yet fancie would not spare To represent these stately prodigies Me thought I saw the person of a King Whom winged Cherubins to th' earth did bring His spangled mantle was of Azure hue With stars like heau'ns bestudded euery where Which did foreshew true wisdoms clearest view Of all those Kings which did the scepter beare His crowne was gold whose spires aloft were seene And by his side there stood his louely Queene Their left hands held the Roses white and red In whose defence were foure score Princes slaine Like Cadmus seed their bloud each other shed Till these by mariage were made one of twaine And afterward such peace there did insue That neuer since Mars could those broyles renew In their right hands they held a scutchin faire Wherein the picture of a King was drawne Which makes his forraine enemies despaire And for truths life his owne deare life doth pawne Who still with danger doth himselfe oppose Against his Churches and his countries foes They often view'd this picture with delight And to the same the King these words did vtter My sonne said he the sunne which clear'd the night Of Englands feares gainst whoÌ„ no claime durst mutter We ioy in heau'n that thou on earth doost raigne Which to the heau'ns so many soules wilt gaine For first thy drouping cleargie thou didst reare Which are the trumpets of
the King of Kings To sound his praise and to procure his feare And arme th'elect 'gainst serpents poysned stings These haue indur'd the front of spitefull Rome And yet sustain'd strong factions push at home These are the heraulds of the Lord of hoasts Which bring his peace or else denounce his threat These faint not for the Babilonian boasts Nor Schismaticks whose braines on trifles beat Thrise famous was their former constancie Thrise famous be their new â—ntegritie Yee Pilots which doe keepe the middle channell And shunne the shelfes and shores on euery side A saint-like iury doth your iudge impannell Which in their verdict for your weale prouide The Chiefe-chiefe-iustice for you hath decreed That still for you shall stand the royall seed Let hellish Miners hellish sulphur lay To ouer-turne their faithfull steddinesse Let Atheists raue and blasphemies display Let others shew their brainsick headines The heau'ns bright eye sees all and will confound All those which striue to bring them to the ground Some-times his kingly prophecie shall tell Some-times the graue Cecilian Sentinell And oft his foes shall ring th' alarum bell And traiterous tongues shall traiterous plots repell For gainst the right all treasons are accurst Like poisons they their first inuenters burst Long liue my Iames for thy true Churches good Long liue the Church thy true right to maintaine No King no Church no Church no King had stood The one without the other hath a maine And since your loue with Gods loue is vnited With mutuall loue this land shall be requited It neuer greeues me that mine Henries line Is quite expir'd since I in thee doe liue Since greatest families must stoope to thine Which to it selfe doth dayly luster giue Thine Eglets shall this little world inioy Not fearing ought the greater worlds annoy Yet must I not forget Elisa's name The quintessence of all the femall sex Whose vertues did extoll her worthy fame Aboue her proudest foes which did her vex Who often did attempt her life to spill Yet had not powre so good a Prince to kil Like Debora she did the truth maintaine No Prince atchiu'd more warlike acts then shee No Prince so many languages did gaine Who forreiners interpreter could be Her dauntlesse spirit made the stoutest feare Yet to the poorest shee inclin'd her eare Her court was royall yet she did not grieue Her subiect hearts with heauy tax nor tolls Distressed states shee alwayes did releeue Whose Chronicles her great exployts inrouls Meane while all England thriu'd prospred well And now her blisse no earthly tongue can tell That Phoebe long did this horrizon hould And as she far'd so England ebd and flow'd At length her crest the highest sphaeres did fould Whilst Englands subiects in great darknesse row'ld When from the North another light appea'rd Which nights black mantle quickly had casseer'd Once Europes Princes did on scaffolds stand To feed their eyes with Englands tragedie But then they saw t was heau'ns all powerfull hand Which did present a ioyfull Comedie For now the world a three-fold cord doth see Which by no strength nor force may broken bee When Rome enui'd Achaias waxing strength Which to an vniformitie was growne The Senate sat in counsell and at length Decreed that discord must be quickly sowne They thought that first their league they must vntwine Or else that state they could not vndermine To which intent they Commissaries sent To draw each Cittie to her ancient lawes Who told those Greekes t' was bondage to be pent Within the compasse of the Lions pawes That lofty Eagles tooke no note of Flyes Nor great commanders of small families That yearely Praetors were the onely Kings Which soone returnd their suites and writts againe With these the wrong'd expostulates such things As awfull feare with others must refraine Where euery Burgesse is a Senator And each wise Citizen a Monitor Thus stand prouincials of the Romaine state A time they Lord-like liue but at the last The meanest may their cause with them debate Of iniuries which in their time haue pass't Then are they faine to plead as priuate men And fancie-feeders alwayes faile them then For if these petty Kings haue offered wrong Within the yeare in which their powers confin'd That time expir'd each Citizen is strong To right himselfe and to the lawes them binde Then are they sure to haue a due reward As they haue had a right oâ— wrong regard Those sponges then are forced to repay The liquor which from others they did soake Protection may not course of Iustice stay Nor venale tongues may venale iudgments cloake Thus did Romes conquered countries flourish more Then vnder Tyrants they did earst before And as for Rome the nursse of liberty It Consuls had which yearely it did change Where worthy men had place themselues to trye And had a field where vertue 's life might range Yet if within the yeare they did offend The Tribunes with them shortly would contend Man's chiefe content is freedom to the minde The heauiest doome is bondage to the heart The one delight in all estates doth finde The other griefe and neuer dying smart The sight smell touch the hearing and the taste Are sowre to those which are in bondage plac't The Oxen still the heauie yoake do shunne The Bird the cage the Hawke vnman'd the lure Each beast from man with hasty speed doth runne Least once intrap't it thraldom should indure But men much more yee much more then other Should quit your selues not your freedoÌ„ smother With this smooth speech these Romans did assay To breake th' Achaians sacred bond of loue For neuer did this state it selfe betray As other Greekes which strangers aid did prooue For ciuill broyles and forrein force or'throw As stormes doe Cedars which alone doe grow Now when th' Achaians heard this slâ—e discourse They sounded soone the ground of their intent They knew â—ight well coniunction was the nource Of all their weale which Romans would preuent Then like to Bees they sallyed out in swarmes And would haue slaine them but for law of armes Whilst springs to streames streames to sea did run Whilst hils made shades heau'ns had starrs to shine Th' Achaians concord should not be vndone And all their hearts in one they would combine If Rome by sword their vallor meant to trie Together they would liue together dye So would all th' English if some were not wrongd By selfe conceit and charmes of sorreine foes They would performe what vnto right belong'd And with their wrack not hazard Britains woes Woes will attend on those which woes contriue And such as peace out of the world would driue No other land nor Church doth Babel dread Here is the golden meane twixt two extreames If any land with veriâ—y do wed T is Albion which display's the brightest beames As in full orbe the Moone giueâ— greatest light So Britaine now is in her power and might
Else doth shee conster them to her owne pleasure To raise her pride or to increase her treasure As water powr'd into the choicest wine For many houres when both of them runne ouer Doth leaue no colour nor a taste behind VVhereby his liquour Bâ—cchus may discouer So Romes inuentions haue the Truth out-borne That auncient truth is now expos'd to scorne Her outward reuerence is the onely glasse To dazle millions of th'vnlearned traine When silly larkes by these faire shewes do passe They 'r caught and neuer may returne againe For vnto Saints they do their prayers make And do the God of power and loue forsake Vnto the blessed Virgin they do build More stately temples and more altars faire Then vnto Christ whose churches are not fil'd With equall presents few to him repaire So are they from their high Creator led And to his creatures they themselues do wed Pompilius the Romans second king Forbad all images of powers diuine He said their woorth surpast each earthly thing And that they farre aboue our skill did shine That colours lost their colour once compar'd With that high court where hosts of Angels ward The Iewish Church could not nor can indure T' adore the image of their famous guide His interview with God could not procure That they for him a statue should prouide And he which of his praise is iealous still Did hide his corps such fond intents to spill Though by Iehouahs high commaund they cast A brasen serpent curing serpents sting Yet when the bounds of due regard they past And adoration vnto it did bring T' was by Gods herald into peeces broken Though t' were of Christ a certaine signe and token How fearefull then and charie should men be To frame on earth corriuals of his glorie How from idolatrie should men be free Since worthiest things are pages of his storie To greatest Saints which on the earth did breath He from his store their measure did bequeath Shall then these drops of good which from him flow Hold counterpoise with their eternall spring Shall man on man that sacred praise bestow Which doth belong vnto the worlds great King Such praise vndue the Saints aboue disclaime Which at their great Creators praise do ayme But Rome herein doth represent the Doue Which beeing siel'd doth striue aloft to flie So is she sooth'd by flatterie and selfe loue That she no way her weaknesse can descrie In her great shewes of Zeale true zeale doth swarue As Tantalus amidst his foode did starue As for Romes Lyturgies not vnderstood Or Sermons where the Legends are so rife Vnto the soule thei 'r bare and windie food Whereby Rome doth confound Deuotions life Thus man with God and God with man conferres Thus both the zeale and vnderstanding erres Who knowes not cannot feare the highest Iudge Nor can he feele the riches of his loue Who scorn'd on earth like to the vilest drudge For his elect a sacrifice did prooue Who now inuites them to his sacred throne To ease their griefe and to releeue their mone Confâ—ssors now vsurpe that function high To heare and pardon euery hainous sinne Adulterie murder poyson blasphemie Haue easie penance and a fresh begin Where pardon may so quickly be obtain'd Why should prophanest actions be refrain'd If villanies may not thus be secur'd Their actors will vnto some Altars flie Which from the Pope indulgence haue procur'd To salue for many world 's each maladie Here are all winow'd by the Popish fan None is excluded but the Lutheran If any one by drowsie Negligence Vnpurged die and fall to Purgatorie The Altars Pro defunctis rid him thence By mumbling Masse helâ— charming Oratorie A golden world it is when earth can vaunt Of new-found engines helâ—ish power to daunt What is more royall then to pardon those Whose often crimes their Soueraigne haue prouoked Herein the Highest doth his grace expose Which Rome seemes now in such sort to haue broched That euery Priest by Popes can grace deriue A world of worlds from ruine to repriue Whereas the best should their saluation worke With awfull trembling and an holy feare All Romists in securitie may lurke They need not any enterprise forbeare For Pardons plenarie from the holy sea Will be for all a warrantable plea. Besides the blessed Virgin will commaund Her Christ that he the Romists may not charge And all the Saints will make a ioynt demaund That from their sinnes he may them all enlarge Then euery Saint will his devoto free And then a present pardon there shall be For all those numbers of the blinded crew Shall boldly stand before the iudgement seate They 'l plead they held the Romane faith most true And from the same they neuer did retreat As Rome bele'ft so did they still beleeue And now her Saints and she must them releeue These are the vaunts of all the limmes of Rome Which far beyond their bounds hath them transported For which she must expect a fearefull doome Since she the holy Writ hath thus retorted Not many yeares proud Babylon shall stand Which gainst the truth so long her selfe did band As they which are the Pastors of mens soules Which many stragglers to their Pastor bring Which do conduct them to th'eternals foulds O're whome he did vouchsafe to stretch his wing As these shall shine like heau'nly lampes most cleare VVhose liues and doctrine did so bright appeare So Rome which by inticements hath allur'd So many from Iehouahs reuerence VVhich hath of blisse her champions assur'd By giuing false and subtill euidence To darkest Labyrinth she shall be throwne VVhich to confound the light hath errors sowne The auncient Rome was happie in her warres VVhen her spread Eagle did the earth ore-spread But now the gates of heau'n and hell she barres Some she sets vp on others she doth tread Her fauorites her Popes do Vice-gods stile Man's blest or curst as they do frowne or smile Is now the worlds Commaunder more remisse Then he hath beene to punish heinous sinne Or hath Rome onely that indulgent blisse VVhereby she doth such reputation winne No Church or State had such a Monopoly To barter sinnes and make prophaners holy The Israelites which were to God most deare Which for his Church he made peculiar choice These were to him aboue all other neare Yet when they did neglect his sacred voice Their sins eclipst his fauourable eye That he would not releeue their miserie He punisht them for their idolatrie And other sins in Rome scarce sins esteemed Twixt God and Sinne there 's an Antipathie And disobedience is as witchcraft deemed When wretched miscreants call th' infernall power To wrong Gods glorie and themselues deuoure The holy writ truths surest Testament Which in Cimerian darknesse light doth giue With precept and example it is sent To curbe mans sin and teach him how to liue When man is with sinnes heauie burden grieued By God and Man his sorrows are relieued
the ayre did interpose The earth and ayre true correspondence keepe The sunne is arbitrator twixt them both Some-times he lets the spongie clowds to weepe On earths drye face and then as being lothe To offer wrong from flouds and briny seas He paies that moisture which the ayre doth please The fourth reason from Man BVt if Man list not pierce into the skies To search the formall motion of the sphaeres Let Man but set himselfe before his eyes And hee shall see what gouernment he beares For great Iehouah gaue him comly feature And made him lord of euery liuing creature And as a King to counterpoise his cares Hath oft recourse from profit to delight So with this Monarch of the earth it fares Some creatures serue his tast and some his sight Some carry him into what coast he please And some are Phisick for his bodies ease This is the modell of the greater All Which like the eye it selfe cannot behold And though he tread vpon this earthly ball Yet is he grac't with beauties manifold For of a soule and body he is framed So that he is the Kingly creature named The soule of man a glimpse of heau'nly light Conueys it selfe to all the bodi 's members Yet it affoords a view and perfect sight Whereby man vnderstands foâ—esees remembers Whose swift discourse and motions are so strange That through the world this little world doth range And as a Captaine of besieged howlds Suruayes the Ports and weakenesse of the walls Then his aduice to others he vnfoulds And to the watch the Corps du gard hee calls So doth the soule preuent the bodies danger Least it should be surprised by a stranger Hereby he is Gods Viceroy here below O're whom heau'ns starry canopie is spread On whom by day the sunne doth light bestow Whom in the night the other starres haue lead Who holds all of the great Lord Paramont That he his praises daily may recounâ— None can recount his boundlesse regiment To whom no part of earth hath beene forbidden Whose body doth vnite each element And in the same a soule diuine is hidden Which so conioynes with th' elementall frame That Man th' vnited mirrour we may name If we shall view right reason at the length Which is a choice perfection of the soule Christianity will shew her powerfull strength And will obtaine praecedence in this rowle For with faiths hand we hould our mediator And as a toy neglect the worlds Theater So that the world is for his creatures made The creatures for man's body dayly serue The body is vnto the soule a shade The soule likewise true reason to preserue Right reason doth containe religious bounds Whose Anchor 's cast far from these earthly mounds This is the chaine which heau'n to earth doth linke The golden bracelet of mans greatest blisse Yet must not man of his weake merits thinke But of his grace which all sufficient is For Man is not thus happy by his fact But by Iehouah's onely free compact Thus is the earthly Church heau'ns dearest spouse Not by emissiue but attractiue beames This bounty great should our dull spirits rowse To make his praises be our onely theames Whose charge maintaines vs on this earthly globe And couers vs with his all-righteous robe O happy creature of so kinde a founder Whose power creat's whose prouidence maintaines Of thy great glory who shall be the sounder Poore man is weake to chaunt such lofty straines Let Angel's trumpets of thy glory ring Let heau'nly saints thine Aleluias sing Let earths low vallies her faint ecchoes lend And to this heau'nly quier make some report The harshest voice heau'ns artick will attend And with his grace mans weaknesse will support Nay he accepts the meaning for the deed And with supplies our drouping faith doth feed The disuniting practise of Sathan BVt as the highest doth th'elect vphould From sad dispaire by th' vnion of his sonne So Lucifer makes other rebels bould To run that course that Adam had begun For still he compasseth both seas and lands To ioyne one souldier to his trayterous bands As Pride was first the pro-scaene of his fall And of that crew which with him did conspire So now he vents his mallice and his gall Gainst man which hath a sparke of heau'nly fire For since he cannot wrong the strong of strongs He sâ—ares no seruant which to him belongs Yet doth he not professe hostilitie But on each folly sâ—ts a varnisht glosse By which poore man with all agilitie Doth eagerly pursue his greatest losse Hee takes aduantage of mens seuerall age That into dangers he may them ingage In prime of youth when heat of lust abounds He blowes the coales of selfe-consuming pleasures And afterward with auarice he drownes The vitall spirits with carke of worldly treasures Then late repentance time and death consent To end that life which was in folly spent Yet he suggest's lust but a youthfull trick And couetosnesse an honest thrifty care The Maecchiauillians to be pollitick And those most valiant which no sex do spare That to be cleanlinesse when in great pride Men robbe all creatures their true shapes to hide Hee 's first a slaue and prentise for some yeares A perfect humorist for all assayes At last he tyrant turnes and ouer-peeres All humaine comfort and himselfe displayes As Vsurers first get the bonds of heyres And then their lands and tenements are theirs But as the Salamander which doth liue In suites of law and quarrels with his betters Is soone discerned and the Iudge doth giue No place to him but with the fond barretters So is mans foe by th' highest iudge disclaimed And he is hurt which would haue others maimed Thus mans arch-enemy pursues with hate The breach of vnion with his Mediator Thus hath he euer striu'd to make debate Twixt th' earthly Monarch and his great Creator And alwayes where a vertuous concord failes This busie make-bate by his slights preuailes The body of Man BVt now to leaue Mans soule with his first maker Which by faiths conduct climes heau'ns battlements Where once inrowl'd it is with him partaker Farre from the danger of all sad euents Let Man but thinke of his weake bodies masse And he shall see true Vnions liuely glasse For though it be a prison to the soule A rotten barke such treasure to 〈◊〉 Yet this poore frame the best state doth controule In prudent care each member to maintaine The toe scarce feeles the gowte or any greefe But euery part doth feele and seeke reliefe The senses window's see and shunne the ill Which may insue and ayme at all things good The heart from beating neuer standeth still It sends the spirits where dead palsie stood The baser parts food to the maw doe bring Whence vnto them it flowes as from a spring The stomack like a Cooke each messe doth boyle And from the Port-vaine sends it to the liuer Then turn'd
Vnitie contend Let euery voice which mooues this westerne ayre Extroll his vertue which thus farre hath gone The Church of due regard shall not despaire Whilst He or His this throne shall sit vpon Then for my Iames shall warie wisedome plead Beyond those kings which th'infant Church did lead Now for his iustice shew'd in former rimes Amongst a people which were Eagle ey'd Which soone could see and iudge vnballanc't crimes If weight or measure euer were deni'd These free as ayre as yet could neuer say That spite or fauour did his iudgement sway His magnanimitie is daily seene In slight contempt of what the world admires Which prooues a mind which hath not tainted beene By vaine ambition which high fortunes fires Yet honour and all maiestie attends That mind which least these earthly toyes intends Who doth both fortunes equally esteeme Not rais'd by one nor ought depress'd by th' other In him th' affections conquer'd we may deem Which reasons strength with their great weight would smother No victorie with this may make compare This fight is single none with him may share Those which by bloodie fights aduance their names With many wrongs their victories they staine If any act or conquest purchase fame A part thereof each souldier will retaine For these are instruments to bring to passe What by their Generall enterprised was But he which doth all mutinies keepe vnder Which both himselfe and others would betray Who at the worlds great treasures doth not wonder Whose wronglesse conquest vertue doth display He is true champion in this Christian weale And he alone true valour doth reueale In peace this vertue most triumphant is Her victories no drop of bloud do spill Here rest the Trophees of another blisse Which with a lasting good the world doth fill This vertue cures the wounds which others make Yet keepes the field which others do forsake Too much the Christian world hath beene imbru'd With Christian blood which Iames doth striue to stint Their malice they like Tygers haue pursu'de And Rome hath beene of many broyles the mint Whilst kings contend their subiects feele the smart For euery one of losse doth feele his part Some States though weake reuenge will vndertake Oâ—t wronging many for the fault of few Oft to their foes themselues a prey they make And great expence no way they can eschew But Iames whose power might offer Europe wrong Forbeares all those which vnto Christ belong So Temperance in such a boundlesse power Which is so rare on Honors highest stage And Liberalitie which shines each hower Which many wrong in this base-crauing age All these and other vertues most compleat In Britains King haue their abiding seat Since then the Truth such champions doth enioy As know their strength and Romans force do scorne Since Romes delusions all estates do cloy And of all hopes shee 'le quickly be forlorne Let Britaine be from her in one vnited By heau'n aire earth and sea thereto inuited CHAP. 4. The daunger of Diuision BVt now to leaue this Iles renowned heyre Whose blood is grac'd with high discent of kings Whose auncestors haue kept the kingly chaire Well-neare two thousand yeares whose mariage brings A fresh alliance from that Nor-east coast Whose Kings did once of Englands scepter boast A briefe recapitulation of the former Chapter TO leaue his vertues matching herauldrie And all those titles which that skill affoords To passe from that high reaching policie Which with the heauens and elements accords To passe the imaâ—e of the worlds creator Vnited with so great a mediator To leaue that Vnion where Iehouahs spirit Vouchsafeth residence in an earthly masse Which motion sense and reason doth inherit With zeale and faith which doth mans reason passe To passe th'arch-enemie of humaine blisse Which to good concord still repugnant is To leaue the Romist his confederate Which thinkes by Britaines idle iarres to thriue Whose malice gainst al. peace inueterate Doth dangerous plots against this state contriue These things are plaine and how great states did rise Now will we set their falls before our eyes For heau'ns great glory and the earths true light Whose words more sure then Oracles doe prooue Whose wisdome alwayes clearly sees the right To Vnitie his deare elect doth mooue And this auerrs that kingdoms needs must faile Where Ruines nurce Diuision doth preuaile Who euer did conuerse with times record Who sacred stories or prophane hath seene His obseruation will here-with accord That Vnion strong Diuision weake hath beene By concord smallest things haue great increase By discord greatest things do wane and cease For as a ship which doth on billowes ride Though Eolus and Neptune both agree To doe their worst yet safe it doth abide Whilst of great leakes and ruptures it is free But when the plankes do once begin to spring Iust feare and certaine danger it doth bring So kingdoms whole and in themselues intire May well hold out gainst strength of forreine force When they in settled Vnitie conspire A late repentance will not breed remorce When postern-gates and back-doores all are fast Assaults are with the first incounters pass'd The ouer-throw of the Iewes THe twelue Tribes of that once most happy race Which were the darlings of the heauens great king How were they fear'd whilst loue they did imbrace How did they to their neighbours terrour bring But when dissention did their kingdom seuer How were they subiect to all bondage euer Th' Assyrians some-times haue them captiue lead Some-times the Greekes haue spoil'd their Cittie faire And lastly Romaines with their fruits were fed So that they did of all reliefe dispaire Till hope of their Messias did preuaile Which made them Romaine garrisons assaile A while they freed themselues from Romaine power And put those enemies often-times to flight But home-bred iarres their strength did so deuoure That finall misery on them did light For frantick Iuda Iuda's bloud did spill Their slaughters did their streets and temples fill For when the Romaine Prince Vespatians sonne Ierusalem with thousands had besieged Three factions soone their bloudy broiles begun Which with one truth and promise were obliged They onely ioyn'd when foes assaults were giuen And then the Romaines back with losse were driuen But when the Romaine battery did cease When by delayes they thought the Iewes to starue Meane while the Iewes would not themselues release But with their swords the Romaines turne did serue For on themselues they did inflict more harmes Then could haue chanc'd by all the Romaine armes The hate of brethren doth all hate exceed Which euer did the brest of man infect For many iealosies this spite do feed Diuine nor humaine lawes can this correct Yet must they know that for their foes they fight When on themselues they spend their force might As in a sluce where dammes the waters curbe Till they vnto the top of bankes do swell No little let their current doth disturbe When