his continent Yet we to finde him out so meane our care More slow then Snailes more lame then Cripples arâ— O how shall the great care and diligence Of those condemne our sloth and negligence How should we feare since in offence we stand Equall with Iudah Gods all-powerfull hand Should throw downe vengeance on vs and our eyes â—est that faire light which now they doe despise The countrey of these Magi was the East And commonly men loue their owne soile best Yet ready prest they in obedience stand To leaue as Abraham did their natiue land When that blest Maid and Mother lost her sonne At her returne from Salem as vndone Without him who can haue so great a losse And not goe home againe by weeping crosse She sought him sorrowing ' mongst her friends kin Luke 2. But could not finde him she might there begin Her search anew Christ is not alwayes found ' Mongst kindred and acquaintance if the ground That gaue vs birth will not our Lord receiue For him we must our natiue countrey leaue Our Friends our home and stranger places greet Though our owne Jthaca be nere so sweet Thrice happy is that man which can with these Forsake his soile bannish neglect and ease Goe from the East of pleasure till he finde Ierusalem that is the peace of minde Now had the Magi found this City out Where Sion stood and walking round about Not to suruay the building or behold The stately Temple richly deckt with gold Enquire for Iudahs King her new borne King This seem'd to Jsaacs Line an vncouth thing They knew the Scepter was from Iudah gone And Herod who was now their King was one Inaugur'd by the Romanes therefore they Pos'd by this question knew not what to say But the wise men the more they found them slow To answer were the more inflam'd to know Tell vs we pray for we desire to learne Where liues this Infant King we can discerne No signe of ioy to make vs thinke him heere O then where is he we account not deare Our trauell or expence so we may gaine The long-wisht sight of Iudahs Soueraigne That he is borne we doe true tidings bring Borne yours your promis'd your expected King Borne in your Countrey what we speake we know What we haue seene we willingly will show We haue his starre seene whose vnusuall light Shone in our easterne climate and made night Excell the day in beauty There 's no cause You should suspect we come to breake your Lawes Or to inuade your Kingdome for we bring No armed troupes to set vpon your King VVe doe not come as spies to vnderstand The fruitfulnesse and strength of this your land Our trauell is not to encrease our wealth By traffique with you or by priuate stealth To get your treasure see we bring great store Of costly spices and rich Indian Ore Vnto this royall Infant to present Which with submissiue reuerence our intent Is to lay downe before him and fallow Our selues before his footestoole for we know That more then man is in him and are come Thus farre to worship him This is the summe Of all our wishes let but your report Be our direction to this Princes Court This said they ceast but none can them resolue In their demand which doth their soules inuolue VVith a new cloud of sorrow in which plight A while I leaue them till a clearer light â—nfuse more knowledge time ere long will bring The deuout Magi to this new borne King Tuesdaies Meditation or the third Canto The Argument Herod and his the Newes appalls The King in haste a counsell calls Next to conferre in secret wise He with the Magi doth deuise BY this time same hauing new impt her wings Flies from the City to the Court and brings Newes of these mens arriuall and the end Of their intended iourney to commend Their diligence Court-Parasites will striue Like Ahimaaz and Cushi who shall thriue â— Sam. 18. Best in their expedition Princes eares Doe like their hands reach farre and tyrants feares Place Spies in euery corner whose close art Sliely insinuates into the Heart Of the abused Subiect and from thence Drawes danger on his head vnder pretence Of more then common kindenesse what he findâ— Sincerely spoken from plaine meaning minds He poysons in report when he it beares To his Kings greedy all-suspecting eares After this tatling goddesse once had spread This Newes abroad and buz'd into the head Of fawning Sycophants a pick-thanke tale Looke how a ship driuen with a fore-right gale Cuts through the Ocean they hie fast to court And to sterne Herod make a loud report No sooner had fame toucht the tyrants eare But that his coward bloud gaue way to feare To take possession of him that he stood Astonisht at the newes the raging floud VVhen the fierce winds impetuously doe blow And in their vnresisted fury throw The angry billowes ' gainst the sandy shore Spits not out some or doth more loudly roare Then vexed Herod who did inly burne VVhen ycie feare to fiery rage did turne Like as a siluer Current whose cleare streaâ—â— VVhen sweetly guilded by the lightsome beame Of gold-lockt Phoebus it reflects a light Becomes a pleasant obiect to the sight But if some ruder Swaine disturbe the floud By taking in it fetching dirt and mud The water thickens and begins to looke More like a foule sinke then a christ all bâ—ooke So while the riuer of man's life runs cleare And Sun-like reason from his lofty spheare Guilds it with beauty 't is a precious thing Surpassing Thames and Isis or that spring VVhich fond Nâ—rcissus in his iourney found In which the selfe-admiring Boy was drown'd But if that passion easie passage finde It soone disturbs the quiet of the minde Then the Conceit growes muddy to the brinke Like puddle bad to view but worse to drinke So stood the case with Herod and indeed Suspicious Tirants seldome better speed A panicke â—erâ—out takes them oftentimes VVhen none seeke to offend them but their crimes And reason good for this truth hath beene said He whom all feare of all must be afraid Seneca O heauy burthen of a Monarches crowne O Pillow stuft with thornes and not with dowlne O glorious bondage seldome blest with age O lofty building subiect to the rage Of storme and tempest O faire guilded Cup Containing poison who would take thee vp So once a Macedonianking did say Antigonus Though he should stumble on thee in the way As a faire roome at some great nuptiall feast Hung with rich Arras and each corner drest With costly furniture heere goodly plate There curious glasses all set out in state Tables well wrought with perfum'd damaske couer'd Embroder'd stooles nothing amisse or slubber'd By some rude fray of the distemper'd guest As with the Centaures at the Lapythes Feast O 〈…〉 Becomes disordered so that all the frame Nought but a Chaos you can iustly name Such a
Hebdomada Sacra A WEEKES DEVOTION OR SEVEN POETICALL MEDITATIONS VPON THE SECOND Chapter of St. Matthewes Gospell Written by ROGER COCKS AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Henry Seile and are to be sold at his shop in St. Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Tygers head 1630. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE IAMES LORD Strange POetry noble Lord in these loose times Wherin men rather loue then loath their crimes If hand in hand with piety she goe Though without blushing she her face may show Finds but cold welcome such things onely take As flatter greatnesse or fond fancie make A baud to base delight yet grauer eyes No sacred lines though rudely drawne despise And such are yours vpon this worke of mine Vouchsafe to let them fall or rather shine With kind acceptance doe but daine to grace it And enuie shall want power to deface it To the Reader REader my fortunes are so meanely friended I come into thy presence vncommended Nor would I haue thee for Encomiums looke Or frontispeece farre better then the booke My veine is not so high to be commended Nor yet so low but it may be defended By one sole Patron Some that carpe will gather This is no Poem but a Sermon rather But let them know who thus seuerely note it No profest Poet but a Preacher wrote it A WEEKES DEVOTION Sundaies Meditation or the first Canto for the first day The Argument Christs obscure Birth describ'd the Place To which he did vouchsafe such Grace The Time when he was borne is nam'd The Iew for vnbeliefe is blam'd WHen Caesar famous for his Gallian warre Had ended that vnnaturall ciuill jarre Twixt him and Pompey and by his defeat Got him a greater name thē that of great Perpetuall Dictator Enuie rose To ioyne with coward Murder and depose Vertue from bearing rule the Senate made A bloudy shambles and a couert shade For horrid treason was the fatall place Where his blacke tragedie was wrought in base Vnmanly manner falling by the hand Of an vnthankefull Brutus the command Of Romes faire Empire then in three did lie Augustus Lepidus and Anthonie Lepidus soone gaue o're whether in doubt Had he held still he could not long hold out Or for some other reason t'other twaine Shar'd equally Romes glorie and the gaine Of forraine kingdomes till at length there past For great mens freindship doth not alwaies last Vnkindnesse twixt them Anthonie had wed Augustus Sister but forsooke her bed For Aegypts Cleopatra This gaue fire To new dissention his vniust desire Must be made good by Armes for gentle words Turne him to furie our impartiall Swords Shall soone decide this difference said he And soone they did indeed fate did agree To second his proud saying for his forces Broke by Augustus powers he life diuorces From her weake hold and being thus o'recome Caesar went backe triumphant vnto Rome Augustus now hauing sole rule soone brought His Prouinces in awe all humblie sought To haue his friendship some few did rebell But with vndaunted courage he did quell Their vaine attempts and to his fames encrease Establisht through the world a welcome peace While Ianus Temple was shut vp and warre Chas'd backe to Plutoes kingdome while no iarre Kept out soule-ioyning concord whose sweete art Did Speares to Mattockes Swords to Plowes conuert While Noahs Doue brought in her mouth the Marke Of generall peace and Oliue Branch toth ' Arke Christ the celestiall Salomon was borne That King of peace whose Amalthaean horne Powr'd peace and plenty on vs so they say That when the Eagle flies abroad to prey The pratling birds are silent should not then Warres tongue be silent when the best of men Like to a Royall Eagle from his nest Came from the Virgins wombe in manhood drest When Halcyons build their nest breed their yong The Seas are quiet the winde findes no tongue 'T was fit the world should haue the like behauiour When the pure Virgin did bring forth our Sauiour Philosophers obserue the dewes descent Is in a cleare night when the winde is pent Aristotle In Aeols prison and the Prophet told Christ should come downe like dew and such behold Was his sweet entrance neuer was the earth So much refresht by dew as by his birth Fit was it then for warres loud noise to cease That this dew might come in a calme of peace If in two Kingdomes suppose Spaine and France Which long in hostile manner did aduance Armes against armes one Kings eldest sonne Marries the others daughter warres are done And they which earst contended eagerly Now meet in loue and feast in royalty So stood the case with vs by faire pretence Malicious Satan made man to commence A warre with God a warre that would haue wrought His endlesse ruine had not mercie sought A meanes to settle peace the onely son Of the Almightie when he did put on That veile of flesh did by it fast combine Our humane nature to his owne diuine And made a reconcilement which no power Can breake or time weare out though euery houre Satan attempt new practises and Hell Spit out her rankest venome to expell Man from his Makers fauour but her spite Falls on her head redoubled while delight Crownes our desires such happy vnion gan The blest Messias make 'twixt God and man No sooner had Augustus brought each land Luke 2. Into subiection but by his command A generall Taxe was laid on euery nation Iudea ' mongst the rest by Proclamation Each person to his natiue city went There to be taxed O that men were bent With ready minde and prompt alacrity To yeeld obedience vnto Gods decree As well as Caesars in the ranke of those Who with submissiue dutie did dispose Their wills to this edict a blessed paire Ioseph the iust Mary the chast and faire Both Abrahams issue both of Dauids stemme Came vnto Dauids City Bethlehem There to be taxed as the Law requir'd She being neere her time which soone expir'd While they were there the dayes accomplished That the pure Virgin should be brought to bed And yet that phrase ist but improper heere Because the Inne though full of guests yet cleare Of Grace and goodnesse would afford no roome Where she might child her issue her ripe wombe Found saue a stable no conuenient place To rest it selfe hard hearts whom such a case Mou'd to no pitty heere she forth did bring The Worlds Redeemer heauens eternall King A King where were the nobles of his Court Where all his followers Where the full resort Of honourable Matrons to attend Vpon his mother was there neere a Friend To giue soft musique by whose gentle touch Her sorrowes might be swagde did all hearts grutch To lend assistance at a Princes birth The voice of ioy speakes high and from the earth Vnnumbred fires to such perfection grow As they would make another heauen below Heere all was husht and silent to his owne Christ came vnentertaind because vnknowne
through the bloud of 70. brothers waded Vnto the Crowne most wrongfully inuaded Herod was more vnnaturall then these ' Gainst his owne sonne he could not rage appease But fearing he should the Messias be Among the rest he wrought his tragedy Therefore Augustus did this saying vse If I were bound to liue among the Iewes With greater willingnesse I would be swine Then sonne to Herod for by law deuine Malo Herodis porcum quam filium esse Macrobius Swines flesh forbid the Hebrewes they did giue A kinde of priuiledge the beasts might liue Whereas King Herod a worse beast did grutch Vnto his owne childe to afford so much The Lyon will not tender Infants slay Vnlesse meere hunger force him to such prey O With what hunger then was Herod wag'd When he against so many Infants rag'd With hunger of ambition which of all The greatest hunger we may iustly call Hunger of raigning sure must needes be great Which to appease it must haue so much meate So many Infants flesh that thirst is sore Which nought can satisfie but crimsin gore Enioy bloud thirsting Herod re-inioy Thy kingdome safely free from all annoy He that aboue doth Heauenly crownes bestow Gapes not for earthly scepters here belowe Such earth-bred honor Christ doth much despise Elephants take no mice nor Eagles flies Though he of power be for to cast thee downe Yet feare no depriuation of thy crowne For though two Kings can in one kingdome raigne No more then Heauen can two bright Suns sustaine Yet euery King may with him in him daigne His kingly Lord his true Messias raigne As the faire Heauen with many Starres is dight And with the Sun from whom they take their light Only learne mercy from this potent one And heape not bloud so long vpon thy Throne Till it become so slippery as to threat Each step thou tak'st to cast thee from thy seat But rage like to the belly hath no eares To reason deafe it onely passion heares Aduice is vaine say what I can or will Herod will be himselfe a tyrant still They say that Bee who of the rest is King Either hath none or doth not vse a sting Surely this man whom wretched Bethlehem sees Reeke in the blood of Infants not of Bees But Waspes was King for wasplike full of spleene 2. King â— He thrusts his poysonous sting so great his teene Into the flesh of children and doth kill Those who to hurt him had nor power nor will Indeed two Beares did certaine children sley But cause they mockt Gods Prophet thou then they More fierce destroyst the guiltlesse fearefull man Do'st thou dread silly childrens force or can Faint cowardize with thee preuaile so farre Thou shouldst gainst Infants wage such bloody warre Great praise no doubt and many a worthy spoile Thou shalt enioy by giuing them the foile The noble Elephants will not inuade The weaker sort of beasts thou shakst thy blade At sucking children and sendst men of might To challenge those that know not how to sight There is a story of great Constantine How true the Authors credit and not mine Must answer but the matter â—le relate And leaue the question further to debate Before he came to Christianity The Prince was troubled with a Leprosie To cure this sicknesse the aduice and care Of his Phisicians would haue him prepare A Bath of Infants blood sure here the Diuill Prompted his Doctors to so great an euill But being by Gods prouidence conuerted He from so foule a slaughter was diuerted By soules Phisicians who doe well assure him Baptisme a Bath more powerfull is to cure him He hearkens to them is baptiz'd and free Both from the bodies and soules leprosie Behold ambition Herods soule inuades Like a foule Leprosie â—atan perswades Such is hells phisicke naught will doe him good Vnlesse he bathe himselfe in Infants blood And not the opening of a veâ—e or two No but their life blood this great cure must doe Therefore to satisfie the soule-sicke King Each tender Babe must empty all his Spring And now God lets the Wolfe the Lambes deuoure Without restraining of his rage or power He puts no bridle into Herods nose But lets him take full swinge in his dispose Because he knew how to draw good from ill And make this wicked action serue his will From Lyons mouth sweet honey he can take And Marahs bitter waters wholesome make Herod in this his rage doth type out those Of the malignant Church who still are foes To the Church Militant and by their will Religion in it infant age would kill Herod like malice and impiety Egyptian Babylonian cruelty It is though tyrants hold these termes in scorne To smother piety as soone as borne To quench Religion while it is a sparke And drowne poore soules by keeping from the Arke Againe in Herods foule designe of blood Satans condition may be vnderstood Who seekes not only by malicious will Christ while an Infant in our heart to kill But many children more euery good thought Though it be neuer into action brought To make those babes good motions in vs die Though they want strength to goe in act and lie In meditations cradle is his glory But I leaue types to prosecute the story While Herod inly vext became thus wilde With furious rage the Deuill rockt his childe But would not let him sleepe like some mad beast By nature feirce if wounded will not rest But doubling his fell fury and euen blinde With rage regards no longer how to finde His foe that hurt him but with head and feete Fiercely assailes the next that he doth meete So Herod who conceiu'd himselfe much wrong'd By the wise men for whose returne he long'd His hope deluded like one robd of sence Wreakes his reuengefull spleene on Innocence For full of doubtfull thoughts as well as sinnes To reason with himselfe he thus begins What childe is this that hath from Heauen his birth Foretold ere it be perfected on earth Vnto the World himselfe he hath not showne Yet is to those that neuer saw him knowne Ouer no people yet he hath command And wise men great men leaue their natiue land To waite vpon him o who is the wight That ouercomes me and yet does not fight That like a tyrant ouer me doth raigne Ere he the kingdome I possesse obtaine If he already me of state beguile What will he doe if he encrease a while Poore as he is he is more fear'd then I With all my riches and authority Or else these wise men or impostors rather For by their dealing lesse I cannot gather Whom my intelligence is I did make Would not haue faltered with me for his sake But here I vow who euer doe be friend him Nor heauen nor hel shall from my power defend him No I will make if my vnhappy fate Crosse not my will Bethlem as desolate Of Infants as this Infant hath made me Of comfort since his new nanâ—'d soueraignty Thus