From making such too great for they wil pare The Prince and polle the Commons without care For Slaves though Kinges in disposition Are most vnmeete to manage Kingdomes states And so are Men of base condition Vnfitt to make inferior Maiestrates The Floures of Crownes fitt not Mechanick Pates No more then costly plumes doe Asses heads They are call'd Crafts-men quasi craftie mates Let these rule such if they must governe needes For they at best are nought but holsome vveedes But some as voide of honestie as Arte Advance themselues by wealth the Nurse of Vice And with good gifts supply want of desert Good-giftes that Givers of Commands entice To part with them though they be nere so nice These seing wealth hath giv'n them Vertues meede Doe make port-sale of Vertue and Iustice T' enrich themselues to clymbe thereby with speed From whence the wracks of CoÌ„mon-weales proceed Did they but good themselues by some mens harme It might be borne although it heavy were But they hereby make all themselues to arme With gold that seeke authoritie to beare Because they see it s gotten by such geare When Vertue 's thus neglected and dispis'd Then Vice perforce doth in her place appeare And where dam'd Vice hath Vertues place surpris'd A Common-woe with Common-wealth's disguis'd That must be deerely sold that 's deerely bought And whereas Iudgments thus are bought and sold There by iust Iudgment al goes stil to nought Yet â—ustice and iust Iudgments States vphold Whose want wrappes them in mis'ries manifold The Iudgments of that Iust orewhelme that Land That armes Oppression gainst the Lawes with Gold For where it s so there VVill for Law must stand And Law goes with Confusion hand in haâ—d Intelligence supreme pow'r of the Soule Wherein alone w' are like the Deity Is that alone which makes vs meete to rule For Natures lawes and Reas'ns authority Requires that such should haue high'st dignity That by their vertue and their high estate They might conserve men in prosperity For right it is they should be rais'd to State That make the state of all most fortunate For Honor is high Vertues sole Reward For which all vertuous Men all paine endure If then such men from Honor should be barr'd All to be vicious it would soone procure For Vice doth raigne where Vertue hath no pow'r Where Honors are bestow'd without respect On good and badd as cloudes bestowe their shower There must of force ensue but badd effect For who 'l be good if Grace the good neglect In ancient Common-weales they wonted were Statues of mettall Arches triumphal With Publike Sepulture and praises cleere These and such like they did bestow on all That to their Common-weales were as a VVall For they that watch whilst others sound doe sleepe To stay the State that else perhapps might fall And laboure stil the Lambes from VVolves to keepe Such Shepherds should be honor'd of the Sheepe For to give Rule to none but Midasses Is ev'n as if a Shippe were rendered In greatest Tempests and VVindes outrages To richest Marchants to be governed Not to the skillful'st to be mastered Whereof ensues the wracke of shippe and freighâ— From which in Stormes it is delivered By skilful Pilotts which haue gott the sleight by their experience to direct her right Themistocles is iustly famoused For that by Valor and great Policie He did reduce th' Athenians beastly bredd To live by Lawes in great civility But Solon's prais'd more meritoriously Who finding Athens at the point to fall With shocke of Civill warre he readily Did staie the same and reestablish't all The Lawes Maiestrats driv'n to the wall Nor did Camillus that repulst the Galls And Rome preserved from their furies flame Deserve lesse if not more memorialls TheÌ„ the two BrethreÌ„ that first built the same Nor yet can Caesars or great Pompeies fame Though they Romes Empire stretcht from East to VVest Be so renowmed as his glorious name That found it neere by Haniball possest Yet rescu'd it and gaue it roome and rest Then Rule should not be given to the rich If with their wealth they were but fooles vniust The Common-wealth would private be to such For they would rule by Lawes squar'd by their lust And for their gaine stil buy and sell the Iust VVisedome and Iustice with wealth competent Should be in Rulers such â—he Prince might trust With greatest charge next them in government For each will rule as Vertues President For how i st possible men should perswade Others to vertue and to keepe the Lawes If they them-selues them-selues there froÌ„ disswade And by their lewdnesse others lewdnesse cause A Rulers Vice to vice the People drawes Sylla might wel be laught to scorne when hee Perswaded Temperance to all because He liv'd himselfe none more licenciouslee For none lesse loved mediocritee Lisander was no lesse to blame for hee Allow'd those Vices in the Multitude FroÌ„ which himselfe refrain'd religiouslee For if by Princes vices bee alowd It is al one as if they vice ensude But iust Licurgus nere did ought forbid But by himselfe the same should be eschude Whose subiects did no more theÌ„ himself did Such Legislators should bee deifide Such Prince or Priest such people saith the Saw Examples more then Lawes make men liue wel Doe Priests liue so their liues like Loadstones draw The people to the same And doe compel Sans-force t' obedience such as would rebel Then weigh what good or ill your liues doe cause Ye Prophets Sonnes that should in grace excel Is your life il its double ill because It hurts your selues and to vice others drawes And where Vice raignes Rebellion oft doth rule That diss-vnites the best vnited state Which growes from Governors vice or mis-rule That makes the Commons with no common hate Watch al advantage to abridge their date The forraine Foe then findes domesticke aide Aide that assists all that wil innovate So by their Subiects Sov'raignes are betraide VVhen their mis-rule makes them be disobaide ANd here my Muse leads me as by the hand Out of the way as it were by the way To view the liues of Princes of this Land Since first the Norman did the Scepter sway And scanne their vndertakings as I may For by th' event of Actions past wee shall The present and future the better sway Which is the vse of storie for they fal Seldome or nere that haue light to see All. VVilliam the Norman surnam'd Conquerer By his succesful sworde having subdude This compound Nation weake through civil war The Conquest hee so thorowly pursude As that an admirable peace ensude This fierce Invader with resistlesse force Dissolu'd the state and made the Multitude To liue by Lawes which Lawyers yet enforce Which of all former lawes did crosse the course Hee pull'd vp all that might pul downe his state
of Kings Whose Crownes are ever subiect to her shot There like a Snake that hisses not shee stings And oft ere shee is seene Confusion bringes For not without iust cause doe Poets faine That shee as one of the infernall broode Doth poison sucke to vomit it againe And makes of Snakes her flesh-consuming foode Which makes her like a blind-worme without bloud Who often creepeth like this abiect VVorme Not wotting which way each way but the good And in Preferments way shee doth enorme All feete shee meets with which none can reforme Envie therefore the hart doth macerate Because the Tongue dares not the griefe disclose That makes that griefe still on the hart to grate Which the leane looke alone in silence shoes Yet eies shrinke in as loth to tell the woes And looke ascue as if in looking straight They might directly so discouer those All which makes woe to haue the greater waight The soule and bodie so to over-fraight One said beholding one with envie pin'd I know not by thy lookes which all doe loth If they fare well or thou ill for thy Minde Is vext alike alike thou look'st for both Which subtill speech included simple troth For envi's griev'd no lesse for others good Then for her proper ill and is as wroth For others praise as if hers were with-stood And for both sucks alike her Subiectes bloud Shee envies all to all except envie And that shee envies to if it exceede Like Argus shee nere sleepes but when her eie Is charm'd by Mercuries sweete sounding Reede For envie flattered is well agreed When all respect is had of her and hers And all neglected els her All to feede No more till shee neglected be shee stirres Then as before her selfe shee straight bestirres The sunne at highest shee resembles right Though base shee be and darke as nether Hell For as the sunne obscureth things most bright And makes the light of things obscure excell So envie seeks men famous most to quell And praiseth most men least deserving praise Such as their deerest fame to shame doe sell All such if any at all shee most doth raise And all men els doth most of all dispraise The more Men want of what they faine would bee The more their want with envie is supplide The lesse if prowde they are in their degree The lesse they can their betters farre abide And horse prowd Beggars they like Kings will ride Now as each Vice doth in it beare about An inbred plague so in this doth reside The plague of plagues to weare it selfe quite out With fretting gainst the rich or roiall Rowt The envious privie to their owne defects Doe witnesse to themselues their small esteeme For which the VVorld they see them still reiects Through which they inly burst with griefe extreme But dare not let the world them envious deeme For no Affect is lesse disclos'd then this Because it makes men lesse then worthlesse seeme Therefore the much more dolorous it is For griefes doe breake the heart if vent they misse What Common-weales and mighty Monarchies What glorious Kings and famous Generals Yea which is strange what heau'nly Hirarchies Whose wretched state and miserable fals By envie wrought remaine in Capitals Whence all may see how actiue and how fell This Furie is who rests in Funerals Or when on earth Men rest i◠such an Hell That to th' infernall may be Paralell FRom Envy springs ay-watchful Iealousie Ore-plus of Loue as iealous Lovers would Which worse then Hell hates al Rivalitie And cannot brooke that any other should Possesse that wee or ours would or doe hold Yet some restraine it onely vnto Loue For being as they say more manifold It Obtrectation hight which who doth prove Shal finde the Minde vnlike it selfe to moue For she can thinke of nought but that alone That makes her iealous and when shee 's restrain'd Of former freedome shee is not her owne But like a Body bound t' a Racke is pain'd And thinks of nought but paine be'ng so constrain'd This is the Linx in Loue that never sleepes And oft too oft by Lust is entertain'd Who through nine walles of Mudd or Mettle peeps And so like Argus Loves beloved keepes Now as the thinges belov'd are good or badd So iealousie is good or badd thereby If Men be iealous of their thoughts that gadd From the chiefe Good good is that iealousie And in a Prince t is no impiety When he suspects Ambition in his State Nor in the mari'd ist an Heresy If loving iealousie without debate Doe keepe each others Love from cause of hate Like may bee sedd of Parents Kinne and Frendes So longe as it aymes but at like respect An harmelesse iealousie from harme defends Those whom they governe and by kinde affect Such ieal'usie doth in God our good effect Which makes him watch vs where wee wake or sleepe VVho in his loue thereby doth vs protect From al those vnseene ills that on vs creepe And by the same his honor safe doth keepe But iealousie conceau'd through cause vniust Be it in VVeddlocke Freindshippe or where not Makes Loue a Languishment for false mistrust Is not by God but by his Foe begott Which Loue with Lust doth evermore besott Hence come the Quarrells twixt the mari'd Paires When they through iealousie are overshott This makes Affraies too oft of great Affaires And ruynes that which loyal Love repaires The fell disturber of Loves sweete repose Copesmate of Care tormenter of the Minde The Canker of faire Venus sweetest Rose The Racke that over-racks the over-kinde The over-watchful Eye of Loue stil blinde The Hart of Caution wherein ay are bredd The vital Sp'rites of Arte to State assign'd Soule of Regard alive when it seemes deade All this is Iealousie that holds the Heade The Caucasus whereto Loues Hart is bound The Vulture which the thoughts thereof devoures The Primum mobile which turneth round The Braine which to the rest vnrest procures A Sore which nought that 's good for ought recures That 's Mummy made of the meere Hart of Love A temp'rall Hell whose torment still eudures The Pennaunce of Mistrust which Lovers proue All this is Iealousie which I reprove And now to ende where we should haue begunne When we began to touch corrupt Affects With Pride because from her al Vice doth runne As from the Fountaine which the Soule infects Which may be thus describ'd by her effects A swelling of the Hart which doth proceede From Selfe-conceite that gainst the Soule reflects And showes more glorious then it is indeede Which makes vs thinke our gifts al mens exceede THis Prodigie this more then mounstrous Pride This Soules envenomn'd Botch This Sourse of Sinne Can nothing lesse thē hir owne selfe abide When shee doth see her selfe another in If shee her selfe doth hate what can shee wynne But hate of all
iudgmeÌ„ts because we feele not the force therâ—of that at length like the Fly in the flame we are consumed of them o Civill warre is faâ—re worse then Tyranny or vniust iudgmeÌ„t Plutarch in Bruto p Gods commandements A Recapitulation of what hath bin discoursed touching the Kings of England their governments William Conqueror q Vis vnita fortior New Lords new Lawes r To hurt and heale for more health is holsome s Blessed is the affliction that procures greater perfection t Soone ripe soone rotten Edward 1. Longshancks Edw. 2. Rich. 2 Hen. 6. Edw. 5. a Ambition gathers resistles strength in a Kings weakenes Maiesty without magnanimity is vnassured Livie 2. â— b I haue seene servaÌ„ts on horses Princes walking like â— servaÌ„ts on the ground Eccl. 10.7 Edw. 3 Hen 4. Hen. 5. Edw. 4. Loving feare a sure guarde to Soveraigns No kingdâ—me free froÌ„ Ambition Kingdoms the obiects of fortune Envy Simil. a PerfectioÌ„ humane AmbitioÌ„ a sore of the minde incurable b An inevitable incoÌ„venience Richard 3. a Ambition would destroy al to be aboue all Hen. .7 Vniust peace is to be prefer red before iust warre Livie Yet open war is more secure theÌ„ suspitious peace Tac. 4. Hist. Great heapes are made of many litle thiÌ„gs in peace brought to nothinge in warre Peace good government the Parents of Prosperity God selleth vs riches for the price of labor We are said to be well backt when wee are no worse frended a Gold makes al thinâ—s pregnable b Money is the very sinâ—wes of a State Mucian c The good of the Subiects is the obiect of the good â—rince d Money saith Thucidides makes weapoÌ„s forcible and profitable Cyrusâ— was wont to say he heaped great treasures wheÌ„ he enriched his friends Subiects f Let Kinges that desire to live in peace provide in time thinges necessary for warre g Tiberius of Constantinople accounted that for counterfet coyne that was levied with Teares and cryings of the people h The bitings of enraged necessitie are most dangerousâ— Portiuâ— latro Hen. 7. a true Paâ—terne of a wise and vertuous Prince Hen. 8. Bounty doeth cover manie faults Avarice obscureth many vertues Guiftes doe superinduce the heart to loue He more respected honor then profit Edward 6. Qâ— Marie Contempt in subiects is the conâ—usion of government Qâ— Elizabeth Act. 5.35,36 37,38,39 The Mindes pleasurs much more pleasant theÌ„ corporal delightes Sensuall persons are vselesse burdens to the earth The senses soone weery of their pleasures Wine sicknes 2. Obstacles that lets the mâ—ndes actions Simil. Wee ought to propose nothing to the minde vnworthy of her Simil. Sense must awhile forbear pleaâ—ures to make them more pleasaÌ„t * The pleasurs which sense receiues from natural things are more pleasant theÌ„ those froÌ„ Artificiall * Nothing vnder the SuÌ„ne long coÌ„tents therefore wee should seeke contentment aboue the Sunne * Birdes Simil. None know it but they that feele it a The propertie of true felicity is alwaies to coÌ„cent the desire and exclude feare b St. Paule Loue doth descend not ascend How love is bredd Doating bâ—ings loathing God should simply be loved for his own goodnes It is selfe-loue to love God for his bounty towards vs onely b Loue made vs to loue God is mans beginning his end The order of loues progres He workes in vs both the will and the deede Selfe-loue is iustifiable wheÌ„ we loue our selues for god only Beauty is a speciall cause of loue God the FouÌ„t of all Beauty Painting the face * Without coulor of Reason Outward argues inwarde beauty Sinne is conceived in the womb of concupiscence * They rather ruine then repaire the â—ender honors of women A well teÌ„pred body makes a like tempered mind ordinarily An vnchaste eie loues to looke vpon â— light eie Beauty â—igniorizeth the sense The beauty of a WomaÌ„ cheereth the face and a man loues nothing better Eccl. 36.22 * Maried Adultery Luxury wantonnesse slouth Pride c. are sins in Specie the Genus to all these is Caro. 4. Kindes of divine furie Loues force is vnvtâ—erable Alexander Mag. b Plutar. in Alexand. Loue is lawlâ—â— Lust is blinde Such lovers are as sensles as the stones which they loue Lust is most willfull O toile intollerable Quoth Speculation Beâ—uty promisâ—th more honesty then deformity 3. Causes of loue viz Pleasant pâ—ofitable honest Perfect loue God the Exchequer of Beauty Goodnesse is mother to loue beauâ—y Goodnes hath made 4 especiall beautieâ— The little consideration we haue of Gods goodnesse towards vs is the cause of our coldnesse in loue to him The loue that is bought is â—â—ark nought A natural reâ—son why loue descendeth In him we liue move haue our being To know godâ— loue is the way to make Man loue All true loue is either Amor Coeâ—i or amor Seculâ— this of our neighbouâ—e that of God As â—here is no lâ—ue without faith so there is no faith without loue Loue of all humane Affections is the most puiâ—ant passionate b Loue is the Bond that vnites God man Brothers by redemption ought to be more neere deere to each other theÌ„ Brothers by creation In good desires there is pleasure and paine * God When loue is in the height of perfection â—owe favoure iâ— bredd Reverence springs from powre and goodnesse Simil. We reverence God more for his goodnesse then for his powre To whom honor and reverence are due vpon Earth Mercy and compassion Affectes flowing from loue Loue hath nothing in private Man made of earth CompassioÌ„ extendeth her vertue to man and beast Mercy Iustice are godâ— almightie Armes Gods Mercie triumpheth over his Iustice towards Man Priâ—ces and Maiestrates Inhumane affections howe bred 4. Perturbations froÌ„ whoÌ„ do flow al immoderate passions of the soule Wherefore God doth blesse man with abundance There is no greater temptation theÌ„ never to be teÌ„pted no sorer punishmeÌ„t then of God never to bee punished Sinne offers the senses their severall satisfactions Vertue without adversitie withereth and loseth her force There is no other passage to heaven theÌ„ through the fire of Afflictions Griefe fear accompanie transitory riches Simil. Good Affects proceede froÌ„ the opinion of good and evill froÌ„ evill OffeÌ„ce what All mundane things are as they are takeÌ„ Offenses against the outward Senses are much lesse osâ—ensiue then those against the inward * Nothing moues our patience that moves not our will Man of all creatures hardest to please * Who so pleaseth all doth more then he that made all Some to bee thought more iudicious are most censorious Criticks of these times A Foole may make the wise ridiculous to Fooles These be men of partes that would have al whollie The coÌ„plaint of base male-contents * Without good partes Divells incarnate tempt meÌ„ desperate * The PestileÌ„ce which infects al that comes neere it * They walke like Devills invisible A
their dores to dare VVhat may we doe when over vs doth raigne A kingly King and one Realme made of twaine If ever therefore twixt our Fathers were That now are rakt in dust cause to complaine Let it be rakt with them for wee are cleere From wronging each and each to other deere Both subiect to one Soveraigne then draw wee Togeather kindlie in subiections Yoke God and our King will ioy if wee agree But greive if we each other shal provoke And make vs feele their wrathes resistlesse stroke Then dwell in our harts for ioyes cordiall VVhich nothing but your sorowes can revoke Haue made them large ynough to hould you all And lend vs yours to doe the like withall Call for them when yee will they shal be yours Togither with the Tenaâ—nts harbred there But take our harts for now they are not oures But yours for ever let vs then ende ere Vs to you ever who are to vs deere My voice though base to highest Concord tends Then t is in tune I trust to ev'ry Eare If it be harsh my hart shall make amendes For it doth relish Loue which nere offends Then weigh our Prince our Peace with Vprightnesse And presse him to no more then that will way For if not too perverse we must confesse Our best requests sometimes may haue a nay For better ends which he may not bewray It is no ease for one two friends to please VVhen both perhapps doe but for one thing praie Then die ô die ere once him so displease As to vrge that that may his hart disease O that I had a Soule-enchanting Tongue That with an Eare-bewitching violence I might persuade to all that doth belong To perfect Loue and true obedience Sith our felicitie must flow from thence If so it be then nought the VVill can moue To loue if obiects of such excellence cannot allure the Mind and Will to loue As the felicitie which now we prove Our King comes not to our late barren Crowne Himselfe alone but brings a fruitfull Queene And Englands comfortes children of their owne By which the state ay stablisht may be seene Then blest are wee if ere wee blest haue beene O let vs then blesse him whose blessednesse Hath when our sinnes expected sorrowes keene Preserv'd vs both from warres and wretchednesse And let vs loue in Soule and singlenesse Giue vs your Daughters and take ours in marage That Blouds so mixte may make one flesh and bloud We will not yours then doe not ours disparage But ballance all by woorth and Liuely-hood By Vertue Beauty and what ere is good Each bend his wittes and all his industrie To make all one in body minde and mood Then God will blesse all bent to vnity And plunge vs all in all felicity If Concord makes of weake most mightie things And Discord of most mightie things most fraile If subiects peace and glorie be the Kings And their Disgrace and strife his disâ—vaile Then ô let my weake words strongly prevaile To strongest peace that makes weak'st weaknesse strong Then nought shall dare our daring peace t'assaile But we shall right th' oppressed Neighbours wronge And make them holde their owne as we doe longe As when a humane-flesh-fedd Caniball Hath singled out some weakling for a Pray And by the power of some Knight armed all Is sker'd at point to feede with skath away So from th' opprest we shall oppressors fray And be as Gods Liuetenants heere belo To see his highest iustice done each way That Heau'n by vs may make the Earth to kno We are Heau'n holpe to helpe all wronged so Whiles Myne and Thyne did disvnite our Crownes Two things for which the Sire and sonne will iarre There was some cause sometimes of secret frownes That ended too too oft with open warre But now both We and They vnited are And surely to sustaine that double Crowne Fiue Proppes we haue Ambition so to barre Made of each others substance so our owne Then what remaines but still to loue as One. The Lion to the Dragon 's reconcil'd That whilome did vpon each other feede Ierusalem hath David erst exild Free denized King proclaim'd with speede Whose Members dance for ioy of that iust deedâ— Hir King is now according to his Hart VVhich with saue goodnesse nothing is agreedâ— He is a King in all and in earth part By bloud without bloud Nature Minde and Arte. Fortune that crost the will and worke of Nature For many yeares hath now made her amends By making vs as we are one in nature And of vnfaithfull foes most faithfull friends That Hand on whose direction all depends Disposing Crownes and Kingdomes as it lists Hath made vs one I hope for endlesse endes Then curst be he that Heau'n herein resists And blest be him that it therein assists And though I be no Seer yet let mee Out of my darke foresight in things future Speake like a Seer that can snch things see That may be seene without the seeing pow'r And their like seene of blind men ev'ry howr If sinne crosse not the course of Heau'n herein Our Land that flowes with Hony Milke and Floure Shall be an Earthlie Paradice wherein Plentie and Peace shall woo from and to sinne But Plenty like an Eaue-enticing Snake Shall tempt vs with the Eye-delighting frute Of all voluptuousnes which if wee take There is a powr that can our fortunes sute VVith Adams when hee Eadâ—â— was cast out And with stil-sweating sorrow-furrowed Browes To liue or begge or starve if we be mute For nought hath roote so fast or gaily growes But Heaâ—â—nâ— least puffe extirpes and overthrowes O t is perfection next to that of Gods When Men are compast with all sensuall sweetes Then then to make the Will to know the odds Betwixt that sweete that lasts and this that fleetes And so restraine harts ioy when pleasure greetes An abiect Slaue will glutt his greedie Maw VVith what so ere his Sense with sweete regreetes If he can snatch it but great Myndes withdraw Their Wills from such base blisse by Glories law A Beare will breake her Belly if shee may So hoony be the meane to doe the deede And so will Men-beares doe as well as thay If they catch hoonied sweetes themselues to feede VVho make it their Minds laboure onely meede Basse humane Beasts how senselesse is your â—ense That will gainst sense and Reason so exceede Base is your minde worse your intelligence Odious to God and vnto Men offence If Landes are saide to flourish and reioyce Vnder new Kinges though oft worse then the old How may this Land as if shee had made choise Of hir Liege Lord that now the same doth hold For vertue onely ioy him to infold If Soules extreame ioy makes the Body dance VVittnesse sweete Psalmist then deere Liege behold Thy subiects iesture at thine enterance And be assur'd they besse this blessed chance And see how Vertue pulls to and putts
force As it hath powre it selfe to overcome How blest are they that doe themselues divorce From Custome ill by force of good custome And ten times blessed they that from the VVombe Accustom'd are to Vertues straightest VVay For such by Custome vertuous become Though powreful Nature doe her selfe say nay For Nature Customes powre is forc'd t' obay When the Affections Acts are habits growne Then Vertues or els Vices are they nam'd A vicious Habit 's hardly overthrowne For our Affection is therewith enflam'd As with the fire infernall are the damn'd Who though they would and though they anguish haue Yet cannot that outragious mood be ram'd But still they raging sin and cannot saue Themselues from that that makes their griefe their graue A vicious Habit is Hels surest Gin Wherewith a Man is sold to sinne and shame Running from sinne to sinne and nought but sinne As Rivers runne the same and not the same Til the mindes Iointes sinnes force doth so vnframe That it becomes most loose and dissolute Neither regarding heav'n hell shame nor fame But to liue loathsomly its resolute Thus Habits ill make evill absolute But few there are in whom all vice concurres And fewer are they that all faults doe want Vnto the worst offences cling like Burres And to the best as to the Adamant The Iron cleaues for the Church militant By nature is accompanied with sinne Yet the least force of faith partes them I grant Because it cleaues but sleightly to the skinne But to the wickeds flesh its fastned in For as a burre the longer it abides Vpon a garment being cott'nd hy The more the VVooll windes in his hooked sides So sinne the longer it in Flesh doth ly The faster to the same it s fixt thereby If Nature then sinne soone doth entertaine Vse violence to Nature by and by That it perforce may from the same refraine For what skill cannot force may yet constraine And as the Burre to VVooll so being fixt With skill or force cannot be parted thence But that some part will with the VVooll be mixt So sinne where it hath had long residence Will leaue remaines there maugre violence But Iron from the loadstone cleane will fall With but a touch and so wil sinnes offence From those in whom it s not habitual With but a touch of Faith though nere so small That I may touch the Subiect of my Rimes More home though homely I the same doe touch And for my travell'd Muse might breath somtimes And that the Reader too might doe as much Lest that prolixitie might make him grutch Here shall shee make a stande and looke a-backe As Riders rancke on Steepes haue customes such To breath their bony Nags when winde they lacke And courage them againe like toile to take THe knowledge of the Soule and of her Powres Is the well-head of morrall-VVisedomes flood Hence know we al worth knowing that is ours In body or in Soule that 's ill or good And if these Powres be rightly vnderstoode We know the founts from whēce our Actions slow And from what cause proceedeth ev'ry moode Or good or ill and where that cause doth grow Al this and more this knowledge makes vs know For in the Soule doth shine though sinne-obscur'd By Natures light great light of such science Whereby the Soule is made the more assur'd In all her Actions and Intelligence Though oft deceav'd by seeming goods pretence And for the Soule is to the body bound Affections therein haue their residence That as with wings the soule with thē might boūd Aboue her selfe from being bloud y drown'd Wherefore shee hath Affections of two kinds The one eggs on the other doe restraine By which the Minde the body turnes and windes As they the mind and minde the Corpes constraine Yet whē these Curbs our head-strong nature paine It winceth with the Heele of willfull-will Orethrowing those Affects that doe it reigne And in extremities it runneth still Which is the Race of Ruine Rest of Ill. This comes to passe when as we overpasse The bounds of Nature by our Natures vice And in some one excesse we do surpasse Desiring more then Nature may suffice To which our corrupt natures vs intice For let the least Necessity appeere A ken from vs though neere so smal of price We hold what els we hold though nere so deere VVorthlesse and for that want with woe we steere Hence is it that with never-ceasing toile And no lesse care we traverse all this All Nay all that All we restleslie turmoile And bandy as it were this Earthie Ball Past reasons reach to win worlds wealth withal Desire of having thus still moiles the minde Though Nature be suffis'd with pittance small VVhich makes vs loose our selues when wee it finde Sith see our selues we cannot being blinde It blinds our Eyes that seldom'st are deceav'd Eyes of our Soule that make our Bodies see Then Soule and Bodie cannot be perceav'd By their owne vertue when they blinded be And mine and thine doth sever mee and thee Nought can content vs. Therefore the Affects Are in the soule like windes that nere agree Vpon the Sea and worke the like effects Some great some smal yet like in most respects Beside the chiefe windes and Collaterall Which are the VVindes indeede of chiefe regard Sea-men observe more thirtie two in all Al which are pointed out vpon their Carde But our Minds Mapp though many may be spar'd Containeth many more Affects then these All which though sett our Minds Content to guard Yet sturr they vp as VVindes doe on the Seas Vnquiet Passions which the Minde disease When Zephire breathes on Thetis she doth smile Shee entertaines that gale with such content But if proude Boreas doe puffe the while Shee 's madd with rage and threates the Continent For those proud puffes her soule doe discontent So some Affections our soules browes vnbend And other some doe sextiply each dent Some meanely please some meanely doe offend And some doe make the Soule her Soule to rend Those that doe meanely moue Affections hight The other Huff-snuffes Perturbations be These later rudely gainst their Guides doe fight And so enfume them that they cannot see Or make them from their Charge away to flee So that the soule being left without a Guide And tost with Passions that still disagree Doth like a Sternelesse Shippe at randon ride On mightiest Seas wrack-threatn'd on each syde For if our Reasons iudgment blinded be Th' Affections needes must ever run awrie And draw with thē each sense tumultuoslee To offer violence to lowe and hye That God and Nature tast their tyranny Let but the Hart bee loue-sicke and the same Will carry Iudgment where his Loue doth ly And there confine it setting all on flame That offers but resistance once to name The lower Iudgment in our blood is sunck The lower is her reach in Reas'ns discourse For Iudgmēt
Supplanting or transplanting ev'rie plant That might proue poison to his frolicke fate And planting in their place ere Plants did want Such as were holsome or lesse discrepant So that no Brittaine Saxon Dane or all Could to this day his Ofspring here supplant But they haue doe and still continue shall Vntill this Kingdome from her selfe doth fall It was no little worke nor wisedome lesse From so smal wealth and powre which he possest Not onely such a people to suppresse But erst at ods to make them liue in rest For ten descents twice tolde and more at least Not as a Nation mixt but most intire And with new Lordes new Lawes the land invest Which straight extinguish might seditions fire And keepe Ambition downe that would aspire For vvho so reacheth vvith his sworde a Crowne If head and hand vse not like government The reeling Crowne may soone be overthrowne Though it perhaps be propt by Parliment VVitnesse our Conquests in the Continent That vvere more glorious then commodious Because we made the sword the instrument Onely to make our selues victorious But not to keepe vvhat made vs glorious From VVilliam vnto Edward Longshancks nam'd Turmoiles and Brals to that state incident That is not throughly staide the Land inflam'd For no peace is so sure or permanent But Avarice or Pride makes turbulent Richard the first transported by desire To helpe to conquere Iurie thether went And made his brother Iohn Regent intire Who did vsurpe the Crowne ere his retire In which returne hee vvas tane Prisoner In Austria from whence b'ing ransomed Hee repossest his Crowne but in the warre He made when he his Crowne recovered Vpon his foes he life surrendered The end of Kings thus causing their owne griefe To leaue their crownes so neere anothers Head A pleasant pray enticeth many a Theefe And who 'l bee second when he may be chiefe Neither did Iohn escape the heavie hand Of iust Revenge to all Vsurpers due In whose dire Raigne two curses crost the Land Gods and the churches which made all to rue For ceaslesse Troubles did thereon ensue And in conclusion his life hee lost For vengeance to the ende did him pursue So al his life hee beeing turn'd and tost Before his time gaue vp his tired Ghost But to descend to Longshanckes in whose time The common-wealth fast rooted gan to sprout And by this Piller to high state did clime For he was prudent painefull valiantâ— stout And dextrously his bus'nesse brought about He wisely waide how incommodiously The Conquests stoode atchiv'd the Land without Therefore he bent his powre and industry It to reduce into a Monarchie On VVales and Scotland he that powre imploide Reducing both to his obedience And long might one the other haue enioy'd Without hart-burning inbâ—ed difference If hee had vs'd King VVilliams dilligence Prosperous he was abroade and iust at home A no lesse vertuous then a valiant Prince Leaving his Sonne that next supplide his rome A demonstration what doth kings become Edward his Sonne succeeded him in Rule But not in Rules by which he rul'd aright Who being seduc'd by Masters of Misrule Referr'd the government to their oresight Who all oresaw but what advance them might Vntill their rapine and ambition The loue of all from their Liege parted quight So that the Sire assail'd was by the Sonne And being subdu'd â— in Prison A direfull end to Kinges misguided due Who like to figg-Trees growing on the side Of some steepe Rocke doe feede none but a crue Of Crowes and Kites which on their Toppes do ride And plume on them base Birds on ev'ry side A States abundance if it manag'd be By a lascivious King which Slaves misguide Subverts the State which Kinges cannot foresee When they are compast with ill Companee Edward the third was most victorious In all attempts and Actions fortunate No lesse iudicious then valorous Yet were his Conquests hurtfull to his State For they the same did but debilitate So that when through his ages feeble plight And this ore-racked Realmes most poore estate The Synnewes of the warre were cracked quight His wonted fortunes then plaide least in sight His Fathers blood with never-ceasing cries Filling Th' almighties iust al-hearing Eares Importunes Vengeance which with Argus Eyes VVatcheth his shaking house for many yeares And to his Sonnes Sonne fearefully appeares Disastrous Richard second of that name Pestred with plagues and ceaselesse cause of feares Through his misrule can well averre the same VVho did the forme of this State quite vnframe He like his Grandsire great great troubles rais'd Through his more great oppressions and excesse He lov'd and praised none that vertue prais'd Liv'd like his Grandsire great with like successe VVho blest a few that few or none did blesse Edward and Richard second of their names The last the first did second in distresse Both over-ruled were by base past-shames So Both alike lost Kingdome Life and fames And if there be wrench in this Paralell It is in that one had a sory Sonne The other a like Cousin to compell Him yeeld his Crowne beâ—ore his Daies were done VVhich were abridg'd as Edwards in Prison But if this King had not so childish bin VVhen Mowbray peacht th' Vsurper of Treason He might haue bin secure from al his Kin But blinded Iudgment is the hire of Sinne. Thus faâ—es it with weake Kings and Cousins stronge Richard lies naked clothed with his gore Exposed to the view of old and yonge A woefull Spectacle if not much more For Kinges that live as he had liv'd before But though Examplâ—s freshly bleeding yet Doe Caue crie or rather lowde doe rore Yet Kings thus clawde where they doe ytche forgett The future paine â— on present pleasure sett Henry the fourth which thus vsurpt the Crowne Of all Vsurpers had the best successe For he was provident to hold his owne And for the Common-wealth he was no lesse In Field and Towne he would direct the Presse Chiefe Captaine and chiefe Councellor was he Who rul'd in height of VVisedome and Prowesse Into obscurest Treasons he could see And if they VVere soone cause them not to Bee This held him Kinge as long as life he held Which was as longe as Nature gaue him leave And courage gaue the Scepter wel to weld Vnto his Sonne to whome he both did leave Who did accordingly the same receave He rul'd as did his Sire in VVisedomes strength And heigth of Valor which he eke did give Who caught fast hold on fleeting France at length ,But weak Arms loose what ere the stroÌ„g Arme geint'h And now as rowsed from a tedious Sleepe After this Kinge with glorie was interr'd The Divine Vengeance gan againe to peepe Vpon his Sonne that longe had bin deferr'd The Cries of Richards blood now well are heard And
thy fame from thy name WILLIAM Sons Son of VVilliam dreaded Earle Of Pembrooke made by Englands dreadful'st King Nephue to Sidney rare VVorths richest Pearle That to this Land her fairest fame did bring These VVorthies worthes are treasured in thee So three in one makes one as deere as three I. D. To the same VVIthin my Soule I sensiblie doe feele A motioÌ„ which my Minds atteÌ„tion markes That is to strike Loues Flint against Truthes Steele More hard to kindle thy loue by the Sparkes But if the fire come not so freely foorth As may inflame the Tinder of thy loue The tender of my Zeale shal be hencefoorth Offred in flames that to thy grace shal move Which is their Spheare where they desire to rest And resting there they wil in glorie shine I am thine owne by double interrest Sith once I vow'd my selfe to thee and thine O then had I but single loue of you I should bee double bound to VV. Your Honors peculier Iohn Dauies To the Right Honorable and highly renowmed Lady the Countesse of Pembrooke the Vertuous Lady Lady Anne her daughter and the Right Worthie and Worshipfull Phillipp Herbert Esquier her Sonne THus must poore Debters pay their Creditors And share a little where the due is more I owe my selfe to you great Favorers And I am little so are great Ones poore I owe my selfe vnto my selfe and so Doe â— to those whom as my selfe I loue I owe you more the three in One belowe Which I haue honor'd most next That aboue If more what more sith that 's more theÌ„ I haue for I am not so much mine owne as yours More by as much as what I else might crave I wish it mine for you for in your powres All that and more if more could be possest Should while you held me yours yours firmly rest I. D. To the Right Honorable the Earle of Mar. c. LOE how my Muse inflamed by desire To winne thy loue in paying thee thine owne Doth striue with VVitts dull sword and loves quicke fire To honor thee but how that is vnknowne And if vnknowne to me then needs it must To All to whom my Thoughts are lesse reveal'd In me it 's like an Embrio or like Dust Wherein the first Man laie at first conceal'd I am devising how to fash'on it God grant I spoile it not in hammering And if I doe I le sacrifize my VVitt In fire of Zeale the while my Muse doth sing Like to the Swanne when death the songe ensu'th Most blest to die with sweete Mar in her Mouth I. D. To the Right Honorable and Loiall-harted Lord the Earle of Clanricard OVR English Crownes approued Irish frend That raign'st in our true loue for such thy truth Let thine owne rare perfections thee coÌ„meÌ„d For perfect praise perfection still ensu'th I never was so happie as to see thee Much lesse to knowe thee whom I longe to see But in thy predecessor did fore-see thee For if Fame fable not much like you bee To add then to thy glory more bright beames Loue His thy other-selfe with deerest loue For shee hath martir'd bin with greefes extreames Deere Innocent whose vertues all approue Her loue to thee doth argue thy hie vvorth Then loue such loue that setts thy glory forth I. D. To the Right Honorable and no lesse vertuous Lady the Countesse of Clanricard HOnor attend as vertue guides thy life Deere Lady lou'd of all that are belov'd As it hath done thee virgin VViddowe VVife For which thou wert of all in all approu'd By Heav'n assign'd to Natures Miracles Mirrors of Manhood and Heroick partes VVorld Flesh Fiends to such are obstacles But God Saints Angels guerdoÌ„ their deserts In thee it is the loue of such â—'alure And binde them to thee with loves Gordian knott It is thy grace and reputation pure That made these worthies fall so to thy Lott God give thee ioy of this for in the rest Thou seemd'st accurst because so highly blest I. D. To the most heroick meritoriously renowmed Lord the Lord Mount ioy Lord Deputy of Ireland TO praise thee noble Lord were but to doo What all the world doth and to doo the same Were to offend and that extreamly too And al extreame offence incurrs defame Praise is not seemely in a wicked mouth The VVorld is wicked and her mouth is worse Ful of detraction false-praise and vntruth Then should I praise according to her course O no! thy vertue merits more regard Let Vertue praise thee as thou her dost praise For sacred vertue is her owne reward And Crowns her selfe in spight of Fortunes Nayeâ— She is thy guide and Glory her attends VVhich her in thee and thee in her commends The true lover of your honor vertue I. D. To the Right honorably honored and right wel-beloved yonge Earle of Essex c. DEere offspring of that all-belooued One Deere vnto all to whom that one was deere The Orphanes God requites thy cause of mone By Him that doth to all like God appeere Al those that loue you al-beloued Two Will blesse and loue him for it blest of God To comfort Innocents and Orphanes too That ruin'd were by fell Disasters Rod. Liue like His Sonne that liv'd too like him selfe And dide like one deere to Him without like He wrackt his fortunes on false Favors shelfe Which are this worlds that smiles wheÌ„ it doth strike And that thou mai'st thy country glorifie No lesse then hee all pray then needes must I. I. D. To the R. Honorable Sr. Iohn Popham Knight Lord chiefe-Iustice of England c. IVstly seveare seveare in Mercies cause Sith it is mercie mercie-wanting men To cut of with the razor of the lawes That wounds the wounders of their brethren To thee graue Cato are these lines adrest As proofes of what respect they beare thy fame Which with these VVorthies shal be here imprest By my best Pen in Honor of thy name If best deseruers of the publike weale Should not be memorized of the Muse Shee should her proper vertue so conceale And so conceal'd should that and them abuse To free her then and thee from so great wrong Liue lines with Pophams earned praises long I. D. To the R. Honorable and most learned Lord the Lord Henry Haward c. WHat hope the noble vertuous and the learn'd May haue they having now so rare a King In thee learn'd vertuous noble Lord 's discern'd In whom these flourisht without cherrishing Where vertue raignes her subiects shal beare rule The learn'd and vertuous shee wil haue to sway For vice wel-learned is but arm'd Misrule By whom the vertuous stil are made awaie Honors doe alter manners in â—those men That are to honor and good manner foes In thee that is not to be feared then For each with thee from thy conception groes And sith Apollo now doth water them They wil grow great togither with the stemme I. D. To the Right Noble
â—o traÌ„sgres theÌ„ a They that favor sin are aâ— worthye of death as they that coÌ„mit the sin Rom 1.31 The way by precepts is obscure long but by exampleâ— shoâ—te plaine Senec. b Princes and Priests ought to be the Exchequers of Gods inestimable Graces c Good works ar much more perswasiue to good life theÌ„ good wordes d Good life is the effect and glory of the church militaÌ„t of the good Pastors thereof Blessed is the Prince Priest whose liues serue for vnwriâ—en law Mâ—s-goveâ—nment â—or the most parte iâ— cauâ—e of rebellion an aâ—gument of the goodnes of ours WilliaÌ„ Duke of Normandy Others harme teach vs to shuÌ„ what caused them Brittanâ— Saxon Dane It is a glorious matter to coÌ„quer but a much more glorious to vse the Conquest well The way to establish a state purchased with the sword A consequent of removing great ones in a newe-conquered kingdome 20 And odde descentes of Kings and Queens since the conquest As this of this Conqueror France Our glory shame Avaâ—ice and Pride the perverters of Peace It is meer madnes to trust the Crown in their handes that long to put it on their owne heads Rich 1. taken prisoner in Austria The sincerest minds may be teÌ„pted aboue their strength by the glitering glosse of a crown lying within reach The Pope interdicted the land By poison as some saie Edward 1. All kings that thought so thrivâ—d the better * WaÌ„ ScotlaÌ„d That which is gotâ—eÌ„ with the Sword must so bee mainetained which little instrument can remooue Obstacâ—es bee they never so gâ—eat or keep them downe that wold rise without permission To rule is as much as to amend that which is amisse or awry b A Prince once in obloquie doe hee wel or ill al is ill taken of his subiects Tacitus Hist. Simil. Claw-backs and Sinn-soothers d The more wealth the more woo if evil imployed Edward 3. The divine Vengeance sleepes not though it wincks Richard of Burdeux One evil corrupteth another and evill put to evill is cause of mutuall destructioÌ„ h God executes his owne iustice by the iniustïce of others i Present pleasures take away the thought of future paine Henry 4. k A Kinge should be able to councell as chiefe councellor and direct as chiefe Captaine Henry 5. l Vengeance attends the 3. and 4 generation of mercilesse maÌ„quellers Henry 6. Rich. Duke of York claimed the crowne in Parliament * No king iâ— but halfe onâ—â— The fruites springing froÌ„ the powâ—e of ParliameÌ„ts to make Kings in England * Germanicus because one or two in the Army had only a purpose to salute him by the name of Emperor was never wel brooked til by his own death he had paide the price of other meÌ„s rashnes Tac Hist. * No wisdome prevailes against Gods decree Edward 4. a The effects of civil warre for looke how much Peace is betâ—er then warr so mâ—ch is â—orraine invasion better then civill dissention b Civill warre tenâ—es to the preiudice of the yet vnborne c Kings houses yeeld many such Vermine d For a poore and hungry Army cannot observe military disciplin Casiodorus e Ambition vpon the least opportunitie setts vpoÌ„ what so ere hinders hir rising f More coÌ„mon weales are ruined for want of good obayers theÌ„ good commanders g Iealousy is glued to loue and to a Crowne h Birth Bequest Laws of God Nature Nations and ReasoÌ„ togeather with all kingly worthines makes good our now kings possession i Neerenesse of blood doth oft put hartes furthest a sunder in Kâ—ngdomes cases k The Lawe it selfe will rather admitt a mischiefe theÌ„ an inconvenience l He alwaies shal be suspected hated of the Prince in possession whoÌ„ men doe account worthy or like to be Prince in succession Tacitus Hist. The Valor fierce courage of the great Cousin displeaseth the iealous Soveraigne Tacit. m All crafty Achitophell-like councels are in showe pleasant in execution hard and in event deadly dangerous n A BaÌ„kerours peace is in civill discord his discord is in peace o Gods Iudgments are inscrutable but none vniust p Iustice equal in quality quantity for Henry 6. and his Sonne were murdered c. q Man ought not to vse maÌ„ prodigally Seneca Richard 3. r Vnder this King to do ill wasâ— not alwaies safeâ— alwaies vnsafe to doe well as Tacitus reports of Neros raigne Princes that tyrannously governe their people haue greater cause to feare good men then theÌ„ that bee evill They which coÌ„teÌ„n peace and covet honour doe lose both peace honor A good cause in publike war like the Cape Bone spei coÌ„ducts to the laÌ„d of triumph Hen. 7. A good prince makâ— war that hee may haue peace and endures labor in hope of rest Salust Eccles. 5 8â— * Where God is praised meÌ„s endevors are blessed * Two things doe establish the Throns of kings prudeÌ„ce pietie the one aâ—earing in their Actions the other in their manners 1. King 3.12 Homer faineth all the Gods to sleep except Iupiter implying ther by the care of a good King for his subiectâ— Princes ought to measure their Actions by the standerd of their Laws as this did Hen. 8. His sword was so successefull as made his neighbours glad of his friendship feareful of his indignation Mercie may haue her excesse in humaÌ„ things Clemency is most daungerous where wheÌ„ soft quiet dealing draweth on more evil then severityâ— * Forrain CoÌ„questes were costly in achiving costly in holding oft no lesse costly then dishonoâ—rable in forgoing * In liberal larges to his friends servants Our Kinges might haue had a double intrest in their subiectes The hearts of Kings are in his hands that disposeth all things to effect his inevitable decrees Beheaded him He knew it was not the speach of a wise man to say who woulde haue thought it Edw. 6. Simil. a For private good b Disorder mother of Confusion c Sedition the plague of perverâ—nesse d Fortune ofteÌ„ reserveth tâ— the hardest chanceâ— them whoÌ„ she advaÌ„ceth to the greatest dignity The fortunate cannot doe ill iâ— they would He is made wise too late that is made wisâ— by his owne hâ—rme and irrecovâ—rable lâ—sâ—e f Dâ—pâ—â—t from thâ—â—e enemies and bewâ—re of thy fâ—iendes Eccle. 6.13 g Frailty is ful of falshood h There is nothing more profitable to mortall men then distrust Euripides i They that stand with all worldes will stand with no world if the world stand not with theÌ„ Queen Mary k Love covers the multitude oâ— sins in our neighboure what should it doe theÌ„ in our Soveraignes that haue more meanes inducemeÌ„ts to sin theÌ„ private peâ—sons l Queene Elizabeth m All that vnderstand the worth of blessed Peace will say Amen to a praier for Peace God will rather heare the Orisons of theÌ„ that pray for Peace theÌ„ the TruÌ„pets that proclaime warres n So often wee play with Gods