best But none sees all Who hath not doth who doth not yet may fall 296 I doe not barke against Authoritie My heart did neuer lodge vnreuerend thought Heau'n knowes how I adore just Soueraigntie How oft my soule w th vpheau'd hands haue sought Vnto that God whose precious bloud vs bought For our right vertuous * King This peacefull State And all those powers he doth subordinate 297 Long before this how often haue I pray'd Vnto th' Almighties supreame Maiestie And in a faithfull Zeale deuoutly said When lou'd ELIZA of blest memorie Shall pay the debt of all mortalitie And leaue her Crowne vpon this Earth To bee Translated to a Crowne in Heau'n with thee 298 Doe not againe a Conquering William bring Nor an intruding Stephen to steere our helme Let neither power nor practise make a King That hath not lawfull Title to the Realme Least Ciuill broyles so caus'd should ouerwhelm The fortify'd foundations of our Land Which thou hast layd by thine ELIZAES hand 299 And if one beame of thy resplendent light Most faire all gladding Sunne chance to discend Vpon this short Abridgement which I write Let no conceit thy Sacred selfe offend For It was chiefly molded to this end To shew how much our selues obliged stand For that firme Peere that now doth blesse our Land 300 Which by Collation of those gloomie dayes Appeare more full of Comfort and Content But I goe on Muse keepe the beaten wayes Whilst Spencers rul'd with Common discontent Eu'n God him-selfe inflicted Punishment Vpon the Prince the People and the Land Which felt the weight of his afflicting hand 302 The King him-selfe was full of diffidence And sought to strengthen his Partialitie The Lords not brooking Spencers Insolence Did league themselues with strong formalitie The best were guiltie of Neutralitie The vulgar sort were tyded vp and downe As fortune pleas'd to fauour or to frowne 302 The Earth her selfe as sorrowing for her Sonnes Or weary of their foule misgouernment Grew out of heart and barren so becomes Not yeelding men sufficient to bee spent But seem'd to droope away with languishment So may wee see how God vnfructifies A fruitfull Land for mens Impieties 303 The louring heau'ns do seem to drop down teares As if they wept to wash the sinfull Earth Infectious fogges and gloomie cloudes appeares which choke the growth of all things in their birth Heau'n Earth and All conspir'd to make a dearth O see when God takes Armes against his Land Hee can enroll all Creatures in a band 304 Great was the want of that vnhappie time The Earth not yeelding her accustom'd-store And that which was whilst greedy men purloyne And hoord It vp They make the Famine more Grinding thereby the faces of the poore As if Gods heauie hand were too too light Vnlesse eu'n Man should study mans despight 305 Such men are Traytors eu'n to Natures law And doe conspire against the Common good They wring the bread out of the poore mans jaw By keeping vp the Corne whilst they want food But without doubt God will require theyr blood Their guiltlesse blood which from the earth shall cry And begge revenge for such Impietie 306 If but one sparke of Grace in them did dwell Did they respect humaine Societie Had they a hope of Heau'n or feare of Hell Or any little sence of Pietie Did they in heart conceiue a Dietie And that most Iust most wise most powerfull too They would forbeare what God forbids to doe 307 But neither feare of God nor Loue of men Nor just Compassion of a Publicke ill Can worke vpon their steely hearts And then Coeâ—ciue meanes best fits a stubborne will Else they 'l bee hard'ned in their malice still For often times we see where Nature fayles Law Interposes and indeed preuailes 308 The auncient Roman state in It 's chiefe Pride When It was gouern'd with most sound advice Had Leges Frument arias to prouide That Corne should not grow to too high a Price And sure It was a course both Iust and wise When men grow monstrous eu'n against their kind Wee must like Monsters them inclose and bind 309 But now I must not bee misunder stood I doe not passe a heauie Censure heere Vpon such men as for the generall good Store vp the plentie of a fruitfull Yeere And keepe it safe till more cause doth appeare To vent the same And when such cause shall be As they were frugall so they must bee free 310 Religious Ioseph in the Aegyptian Land Stor'd vp much graine and at an easie Rate He had his warrant sign'd with Gods owne hand Both for the publicke good of the whole State To which hee did that graine Communicate And to relieue his Fathers familie In those ensuing yeeres of Scarcitie 311 And so wee may and must after like fashion When there is great abundance to come-In Prouide both for the wants of our owne Nation And to helpe those that our Confiners bin Frugall prouision neuer was a Sinne. It is a just and honest Policie So to prouide against necessitie 312 But in a time of Dearth when there is want Then for a man to hoord and hide his graine With an Intent to make the same more scant And so to rayse the price for his owne gaine Is such a Sinne as were I to ordaine A Law against It for the Common good I should with Dracâ— write that Law in blood 313 But O what times are these wherein wee liue In which wee neither can Indure the Sore Nor yet the Salue The Causes why we grieue Nor yet the means which should our states restore Once Pharoes Kine which were but leane pore Deuour'd the fat Those times are altred cleane For now we see The fat deuoures the leane 314 But whilst Impatient hunger did constraine The vulgar sort to eate vnhealthy food A great Mortalitie began to raigne Spilling too much but most Ploebeian blood And after Dearth came Death with angry mood Loe wretched man how woes still come in grosse And after One succeeds a second Crosse. 315 When God seuerely scourgerh any Land Hee seconds Plagues with plagues and woes with woes Hee taketh his three-stringed whip in hand Of Dearth of death of home or forreine Foes And from these three all desolation growes What true Content what rest to man remaines When ills by Ounces Good scarce comes by Graines 316 And to increase the current of my Care A slauish Groome Iohn Poydras was his name Borne in the West At Exceter did dare To bruit abroad that he form Long-shankes came And I a Changling was suppos'd the same That hee in truth was Edwards lawfull Sonne And by a Nurse this treacherie was done 317 But afterward of his vntruth conuicted Hee did confesse that hee was mou'd to that By those blacke Artes that God hath Interdicted And by a Spirit in likenesse of a Cat Who did assure him by this damned plat Hee should vnto the Soueraigntie attaine But a poore Rope
had poore Edward bin If Death had ended then his weary dayes For cast on Shoare in Wales I liu'd vnseene In path-lesse woods and vnfrequented wayes With those few friends whom whilome I did raise Balduck Reading young Spencer and no more Who in my fall their ruine did deplore 473 Of all the swarmes that followed Kingly Raigne Of all the friends that faw'nd on awfull pride Loe onely this poore Remnant did remaine Whose â—ortunes glew'd to mine made theÌ„ t' abide A true-loue knot with sad affliction ty'd For wretched men Compâ—ssionate each other And kind Compassion is affections mother 474 O see what quick-sanâ—s Honour treads vpon How Icie is the way that Greatnes goes A mighty Monarch late Attended-on With supple hammes smooth browes submissiue showes For many followers now hath many foes For â—awâ—ing friends from falling fortunes runne As Persians vs'd to Curse the setting Sunne 475 When Ioue had made the chiefe of all his Creatures VVhich wee call Man A liâ—tle world indeed The Gods did praise his well proportion'd features Each in their functions seruing others need But prying Momus taking better heed Obseru'd at last one Errour in his Art Because hee made no windowes in mans heart 476 O that the glorious Architect of man Had made transparent Glasses in his brest VVhat place should bee for Politicians then How should dissembling grow in such request And machiauillian Athiesme prosper best But temporising is the way to Clime There is no musicke without keeping time 477 I shall not doe amisse If now I sing Those heauie Anthemes our sad Consort made VVhilst they did warble to their wretched King As wee did Sorrowing sit in silent shade The Sodaine downfall Reeling Greatnesse had Balduck quoth I ouâ— of Philosophie Distill some medicine for our Miserie 478 Deare Prince quoth he whom late our Eyes beheld In greatest Glory that the world could see VVhilst thou with awfull Maiestie did'st weild The publike State let It no wonder bee If some few Starres proue opposite to thee Since in their fauour none so firmely stood But they haue giu'n them griefe as well as good 479 Doe but obserue the Fauorite of Chance Her chiefest Minion highest in her Grace Philips great * Sonne whom she did so aduance Who did subdue the East in little space Vnto whose Armes th' Amazed world gaue place Whose Actions are the subiect of all Stories Hee poys'ned dyes amidst a world of glories 480 I list not wade in telling tragicke Tales Sufficeth this All greatnesse is vnsure Stormes rage more fiercely on the hils theÌ„ dales Shrubs better then high Cedars windes indure Those Colours soonest staine that are most pure O let him graspe the Clouds and span the sky That can assure himselfe felicitie 481 In all that this same massie world doth hold There is a certaine mixture to bee found Eyther of dry or moyst or hot or cold Of which If any One too much abound The body so affected proues vnsound But being kept in just proportion They doe maintaine a healthfull vnion 482 So fares It in our fortunes and our State Nothing is simply sweet or simply sower Our weale is mixt with woe our loue with hate Our hope with feare weaknes w th our power Bright Moones breed mists yâ— Sunshine morne a shower And as there is an Autumne a Spring So change by course is seene in euery thing 483 The wind that 's now at South will change to Nore The greenest grasse will turne to withered Hay The Seas both â—bbe and flow at euery shore The Moone doth wax and waine yet not decay Day drawes on night night drawes on the day Our selues once babes now men now old streight none Doe plainely proue a change in euery-one 484 Wise Politicians and deepe-sighted Sages That haue discourst of Common-wealths with Care Both of our time and of precedent Ages Obserue in them a birth when first they are A growth which oft extendeth very farre A sâ—ate wherein they stand and change withall And then at last A finall fatall fall 485 Rome had her being first from Romulus Her growth from Consuls that were annuall Her State most flourish'd in Octaâ—ius Many Conuersions Three most principall From Kings to Consuls Last Emperiall And O who sees not she is ruined And in her ruines now lyes buried 486 The greatest and best grounded Monarchie Hath had a Period and an overthrow There is no Constant perpetuitie The streame of things is carried to and fro And doth in euer-running Channels goe If then great Empires are to changes bending What weaker States are warranted froÌ„ ending 487 Ruines of Kingdomes and their fatall harmes From one of these same causes doe arise From Ciuill furie or from forreigne Armes Or from some plague doom'd froÌ„ the angry skyes Or worne by wasting time dissolued dyes For as the fruit once ripe falls from the Tree So Common-wealths by Age subuerted bee 488 If these be Rockes that shipwracke Monarchies Are priuate States exempted from the same Where liues the man hath such Immunities 'T is hard to scape vnscorch'd in Common flame Or parts to stand when ruin'd is the frame Those publike harmes that Empires doe decay In priuate states doe beare a greater sway 489 Fiue hundred yeeres some that are curious wise Would haue the Period of a publike State And they appoint for priuate families Some Six or Seu'n discents the vtmost date I dare not so precisely Calculate But without doubt there is a fixed Time In which all States haue both their Eu'n Prime 490 Let these be motiues O dejected greatâ—One To calme the Tempest of thy stormie Care And though I must confesse it well may fret-one Thy past and present fortunes to compare Yet since in all things changes common are Thinke Ebb'd estates may flow think withal What happ's to One to every-one may fall 491 Thus Balducke ceas'd and Reading thus begun But first his eyes dew'd downe a weeping raine O thou once glorious now Eclipsed Sun Now thou art clouded yet maist cleare againe With Courage therfore hopefull thoughts retaine For oft those winds yâ— draw the Clouds together By their disperse occasions fairer weather 492 But I intend no Comment on this Text Nor will I harrow that which he did sow What I apply to thy sad Soule perplext With those dismayes that from thy Fortunes flow Out of th' assured grounds of truth doth grow Then make good vse thereof and learne thereby This Soueraigne Salue for thy sad melodie 493 All things that boundlesse thought can once conceiue Sacred prophane of Elements compos'd Vnbodied Spirits or what else doth receiue A being when or where or how dispos'd Within one Triple Circle are inclos'd Being Eternall or perpetuall Or else indeed but meerely Temporall 494 That is Eternall which did not begin Nor euer ends and onely God is so Who hath for euer and from euer bin VVhoÌ„ no place circumscribes nor times forego Nor limits bound nor thoughts can fully
seru'd to preuent his Raigne 318 Heere giue me leaue a little while to dwell Vpon the Nature of this accident First I obserue The Diuels cannot fore-tell Before things Come what will bee theyr euent If that the same bee properly Contingent That is That may bee and not bee as-well And such no Deuill no Spirit can fore-tell 319 All future things that haue or may be told Are in themselues or by their causes knowne Things in themselues God onely can vnfold And yet sometimes hee doth Impart his owne And proper knowledge of such things to Come Vnto such Agents as hee please t' inspire With some small sparkles of his heau'nly fire 320 Such were the holy Prophets in their dayes Who Onely by th' Infusion of his Grace Fore-told strange things such likewise did he raise At seuerall times eu'n from the Gentill Race And in that Ranck some doe the Sybils place Who by the glimmering of his glorious Light Of things to come did oft diuine aright 321 Those things that by theyr causes are conceiu'd Doe eyther follow of necessitie Therefore in them eu'n men are not deceiu'd Or grounded else on probabilitie Or they doe hit by meere contingencie The first the Diu'ls most certainly conceiue Guesse at the second In the last deceiue 322 And yet because of long Experience And by their wondrous knowledge in all the Arts And for no Earthly substance dims their sence And by their speedy motion which Imparts A present knowledge from remotest parts I grant they fully comprehend those things Which vnto vs great admiration brings 323 But when in truth The things are so Conceal'd As neither causes nor effects appeare Then those occurrents are by them reueal'd In such a sort as double sence may beare Alwayes ambiguous cloudie never cleare And such were those same Oracles of Old That were by Phoebus or by Hamon told 324 I will be no retayler of such wares For they are cheape and common vnto all But I obserue what comes to such mens shares I note the fearefull Iudgements that doe fall Vpon such Artists as doe vse to call Which both the ancient Annals doe record And moderne stories of our times afford 325 Some burnt with fire as Zoroastes was And some the Earth did swallow vp aliue As Amphiraus when that he did passe To Thebes Some their owne Spirits did depriue Of breath and so Pope Benedict did thriue The ninth of that same name whose vitall line The Diu'll himselfe by strangling did vntwine 326 Nicephorus and so Abdias tells How Simon Magus flying in the Ayre By Magicke Art and by inchanting spels Fell downe and brake his boanes at Peters prayer And so he dy'd in horror and dispaire O God! how farre thy hand is stretched out To poure down vengeance on this damned Rout. 327 But to returne from whence I did digresse Besides this Common confluence of ill Those warres I vndertooke God did not blesse But euermore they were successelesse still Because I fail'd both in advice and skill Which being manag'd without due respect How could their ends but sort to such effect 328 Most true It is A Power of fearefull Harts That by a Princely Lyon is but led Shall in the field exploit more glorious parts Then Armed Lyons with â— Hart their head Besides Warres thrâ—ue as they are managed And in the streame of Action sound advice Preuailes as much as doth bold enterprize 329 A Ship well mann'd well victual'd tackled well Without a skilfull Pilote steere the same Doth in that warry world in danger dwell Looke what the Pilote is to that huge frame To armed Troopes the chieferaine is the same Who wanting either Courage or fore-sight Ruines himselfe and all his armie quite 330 In managing of Ciuill home designes If any Councell be not wisely fitted There yet remaines some sparke in after times To execute what was before omitted Or to correct what was before committed But in the field when Armies joyne in shocke One onely Error brings all to the blocke 331 And hence as I conceiue It doth proceed That excellent Commanders are so rare Because they must be very wise Indeed To take the least advantages that are And very valiant to attempt and dare And O how seldome meet in one these twaine A Lyons heart joyn'd with a Foxes braine 332 Troy onely stories forth one Hectors fame One Alexander Name of Great did merit One Hanibal from Carthage onely Came. And but one Pyrrus Epire did Inherit So sparing are the Heau'ns of such a spirit That no one Climate hath produced many And many one hath searce beene blest with any 333 The Theban State no greatnesse did attaine But onely in Epaminundas time Who being dead That did grow weake againe He was the Sunne that lightned all that Clime His setting was their fall His rise their Prime Before Inglorious after of no name Such powerfull vertue from that Chieftaine came 334 Therefore in truth I doe not Iumpe with those Who thinke the Prince for Conduct in the field Should both himselfe and common wealth repose Vpon some-Chiestain whil'st himselfe doth wield The home-affaires which more assurance yield In shew I grant but weigning euery thing Such seeming safeties certaine dangers bring 335 For if Ambition seize vpon the Soule As 't is a passion apt to entertaine And once possest no just respects Controule I would aduise the Prince that then doth raigne To doubt th' euent 'T is worser to complaine Then be complayn'd of who doth not know How many Kings haue beene vncrowned so 336 This was yâ— Rock that wrackt great Merâ—uees Line And brought the Crowne of France to Martells Race For Childericke was forced to resigne To Pepin Martells Sonne his Princely place And so like-wise Hugh Capit did displace The Line of Pepin and advanc't his owne Because in warre his worth was greater growne 337 A Subject may in shape a Prince excell A Subject may more then his Soveraigne know Eyther in Artes or in discoursing well Hee may be stronger to vnhorse his foe And yet no danger to the Scepter so But if in Armes the Subject growes too great The Prince may chance be set besides his Seat 338 Therefore let Princes labour to attaine The Art of warre by all the meanes they can Because It doth inable him to raigne And makes him greater then a priuate man That often hath the Supreame Title wanne Of sole Commander which who doth possesse Is scarce a Prince and yet but somewhat lesse 339 To haue such troopes of Souldiers at command To haue such store of wealth which men affect To haue such potent meanes by Sea or Land To execute what e're they would effect To be obseru'd with duty and respect By forreigne States and home dependencie Are shadowes at the least of Soveraigntie 340 And he that oft hath tasted that delight Wherwith such powerfull greatnes doth bewitch Is hardly brought to humble so his Spirit As not to thinke himselfe aboue the pitch Of
doth call the goers by The Panthers breath and Crocodiles false teares Haue truer hearts then faithlesse women beares 429 Let loosers speake for they will not bee let I lost my Crowne my Life I also lost My glorious rising had a gloomie set My Wife the Sea wherein my barke was tost The rocke wherein I suffred shipwracke most Shee Clitemnestra Agamemnon I Whom false Aegistus foully caus'd to dye 430 His part my Riuall Mortimer did play Whom ISABELL my Queene so well did loue That still in France shee meant with him to stay As One that would the selfe same fortunes proue And moue no otherwise then hee did moue Mean while The Cuckoe hatch'd in Edwards nest And in my Boate his Oare was liked best 431 They that inioy and joy in their owne Loues Whose vertuous soules no secret sinnes doe staine Who neuer did vnlawfull pleasures proue But truly louing are so lou'd againe Thrice happie they more true Contentment gaine Then those that haue the change choise of many And vsing all are neuer lou'd of any 432 For streames diuided runne a shallower Course Then they that only in one Channell runne A mind vnchast doth euer like them worse That are obtayn'd then those that are vnwonne Because It thinkes some pleasure is to Come Which yet it hath not found and neuer ill Did seeme so sweet but something wanted still 433 For how can Sinne afford a full delight When 't is indeed a meere priuation As well may darknes bee the Cause of light And Heau'n to Hell bee turn'd by transformation As Wickednes yeeld perfect Contentation The vertuous Pleasures are Compleat sound And lawfull is at last delightfull found 434 But Lust is deafe and hath no Eare to heare The cunning Charmer charme he nere so well VVhich did too much in Isabell appeare VVho did resolue with Mortimer to dwell And both of them did labour to expell Mee from my Kingdome and to please the time They made my Sonne the colour of their Crime 435 And heere obserue the foule effects of Lust What Treasons Murders outrage from It springs How both to God and man it is vnjust How it defiles all States Confounds all things And at the last to vtter ruine brings How much more pure is that most holy fire Which God doth blesse men themselues desire 436 I neuer heard of any hee or shee Although themselues were lewd and vicious That euer wish'd theyr Off-spring for to bee Like to themselues but good and vertuous There 's some thing in the Soule that worketh vs T' affect the good wee had at our Creation VVhereof being lost wee wish a restauration 437 As Mortimer and Isabell my Queene Practis'd in France so heere they had their factions Of Earles and Barons Men of great esteeme Both wise and stout to manage any actions And the poore CoÌ„mons grinded with Exactions To Innouation were not easily led And nothing wanted but an able head 438 But hee that was chiefe workman of the frame VVhich drew the plot at home for all the rest VVho afterwards did build vpon the same A Bishop was Yet Church-men should be best But oftentimes Sinne lurkes within the brest VVhen sacred Titles and religious names Are but the Couers of vncomely shames 439 'T was * Tarlton whose great spleen and working braine Was the Producter of this Monster first Who for some priuate wrong hee did sustaine An inward hate and bosome treason nurst Against his Prince Which afterwards did burst Into those open flames from whence did grow As hatefull Ills as euer Age did show 440 May then Religion bee a Cloake for Sinne Can holiest Functions serue but for pretences Are Church-men Saints without Diu'ls within Dare men make God a colour for offences Knowing with what fierce wrath he recompences Eu'n simple Sinners that scarce know his will Then much more those whose knowledge serues for ill 441 Most reuerend Priesthood how art thou prophan'â— How comes thy glorious Lustre so obscure That eu'n thy very Title is defam'd The Cause is plaine Profesâ—ors are impure Their liues doe hurt more then their tongues doe cure For Lay-men thinke all lawfull that they doe And with that thought are easily drawn thereto 442 And so there growes a Confluence of all Sinne. For Sheepe will wander If the Shepheard stray Smal Boats must drown If great ships caÌ„not swiâ— If Doctors faile what shall poore Pupils say God helpe the blind If cleare Eyes misse the way Though Sinne doth euer draw with it a Curse Yet doth the Author make the sinne the worse 443 But to my selfe I doubted what to doe For weightie Causes challenge heedfull care I fear'd the French I fear'd my Subiects too I wanted Crownes the Sinnewes of the warre Those that I had I thought not good to spâ—râ— But freely sent them to the King of France For feare hee should his Sisters part aduance 444 Whereby from thence shee had no Ayde at all O what a pleasing Orator is Gold How well hee speakes that tels a golden tale And yet It loues not to bee heard but told Although It sweetly sounds to young and old Orpheus did make the stones strange wonders doe But this can moue both stones and Orpheus too 445 Philip Macedon did besiege a Hold Which some did tell him was not to bee wonne Hee answers If an Asse laden with Gold Can come vnto 't The worke is to bee done Such is the heate and lustre of this Sunne That It doth melt the hearts and blind the Eyes Both of the brainlesse vulgar and the wise 446 Which when my Queene and Mortimer perceiu'd They leauing France to Henault went for Ayd And there with honour they were well receiu'd Forces prepar'd and Ensignes were display'd And Ships were rigg'd and nothing was delay'd That might aduance their Enterprize begun So deepest Seas with smoothest silence runne 447 They tooke the Sea and landed at the last At * Orwell Hau'n a deadly Gulph to me And thither their Confederates did hast Both Lords and Commons seemed to agree As winds waues Consent wheÌ„ wrackes shal be All turn'd their faces to the rising Sun Because my date was done and I vndone 448 But when the voyce of Eagle-winged fame Did spread abroad the cause of their repaire And seemed still to justifie the same By due succession of my Sonne and heire My hope to feare My feare turn'd to dispaire And my dispaire on these two grounds was laid My Peeres were false my Partizans dismaid 449 Then did I flye from London where I lay Because they seemed partially affected And in my flight did often weepe and say To what hard haps art thou poore Prince subjected What gloomie Stars haue thus thy State infected That they should hate who ought to loue thee rather A haplesse King a Husband a father 450 Most mightie Monarkes haue bin oft distrest WhoÌ„ yet their wiues haue lou'd with tender Care And many in their matches curst are
thoughts why doe you beare a part In these sad dumpes This plain-song only sing I was not borne nor shall I dye a King 582 So when the tempest of my stormie passion which at the first wrought strongly on my sence Was somewhat calm'd then I in better fashion Began to sift the mouing Causes whence My great disasters did at first Commence And after such a serious scrutinie I found That Sinne had caus'd my miserie 583 I did forget my duty to my God My Subjects they neglected theirs to mee It was high time for him to vse the rod And lash me mee foundly When that he did see How milder med'cines could not worke on me When the still growing Gangreane hazards life The skilfull Surgeon needs must vse the knife 584 I writ awry and God hath rul'd me thus With his blacke-lead to make my lines more streight It is a Iustice sweet and gracious To make a daring Sinner feele the weight Of his owne sinnes and so vnload the freight Wherewith the burd'ned Soule did sinke before The more we feele humbled we are the more 585 And God is gracious when by punishments Hee makes the Sinner see his woefull case Who vpon sight and sence thereof repents Humbling himselfe before th' Almighties face And that makes way vnto ensuing grace For then doth CHSIST that good Samaritan Powre Wine and Oyle into the wounded Man 586 When the sear'd Soule that feeles no smart at all But is by pleasure nusled in its Ill Doth still remaine a poore Captiued Thrall To Sinne and Satan Who commands him still Both in his vnderstanding and his will Till at the last comes death and rings his knell Who liuing feares not dying findeth Hell 587 This I know true by selfe-experience For being thus mur'd vp in miserie I then began to haue a feeling sence Of mine owne Sinnes which blinded libertie Kâ—pt from my sight Or did so qualifie That I did hold my selfe in best estate When my condition was most desperate 588 But seeing now my danger I began To cast about how to preuent the Ill. I found there was nor helpe nor hope in man For they that wrong'd me now would wrong me still And they had able means to work their will At last I found a Supreame Dietie Who could or mend or end my miserie 589 O then my Soule aduance thy thoughts to heau'n If there be hope of helpe there it doth rest And onely by that hand it must be giu'n That festred sore that matters in thy brest That worme with-in thee will not let thee rest Till thy Repentance makes thy peace with God And thou canst blesse his hand and kisse his Rod. 590 Heau'n-seeking Soule whoeuer that thou bee Let me acquaint thee with one meditation Which was like Ajax's buckler vnto me A seu'n-fold shield temp'red in such a fashion As did abate the Edge of all temptation And this It was As I sate musing long My hart grew hot and I spake with my tongue 591 Number the Moates that in the Sun-beames fly Number the Sand vpon the beachy shore Number the sparkling Diamonds of the sky But number not my sins for they are more Yet joyne in one Moates Sands Starres Sins All â—oure Nay be they many more then all these are The mercies of my God are more by farre 592 And mine he is and all those mercies mine Not by deseruing worth that is in me But by that Int'rest which is truely thine O blessed IESVS and transferr'd from thee To mee most sinfull wretch So mine they bee So God is mine And this I fully know Because my blessed IESVS makes him so 593 But how comes IESVS to be thine By faith Which Apprehends him and applyes him too That may be false O no The Spirit saith The Sacred Spirit That all which he did doe Whil'st he did liue And all he suffer'd too By his free Grace doth vnto me pertaine Nay Is made truely mine And ther 's my claime 594 Thy Claime is grounded on a weake foundation What if that Spirit doth informe a Lye Then wher 's thy strange presumptioÌ„ of Saluation O no It is Gods Spirit certainly And hee 's a God of truth and veritie How know'st thou this Because his motions tend To make me good and happie at my end 595 Because he makes me see my owne demerit And what is lustly due to me by right And then hee Comes and like a blessed Spirit Presents my gracious Sauiour to my sight Makes me lay hold on Christ with all my might And tender him vnto the God of heau'n To cleare my score make our reck'nings eu'n 596 In these good thoughts I spent my best of Time My Cosin * Leicester well respecting me Which to my foes did seeme a heinous Crime Who after Consultation did agree Some lesse Indulgent should my keepers bee And * Gurney and * Maltrevers chosen were To rid me of my life them of their feare 597 They that haue Eares to heare of my extreames And feeling hearts to comprehend my woes And yet haue Eyes as dry as Sunny beames Whence no moyst Teares poore Pitties tribute flowes Within such minds whole mines of marble growes Flint-hearted men that piâ—tie not my moane Some Gorgons head hath turn'd your hearts to stone 598 And what haue I to doe with stonie hearts With men of marble what haue I to doe I take no pleasure in Pigmalions Arts I would not worke on stone or marble wooe Hee lou'd his stony-maide and had her too She was transform'd at his incessant moane So were my foes but chang'd from men to stone 599 And would to God I had beene chang'd like theÌ„ Then without sence I should haue borne my pain And senceless haplesse are halfe-happie men who feele no grief what need they much coÌ„plain But I was touch'd being strucke in euery veine That my extreames to their desires might bring The fatall Period whence their feares did spring 600 And first They hurried me from place to place 〈…〉 might haue Intelligence of me 〈…〉 clothed me with garments vile and base 〈◊〉 my selfe that I vnknowne might bee And least I should the chearefull day-light see I still remou'd when Sol his course had run My day was night Moone-shine was my Sun 601 I did lament that woes to words might yield And said Faire Cynthia with whose brightsome shine This sable-night doth beate a siluer shield Yet thou art gracious to these griefes of mine That w th thy light do'st cheare my weeping Eyne Thou borrowest light to lend the same to me I lighten those that my Eclipsers bee 602 The glorious Sunne thy Brother lends thee light My Sonne makes me obscure vnlike to thee Enâ—iâ—â—ions loue thou did'st with loue require My loue distresseth and disdaineth me Yet both too like in often changing bee O no for thou being wan'd dost wax againe But still her loue continues in the wayne 603 Some doe ascribe the Oceans ebbs and flowes Vnto thy Influence