throwes Then he too late plaine-dealing from dissembling knowes But now to thee that peace dost so commend I answer That for reconciliation And thee imbracing as a faithfull friend I neuer had so fond determination God shield me from thy sly malicious nation Thy guilefull heart 's as hollow as the sand Thou doubt'st of Truth I of Equiuocation Stand off The Morall you may vnderstand You haue this Tale from me but at the second hand Thus did the Snake our mother Eue beguile By baits of honour kindnesse and ambition But from her stole this pearle of peace the while And plung'd her and her Seed in all perdition E're since by feign'd shewes false apparition This subtill Serpents viprous progeny Imbrace vs Ioab like with all submission But to the heart-blood stab vs priuily I le neuer trust a base malicious enemy Of a fat Iouiall Oratour I read A pleasant story who when he ascends Into a narrow Deske for Peace to plead The people all foorth shouts and laughters sends Though 's corps were grosse his wit soone apprehends Th' occasion and he thus them telleth plaine My wife at home in bignesse me transcends Yet vs at peace one bed can well containe At oddes we in this Citty wals cannot remaine But well my Muse of her Digression wites From Peace to Concord which the Schooles define An vnion of diuers appetites Of diuers men who in affection ioyne To Peace this Definition they assigne To be a concord in the appetite Which doth th' affections but of one combine In one I Peace and Concord here vnite And of them as but one true perfect peace do write All cruell warres and battels Dauid fought Was but to stablish peace to Solomon That type of happy peace who now no doubt Rests in that Peace which he on Earth begun Oh blessed ioyfull happy Vnion The Song of peace thou singest of the Bride And that great King of peace her louely One When sitting at the Banquet by his side Her with true peace as with a Banner he doth hide His sweetest gardens are our beds of rest The fruits there growing sweetest fruits of peace The tunes which birds there warble in their brest Be songs of Peace There Spring doth neuer cease But Zephyrus with Dewes blowes full increase Sweet Peace which makes the Turtles voice resound Such Musique as the heauiest heart can ease For she her notes doth to the heart propound But none conceiue the sweetnesse till they feele the sound If I through Scriptures gardens should you lead And shew you all that glorious Nurcerie Of fruits and flowres there of Peace that breed I should you tire with sweet Variety It was the last bequest and Legacie Our King of peace did his Apostles leaue Who made our peace when he on Crosse did die For Peace he barres and gates of hell doth cleaue And his Will in due time to endlesse peace receiue See his Apostles Martyrs Fathers all How meeke and lowly they on peace attend Refusing neither Crosse nor cup of Gall So as they might attaine vnto their end Sweet peace on earth they labour to defend When they haue made their peace in heau'n aboue Who feeles this inward Peace feares not to spend Wealth Strength and Life for to maintaine the loue Of those which with them members of one Body proue But what need I thee furnish from without If in thine heart this inward peace thou find This peace of Conscience will giue no doubt More Rest and Comfort to thy Soule and Mind Than all wealth pleasure glory here assign'd Vnto the wicked for their worldly rest Sweet peace of Conscience who art not consin'd To any pleasure here on earth possest Eternall heau'nly peace possesseth all thy brest Oh I had my Muse some losty rapted straine The glory of this heau'nly peace to sing Which doth the heau'n earth sea ayre all maintaine By gentle gouernement and ordering Or were she able on a high-strain'd string To sing the Honour of my Soueraigne That grand Peace-maker Britaines peacefull King Who through the Christian world doth Peace maintaine God grant for peace on earth thou heau'nly peace mayst gaine But ah how can my soule opprest with Care And worldly tumults of such Glory sing Since quiet peace her selfe remoueth farre From Discord Strife Contentions Quarrelling Oh let me vnder shadow of thy wing In happy rest and Peace for ay abide So shall I neuer feare the malicing Of Enuy Satan Couetize or Pride True inward peace was neuer vanquished though tride Ah thus I wish for Peace but worldly Care And troubles more and more my mind oppresse Afflictions heere and Crosses should prepare And fit a man for peace and happinesse But oft they fill vs more with worldlinesse Yet such the nature is of inward peace She fils the hearts of all that her possesse And euer as her vigour doth increase Our worldly thoughts and cares do more and more decease O King of Peace grant me this inward peace 'T is that for which the Spirit alwayes prays That peace which brings all Graces sweet increase And now thou art to heau'n gone with vs stays This Peace Hell Death nor Tyrants rage dismays 'T is not such peace as world to vs doth giue In Comforts she transeends Sunnes gentlest rays By her when we in Life of Grace haue thriue With her we euer shall in life of Glory liue This is the peace which sets our hearts as sure As Sions Mount which no force can remoue This peace it is which euer shall endure If rooted in our hearts by Faith and Loue This Peace which first descends from heau'n aboue And doth our troubled Consciences still Which makes the Members like the Head to proue This is the Peace of God the which doth fill Both heau'n and earth with Peace and all men with good will Now neuer let my Soule enioy true Peace If now she doth not more my heart delight Than all the pleasures glory wealth and ease Which heere mens minds to vanity inuite God of all Peace which hast me giu'n a sight Of this most rich inualewable treasure Grant I on peace may set my whole delight True peace like loue which hath no bounds nor measure In this I ly downe safe and take my rest and pleasure MEDITATION 2. Of Chastitie THe heau'nly Steeres-man which was erst my guide Vnto the hau'n of peace and happy rest Where I could wish at anchor ay to ride Free from worlds stormes which mortals heere molest Doth now vnto my whiter Muse suggest The praise of heau'nly Chastitie to sing Most needfull grace for those in peace that rest For when she most tranquillity doth bring Man most in danger is of Lusts enchanting sting For such is Hels malicious subtilty With all aduantages still to assaile The part vnarm'd of mans mortalitie That he with greater danger may preuaile And when we all his instruments do quaile Of Anger Enuy Couetize and Pride In humble quiet peace he will
vs fight So strong is Satans force so subtill is his slight No beauty forme or golden Vestiment Do so adorne the Body as the Mind Is graced by this Vertues Ornament Without sweet Light the Sun as soone we find As Shamefastnesse from Chastity disioyn'd Immodest lookes are Darts against her throwne When man and womans light aspects are ioyn'd The battel 's fought both sides are ouerthrowne Ah cruell fight where neither side defends her owne As eyes from wanton lookes eu'n so our eare 'Gainst all immodest Charmes we must inclose For Shamefastnesses vaile these off doe teare And our affections prone to Lust vnlose The Flame and Fier do not sooner close Than Impudence and foule vnchastity Then Beauty like Gold-ring in swinish Nose Doth roote in Durt of Impudicity No Body's chast where Mind 's ioyne in Adultery Who is not cloth'd in robe pure snowy white Of Chastitie the Lambe will neuer know Then Dames that in faire ornaments delight Desire to be as you desire to show All richest Pearles Gold Iewels heere below Are nothing to this Gem of Chastitie No fairer Flower doth in Loues garden grow Than Blush of Shamefastnesse and Modesty No Iewell like the Belt of Truth and Sanctitie Nor doe I onely heere of you require A Continence for feare of Law or Fame But such a Chastitie I doe desire That neither may your Mind nor Conscience blame Oh let it be vnto your Soules a shame A Bird should you in Chastity transcend The Turtle neuer changeth mate or name For this the Story Iudith doth commend But this is no Command but counsell for a friend Take heere for patterne Rachels chastest sonne Who eu'n a princesse lustfull soft embrace For vertues Loue not feare of shame did shun I heere might grant Lucretia a place But that selfe-murther doth her foule disgrace Penelope's a Mappe of Chaste desire Who farre away all Idlenesse doth chase Nor takes least heate from Suiters lustfull fire But twice ten yeeres expects her dearest Lords retire Susan 's so chaste her rumour dares not blame To this high pitch of honour they doe rise That shunne all idlenesse and wanton game And more than gold their names honour prize Sobriety them ay accompany's Both in their speaking eating and attire Their modest gate sweet carriage shamefast eyes Doe proue their Beds be nests of chaste desire To quench more than enflame the brands of lustfull fire Eu'n fruitfull Venus true to husbands side May win from heau'ns high Queene the golden Ball And virgin Pallas may be well denide The honour which chast Matrons doth befall Glory of either Sexe Oh how then shall This hand vnchast of that pure chastnesse write By which Christs-Bride surmounts the daughters all And doth the Queenes and Concubines delight Binding eu'n mighty Kings with her most glorious sight Her turtle-voyce Doues eyes as Lilly-white Excels the thornes so She all Womankind Yet loues but one whom she in bed by night Doth seeke for long at last alone doth find He her alone in armes embraceth kind And she alone delights in his imbrace Chast Bridegrome chastest Bride together ioyn'd Of Saints beget a holy heau'nly race With this high Mystery Christ doth chast Wedlocke grace And brandeth with spirituall Fornication Those who on earth their chastest Head forsake And stoope to Idols and abomination Here choyce of Louers to themselues to rake The Saints and Angels they for Bridegrome take When they before their Images do fall Thus she the Scarlet-whore herselfe doth make And they her bastards which she beareth all Such bastards with true-heiers ne'r inherit shall As chast so we a ielous Bridegrome haue And as his Loue like Death is sure and strong So 's Ielousie as cruell is as graue Who such a louing Husband dares to wrong His ielous Fury may expect ere long But now I stray from sweetest Meditation I ought to end as I began my song One word more of a Worthy of our nation A patterne worth thy learning loue and imitation Thomas Archbishop of Yorks famous See When Doctors counsell and his friends him praid For Cure to vse a female-remedy And for that turne him brought a comely mayd Most piously to them replide and said That to preserue his flesh which was to die His Soules immortall Chastitie betraid Should neuer be Such heau'nly chastity Shewes plaine his Soule doth liue in heau'n eternally But as the Lute which yeelds a pleasant sound Doth others but it selfe no whit delight So if examples onely I propound To others and not practise what I write I neuer may approach the chastest Light To which our chastest Head before is gone For no vnchast one commeth in his sight Except with Magdalen they sigh and grone And cleanse with floods of teares their filthinesse each one Thus clensd our Soule is like Brides liuing-Well Whose waters are most pleasant pure and sweet Our bodies eyes like fountaines two which quell And quench all Lusts temptatiōs which they meet But now adayes we hold this Grace vnmeet In noble valiant brest to intertaine Men onely thinke her fit for Dames to greet And to their basest Lusts let loose the Raine But sure no Vertue dwels where she doth not remaine The Flesh against the Spirit coueteth But if the Spirit manfully hold out It all Lusts base temptations vanquisheth Who haue a purpose resolute and stout To temper their affections may no doubt Defend their honour ' gainst Concupiscence And though they oft opposd are by a rout Of their owne lusts hels and worlds violence Their chast resolued mind maintaines their innocence Then Fooles are they that when they haue began In spirit in the flesh will make an end He that once tastes of Lust more hardly can Abstaine than he that neuer did intend Me from her first Beginnings Lord defend She 's like the Serpent that did Eue assaile She pleasant fruits and pleasures doth pretend Her mouth drops hony-sweet but with her taile She stings eu'n all to hell with whom she doth preuaile But though I make a cou'nant with mine eyes Like Iob no lustfull obiect to behold Yet oft this Monster will mine heart surprize And vnawares in sinfull Thought infold This Serpents cunning sleights can not be told The best way to auoyd them can be found Is her aloofe to keepe if thou be bold To chat with her she vnawares will wound I almost feare her filthinesse now to propound Vncircumcised rayling Philistine Who all Gods hoste defies in single fight I dare not suffer thee to come within Such is thy force such is thy cunning slight Thou art a Gyant of exceeding might If you will hearken vnto my perswasion Keepe him aloofe and in the forehead smite Best way to shun Lusts furious inuasion Is warily here to auoid the least occasion Dauid escapes the Beares and Lyons pawes And ouerthrowes the Philistine in field And yet this subtill Serpent him so drawes His heart vnto her Syrens-songs doth yeeld Then she him conquers without
sword or shield And leades him by the eye-lids to her snare Heau'ns from such subtill vile allurements shield All those that haue a Conscience and care Their hearts fit Temples for thy Spirit to prepare Purge vs with Hyssope and we shall be pure Wash vs we than the Snow shall be more white Our Soules and Bodies Temple shall be sure A holy house wherein thou mayst delight But I the vertue for the vice haue quight I purpos'd Chastity here to commend But Lust so fiercely with my Muse doth fight I scarce mine owne am able to defend Therefore with Prayer I my Meditation end Oh thou that mad'st my Soule a little King And in this little-world my-Body plac't It subiect making to the ordering Of Reason wherewith thou this King hast grac't Set first of all the Soueraignes Kingdome fast Whereby his Subiects he may rule aright That is affections keepe most pure and chast But most in spirituall chastitie delight To which adde Constancie of which I next do write MEDITATION 3. Of Constancy SO oft as I the Splendour do behold Of heau'nly Graces linkt in golden chaine Which them so firmely doth together hold That all they but as one seeme to remaine My Soule is so delighted with their traine That she desires to dwell with them for ay But oft employment pleasures cares and gaine Mine eyes and heart so draw another way I fleshly motions more than spirituall obay And as these Graces ioyn'd my soule delight So doth each singled out by Meditation Sing I of Loue I loue with all my might If Humblenesse she workes humiliation So Faith Repentance Hope Iustification By Righteousnesse imputed Mercy kind Ioy Patience Fortitude chast Conuersation Peace Meeknesse Prayer Zeale eu'n all I find Do alwayes to my Song both sute mine heart and mind But such are my Corruptions innate Hels malice and the worlds enticements vaine I can no longer hold that happy state Than I in Contemplation remaine This is the cause my Muse is now so faine To sing of Constancie that heau'nly Grace Which all the rest doth ay with vs retaine Most glorious Grace the lustre of whose face Both heau'nly Loue and all her Peeres for euer grace For without Her the rest are all but showes Like Corne by high-wayes side flourish awhile And seemes more glorious than that which grows Vpon best bottom'd dunged tilled Soyle But as that onely doth our eyes beguile With flourishes in calme and gentle spring But Summers heate and frosts it 's verdure spoile Eu'n so these rootlesse Vertues flourishing Aduerse or prosp'rous Fortune to confusion bring Thou that art from Eternity the same Without least shadow of Variety Like to the Sun heau'ns pure world-lightning flame Constant in beate course and serenitie Three yet subsisting in one Deitie Who though thou seem'st to change with things below Art farre in truth from Mutability Oh make mine heart in vertue constant grow That thence as from a Fountaine this Discourse may flow We Constancie a Perseuerance call In some good purpose for in eu'ry thing We vndertake right must be first of all Resolu'd of next our firme perseuering A vaine vnsettled idle wauering Without iust ground by Proteus Poets faine Who on himselfe as many formes will bring As he hath idle notions in his braine Or base desires and Lusts which in his heart remaine But in good purpose to stand fast and sound Not onely man-like is but most diuine Like God in whom no change was euer found For as the Sunne this worlds pure crystall eyne In heau'n doth alwaies with like glory shine Though by the varying Medium's here below It seeme more glorious in the Summer time Than when Eolian blasts darke clouds do blow So Constance is the same though alt'ring oft in show This Constance is with Patience a twin Begot by Iupiter of Fortitude Mother and Babes as like as neere of kin Who hath one with all three must be indude These lift vp to heroicall habitude And come from Iustice and a prudent mind If Fury Rage Wrong Rashnesse do intrude We them no vertues faire but vices find With whom Minerua nor the Graces euer ioyn'd Patience and Constancie in this agree Effeminate faint hearts ay to oppose And men relieue in all extremitie Vndanted resolute who will not loose That liberty they haue the Good to choose Thus seeme they one now marke their difference Patience all wrongs with courage vndergoes For without Suffering's no Patience But Constance is in ioy and paine a firme defence Without Compulsion free for Vertues sake Patience constrain'd oft by necessity Most cheerefull valiantly doth vndertake To beare what cannot well auoyded be One good end Constancie propounds which she Onely regards but noble patience Before her will all euils conquerd see Which her oppresse in flesh or conscience Both haue braue resolution and sound confidence No fury of the headlesse Multitude No Tyrants rage a constant mind can shake Though all the world turne to a Chaos rude The ruines crush him may but can not make Him stagger nor Ioues thunder make him quake The Sea may roare the waues mount to the skies And threaten him to drowne in deepest Lake But Fury Rage Waues all he doth despise And when hopes outward faile his inward highest rise He constant perseueres vnto the end Like some good traueller who giues not in Till he attaine the place he doth intend And as the Souldier that the towne would winne Fights stoutly till he conquers all within Eu'n so in Buildings Arts or Merchandize In any Worke or Science we beginne It is the end where all our glory lyes He runs in vaine that faints before he wins the Prize Though all her meanes all her strength do saile Yet feares she not to hold out to the end She 's still the same and nothing can preuaile To alter any Good she doth intend To whom the heau'ns true Constancie do send Within their hearts to dwell on all occasions Effects most admirable thence transcend She fils the heart with such secure perswasions They it defend from all faint-hearted base inuasions A constant man the most disastrous fate With a most pleasing forehead entertaines Integrity so sweetens his estate As in a pleasant Calme he ay remaines With her he alwayes in his heart retaines Hope Prudence Fortitude Right Temperance And when him Troubles Losses Griefe or Paines Assaile so stoutly patience doth aduance He liueth most secure not subiect vnto Chance Braue noble Constance who art neuer sound Except dame Prudence thee accompany Thou on her counsels and aduice dost found Thy setled resolutions all whereby Thou standst most firme for Truth and Honesty Nothing can thee thus well resolu'd withstand In vaine and euill things no constancie But base peruersnesse we do vnderstand Iust honest profitable's all she takes in hand For perseuerance in a thing that 's ill Is to this Vertue no lesse enemy Than they that by affections guide their will With vaine inconstancy and leuitie