had raign'd Till long Diuision had his line consum'd Mu mutius the Soueraigntie obtain'd Which first to weare a crowne of gold presum'd Whose lawes did bind this long-distracted I le That sauage customes should not it defile His sonnes were Bellin and the warlike Brenne Which had diuided Britanie in twaine But strife began and they concluded then That one alone must in this country raigne One Sunne for one Horrizon did suffise So should one Ile one Monarchie comprise Then Brennus left this I le and of the Galles Was chosen captaine Romans to subdue He conquer'd Greece but vnder Delphos walles His fortune fail'd him and himselfe he slue Meane while great Bellin Denmark did bring vnder Whilst Britaines subiects did not warre asunder If all in one they firmely had agreed When Caesar first this I le did vndertake They had themselues from Romaine conquest freed As their owne stories true report do make In single fight or skirmish when they met The Britaines still the victory did get But when they were in one Battalia raung'd Their faint incounter shew'd their factions power Diuision had so much their mindes estrang'd That easily their foes might them deuoure Thus did the Turkes the Christians ouer-throw Because due rescue they did still foreslow As workemen in a frame when they do vary When in the plot their mindes cannot agree Ther 's nothing done or else all doth miscarrie So both in peace and warres wee dayly see Each enterprise is like the Babel-mount Where seuerall men do seuerall things recounâ— Cassibilan which Caesar did withstand Was with the Londoners in some disgrace If they had liu'd within his due command They might haue followed Romans in that chace When many Captaines in the front were slaine When Romaines could not Britaines charge sustaine But as the Britaines lost their liberty For want of Vnion gainst a forraine foe So Romans lost their hold in Britanie And by their discord did this land forgoe For Romes great Empire lost by strife and iarres Those forraine lands which were subdu'd by warres The Romaines wealth and souldiers hence did take Whereby their power and pompe they might maintain On th' other side the Pâ—cts did dayly rake What they by force and violence could gaine Then to the Saxons Britons sent for ayde By whose arriuall they were most betray'd They first by policie and subtill slights The Britaines king vnto their side had wonne The rest they vanquished in sundrie fights Then with themselues diuision they begonne Seau'n kingdomes they within themselues had made And euery one each other did inuade As is the restlesse motion of the seas Which to the south and north doth ebbe and flow Which euery gust and gale doth still disease As they which passe those watrie rhegions know So Britaine to and fro by strife did range And forraine power her state did often change Three hundred yeares the Saxons were in armes Before they could to Wales the Brittons driue Then gainst themselues they fought in seuerall swarmes Two hundred yeares they did selfe-hurt contriue Meane while the Danes this fruitfull ile had tasted Whose strength had beene by her own people wasted The Danes long time had foraged this Ile And weakened Saxons could not them repell For Edmund did Canutus long withstand But they at length to this agreement fell That they betwixt them should this land diuide And so they should all present iarres decide Not long they were ioynt-tenants of this I le For Ederick had poisoned Edmund soone Canutus then sole king himselfe did stile By the suruiver this he said he wonne Then Edmunds sonnes to Sweathlands king he sent Where they should spend their liues in banishment Hardie Canutus was his onely sonne Which had no issue which might him succeed And after him the Saxons soone begunne To claime their due since heau'n had so decreed Then Edward the Confessor rightly raign'd Whose gouernment and zeale no spot had stain'd Of lawe and loue he did an Vnion make Which by all meanes My Iames would now effect The Churches good his care did vndertakâ— This Englands king did first of all respect Both right to Leuites kindly did performe And to the truth they did themselues conforme King Edward did the Saxons blood restore In Iames the Britons Saxons Normans liue All claimes in them did rest which were before Their right to all did satisfaction giue Both loued peace and gaue their subiects rest Whom sterne Bellona did so long molest Their vertues equally are match't together Their studious thoughts for Christian welfare spent Their constancie in faire and foulest weather Their zeale alike to great Iehouah bent One issulesse was Saxons Sunne declining The other Britains new Aurora shining Edgar grand-child to Edmund Ironside By right and Edwards will should next haue raig'nd But Harold sworne thereto did from it slide He onely should haue regencie obtain'd But for himselfe he onely seiz'd the crowne Vntill the Normands threw him headlong downe As Harold wronged Englands rightfull heire So did he William Duke of Normandie He promis'd mariage of his daughter faire But he the due performance did denie Then did appeare a bloudie blazing starre Which did fore-shew th'vnsatiat sword of warre First th' English were within themselues distracted For Tostus Harolds brother was in armes A power from Norway he had then contracted Which was the cause of Englands fatall harmes Duke William aim'd on th' English coast to land VVhen these two brothers did in battaile stand Thus did the Normans get the victory When Harold was with home incounters tir'de Thus th' English were inthralld to miserie When they so oft against themselues conspir'd For what before the Conquest oft befell The like in Normands reigne the stories tell As feuers which disturbe the bodies frame With thirst ach casting shiuering cold and heate They first the bloud do waste and spirits tame Then for the dropsie oft they leaue a seat Some-times the Phtisick and consumption Disseâ—se the soule from her late mansion So doth Diuision iealousies maintaine Some-times a coldnesse to a foâ—reine foe Some-times an heate of ciuill strife whose paine Doth present rest and future weale vndoe For wasted fields a famine still doth follow Dearth doth with death conspire thousands swallow The Conquerors reigne was full of ciuill broyles With Edgar th' English Scots and Welsh agreed Which if they first had done they 'd mist those toyles From which since that them-selues they neuer freed If Malcome Edgars sister had not maried The English royall bloud had quite miscaried By Margaret this Scotlands King had Maude Which mathc'd to Henry Beuclarke had a daughter By whom all other claimes were ouer-aw'd VVhich did preuent much strife and bloudy slaughter Mauds daughter Maud to th' Aniou Duke did beare The second Henry which the crowne did weare Yet since this Vnion of the rightfull bloud Much strife and much Diuision there hath beene For th' English haue the English oft with-stood That
THE VISION AND DISCOVRSE OF HENRY the seuenth Concerning the VNITIE OF Great BRITTAINE Diuided into foure Chapters 1. Containing an Introduction 2. Inducements to Vnitie 3. The policy deceit and mischieuous spite of the vnderminers hereof 4. The danger of Diuision Related by T.G. Seneca ad Nouatum lib. 1. deirâ— Beneficijs humana vita constat et concordia nec terrore sed amore muiuâ— in foedus auxiliumque commune constringitur AT LONDON Printed by G. Eld for Henry Fetherstone and are to be sold at the signe of the Rose in Paules Church-yard 1610. To the truly religious and resolute Gentlemen of England louing their Country and the Truth therein professed WOrthy Gentlemen which by your words actions or writings shew your selues worthy of so good a cause to you which loue vertue for vertues sake without any other collaterall respect to you which are the stationarie soldiers of this Kingdome contemning the thundering cannon of Romish excommunication and the crosse-battery of domesticall artillery to you next to the maine columnes of this state I dedicate this short Poem as an applause to your constancie and as a Perdu to giue notice of the motions of our Aduersaries The reasons vrging me thus to expose my selfe to an infinitie of censures are these First the variety of floting humors generally discontented Secondly the diligence of Romish Pirats to surprise them Thirdly the drousie security of these dangerous times Lastly the vnseasonable curiosity of Sectaries which like Archimedes seriously busie theÌ„selues in drawing circles whilst their Country is in danger These considerations haue beene the weights and plummets to set my poore inuention on worke to performe some dutifull office to the State in the perswasion of Vnitie the chiefest bond of peace and happinesse and the surest fortresse against a million of straglers which hope to prey vpon vs in our disorder and confusion The Clergie hath already done their most faithfull and most commendable deuoire many of whose bookes will neuer bee answered It remaines that vertuous Gentlemen hauing ioyned experience to their learning and valour to their experience should shew themselues in the first rankes to beat back the golden hopes of the Romish Alcumists Cum semiviro Comitatu Neuer did England inioy a King more iudicious in matters of Diuinitie then now it doth Neither was there euer a more happy proiector â—f the Vnion and Vnitie of these kingdomes then Henry the seauenth by giuing his eldest daughter the Lady Margaret in marriage to Iames the 4. King of Scotland The one maintaines the Truth with his own Pen beyond the performance of any christian King The other perswades Vnitie in the Truth by anothers report If mine indeuours herein may any way confirme the constant or stay the wauering from wronging themselues and others I shall be more then satisfied If the euent shall prooue otherwise yet sholl it not repent me Operam praebuisse reipublicae si nihil profituram at conaturam prodesse Now for the manner of writing in verse the ancient custome of Oracles and visions in this kind haue preuailed with me to make tender of my best performance herein And the incomparable Salust Lord of Bartasse hath of late so aduanced Poetry by his graue maiesticall and pleasing verse that I can neither feare the scorne of verse in generall nor the obiection in particular of the vnfitnesse thereof for this subiect being in his nature nothing so deepe as that diuine subiect of du Bartasse his Poem Besides it was the practise of Solon by Thales in pleasing rimes to giue the Athenians the wholsome pils of vertuous precepts Orpheus Linus Pythagoras Theognis did the like Amongst the Diuines Prudentius Sedulius Iuueneus Paulinus Lastly that Kingâ—y Diuine Poet which was after Gods owne heart did martiall his heauenly meditations in a kinde of primordiall verse And although the number of Ballad-mongers and frothy Poems strained for gaâ—ne to please the vulgar may seeme to impaire the reputation of the auntient Vates yet there is no question but that perspicuous verse well couched comprising much matter in a narrow roome full of Historie naturall Allegories fit similes and materiall obseruations shall alwayes winne respect in the most waâ—ward new-fangled age Not in this assurance Gentlemen do I recommend these lines vnto yâ—ur view but hoping that being Schollers yee will not misconster being generous yee will not carpe being loyall yee will not disallow my dutifull deuotion Eminent fortunes haue eminent place to shew their loyalty but priuat men must learne of Seneca In privato publicum negotium agere The vision and discourse of HENRY the seuenth concerning the vnitie of Great Britaine GReat Pompey in a iollitie did boast That if he did but stampe vpon the ground Such swarmes of friends would aid him from each coast That Caesars forces he should soone confound So great his fortune and his prowesse were That fatall dangers he could neuer feare But my poore Muse an humble pace must creepe â—or feare of waking swarmes of secret foes My muse some vnfrequented pathe must keepe Least some in ambush her weake force inclose When graues thrones of Princes are attempted How may a meaner fortune be exempted Thus far o're eeue my thoughts to verse aspir'd Intending Britaines concord for their theame When suddenly againe my muse retyr'd Not daring to indure bright Phoebus beame A poem which it selfe can scarce defend Can litle helpe to other causes lend Whilst I for Albions weale did thus take care Dame nature crau'd her due and clos'd mine eyes With heauie sleepe yet fancie would not spare To represent these stately prodigies Me thought I saw the person of a King Whom winged Cherubins to th' earth did bring His spangled mantle was of Azure hue With stars like heau'ns bestudded euery where Which did foreshew true wisdoms clearest view Of all those Kings which did the scepter beare His crowne was gold whose spires aloft were seene And by his side there stood his louely Queene Their left hands held the Roses white and red In whose defence were foure score Princes slaine Like Cadmus seed their bloud each other shed Till these by mariage were made one of twaine And afterward such peace there did insue That neuer since Mars could those broyles renew In their right hands they held a scutchin faire Wherein the picture of a King was drawne Which makes his forraine enemies despaire And for truths life his owne deare life doth pawne Who still with danger doth himselfe oppose Against his Churches and his countries foes They often view'd this picture with delight And to the same the King these words did vtter My sonne said he the sunne which clear'd the night Of Englands feares gainst whoÌ„ no claime durst mutter We ioy in heau'n that thou on earth doost raigne Which to the heau'ns so many soules wilt gaine For first thy drouping cleargie thou didst reare Which are the trumpets of
to bloud it feeds the bodies soyle As Aegipts fields are cheer'd by Nilus riuer For from the hollow veine small veines are fed As from a spring are many Conduicts led The fift reason from the experience of Nations SLie Nymrod first did follow Natures lawe And did comprise a body politick Who stragling families to his charge did draw Which long had beene of ciuill discord sick Then soone they ioyn'd in loue and left their bowres To build for Nimrod Babilons high towres But proud Ambition like a dropsie fares The more it drinkes the more it doth desire As Nimrod by that ayerie towre declares For which he had confusion for his hyre This heape of Ants was by diuision broken Which of each state the ruine doth betoken He thought all future deluge to preuent And on this towre amongst the clowds to walke He scorn'd in earths low cellars to be pent And of the highest did prophanely talke But where he thought his honour to aduance There was the tragedie of his mischance When publike shewes at priuate ends do ayme Those proiects faile and haue the like euent But who with care preuents each publike maime The publike-weale shall crowne his calme intent Thus holy writ thus former times haue taught Though now the world be with new figmeÌ„ts fraught Some factions are in loue with nouelties And different mindes their different fancies follow They shunne the meane and seeke extremities They straine at Gnats and Elephants do swallow In some mistaking of conceited ill The Gordion knot of concord they would spill But as thy Clergie Iames thou didst relieue Esteeming all their wrongs as done to thee Whom stormes aloft and rocks below did grieue From shipwracks danger thy great care set free That seas waxe calme and rocks are now discried Which shew of zeale so long did closely hide So shall the rest of Britaine be vnited By the rights champion which vndaunted art Which smil'st to heare what passions haue indited 'Gainst reasons force which humors would peruert A comprimise each party must offend Which to the center of the right doth tend When Theseus founded the Athenian state Which long for Arts and Vallour wonne the price He first asswag'd the Atticans debate And for their concord gaue so sound aduice That if the Greekes had so vnited beene They had not yet their head long downfall seene When Romulus had built his seau'n-hild Rome Which afterward all countries did subdue The Sabines first he brought vnto his home Which did with armes their womens losse pursue But so the Romaine policie preuail'd That they conioyn'd and Romaine sons assail'd Then Numa Publicola and the rest Which in the Romaine gouernment succeeded By all faire meanes their borderers did inuest Within their state and in all loue proceeded For still they gaue them equall priuiledge Which was of faithfull loue the truest pledge This was their course th' Italians to bring vnder Of weale and woe they were partakers still So that no force this frame could breake a sunder Till they of conquests did the stories fill But when from forraine warres their armes did rest Ambitious Hydra rais'd her various Crest The Greekes likewise when strangers did inuade They flourish'd most by force of Vnitie For then they were one corporation made And bent their vallour 'gainst their enemie If they had yearly â—ear'd the Persian warre To ciuill slaughters it had beene a barre None but great Philip and his warlike sonne Could curbe the Greekes from shedding Greekish bloud And then by them great Alexander wone The worlds great globe no streÌ„gth his power withstood As Britains twins conioyn'd on Belgias plaine Their fronting foes to flight they still constraine Th' Arabian Agarims of Ismaels race Which Sarazins by Mahomet were named They were a people abiect meane and base Till Mahomet to vnion had them framed Which done in warres and peace they so agreed That soone themselues from Romain thral they freed Then Africk Aegypt Syria they subdued And so conioyn'd disioynted lands did seaze That dayly they their strength and power renew'd And vanquished their borderers at ease So farre they raung'd that lands farre of did feare And gaue them fees that armes they would forbeare The Turkes likewise which with them did remaine Which did increase when Sarazins were imploy'd By their great vnitie such power did gaine That Europe Affrick and Asia they cloy'd For in the flowre of these three they are plac'd And haue the glory of them all defac'd From Buda to the great Constantines seate And from the Euxine sea to Savus bankes The Christians may their losse with griefe repeat For Turkes thus farre haue led their Moonye rancks Bulgaria Seruia Greece and Hungarie And other lands within this tract do lye In Asia and in Affrick they doe hold The land from Velez t' Alexanders towne From Bugia to Guergula they 're bold T' aduance the ensignes of their great renowne Their warres are but their Ianisaries breathing And Christian gifts their swords keep froÌ„ vnsheathing But they for Vnitie do take such care And are so warie discord to preuent That they their Emperours brethren will not spare Nor cease from bloud till all that line be spent One warlike sproute they do maintaine aliue And by that meanes their hearts in one contriue Meane while they breake both heau'ns natures lawes Their Empires power and greatnesse to maintaine But nice conceits demurre and long do pawse The heau'ns and natures gift to intertaine Such is the frailtie of all humaine witte That restlesse folly best the turne doth fitte O giddie thoughts and groundlesse feares of men Which do preuent all rest vnto the minde Ill guided passion is much like a wenne Which to the body we disgracefull finde Feare hope loue hate contempt desire griefe ioy Do cloud the minde and thrall it with annoy And as their ciuill discord ouerthrow All sound content in any priuate bower So in a state much more where humors flow Each blast doth raise huge billowes euery hower Such stormes of discord kingdomes ouer-whelme That warily their Kings must hold the helme My great Grand-sonne doth hold no other course Then that which vertuous Kings did still intend They alwayes held that Concord was the source Of endlesse peace for this all strife doth end Though many yeares this land all meanes did trye Yet heau'ns till now this proffer did denie Eight hundred yeares two heires did not affoord Of Britaines kingdoms which might match together Yet in Prince Edwards time no sound accord Could be obtain'd that Mary might come hither And when all humaine plots and proiects fail'd By IAMES Iehouahs firme decree preuail'd Nine hundred yeares likewise the truth was seal'd And barr'd from sight of this and other lands Vnto some few heau'ns mysteries were reueal'd Which did discard them-selues from Romish bands For which they many tortures did indure To prooue the truth and their election sure Of
From him alone doth all perfection flow By him we are with righteousnesse inuested From none besides doth certaine comfort grow Mans great vnworthinesse must be detested Mans pardons are but letters form'd in sand Which not a moment in effect do stand When man in viewing his deformities Prostrates himselfe before the worlds dread King Intending to reforme enormities So farre as humaine frailty strength may bring When in these thoughts a liuely faith ariseth Which to Gods mercy constant trust aduiseth When these concurre within a mortall brest Conducted by th'elects most sacred guide The Pastor may pronounce that party blest His pardon 's granted and he may not slide There is no law nor danger vnto those Which are in Christ and thus their thoughts dispose But vnto those that welter in their sinnes Whose liues are fraught with all impiety Which for the innocent do lay their ginnes Which scorne reproofe and all sinceritie Heau'n scornes such guests their all-pard'ning priests As vile blasphemers and meere Atheists Then let not Rome of charter warrant boast To sport her selfe at pleasure with each sinne The Maiestie diuine doth raise an host Whereby he will his ancient glory winne Then shall the Romists perish like to them Which were confounded in Ierusalem Meane while let th' heart of all true Christians bleed Let wandring thoughts retire themselues with shame Let these abuses detestation breede To see this age so haughty yet so lame When holiest things are set to open sale Why should it not each worthy minde appale Bright Phoebus thou which hidst thy face from view When Christ for man by man death's paines indur'd Oh hide thy face againe since now in liew Of humble thankes the world 's to pride inur'd Such pride as striues to ouerthrow Christs throne And in that place to re-aduance her owne For if Rome were content with wronging those Which in the circle of her charmes do liue If shee sought not all kingdomes to inclose Within her power and lawes to Princes giue Some hope there were that truth might haue some rest Where now all countries are by her opprest As Belzebub th'aires Prince and King of Flyes Imploys for mans o'rethrow his damned swarmes So Papall furies dayly play their prize Against the truth to put their troupes in armes From these no state or kingdome may be free Except by heau'ns they shall protected be To th' heauens t is cleare that this is one maine let That Vnitie due passage cannot haue For at this Churches concord they do fret And seeme as if at th' Albans they did raue But Englands peace and weale they would preuent What ere they faine this is their slie intent The great Testudo fitly they resemble Which in their batteries the Romans vsd For vnder them th'assaylers did assemble That from the walles they were not hurt nor brus'd So Romists vnder Vnions hate do lurke And shade them-selues their hellish mines to worke By armes long time ill fortune they haue tryed Now pollicie must be their chiefe defence When they into the Court and Church haue pried To sooth all grieuance they make faire pretence Of iealousie they cherish many sprouts And from vaine feares they raise a thousand doubts Against the Puritans one while they stormed And termed them the cankers of good order Now do they sooth them 'gainst the church conformed And call subscription tyranous disorder For where all factions they on foote maintaine They hope the sooner their deseigns to gaine This proou's the world in his decrepit age When slights must be the stâ—lts to stay his fall Rome vaunts her selfe a scourge for heau'ns great rage Yet is she sauadge as the Canniball None did sterne Tamberlain so cruell see In shedding bloud he would more charie bee The Romaines did hostilitie proclaime And Florence did her Martinella ring They thought that enterprise was honours maine When vndenounced warre their force did bring Much more they scorned traitors to maintaine Or giue rewards to those which Kings had slaine Fabritius did not thus with Pyrrhus deale Camillus did not thus Faleria winne For to their foes they traitors did reueale But Romists now extoll this deadly sinne No maruell then if Concord they would spill Which all the world with mutinies do fill As Froggs of Aegypt and those heapes of Lice Which plag'd th' Aegiptâ—an for his stubbornesse So are the Râ—maine Clericks which intice Each Princes subiects to vnfaithfulnesse These like Camelions wander euery where Instructing treacheries and to forsweare As when the body is with humors full A little bruse these humors doth attract So in a state their Priests do draw each gull Whose wealths impair'd or reputation cract Such swelling vlcers Iesuits do make Till launcing iustice due reuenge do take Once famous Rome for iustice in thy warres Once famous for the Christian truths defence Now trecherous cowardise thy glory marres Thy truth is now become but truths pretence Thy Ignis fatuus doth to ruine lead Those which for thy supremacie do plead What will they not by thee led on aduenter Hoodwink'd by thee what mischiefe will they shunne Steepe rocks they 'l clime and diue to earths low center To periurie murder treason they will runne As if they should performe some worthy act Or follow their great Mediators tract When famous Godfrey with the Christian powers Expell'd the Sarazins from the holy land When Citties Castles and the strongest Towers This valiant generall could not long withstand The Assassins for their bloud-thirstie King Did to the Christians often danger bring This peoples countrie did on Persia bound And at the foote of Libanus was seated Dame nature did with Mountaines garde it round That all assaults thereof were soone defeated For through one entry they did onely passe Which by the fort Tigado garded was This plaine great store and surplussage affoorded Of vse-full things which to mans life pertained As if the earth her treasures there had hoorded And that else-where her fauour she refrained Or that th' Amalthean horne did there abide And did it selfe from other countries hide Th'inamel'd medowes were with riuers lac't And fring'd about with many sorts of bowers Where busie Art her diuers skill had plac't To helpe the pleasure of retiring howers Though Nature ground and Art bestow'd aduice Yet was this land the instrument of vice For Aladine which term'd himselfe Diuine Which both a King and God would needs be stil'd His best inuentions daily did refine That men in pleasures traunce might be beguil'd For houses of delight he there did build Which with the fairest curtizans he fil'd This done he sent his factors euery where To bring to him some youngsters for his turne For these are void of warinesse and feare Besides these most with Paphian flames do burne These with expence will oft their pleasures buie And soone imbrace fit opportunitie When any one was to Tigado brought There did he rest till some Sun-shinie day
Then should he take a Dose which charm'd his thought And did his senses bind without delay Then in a swound they richly him array'd And to the pleasant gardens him conuay'd There in short space his senses he enioy'd And all those obiects which his senses pleas'd His sight and touch by coynesse not annoy'd The fairest and the loueliest damzels seiz'd One day he did possesse his pleasures fill And all disports did sooth thiâ— straungers will But when the Sun drew to his westerne goale And made long shadowes as euen low things do In banquetting his wits and robes they stole Then Aladins castle he was brought vnto Where beeing wakened he began to thinke How he from heau'n was brought to Stigian brinke Then Aladine began with him to commune And told him that in Paradise he had beene Where he all ioyes for his true friends did summon That yet he had not halfe those pleasures seene Which if he would by faithfull seruice gaine This life expir'd he alwaies should obtaine This promise did so raise this captiues hart And others which thus fondly were abused That all did striue which first should act his part No dangerous action was by them refused If Aladin would kings or captaines kill They striu'd who first his pleasure should fulfill Thus was the Countie of Mountferrat slaine So was the valiant Duke of Tripoly These Richard Cordelions tent did staine With blood whome Aladine had mark't to die For so vaine hope of happinesse preuail'd That Kings in their pauilions they assail'd At length this crew of murtherers were beset By Scythians which Hayton had procur'd Which after many yeares their fort did get And since the world hath not such wrongs indur'd Till Rome to bloud her champions did intice With full assurance of like paradise For Rome can subiects from allegiance free And bind them to their kings when she shall please All must of heau'n or hell partakers be Of endlesse paines or of eternall ease As to the sea of Rome they stand affected And as Romes fauours are on them reflected To baulk the Laicke Papists still deluded With the opinion of antiquity Which do accompt the Protestants secluded From the true Church by their fond sophistrie Since Iesuites by name and power are great T is fittest of their vertues to intreat These are the Mercuries which are imploy'd In all commissions for the Romish state Their carriage of all offence is voide These cherish loue renouncing all debate These plead for kings or else they should so do For both their names and office tend thereto But from this scantling how their courses stray The heau'ns do see and earth too oft doth feele If Monarchies the highest did not sway The greatest kingdomes with their stormes would reele These raise the tempests of all discontent Which vertuous kings by fauour would preuent The Swecians king by slights they haue seduced Vnto the French they stabbers vile do prooue The English they to treason haue induced And serue as spies the Emperour to moue Their craft fits Spaine their faire speech Italie And Iesuits onely can that part supply Thus do the Sec'lar Priests of them report And those Italians which to them are neare Which plainely see their iuggling in such sort That trauellers of them this verdict heare That of the Romanes Clergie-men are worst And of the Clergie Iesuits most accurst Yet both their Popes and they farre off are fear'd And forraine nouices do them adore Whose consciences are with hot irons sear'd VVhose festred soules do still retaine the core VVhich as a plague will suddenly infect All those which trade with this inchanting sect Alexander the third that haughtie Pope VVhome Romans scorn'd and often did expell How did he Englands second Henry mope VVith thundring curse that he to penance fell Since when gainst Popes few kings durst once to striue Lest they their bane and mischiefe should contriue For by Tradition or fresh policie Where Popish practise hath a lawlesse range Such sauage massakers are rais'd hereby That Turkes and Pagans think the same most strange As Christ by miracle hath mariage grac'd So Rome by murders hath the same defac'd An hundred thousand Protestants were slaine When Bourbon and Valois were match't together A cloude brake then into that bloodie raine When they were most assur'd of fairest weather No aged sires nor infants at the brest Could be repriu'd from sudden deaths arrest If bloodie stratagemes should be rehears'd Which Rome hath plotted in each Christian land A Christian heart would with remorce be pierc'd And with the thought thereof amaz'd would stand That Popes which do themselues Christs Vicars call Should Christian lands with Iewish rage inthrall But if the Powder-plot shall be remembred By any one but of that damned crew How King Prince Nobles should haue bin dismembred With many friends which there the Miners knew When Englands gentrie and her choicest flower One hellish vault of sulphur should deuoure When Englands Church most neare the Primitiue Should there haue lost their reuerent Lords of note When skilfull Iudges iustice to deriue Should die by those which do on errors dote When many Curâ—ii must haue seru'd that lake Of which the child vnborne complaints should make If any one should recken halfe those woes Which did attend on that darke dismall act A world of miseries he should disclose More fit for Furies then for humane fact As feends with men ioyne hands to work mans ill So Rome with hell conspires to haue her will When those which wield the sword of iustice faile A Chaos of confusion soone will follow When feare of punishment doth not preuaile The greatest part will in prophanenesse wallow Such is the base ingratitude of man That rodds worke more then any fauour can There might a man haue seene the goodliest shew That worth or order could on earth present All turn'd to horror and the saddest view That euer eye could see or tongue could vent All had alike beene into peeces torne Their battered lims had diuerse wayes beene borne Where then my Iames where had thine ayerie beene Ordain'd to be the scourge of haughty Rome The royall tree and all the branches greene That tempest had o'reblowne in chiefest bloome No family could so the truth defend Gainst which so many sects their force did bend Of many families of high discent Whose Prince to Rome should haue beene sacrificed The Protestants their guide would most lament In preparation of their ayde surprised In mighty armies which with furie close The Generall lost makes passage for his foes How many thousands would haue mourned then Both for their King and for their chiefest friends Whilst Hell and Rome would send fourth gracelesse men Which for this fact would make this ill amends They would haue said their plot not then detected That heauen had Englands heresies corrected Who euer saw a towne well man'd assaulted When murdering shot was on the breaches bent When martiall men on euery side
Vnitie contend Let euery voice which mooues this westerne ayre Extroll his vertue which thus farre hath gone The Church of due regard shall not despaire Whilst He or His this throne shall sit vpon Then for my Iames shall warie wisedome plead Beyond those kings which th'infant Church did lead Now for his iustice shew'd in former rimes Amongst a people which were Eagle ey'd Which soone could see and iudge vnballanc't crimes If weight or measure euer were deni'd These free as ayre as yet could neuer say That spite or fauour did his iudgement sway His magnanimitie is daily seene In slight contempt of what the world admires Which prooues a mind which hath not tainted beene By vaine ambition which high fortunes fires Yet honour and all maiestie attends That mind which least these earthly toyes intends Who doth both fortunes equally esteeme Not rais'd by one nor ought depress'd by th' other In him th' affections conquer'd we may deem Which reasons strength with their great weight would smother No victorie with this may make compare This fight is single none with him may share Those which by bloodie fights aduance their names With many wrongs their victories they staine If any act or conquest purchase fame A part thereof each souldier will retaine For these are instruments to bring to passe What by their Generall enterprised was But he which doth all mutinies keepe vnder Which both himselfe and others would betray Who at the worlds great treasures doth not wonder Whose wronglesse conquest vertue doth display He is true champion in this Christian weale And he alone true valour doth reueale In peace this vertue most triumphant is Her victories no drop of bloud do spill Here rest the Trophees of another blisse Which with a lasting good the world doth fill This vertue cures the wounds which others make Yet keepes the field which others do forsake Too much the Christian world hath beene imbru'd With Christian blood which Iames doth striue to stint Their malice they like Tygers haue pursu'de And Rome hath beene of many broyles the mint Whilst kings contend their subiects feele the smart For euery one of losse doth feele his part Some States though weake reuenge will vndertake Oâ—t wronging many for the fault of few Oft to their foes themselues a prey they make And great expence no way they can eschew But Iames whose power might offer Europe wrong Forbeares all those which vnto Christ belong So Temperance in such a boundlesse power Which is so rare on Honors highest stage And Liberalitie which shines each hower Which many wrong in this base-crauing age All these and other vertues most compleat In Britains King haue their abiding seat Since then the Truth such champions doth enioy As know their strength and Romans force do scorne Since Romes delusions all estates do cloy And of all hopes shee 'le quickly be forlorne Let Britaine be from her in one vnited By heau'n aire earth and sea thereto inuited CHAP. 4. The daunger of Diuision BVt now to leaue this Iles renowned heyre Whose blood is grac'd with high discent of kings Whose auncestors haue kept the kingly chaire Well-neare two thousand yeares whose mariage brings A fresh alliance from that Nor-east coast Whose Kings did once of Englands scepter boast A briefe recapitulation of the former Chapter TO leaue his vertues matching herauldrie And all those titles which that skill affoords To passe from that high reaching policie Which with the heauens and elements accords To passe the imaâ—e of the worlds creator Vnited with so great a mediator To leaue that Vnion where Iehouahs spirit Vouchsafeth residence in an earthly masse Which motion sense and reason doth inherit With zeale and faith which doth mans reason passe To passe th'arch-enemie of humaine blisse Which to good concord still repugnant is To leaue the Romist his confederate Which thinkes by Britaines idle iarres to thriue Whose malice gainst al. peace inueterate Doth dangerous plots against this state contriue These things are plaine and how great states did rise Now will we set their falls before our eyes For heau'ns great glory and the earths true light Whose words more sure then Oracles doe prooue Whose wisdome alwayes clearly sees the right To Vnitie his deare elect doth mooue And this auerrs that kingdoms needs must faile Where Ruines nurce Diuision doth preuaile Who euer did conuerse with times record Who sacred stories or prophane hath seene His obseruation will here-with accord That Vnion strong Diuision weake hath beene By concord smallest things haue great increase By discord greatest things do wane and cease For as a ship which doth on billowes ride Though Eolus and Neptune both agree To doe their worst yet safe it doth abide Whilst of great leakes and ruptures it is free But when the plankes do once begin to spring Iust feare and certaine danger it doth bring So kingdoms whole and in themselues intire May well hold out gainst strength of forreine force When they in settled Vnitie conspire A late repentance will not breed remorce When postern-gates and back-doores all are fast Assaults are with the first incounters pass'd The ouer-throw of the Iewes THe twelue Tribes of that once most happy race Which were the darlings of the heauens great king How were they fear'd whilst loue they did imbrace How did they to their neighbours terrour bring But when dissention did their kingdom seuer How were they subiect to all bondage euer Th' Assyrians some-times haue them captiue lead Some-times the Greekes haue spoil'd their Cittie faire And lastly Romaines with their fruits were fed So that they did of all reliefe dispaire Till hope of their Messias did preuaile Which made them Romaine garrisons assaile A while they freed themselues from Romaine power And put those enemies often-times to flight But home-bred iarres their strength did so deuoure That finall misery on them did light For frantick Iuda Iuda's bloud did spill Their slaughters did their streets and temples fill For when the Romaine Prince Vespatians sonne Ierusalem with thousands had besieged Three factions soone their bloudy broiles begun Which with one truth and promise were obliged They onely ioyn'd when foes assaults were giuen And then the Romaines back with losse were driuen But when the Romaine battery did cease When by delayes they thought the Iewes to starue Meane while the Iewes would not themselues release But with their swords the Romaines turne did serue For on themselues they did inflict more harmes Then could haue chanc'd by all the Romaine armes The hate of brethren doth all hate exceed Which euer did the brest of man infect For many iealosies this spite do feed Diuine nor humaine lawes can this correct Yet must they know that for their foes they fight When on themselues they spend their force might As in a sluce where dammes the waters curbe Till they vnto the top of bankes do swell No little let their current doth disturbe When
their great noise their open passe doth tell So friends and countrymens great hate delay'd Workes strong effects if once it be displai'd VVhere greatest loue is any where expected If thence proceed no shew of kinde intent They which do faile herein are soone suspected And feare seemes wise suggesting some contempt Then strangenesse growes from th' one vnto the other And both will shortly secret enuie smoother For as the glasse through which the eye doth peere Makes all things seeme of colour with the same So do all actions good or ill appeare As good or ill conceit the minde doth frame And this is commonly the vsuall course That ill doth waxe and growe from bad to worse Some-times a faâ—se report is blowne abroad Of wrong which doth incense the hearts of men And then reuenge is like the hellish goade Which makes the wronged rouse him from his den That mischiefe often-times he brings to passe To quitte a wrong which neuer offred was Then wrong with wrong and bloud with bloud repai'd Makes euery place the stage of butcherie Whole families thus often are decai'd Oft kingdomes are thus wasted vtterlie For where one lawe of concord doth not binde Bellona still will vent for mallice finde As windes of heate or coolenesse doe partake With sands or waters where they lately passâ—d As breath a sauour good or ill doth make As from the teeths Percullis it is cast So are our thoughts as our presumptions seeme Oâ— as our iealousies do them esteeme When after seauenty yeares in bondage passâ—d The Iewes had leaue their Citties to repaire Some maâ—e-contents â—broad false rumors cast And forg'd strange tales to make them all dispaire But all deuices could not hinder them From building of the faire Ierusalem So England seeing many lets to muster If those be lets which euery fancie venteth And seeing from these lets new le ts do cluster Wherâ—by the world at Englands good relenteth The more should all to Vnitie incline In spite of those which at our weale repine The different iudgments of the Vnion And other discontentmens haue so wrought That Romists are imbould'ned here-vpon Of Brittaines discord to retaine a thought And to divulgate on a publike stage The brainsick vapours of the Romaine rage So wise a king such Councellers of state As at this day few kingdomes do maintaine Tâ—e Romists prize them at so meane a rate That personall Quaeres they will not refraine Who with their Popes and Cardinals would be bold Vâ—to the world strange stories might vnfold But for the scandall of the Christian weale Which labours now of her vnworthie guide Some Christian Satyre would such acts reueale As modestie hath heretofore denide Yet if the Romists daily shall prouoke They must expect a wel-deserued stroke Thy wrongs my deare Eliza shall inflame Those hidden sparkes which seeme extinguished Since by thy grace the Muses honour came They cannot heare thy honour blemished Eu'n they which of these times do most complaine In thy defence may sing a pleasing straine Thy due no honest Papist shall offend Some of their Popes haue rightly thee esteemed All they which do vnpartiall censure spend Of thy most princely vertues well haue deemed Though Parsons clamorous and fugitiues Would staine such princes and depraue their liues As for my Iames which sees his foes despite And tries the valour of approoued friends If with respect their seruice he requite They for their silence will make such amends That in her strength Rome shall assaulted be And at her doores al'armaes she shall see So cast a cause such bombast furniture Such proude brauadoes from Romes painted flourish These iustly may all Christians hate procure Dâ—â—esting falshood which blind zeale did nourish Who onely at his owne defence doth lie Such ward his owne defence shall not supply When Hanibal neere Rome his armie brought He put the Romans vnto more distresse Then at the siege of Carthage where he fought With all his power her thraldome to redresse So when the Popes Vâ—aligon doth burne He well may feare t' will shortly be his turne So many towring wits incouraged So many souldiers readie for the charge Might soone throughout all Christendome be spred And might some Romane prisoners inlarge Since Rome by pamphlets al the world doth threaten With true reports shee 's worthie to be beaten The Romists and the Schismatickes agree To raile at those whose cause they cannot wrong The worthiest Prince from these cannot be free In subiects loue they will not haue them strong On th' one side Parsons Martins on the other All awfull loue of gouernours would smother And whilst thrice-famous England doth prepare To countermine the Romane policie VVhilst th' English in the front their strength declare Vpon their flanke the Schismatickes will flie So that they 'le giue assistance vnto Rome VVhich once victorious would worke their doome Then let conceits and idle groundlesse feares Be held as mutinies in armies raised Or like to haruest showers procuring teares Of those which would their timely helpe haue praised By others harmes let Britaines sects be warned VVhich till their ruine Concord haue not learned Though Brittaine like to famous Tyre do stand All moted by a neuer-failing riuer Though woodden walles her bayes coasts command Though Truth feare neither Rome nor Satans quiuer Yet if some pore-blind factions be not true Their fond diuision all the rest may rue What was the cause that Greece so soone had lost That great commaund which Alexander gained What great misfortune could so soone haue crost That power which throgh the world was not restrained How did her glorie suddenly decline Which in the view of all the world did shine Her riches and her prowesse did exceede All kingdomes of the world which then were knowne Her name did euery where great terrour breed And who withstood her headlong downe were throwne Yet want of Concord did her frame dissolue And she againe to weaknesse did reuolue Her captaines did themselues with broyles consume Which had conioyn'd themselues in forraine fight To th' Empire euery one would needs presume And euery one made equall claime of right As ships in whirlewinds quickly strike the saile So Greece did stoope when hers did her assayle And as the first great Emperour of Rome In greatest conflicts neuer was dismai'd But when he sawe that in his chiefest bloome By his disloyall friends he was betraid He hid his eyes and would not make defence But left the scourge to heau'n for this offence So Greece when she perceiu'd her home-bred iarres To waste her cities and her wealthie store She then foresawe that shortly forraine warres Should make her captiue which was queene before Then widow-like whose Lord and sonnes were slain Of Concords breach she onely did complaine Diuision both a breach and passage made First for the Roman after for the Turke Now Ottoman all Greece doth ouershade Where he the Christians ouerthrow doth worke Whose policie all Europe might