raigne without some habitations for himselfe and his subiects and considering that Moses in the selfe-same place affirmâ—th that the Cities founded by Nimrod were in the countrey of Sennaar and that in the 12. verse of the 11. Chapter he saith that these builders of Babel dwelt on a plaine in the countrey of Sennaar by good reason the inuention and beginning thereof is here ascribed to Nimrod who by this meanes sought to set his state on foot Also this Monarchie of Babylon was one of the first and with it that of Niniuie as may be gathered out of the words of Moses But the more particular discourse of these matters and diuers other questions concerning Nimrod and his outrages require a larger commentatie 5. Like as the Vulcan weake The Poet saith that as a small deale of fire let fall by some Shepherds among the drie leaues of a great Forrest setting it selfe and hatching as it were the heat a while at length with helpe of the wind groweth to so great a flame that it taketh the whole Forrest and leaueth not a Driad that is not a tree in his proper or naturall barke So the words first vttered by Nimrod then blowne with the bellowes of his Minions and fauourites set the hearts of the people on fire that he soone obtained his purpose This is it that Moses noteth in the eleuenth Chapter of Genesis the third and fourth verses They said one to another the chiefe men hauing put it in their heads Come let vs make bricke and burne in well in the fire so had they bricke in stead of stone and sâ—â—me had they in stead of morter Then said they Goe let vs build vs a Citie and a Tower whose top may reach vnto the heauens that we may get vs a name lest we be scattered vpon the whole earth The Poet in his verse discourseth vpon this deuise It is thought that this proud building was begun about an hundred and fiftie yeares after the Floud The good Patriarch Noe that liued yet long time after saw his posteritie confounded and scattered for so it was the Lords will to exercise the patient faith of his seruant to whom in recompence he shewed the effect of his blessings in the family of Sem where still remained the Hebrew tongue together with the doctrine and discipline of the true Church Now out of this history of Moses touching the building of the Towne and the confusion of the builders is sprong as it seemeth the fabulous discourse of the Poets set downe by Ouid in his first booke of Metamorphosis touching the Giants that heaped hilles one vpon another to scale heauen and dispossesse Iupiter of his throne Thus hath Satan endeuoured to falsifie the truth of sacred historie Well this arrogant building sheweth vs how vaine are the imaginations of worldly men namely to set at naught the true renowne of heauenly life and seeke after the false of earth Carnall men haue no care at all to worship and reuerence the name of the true God they regard only to be accounted-of themselues and so to write their names in the dust Against the attempts of the men of Babel and all their successours let vs oppose these sentences the 18. and 21. of Prouerbs The name of the Lord is a strong tower thither shall the iust repaire and be exalted There is no wisdome nor vnderstanding nor force can preuaile against the Lord and that which is written Psal the 127. Except the Lord doe build the house the builders labour but in vaine 6. God seeing this Moses in the 5. and 6. verses of the 11. chapter saith Then the Lord came downe to see the Citie and Towre which the sonnes of men had built And the Lord said Behold the people is one and they all haue one language and this they begin to doe neither can they now bee stopped from whatsoeuer they haue imagined to doe come on let vs goe downe and there confound their language that they vnderstand not one another Then he addeth the execution of the sentence saying So the Lord scattered them from thence vpon all the earth and they left off to build the Citie Therefore the name of it was called Babel because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth and scattered them from thence ouer all the world God that is all in all neuer changeth his place he goeth neither vpward nor downward but the Scripture saith hee goeth downe then when he worketh any thing on earth which falling out beyond and against the ordinary course of nature witnesseth his particular presence Vnder these few words of Moses a many things are to be considered chiefly he noteth the great sinnes of the builders in that he bringeth in the Lord iudge of the whole world vouchsafing to bow downe his eyes particularly vpon that foolish people For it is not without cause that the great God of heauen and earth should arise from his throne and if I durst so say leaue the palace of his glory to come and view these durt-dawbers or morter-makers By this manner of speech Moses sheweth and giueth vs to vnderstand that long time before these Babylonians had built in their hearts most wonderfull high and stately towers and that long agoe they had bak'd in the sire of their concupiscence some maruellous brickes to wit they had much counsailed one with another and discoursed of meanes to get renowme and found no better way to attaine their purpose then to raise a tower vp to the heauens to rauish with astonishment all those that should behold it So Moses saith that this pride and froward selfe trust deserued a grieuous punishment but as God is perfectly iust so layeth he vpon the builders a chastisement proportionable vnto their offence 7. Thus had he said and straight In God it is all one to will and to doe And further he sendeth not lightning winde nor tempest against the tower but contenteth himselfe to strike the proud and puffed-vp braines of the builders and so the building founded vpon their folly was ouerthrowne by their foolish iangling that God mingled with their language and the vainglorious masons insteed of their imagined renowne haue gotten themselues euerlasting shame Who would haue thought that God had had so ready such kinde of rods to punish mankinde withall But let the Reader consider whether the world at this day be not full of Babel-towers Marke what a number of men doe in euery kinde of vocation Sith I doe not take vpon mee but to write bare Annotations I leaue it to the Readers consideration who may see now more then euer that the world continueth the building of Babel that is men madly gainset their owne wisedome and power against the wisedome and power of God who treading as it were with woollen feet and stealing on softly is able with an arme of Iron to surprise and seize vpon these builders and turne by diuers meanes their vaine purposes and weake endeuours to
sinnelesse yet for sinne of man is mockt beat The sixt vnder Iesus Christ hong And laid in graue The last is th'euerlasting rest Then shall th'embillowed Sea be downe a leuell prest The Sunne shall lose his light The last shal be the worlds rest Heau'n stay his whirling round All fruit shall cease to grow vpon th'all-bearing ground And we that haue on earth beiecued Heauenly troaths Shall keepe in Heau'nly ioy the Saboth of Sabothes What shall I hope alas of all the latter age Adam considers what shall betide his posteritie till the first world is ended by the Flood Or fierie vengeance sent to burne this worldly stage Or men who law'd by lust nere heard of God nor me What shall I hope of them when these whose pedegree So late from Eden draw'n continues liuely sense Of Heau'nly doome on me when these with mad offence Gods anger still prouoke Ha traitor and rebell soule Ha Lamech was 't a fault so light thy bed to soule To third the paire-of-man that yet more hellish wood Needs must thou dip thy blade in double-gransiers blood Nor could the Rogues pasport embrant betwixt his browes Nor his charge stay thine hand who power infernall bowes But Enos O thou Saint be bold Enos restablisheth Gods seruice and plant againe The standard of beleefe which mans vnsteddie braine Hath laied along the ground Call-on the Sou'raine Good Besprinkle his altars hornes with sacrificed blood Send vnto his sacred smell the sweet perfumie clouds And Truths bright lampe retinde in Errors ashie shroudes See Enoch thy disciple he with a godly strife Still dying to himselfe liues in the Lord of life Grace of the world Faithfull Enoch taken away to the Lord for pleasing him Heb. 11.5 Gen. 5.24 and sets t' abide th'ey daunting shine That blazeth lightning-like i'th'essence first diuine Lo how deliuered from yoake of bodies weight And sequestred from sense he meats the toplesse height Of Heau'n and borne on wing of Fasting Faith and Prayer Styes vp the tent of Saints embroyd'red all so faire He though a guest on earth in heau'nly trance doth fall Know'th all seeth all hath all in God that 's all in all He passing each degree from forme to forme ascends And O most happie man in Gods owne likenesse ends For lo th' All-goodly-faire him for his vertue loues And not in part but all from earth to heau'n remoues Gone art thou art thou gone vnto the starrie blew Adieu my sonne Enoch adieu my sonne adieu Liue happie there on high thy body now a sprite Or changed wondrously to shape of Angell bright Puts-on eternitie thine eyes now no more eyes But newly-flaming starres do beautifie the skies Thou drinkest now thy fill of Nectar wine thy day Of Saboth neuer ends the vaile now draw'n away Thou seest God face to face and holily vnite Vnto the Good Three-one thou liu'st i' th infinite An Angell new but lo thou leauest here behind The Patriarchs children corrupt themselues by marrying with the prosanerace of Cain Men of vnbounded lust their hands-rake all they find Their bellie like a gulfe is euer gluttonous Yea would a man beleeu 't the very chosen race And holy peopl ' of God th' adopted sonnes of grace They are alas the men most impudent of all They gallop after sinne with bit in teeth and fall T' embrace in lustfull heat mans daughters lewd and vaine Profanely tempering the blood of Seth and Cain So with a shamelesse eye they choose the gawdy face Before the godly mind From these foule beds a race Of Gyants God knowes what spring vp with bloodie minde Strong fierce plagues of the world and whips of humane kind Then God who sees that sinne more by the long delay Of his reuenging hand encreaseth day by day Is angrie and now no more will plead the reason why But man an all for man will sodainly destroy At least what ere with wing doth clip the yeelding aire Or haunt in mortall state the land so richly-faire With one hand sets he ope the windowes of the skie Whence on mens rebell heads there falleth from on hie A thousand showrie seas he gripes i'th'other hand The soaken spongie globe of th'all defiled land And sets it hard in presse and makes it cast anon What flouds it euer dronke sen first the world began From euery vaulted rocke great riuers gin to flow And downe-hill so encrease with flouds of moulten snow That Firre and Cedar trees scarce any bow do show The wat'r swol'n so hie and bankes are sunke so low O what posteritie for want of skill to swimme Loose I within these gulfes yet some full brauely climme The craggie peakes of hills t' escape the raging deepes And grapple about the rockes but ah the wat'r vp creeps And lesning all these hills makes all the world a meere My children whither now O whither can you steere From God but vnto God whose anger hath shooke the world Quite cut-off all your legs in flood your bodies horld Now grows the flood so high that th'erth is more then drownd The riuers and the sea haue all one onely bound To wit a clowdy skie a heau'n still full of raine As trauelling with child of many another maine To make me childerlesse O father miserable O too-to fruitfull reines O children dammageable O gulphes reuealed for me that were before vnknown O end of all O world en wrackt and ouerflow'n O Heau'n O mightie sea O land now no more land O flesh and blood but here his voice began to stand For sorrow stopt the pipe and ny of life berest him So fall'n a swoond with griefe the Prophet Spirit left him Annotations vpon the end of Adam and beginning of Noe. 1 THe wining Territorie The verses are graue and full of maiestie and agreeable to the person that speakes Adam sheweth vnto his sonne in how many daies the world was created and how many ages it shall endure To giue more weight to this declaration he brings in the first of Mankind to speake thereof as it were by the rauishing power of the holy Ghost for that his purpose was to ioine to the former discourse of Creation the sequele of diuers ages of the world which Adam could not speake of but by Spirit of prophecie 2 That first As God created Heauen and Earth in sixe daies and rested the seuenth so Adam shewes that the world shall continue sixe ages and in the seuenth shall be the eternall rest of the Church triumphant in Heauen Some there are both old and new writers who discoursing on this number of six and constring to their purpose the saying That a thousand yeares are as one day before the Lord haue imagined that the world from beginning to the end shall fulfill the number of six thousand yeares to wit two thousand before the law two thousand vnder the law and two thousand vnder Grace But this opinion hath so little foundation in holy Scripture that contrariwise
it is refuted rather by expresse testimonie of Christ who saith the latter day is vnknowne both to men and Angels Now that which the Poet propoundeth here concerning the worlds six ages not defining the number of yeres it is founded in the word of God The first age then begins from Adam and continues till Noe 1656 yeares The second from Noe who built the Arke and planted the Vine till Abraham 292 yeares The third lasteth from Abraham the great sheepheard drawne out of Chalden who obaying the voice of God was readie to sacrifice his onely sonne Isaac from Abraham I say vnto Daâ—id 942 yeares The fourth from Dauid the valiant and nimble sheepheard who with one cast of his sling ouerthrew the Gyant Goliah and of sheepheard was made King renowned aboue others who was also a great Prophet and excellent in Poetrie and Musicke vnto the taking of Ierusalem vnder Zedechias who after hee had seene his children slaine and the people of ludea led capture into Babilon had his eyes put out containes 475 yeares Now from the destruction of the first Temple built by Solomon vnto the destruction of the second Temple destroyed by the Romans about fortie yeares after the death of Christ some reckon 656 yeares and that 's the fift age The siâ—t holds on from Christ to the worlds end If this latter age last yet but 51 yeares longer the Lord shall haue attended it with as long patience as he did the former world destroyed by the blood but the destruction of this world shall be by fire Hereof see what Saint Peter saith in the third Chapter of his second Epistle 3 What shall I hope alas In all the rest of this discourse vpon the first day of the second weeke the Poet makes a â—â—iefe of the Historie in holy Scripture contained from about the end of the fourth Chapter of Genesis to the end of the seuenth Adams first consideration here is of his descendants by Cain who giuen wholly to the world forgot to exercise themselues in godlinesse and true justice Whereupon there ensued such vngedlinesse vnrighteousnesse and debauched life as brought the delâ—ge and vniuersall flood vpon them Adam foreseeth that such as shall be liuing in the latter age wherinto we are fallen are like to be wondrous peruerse sithence his so neere successors euen in his life time durst prouoke the iust Iudge of All. The Poets haue fained foure ages of the world the first of Gold the second of Siluer the third of Brasse the fourth of Iron And we may put thereto a fift mingled with Iron and Clay They said the first was of Gold for the abundance of all good things for then was there more knowledge and wisedome in the soule of man Iustice and all other vertues were more honored mens bodies were much more big strong and vigorous and so much the longer liuing by how much the lesse they need care to maintaine health After this life so commodious and ensie there followed another more troublesome and after that a third and a fourth declining still by little and little from worse to worse Compare ye the peaceable time of Adam with the broyles and mâ—ssakers of these our dayes and you shall see plainely in the one Gold and in the other Iron Nay euen in the daies of Hesiod and Ouid many hundred yeares agoe the Iron age is discouered by their complaints But in that Golden age before the flood when Adam Seth Enos Henech and other excellent Patriarches liued in the schoole of God raigned euer good order or if there were any disorder as in Cain and his line which corrupted the posteritie of Seth that same Enos and other good men found remedie for it Whereas now a daies vice it selfe is held a vertue and right is tried onely by the swords point so are both the bodies and soules of men decayed and abased But least these my notes turne to a Satire let vs stay them here with the 12 verse of the 12 chapter of the Apocalips well agreeing with this latter age Wo to you inhabitants of the Earth and Sea for the Diuell is come downe vnto you which hath great wroth knowing his time is short 4 Ha traitor and rebell Soule For example of vice and wickednesse he noteth Lamech mentioned in the fourth and fift Chapters of Gen. accusing him to haue tripled the Paire-of-man that is to haue brought in Poligamie by marrying and hauing two wiues at once so as contrarie to the Lords appointment who of one body made two and of two but one he went about to ioyne three bodies in one and whereas hee ought to haue but one wife tooke two viz. Ada and Tsilla Beside this desiling the marriage bed which the Apostle saith Hebr. 13. is honourable among all men and calles it the bed vndesiled Lamech is here also accused to haue embrued his sword with the bloud of his Grand-fathers Grand-father that is to haue killed Cain of this descent see Gen. 4. where you shall sinde Lamech in the seuenth degree counting Adam the first and Cain the second c. Philo Judaus Lib. de Praemâ—js Poeâ—â—s holds that Cain was not killed but as his offence was a thing neuer knowne before so was it punished after a new fashion and bearing a certain mark of Gods anger languished in coutinuall misery without hope of grace or comfort Certaine ancient Doctors giue Lamech the title of a Murderer bloudy minded Man and his menaces in the Text shew no lesse hence it is that the Poet after diuers others hath gathered that Cain was killed by Lamech some say purposely some vnawares But these Traditions hauing no ground in holy Scripture and little concerning the stay of our faith let the Poet say and the Reader thinke what they will Howbeit Muses sheweth plainly that this Lamech of Cains Posteritie was a cruell man and giuen to his pleasure 5 But Enos O thou Saint It is recorded by Moses Genes 4. Ch. the last verse that vnto Seth the third sonne of Adam was borne a sonne called Enos and it followeth that then men began to call on the name of the Lord as much to say as then began a distinction apparent betweene the Church of God and the Race of Cain For as much as Adam Seth Enos and their Families only of all the World called themselues the children of God and reioyced in that name The Poet so followes this exposition that he ioynes in opinion with such as say when Enos came into the world Adam was 239. yeares old and that then the Race of Cain was so multiplied as the seruice of God began to be of small account the due calling vpon his name neglected and the doctrine of Sacrifices mis-vnderstood Whereupon these good Patriarkes perceiuing the disorder opposed themselues against it by all the best meanes they could Some learned men there are who consider the words of Moses otherwise and as though in the time of Enos some others
euen the descendents of Seth also with whom the truth of God remained began to be debauched in following the course of Cainites Howsoeuer most likely it is that Enos and other good seruants of God by all meanes endeauoured to maintaine true righteousnesse and holinesse and so much the rather because they saw that issue of Cain giuen ouer wholly to the world And hence it is that we reade in the sixt Chapter of Genesis that the posteritie of Seth were called the Children of God and there also by the Daughters of Men are meant women descended of Cain 6 See Euoch Moses is briefe but as graue and pithie as may be speaking of the holy Patriarke Enoch Gen. 5.22 Enoch after he begat Methusala walked with God three hundred yeares and begat sonnes and daughters So Enoch walked with God and appeared no more for God tooke him To walke with God is to please God as the Apostle expounds it Hebr. 11. Hereto the Poet affords his learned Paraphrase As that Enoch dying to himselfe and liuing vnto the Lord was exercised daily in meditation of the ioyes of heauen and raised himself as it were aboue the world with the wings of faith fasting prayer As also the Apostle saith By saith Enoch was taken away that he might not see death neither was he found for God had taken him away Saint Iuâ—e in his generall Epistle saith that Enoch the seuenth from Adam prophecied against the wicked saying Behold the Lord commeth with thousands of his Saints to giue Iudgement against all men and to rebuke all the vngodly among them of all the wicked deeds which they haue vngodly committed and of all their cruell speeches which wicked sinners haue spoken against him The Poet holds according to the opinion of many Diuines both old and new that Enoch was taken both soule and body vp into heauen for a manifest witnesse to the former world of euerlasting life For this was no such inuisible departure or disappearance as is of the soule from the body And whereas the Apostle saith hee was not found it shewes that such as then liued in the world laid to heart this miracle and after diligent search made the godly were much comforted thereby as the wicked could not but be much dismayed Moreouer the Chronicles doe reckon but fiftie six yeares betwixt the death of Adam and the taking vp of Enoch and as the death of the one taught all After-commers to thinke on their weaknesse so the life of the other made the godly more assured of life euerlasting and glory of body and soule for euer I desire each Christian Reader to consider well the fift Chapter of Genesis that he may well compare the times of these Patriarkes and marke how long some of them liued with their fore and after-beers whereby they might the better learne of the one and teach the other what was the true seruice of God 7 Men of vnbounded lust Although the first world endured 669. yeares after the Assumption of Enoch yet true is the Poets saying that after this Patriarke was gone all godlinesse holinesse and righteousnesse began to decay howsoeuer Noe and his Father Lamech and his Grand-father Methusala who deceased not many moneths before the Floud but in the same yeare did set themselues mainly against those disorders and shewed themselues euen by way of preaching to be as it were the Heraulds of Iustice Moses shewes plainly the particulars throughout the whole fift Chapter and in the beginning of the sixt what horrible sinnes the descendants of Seth committed by ioyning themselues to those of Cain as first the neglect of Gods word then Tyranny violence oppression iniustice wantonnesse polygamie or hauing more wiues at once than one and all wickednesse growne to a height altogether vncorrigible so as the estate both of Church Kingdome and Family were all turned vpside downe and to be short a deluge of impiety and filth had couered the face of the whole earth 8 Of Gyants God knowes what Moses saith Gen. 6.4 that in those daies were Giants vpon the earth and chiefly after that the sons of God which were the posterity of Seth grew familiar with the young women descended of the line of Cain and had issue by them He saith also that these Giants were mightie men which in old time were of great renowne Some apply the word Giant to the exceeding stature of those men whereby they made all afraid that beheld them Others whom the Poet followes to the Tyranny and violence of such as Irued immediatly before the Deluge among whom some there were who bore all afore them and became a terrour to all others Goropius in his Antiquities handleth at large this point concerning Gyants especially in his second booke entituled Gygantomachia 1. Chassagnon hath answered him in a Latine Treatise where he disputeth of the exceeding height these Gyants c. 9 Then God who saw The causes of the Deluge the fore-tellinâ— and execution thereof are set downe by Moses briefly but sufficiently and hereto may be applied that which our Lord and Saâ—iour saith as touching these latter times which he compareth to the time of Noe Matth. 24. As also that of St. Peter in his first generall Epistle 3.20 and in his second 2.5 Lay also to this prediction of Adam the description of the generall Floud set downe by the Poet at the end of the second Day of his first Weeke All this requires a full Commentary but this may suffice in briefe The end of the second Weekâ—s first Day called Adam The second day is called Noe because the most remarkeable things in all the time of that holy Father and his successors vntill Abraham is there represented in foure Bookes following and thus entitled Th' Arche Babylon Colonies and Columnes or Pillars whereof the first is as it were a briefe Commentary vpon diuers passages of the six seuen eight and ninth Chapters of Genesis But heare the Poet. L'ARCHE The first Booke of Noe called the Arke Auant propos auquel par vne modeste plainte le poëte rend les lecteurs attentifs se fait voye à linuocacion du nom de Dieu SI vous ne coulez plus ainsi que de coustume Et sans peine sans art ô saincts vers de maplume Si le Laurier sacré qui m'ombrageoit le front Esueillé se sletrit si du double Mont Où loin de cest Enfer vostre Vranie habite Ma muse à corps perdu si bas se prceipite Accusez de ce temps l'ingrate cruautè Le soin de mes enfans masoible santè Accusez la douleur de mes pertes nouuelles Accusez mes preces accusez mes tuteles Voila le contrepois qui tire violant En bas les plus beaux soins de mon esprit volant La gresle de mon champ les poignantes espines Qui estoufent en sleur les semences diuines Qui germoient en mon ame O
Surmounteth euery head whereas it makes a stay Behold then some their liues to floting plankes commit And some in troughes and some in coffers tottring sit One halfe asleepe perceiues the wat'r away to iogge His bed and life at once another like a frog Casts out his hands and feet in equall bredth and time And striuing still with head aboue the slood to clime Sees nere him how before it newly drownd his brother His only child his wife his father and his mother At length his weary limbes no longer fit to scull Vnto the mercy yeeld of wat'r vnmercifull All all now goes to wracke yet Fates and deadly seare That earst with hundred kindes of weapons armed were To spoile the fairest things now only by the force And foamy sway of Sea make all the world a corse Meane while the Patriarch who should the world refill Plowes vp the fallow-waue aboue the proudest hill And th'Arche on dapled backe of th' ocean swoln with pride Without or mast or oare doth all in safety ride Or ankers ankerlesse although from hav'n so farre For God her pylot was her compasse and her starre A hundred fiftie daies in generall profound Thus is the world ywrackt and during all the flound 7 Good Noe abridgeth not the space of night or day Nor puts-off irksomnesse with vaine discourse or play But as in dog-day seas'n a raine shed west-by-south When Earth desires to drink thirst hath parcht her mouth Reflowreth euery stalke regreeneth all the field That sunne and southerne wind with drought before had peild So from his pleafull tongue falls cheering dew and aire R'alliuing all his house and beating downe despaire And thus he washt their face and wyp'd away their teares And raised vp their heart opprest with vgly feares He incourageth his familie with consideration of Gods great mercies who neuer forgets his children Good â—heere my lads quoth he the Lord will soone rebinde And stop the murdring Seas which his fierce angers winde Hath whirled ore the world and as his ang'r I finde Hath armed Sea and Aire and Heau'n against our kinde So shall sure er 't be long his mercy more renownd Cleare heau'n vnghust this ayre bring the Seas to bound Still follow one anoth'r his Anger and his Grace His anger lightning-like it stay 's not long in place But th' other vnder wing it broodeth as an Hen The manifold descents of faithfull-hearted men The Lord the gracious Lord bestowes his wroth by waight And neuer waighes his grace he whips vs throwes straight His rod into the fire wer 't on our body laid Or soule or childe or goods he makes vs only afraid With fingers tyck and strikes not with his mightfull arme More often thunders he then shoots a blasting harme And wise-housholder-like giues them that bend him knees His angers wholsome wine and enemies the lees This wise that holy man sire of the second age Discourseth on the praise of Gods both loue and rage Wicked Cham replies vpon his father and diuers waies opposes the wise and blamelesse prouidence of God and the good and humble deuotion of Noe. 8 But Cham in whose foule heart blind roots were lately sone Of godlesse vnbeleefe that thought ere this t'vnthrone The mighty God of heau'n and beare the scept'r himselfe To hold in Africke sands with helpe of hellish Elfe By name of Hammon Ioue some temple stately built Where as a God he might haue Altars bloudy-guilt With anger-bended brow and count'nance ill apaid Thus in disdainfull tone his father checkd and said 9 Fie fath'r I am asham'd to see on you lay hold These slauish thoughts that seize base minds and flie the bold This fained angry Iudge thus alway will you feare As peyzing words and thoughts and counting euery heare A Censour faine you still that beares in hand the keyes Of yours and euery heart to search out when he please Yours and all hidden thoughts yea all your sighs t'enroule And present faults and past together to controule That ayming at your necke with bloud-embrued knife Is hangman-like at hand to cut the strings of life Alas perceiue you not how this hood-winked zeale And superstitious heat to reason I appeale Makes errours many and foule your wits bright lampe to smother How light beleefe you driues from one extreame t'another You make a thousand qualmes your great Gods heart to strike You make him fell as Beare Thus Atheists presumptuously censure the mercie and Iustice of God and queasie woman-like Let any sinner weepe his tender heart will melt As if a wretches harme the great Commander felt He sees no drop of bloud but ere we know what ailes him Swoons and in manly brest his female courage failes him And yet you make him fierce and suffring oft the sway And foamy streame of wroth to beare his reason away With heart of sauage Beare in manly shape he freats He rages then he roares he thunders out his threats Thus if your naile but ake your God puts fing'r ith'eye Againe he kills burnes drownes all for as light a why A wilde Boares tusked rage but only one forrest harries A Tyrant but a Realme when angers tempest carries Your God against the world with such a spightfull ghust As if his Realme of All should out of All be thrust Here 's Iustice here 's good Right what other can ensue it Some one or two perhaps haue sinn'd and all doe rue it Nay nay his venging hand alacke for our offence The Atheists coÌ„spiring with the Philosophers ascribe vnto naturall reason all that is done by the iust reuenging hand of God Destroys the very beasts for all their innocence O fath'r it cannot be that God's so passionate So soone in diuers fits peace and warre loue and hate Or so giu'n to reuenge that he for one default Should hurt his owne estate and bring the world to naught The many watrie mists the many floating clowds That heau'n hath stored vp and long kept vnder shrowds By selfe-waight enterprest and loosned of their bands Now gush out allatonce and ouer-flow the lands Then Aire amightie deale that vnder looser ground As thinne it is a way by secret leaking found And lay in wind-shot hilles by cold turn'd crystall waue At first well'd vp the skie then downward gau to rane And drownd the corny rankes at length so sweld and wox It pass'd the green-lock heads of tallest vpland okes Nots answer vnto all the blasphemies of Cham and his like 10 By this the father gauld with griefe and godly smart A long sigh yexed-out from deepe cent'r of his heart And ha vile Cam quoth he head of disloyall race Discomfort of myne age my houses soule disgrace Vndon th' art and deceiu'd thy sence is growne vnsownd By trusting to thy selfe without the Spirits ground And sure I feare but o God let me proue a lyar I feare with heauie hand the lofty-thundring Syre Will blast thy godlesse head and at thee
dans sa nuict Il descouure vn Soleil qui sauorable luit Qu'vn air infect l'estouffe en si puante estable Il ne veut desloger que Dieu n'ait agreable Son desembar quement que deuotieux Il soit auec tout ce qui estoit enserré de viuans auec luy Iln'entende tonner quelque oracle des cieux Mais si tost que Dieu parle il sorte de sa cauerne Ou plustost des cachots d'vn pestilent Auerne Auec Sem Cham Iaphet sa femme ses trois Brus Et cent cent façons soit d'animaux pollus Soit de purs animaux Car le sainct Patriarche En auoit de tout genre enclos dedans son Arche God makes the flood to cease 11 Thus Noah past the time and lesned all their harme Of irkesome prisonment with such like gentle charme His hope was onely in God who stopping now the vaines Whence issued-out before so many wells and raines Chidde th' aire To that end commands the winds to driue backe the water and drie the earth and bid her shut the flood-gate of her seas And sent North-windes abroad go ye quoth he and case The Land of all this ill ye cooling fannes of Heau'n Earths broomes and warre of woods my herauts posts and cau'n My sinnows and mine armes ye birds that hale so lightly My charriot ore the world when as in cloud so nightly With blasting scept'r in hand I thundring rage and ire From smoaky flamed mouth breathe sulph'r and coles of fire Awake I say make hast and soop the wat'r away That hides the Land from Heau'n robs the world of day The winds obey his voice the flood beginnes t' abate The Sea retireth backe 12 The Arklanded And th' Arch in Ararate Lands on a mountains head that seem'd to threat the skie And troad downe vnd'r his feet a thousand hills full high 13 Now Noes heart reioic'd with sweet conceit of hope The Rauen sent out to discouer And for the Rau'n to flie he sets a casement ope To find some resting place the bird soares round-about And finding none returnes to him that sent her out Who few daies after sends the Doue another spie That also came againe because she found no drie But after senights rest The Doue sent out the second time brings an Oliue branch in signe of peace he sends her out againe To search if any Land yet peer'd aboue the maine Behold an Oliue branch she brings at length in beake Then thus the Patriarch with ioy began to speake O happie signe o newes the best that could be thought O mysterie most-desir'd Io the Doue hath brought The gentle Doue hath brought a peacefull Oliue-bough God makes a truce with vs and so sure sealeth now The patent of his Loue and heau'nly promises That sooner shall we see the Tyger furylesse The Lyon fight in seare the Leuret waxen bold Then him against our hope his woonted grace with-hold O first fruit of the world O holy Oliue-tree O saufty-boading branch for wheth'r aliue thou be And wert all while the flood destroyd all else I ioy That all is not destroyd or if since all th'anoy That waters brought on all so soone thou did'st rebudde I wonder at the Lord that is so mightie and good To ralliue euery plant and in so short a space Cloath all the world anew in liueries of his grace 14 So said he Noe comes not out of the Arke but by the commandement of God who sent him thereinto yet although the flood had so reflowd That all about appeerd some Islets thinly strew'd Him offring where to rest although he spied a bright And cheerefull day amid his age-encreasing night Although th' infected ayre of such a nastie stall Ny choakt him would he not come forth before the call Of God that sent him in before some thunder-steauen For warranâ— of his act gaue Oracle from Heauen No sooner spake the Lord He comes forth and all other liuing creatures that were with him but he comes out of Cell Or rath'r out of dennes of some infectious Hell With Sem Cham and laphet his wise and daughters three And all the kinds of Bruits that pure or impure be Of hundred hundred shapes for th' holy Patriarch Had some of euery sort enclosd with him i'th'Arch 11. Thus Noah In the beginning of the 8. Chap. of Gen. Moses reports that God remembred Noe and euery beast and all the cattell that were with him in the Arke and made a wind passe vpon the earth and the waters ceased This the Poet expoundeth giuing by the way very proper Epithites vnto the winds and such also as are mentioned in the Psalmes 18. and 104. This wind dried the earth by degrees and caused the waters to retire into their proper place of deepe Sea and Chanels for the waters enterlaced with the earth make but one globe And though at the Deluge by Gods appointment they went out far beyond their bounds to drowne the wicked yet when the same God would deliuer his seruant Noe out of danger at his command they remasse themselues into their wonted heap furthered thereunto by the winds and there continue so setled that they passe not the bounds of an ordinarie ebbe and flow This is done by the power of God and for the promise he made to Noe that there should be no more generall Flood to destroy the earth 12. And th'Arke The Poet here calls it the Holy Carraque as built by the commandement of God and containing his Church On the seuenth day of the seuenth moneth saith Moses Gen. 8.4 rested the Arke vpon the Mountaines of Ararat Some by this name vnderstand the great Armenia others the top of Caucasus So Goropius who thereupon discourseth at large in the 5. booke of his Antiquities entitled Indo-Scythica Iosephus in his first sheweth what thought Berosus Nicolaus Damascenus and others very auncient concerning the Arke but followeth the first opinion The Poet contents himselfe here to signifie and expresse only in generall some very high hill 13. Now Noahs heart reioyc'd From the end of the seuenth moneth to the end of the ninth saith Moses the waters began to abate daily more and more and on the first day of the tenth moneth that is eight moneths and thirteene dayes after the Flood began the tops of the hills appeared so then already were the waters soonke aboue fifteene cubits This fust made the Patriarke be of good hope For after forty dayes he opened the window of the Arke and let goe the Rauen which went and came till the waters were dried from the surface of the earth He sent out also a Doue to try if they were yet further abated but the Doue not finding where to rest the sole of her foot returnâ—d vnto him againe into the Arke for the waters were yet ouer the whole earth and he reached out his band and tooke her to him into the Arke And when he
had waited yet seauen dayes longer he sent out the Doue againe and in the euening shee returned vnto him hauing in her mouth an Oliue-leafe which shee bad plucked c. I haue recited the Text of Moses whereupon the Expositors discoursing are wont to shew wherefore Noah sent-out the Rauen and the Doue rather then any other birds and why the Doue after the Rauen and thrice He knew full well the nature of these two was fit for the discouery and went on with a discreet feare attending in all that he did the manifest declaration of Gods will touching his comming forth of the Arke He had also a strong hope and confidence in the goodnesse of God now prouing the patience and constancie of his seruant and strengthning him still more and more by those meanes of discouery And although the Doue at last staid and returned not vnto him the waters being dayed from the earth yet would he not come forth of the Arke but contented himselfe to remoue the couering thereof and behold the dry land round about him and staid so 27. dayes longer expecting the will and pleasure of the same God to call him out of the Arke which commanded him to enter into it A singular example of obedience and reuerence due vnto the Almighty As for the rest the ancient Diuines haue at large allegorized vpon this Doue and the Oliue leafe for a token of peace betwixt God and his Church as also vpon the resemblance that this deliuerie hath with our redemption by Iesus Christ These are contemplations of good vse whereof the Poet maketh a briefe in speaking of the Oliue Here it may suffice to haue touched them in a word and leaue the Reader to meditate thereupon Whom I wish also to peruse the third chapter of the 1. Epist of S. Peter and see what the Apostle there saith concerning the correspondence of Baptisme and the Deluge 14. Although the Flood When Noe had patiently attended many dayes after the surface of the Earth began to waxe drie God spoke vnto him Gen. 8.15 c. saying Come out of the Arke thou and thy wife and thy sonnes and their wiues with thee Bring forth with thee euery beast that is with thee of all flesh both foule and cattell and euery thing that creepeth and moueth vpon the earth Then Noe came forth and his sonnes and his wife and his sonnes wiues with him Euery beast euery creeping thing and euery fowle all that moueth vpon the earth after their kinds went out of the Arke as it were out of a prison most noysome and deadly but for the presence and singular fauour of the Lord who preserueth both man and beast as the Psalmist saith Here are many things to be admired Noe and all his come forth safe and sound the beasts also come forth without preying one vpon another and they retire themselues to their seuerall haunts their dens nests and places sit for them and he retaineth what was requisite for sacrifice Mais i'enten les meschant qui n'agueres souloyent Manger leur mots rompus â—raintifs ne parloyent Que à vn murmure sourd à l'oreille entre eux-mesmes Ores à cor cri publier leur blasphemes Qui croira disent-ils sice n'est vn lour daut Qu'vn vaisseau quin'a point trent brasses de haut Cent cinquante de long dix fois cinq de large Pout porter tant de mois vne si grande charge Ven que le fier Cheual l'Elephant ride-peau Le Chameau souffre-soif le courageux Taureau Et le Rhinocerot auecques leurs fourrages D'vn plus grand Gallion combleroit les estages O profanes moqueurs Response que les animaux bastards n'estoyeÌ„t en l'Arche la capacité de laquelle est prouuee en vn mot Si ie n'heberge pas Dans ce parc vagabond ie nesçay quel amas D'animaux nez apres de qui l'origine Ne pend de la faueur d'vne douce Cyprine Les fantasque Mulets Leopars madrez Qu'vne inceste chaleur a depuis engendrez Tant de sortes de Chiens de Coqs de Colombelles Qui croissent chasque iour en especes nouuelles Par vn baiser mesté sujet où de tous temps La Daedale Nature a prins son passe-temps Si ie vous prouue encore mesure par mesure Et comme pied par pied que ceste ample closture Faite par symmetrie subtiliugement Pouuoit tant d'animaux loger commodément Veu que chaque coudee estoit Geometrique Sans doute vous serez ô Momes sans replique Siceux qui contre Dieu s'arment obstinément Peuuent prendre enragez raison en payement Seure replique à toutes obiectioÌ„s profanes Mais ioy i'ayme mieux admirer la puissance Du trois-fois Tout-puissant commander silence Au discours de la chair S'il l'a dit il l'a fait Car en luy vont ensemble le dire l'effect Aussi par son bras seul les hostes de la Barque Noé ses enfans sacrifient à Dieu Se sentent recourus du gossier de la Parque Et font deuotieux monter iusqu ' à son nez La pacifique odeur des animaux plus nets Les bruslant sur l'autel puis sur l'estoillé Pole Poussent d'vn zele ardant ceste ailee parole 15 Here yet the damned Crew I lowdly bawling heare That durst ere now no more theÌ„ whisper each oth'r itth eare Who but a foole say they will thinke a ship so small A hundred fiftie long and thirtie cubits tall And fiftie broad can hold so many months a charge So combersome and huge when as the Snout-horne large The rinde-hide Elephant the Camell Horse and Bull They and their fodder stuffe the greatest Carack full O hellish-blasphemie if of vnlawfull matches Sproong since a world of beasts The answer that many sorts of beasts are bred since which were not in the Arke that were not vnder hatches In that same floating parke a many diuers kinds Of Cockes of Doues of Haukes of Dogs of Cats of Hinds Pyde Leopards giddie Mules and such as daily increase By linsiewoolsie loue t' a sundrie-seeming spece A thing wherein we find dame Nature hath delight And euer had to shew her cunning and her might Nay if I plainely proue The capacitie of the Arke proued in a word with measure foot by foot That in so large an hulke they might all well be shut So cunningly deuisd and so proportionall Sith euery cubits length was Geometricall What Momus can replie if reason go for pay Among the mad who stand against the Lord in ray But let me rath'r admire A sure answer to all profane obiections then bring into dispute The thrice-Almighties might and here let flesh be mute What he hath said is doon I build thereon my creede For all is one with him the saying and the deede Noe and his offer sacrifice vnto God So brought his arme alone from-out
hand the murdrer soone or late Moreouer God promiseth there shall bee nâ— more generall stoods of a flood stand you no more in feare The world shall ne'r againe be ouerflow'n I sweare I sweare eu'n by my selfe and when broake I myne oath Yet for a seale and more assurance of the troath Behold I set my bow vpon the cloud of raine That The Rainbow a signe thereof when long season wet the world shall threat'n againe When th' aire all cloudie-thick at noone shal bring you night And heau'n orelaid with raine shall on your hills alight Ye may reioice to see my seale so eue'nly bow'd For though 't imprinted be vpon a misly clowd Though albeset with raine and though it seeme to call The waues of all the sea to drowne the world withall Yet at the sight thereof in all your sore distresse Ye shall remember me and I my promises Then Noe cast-vp eye A description of the Rainebow and wondred to behold A demy-circl ' i th' aire of colours manifold That brightly shining-out and heauing-vp to heau'n Hath for Dyameter a line estrained eau'n Betwixt both Horizons a goodly bow to see And comming all alike nay one bow made of three A yellow a greene a blew and yet blew yellow greene But dapled each with oth'r in neith'r is to be seene A bow that shines aloft in Thunder-shooters hand That halfe-diuides the heau'n and laies on face of land As t were her fine spunne string and bending ore the rocks Against a misly Sun i'th'Ocean dips her nockes The short enduring grace of Heau'ns enflamed blewes Whereon dame Nature layes her most-quicke-lustred hewes What things are signified by this Bow But if thou doe perceiue no more then blew and red Take them for Sacraments as if they figured The Water and the Fire whereof th' one hath of yore And th' other at latter day shall all the world deuore 17. Goe breed The rest of this booke containes a short exposition of the chiefe points handled in the ninth chap. of Gen. Whereof the first shewes the blessing of God that would haue Noe and his children with the rest increase and multiply and replenish the earth For the world now as it were created anew had need be sanctified and quickned from God with a new blessing The second point is that all creatures should be subiect vnto man which we finde true at this day as well by the inuentions we haue to master them all and skill to draw food seruice profit and pleasure many wayes from them as also by this that the fiercest of them doe vs but seldome hurt though easily they might destroy vs if that word of God The feare of you be vpon all the beasts of the earth were not verified and cast as it were a bridle into the iawes and shackle to the pawes of enemies armed with so much aduantage against our kinde The third that Noe and his haue leaue giuen them as freely to make vse of the beasts as of any fruit growing vpon the Earth so that they eat not the flesh with the blood for God would by this restraint shew how abominable murder is in his sight whereof as the fourth point there is mention made expresly in the text And lastly to comfort Noe and his the Lord tells them and sweares thereto that the world should neuer more be destroyed by a generall Flood and further to assure them hereof saith This is the token of the couenant which I make betweene me and you and betweene euery liuing thing that is with you for euer I will set my Bow in the cloud c. Gen 9.12 c. 18. Then Noe cast-vp eye To this elegant description of the Rainebow nothing can be added It appeared certainly before the Flood but then was it not a token of Gods couenant with mankind as now it began to be that the world should be no more destroyed by waters That our Poet so playes the Philosopher vpon the colours of blew and red hee takes it of some ancient Fathers of the Church and it is no wayes impertinent or absurd But the Reader is at liberty to settle his iudgument on that hee shall thinke more conuenient Such Allegories and Poeticall licence haue their grace and good vse when a man propounds them with modestie as doth our Poet not importuning any to receiue them but leauing all men their iudgement free Ayant inuoqué Dieu Noé cultiue la terre comme il faisoit auant le deluge Les enfans de Cain s'estomt adonnez aux arts hauts estats tandis que ceux de Seth s'occupeÌ„t à l'agriculture nostre Ayeul ne veut pas Qu'vn paresseux repos engourdisse ses bras Ilse met en besongae sage recommence Exercer le mestier appris dés son enfance Car les fils du Tyran qui dans le sang germain Premiere of a tremper sa detestable main Ayant comme en horreur l'innocent Labourage Et preferant mignards le delicat ombrage Les oisiues citez aux champs rocher bois Embrasserent les arts les sceptres les loix Mais les enfans de Seth scachant que la Nature Se contente de peu prindrent l'Agriculture Pour leur sainct exercice où guiderent soigneux Et les velus troupeaux les troupeaux laineux Comme vsure louable prosit sans enuie Art nourrice des arts vie de la vie Noé est labouteur plante la vigne Aussi le cher honneur des celestes flambeaux Nâ—a si tost ventousé la terre si gros d'eaux Que celuy qui sauua dans vne Nef le Monde Suant raye le dos de sa mere feconde Et quelque temps apres plante soigneusement Du sep porte-Nectar le fragile sarment Lieu commode pour la vigne les façons d'icelle Car parmi les caillous d'vne coline aisée Aux yeux du clair Soleil tiedement exposée La crossette il â—â—â—â—erre ou le tendrescion Maintenant en godean tantost en rayon Houë la vigne en Mars la bisne tierce émonde Taille amende eschalasse la rende si feconde Que dans le tiers Septembre il treuue en cent façons Son riche espoir vaicu de vineuses moissons Noé est surprins de vin Or Noé desireux de tromper la tristesse Qui cruelle assligeoit sa tremblante vieillesse Pour voir tant de Palais de mol limon couuerts Et rester presque seul bourgeois de l'Vniuers Vniour relache vn peu de sa façon de viure La seuere roideur s'esgaye boit s'enyure Et forcené pensant dans si douce poison Noyer son vifennuy il noye sa raison Ia la teste luy pese Description de l'homme yure le pied luy chancelle Vne forte vapeur luy blesse la ceruelle Ses propos hors propos de sa bouche eschapez Sont consus sont mal-sains
goes from hand to hand Vnto the baser sort of people through the land Who greatly bent to see the famous tower made Doe labour day and night in all and euery trade Some trip the speare-wood Ash with sharp-edg'd axes stroke And some the sailing Elme and some th'enduring Oke So they degrade the woods and shew vnto the Sunne The ground where his bright eye before had neuer shone Who euer did behold some forraine armie sacke A citie vanquished ther 's griefe and ioy no lacke Together hurly-burld he carts and he lays-hold He drags by force he leads and there the souldier bold Can finde no place too sure nor yet no locke too strong The whole towne in a day forth at the gates doth throng So quickly do these men pull-off with one assent From those Assyrian hills the shaking ornament The wildernesse of shade they take from off the rocks And sheare off albeswat the leuell countries locks The waynes and yoked Mules scarse one by the other wend A liuely description of a people busied about a great worke The groaning axeltrees with load surcharged bend Behold here one for mort'r is day and night abruing Of some thicke-slimic poole the water fatly gluing And here the Tyler bakes within his smoakie kell His clay to stone and here one hollows downe to hell So deep foundations that many a damned Spright Aggazeth once againe the Sunnes vnhoped light Heaâ—'n ecchoes out the sound of their mauls clitter-clatters And Tigris feeles his fish all trembling vnd'r his waters The ruddy-colourd walls in height and compasse grow They far-off cast a shade they far-off make a show The world 's all on toile and men borne all to die God being angry with the bold enterprise of Nimrod and his folowers determineth to breake of their enterprise by confounding their language Thinke at the first daies worke their hand shall reach the skie 6. Hereat began th'Lord to sowre his countenance And with dread thuÌ„ders sound that storm-wise wont to glance Athwart the clowdie racks that hills wont ouerthrow And make heau'ns steddy gates flash often too and fro See see quoth he these dwarfes see this same rascall people These children of the dust O what a goodly steeple What mighty walls they build Is this the Cittadell So recklesse of my shot that shakes the gates of Hell I sware an oath to them henceforth the fruitfull ground Should neuer stand in feare of waters breaking bound They doubting fence themselues I would by their extent Haue peopled all the world they by themselues are pent In prison-walls of brick I would haue beene for euer Their master their defence their shepherd their law-giuer And they haue chose for King a sauage Liue-by-spoile A Tyrant seeking gaine by their great losse and toile Who doth my force despise and with vaine-glory swone Attempts to scale the walls of my most holy throne Come let 's defeat their drift and sith the bond of tong Of blood of will of law doth egge on all day long And hearten them in sin to stop their hastie intent Among them let vs send the Spirit of dissent Their language to confound to make both one and other The father strange to sonne the brother deafe to brother 7. The execution of Gods sentence Thus had he said and straight confusedly there went I know not what a brute throughout the buyldiment None other like I guesse then drunken peasants make Where Bacchus doth his launce with Ivy garland shake One doth his language too the another nose his note Another frames his words vnseemly through the throte One howleth one doth hisse another stuttereth Each hath his babbl ' and each in vaine endeuoureth To finde those loued termes and tunes before exprest That in their cradle-bands they drew from mothers brest Goe get thee vp betimes and while the morning gay A sit comparison With rainbow-glosse bedecks the portaile of the day Giue eare a while and marke the disagreeing moods Of winged quiristers that sing amid the woods Good-morrow to their loues where each one in his fashion Is pearched on a bough and chaunteth his Oration Then shalt thou vnderstand what mingle-mangle of sounds Confusedly was heard among the Mason-lounds A Trowell ho saith one his mate a beetl'him heaues Cut me saith he this stone and he some timber cleaues Come ho corne ho saith one and winde me vp this rope Then one vnwinding striues to giue it all the scope This scaffold bourd saith one one makes it downe to fare Giue me the line saith one and one giues him the square He shouts he signes in vaine and he with anger boyles And looke what one hath made forth with another spoiles VVith such confused cries in vaine they spend their winde And all the more they chafe the lesse is knowne their minde At length as men that stand an arched bridge to build In riuers channell deepe that wont surround the field Another excellent comparison declaring how neither counsell art force diligence nor multitude is able to resist God And sodainly behold how vnexpected raine Hath sent a hundred floods that downhill stretch amaine Their yoake-refusing waues they leaue with one aduise Some hasting here some there their carnest enterprise So when these Architects perceiu'd the stormy smart Of Gods displeasure come they straight were out of heart And there they ceas'd their work with hands malecontent Rules mallets plomets lines all downe the towre they sent 4. Now he enthroned is This is the exposition of the words mightie hunter before the Lord to wit that Nimred Chams nephew did proudly lift himselfe vp against God and man His buildings and the beginning of his raigne could not haue beene such without offering violence to the peace and libertie of diuers families ouer whom hee bare rule and there is no shew to the contrary but that by diuers practises from time to time he got the Soueraigntie The holy Scripture oftentimes by the names of hunters and chasers meaneth God enemies and the persecutours of his Church Psa ' 91. 124. Ezech. 32. Lament 3. The seuentie Interpreters translate the Hebrue text after this manner This Nimrod began to be a Giant on the earth and a huntesman or leader of hounds before the Lord God By the hounds of Nimrod may be vnderstood his guards and the fauourers of his tyrannie Moses called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Giâ—or isaid that is Iustie strong or great and mightie chaser Which noteth not only the stature and height of bodie but also might and authoritie ioyned with violence in all those that want the feare of God Now although Moses in the cleuenth Chapter of Genesis where he speaketh of the Citie and Tower of Babel make no mention of Nimrod yet hath the Poet aptly gathered out of the Chapter aforegoing that Nimrod was the author and promoter of those buildings in as much as Babel is called the beginning of his raigne who could not any waies
little only moue but not o'resway our mindes That eu'n in further parts his seruants eu'ry chone A sacrifice of praise might offer to his throne And that his holy name from Isye Scythia Might sound vnto the sands of red-hot Africa Nor should his treasures hid in far-asunder lands Created seeme in vaine and neuer come to hands But that all country-coasts where Thetis enter-lyes The world compared to a great Citie Might trafficke one with oth'r and change commodities For as a Citie large containes within her wall Here th'Vniuersitie and there the Princes Hall Here men of handie-crafts there Merchant-venterers This lane all full of ware and shops of shoomakers That other changing coyne that other working gold Here silke there cloth here hats there leather to be sold Here furniture for beds there doublets ready made And each among themselues haue vse of others trade So from the Canar Isles the pleasant sugar comes And from Chaldea spice and from Arabia gums That stand vs much in stead both for perfume and plaster And Peru sends vs gold and Damaske Alabaster Our Saffron comes from Spaine our Ivory from Inde And out of Germanie our horse of largest kinde The scorched land of Chus brings Heben for our chamber The Northren Baltike Sound imparts her bleakish Amber The frostie coasts of Russe her Ermyns white as milke And Albion her Tynne and Italie her silke Thus eu'ry country payes her diuers tribute-rate Vnto the treasurie of th' vniuersall state Man Lord of the world And as the Persian Queene this prouince call'd her chains And that her stomachers her plate this that her traines So man may say for loe what desert so vntrad What hill so wilde and wafte what Region so bad Or what so wrackfull sea or what so barren shore From North to South appeares but payes him euermore Some kind of yearely rent and grudging not his glory Vnto his happy life becomes contributory A particular declaration of the great vse of some vnlâ—kely creatures against the Aâ—heist who saith they are to little vse or made by chance These moores enamelled where many purling brooks Enchase their winding wayes with glassie-wauing crooks They stand for garden plots their herbage ere it sades Twise yearely sets on worke our swapping two-hand blades The plaine field Ceres holds the stonie Bacchus fills These ladders of the skie the rough-aspiring hills The store-houses of stormes and forging-shops of thunders Which thou vntruly call'st th'erths faults shamfull wonders And thinkst the liuing God to say 't I am aserd Created them of spight or in creating err'd They bound the kingdoms out with euer-standing marks And for our shipping beare of timber goodly parks The same afford thee stuffe to build thy sumptuous Hold The same in winter-time defend thee from the cold They pow'r-out day and night the deep-enchaneld riuers Which breed beare on them to feed the neighbour-liuers They oft manure the lands with fruitfull clouds and showers They helpe the mylls to turne and stand in stead of towers And bulwarks to keepe-off Bellona's dreely stound They morter to the sea the mid-point of the ground The wasternesse of land that men so much amazeth Is like a common field where store of cattell grazeth And whence by thousand heads they come our tylth t'enrood To furnish vs with furre with leather wooll and food The Sea it selfe that seemes for nothing else to sarue But eu'n to drowne the world although it neuer swarue That roaring ouer-heales so many a mightie land Where in the waters stead much wauing corne might stand A mightie Stew it is or vnd'r a watry plame Flocks numberlesse it feeds to feed mankind againe For of the Cates thereof are thousand Cities saru'd Which could not otherwise but languish hunger-staru'd As doth a Dolphin whom vpon the shore halfe-dead The tide vntrustie left when backe againe it fled It shorter makes the wayes increases marchandise And causes day and night the reaking mysts arise That still refresh our ayre and downe in water flowing Set eu'n before our eyes the graynie pipe a growing The Poet as after a long voyage landeth in France But shall I still be tost with Boreas boysterous puffs Still subiect to the rage of Nere's counterbuffs And shall I neuer see my country-chimnies reake Alas I row no more my boat begins to leake I am vndone I am except some gentle banke Receiue and that with speed this wrack-reserued planke O France I ken thy shore thou reachest me thine arme Thou op'nest wide thy lap to shend thy sonne from harme Nor wilt I end my dayes from home so many a mile Nor o're my bones triumph the Caniball Bresile Nor Catay o're my fame nor Peru o're my verse As thou my cradle wert so wilt thou be mine herse The praise of France O thousand thousand times most happy land of price O Europes only pearle and earthly paradise All-haile renowmed France from thee sprong many a knight Which hath in former time his flag of triumph pight Vpon Euphrates banks and blood with Bylboâ— shed Both at the suns vprist and where he goes to bed Thou breedest many men which happy and boldly dare In works of handy-trade with Nature selfe compare And many wits that seeke out all the skill diuine From Egypt Greece and Rome and o're the learned shine As o're the paler hewes doe glister golden yellowes The Sun aboue the star's thy flow'r aboue the fellowes Thy riuers are like Seas thy Cities prouinces In building full of state and gentle in vsages Thine ayre is temperate thy soile yeelds good increase Thou hast for thy defence two mountaines and two seas Th'Egyptian Crocodile disquiets not thy banks Th' infectious kind of Snakes with poyson-spotted flanks Ne crawle not burst-in-plights vpon thy flowrie plaines Nor mete an ak'r of ground by length of dragling traines No Hircan Tygers flight boot-hailes thy vaulted hills Nor on thy scorched wasts th' Arcadian Lion kills Thy wandring habitants nor Cayrick water-horses Drag vnd'r vncertaine toombe thy childers tender corses And though like Indie streames thy fairest riuers driue not Among their pebbles gold although thy mountains riue not With veines of siluer Ore nor yet among they greet Carbuncles Granats Pearles lie scattred at our feet Thy cloth thy wooll thy woad thy salt thy corne thy wines More necessarie fruits are all sufficient mines T' entitle thee the queene of all this earthie scope Thy want is only peace Peace the onely want of France prayed-for in conclusion O God that holdest ope Alwaies thine eyes on vs we humbly thee desire Quench with thy mercy-drops the France-deuouring fire O calme our stormous ayre Deere Fath'r vs all deliuer And put thine angers shafts againe into thy quiuer 58 O world of sundry kindes Without this discourse all that went before concerning the worlds enpeopling were to lit'le purpose or none at all saue only to breed many doubts in the Readers vnderstanding For a man