Pancharis the first booke. Containing the preparation of the loue betweene Ovven Tudyr, and the Queene, long since intended to her maiden Maiestie: and now dedicated to the inuincible Iames, second and greater Monarch of great Britaine, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with the islands adiacent.

Pancharis the first booke. Containing the preparation of the loue betweene Ovven Tudyr, and the Queene, long since intended to her maiden Maiestie: and now dedicated to the inuincible Iames, second and greater Monarch of great Britaine, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with the islands adiacent.

Table of contents

§

Title page

TO MY LORD THE KING. Sonet Acrosticke.

TO THE BRIGHT QVEENE ANNE his deere Wife, and our dread Lady.

TO MY LORD THE PRINCE. Sonet Acrosticke.

Illustrissimae Dominae. ARBELLAE STVARTAE. Sonulus Elegeiacus Acrostichus.

Clarissimo & Candidissimo jngenio Praeceptori olim, semper Amico GVLIELMO CAMDENO Armorum Regi nulli secundo Poemation hoc censendum & emendandum mitto.

Andreas Downes Graecus professor Regius Cantabrigiae.

Nicolai Hilli Carmen Testamentale & viaticum.

E: B: Anacreontickes.

Ben: Iohnson. Ode. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

To my Mayden Muse.

PANCHARIS: THE FIRST BOOKE.

Richardo Martino Hugo Hollandius Optimo Oratori Pessimus Poëta, veteris & perfecti amoris ergò nouum sed imperfectum poëma mittit. Sonulus Hendecasyllabi•us.

To Sir Robert Cotton Knight, Lord of Cunnington.

§

[Page]

PANCHARIS: THE FIRST BOOKE.

I Sing Queene Katharine and my countryman.

O Loue (if I before thy Altare spread,

Blacke though I be, haue oft lookt pale & wan;

And as white Turtles there haue offered,

As are those that thy whiter mother dravve)

Draw neere, and with her Myrtle decke the head

Of me thy priest, that am too rudely rawe,

Nor once haue bin baptized in the spring

Of Helicon, which yet I neuer saw.

A pinion plucke me out of thine owne wing:

And let thy godhead more propitious be

Vnto my thoughts whiles others loues I sing,

Then in mine owne it hath beene vnto me.

AND thou O second Sea-borne Queene of Loue,

In whose faire forehead Loue and Maiestie

[Page] Still kisse each other (as the Turtle-doue

Doth her beloued) thou whose frowne, whose smile

Presenteth both, who dost inspire and moue

This lesser Continent, this greatest Ile:

Let smiling Loue, when Maiesty would frowne,

Infuse like life and motion to my Stile.

I treate not I here of the awfull Crowne,

(Though somewhat of the court) my Legend is

Composde of Loue and Beautie vp and downe.

Where if I aught haue saide that sounds amisse,

Immortall Maid, thou pardon mee that crime,

Sith thy white hand which (lord) I long to kisse

May crosse out all, and rectifie my rime.

So shall the amorous Readers seeme as those,

That haue seene thee full oft and many a time.

Yet seeing thee againe, anone suppose

They somewhat see they neuer saw before,

Such spangling obiects thou dost still disclose,

As all desire to see thee more and more.

From London Westward doth a Castle stand

[Page] Along the Thames, which of the winding shore

Is called Windsore, knowne by sea and land,

For the rich Guarter and the holy George

There founded first by the victorious hand

Of warlike Edward, he that was the scorge

And second hammer of the haughty Scot.

As the lame God in his Trinacrian Forge

Striu'd first to blow the stubborne yron hot,

And after laide about him like a Lord,

Till he thereof the vpper hand had got:

So English Edward did with fire and sword,

Lighten and Thunder in that Northerne Clime,

And neuer respite did his foe afford,

(No nor himselfe almost) vntill the time

As hardy Dauid grac'd faire Windsores Court.

Where also Iohn of France, who long'd to clime

The wheele of Fortune in the selfe same sort,

A captiue King was after shortly seene.

Yet neither this, nor that, so much report

The fame of Windsore, as faire Katherine;

[Page] She that hath yet (saue her great Neece) no other,

Daughter of France, of England Mother-Queene,

The sixt Charles daughter, the sixt Henries mother,

And (which is chiefest) the fift Henries Wife.

Here the sad Queene ful many a sigh did smother,

Resolued still to leade a Widdowes life.

So chaste was she, though faire, and rich, and yong,

That yong and olde to praise her were at strife:

Of her high honour all Musitians sung,

And thereto each sweet Poet tun'd his pen,

That therewith England and all Europe rung.

She was the wonder of all mortall men,

Few Queenes came neere her, & none went aboue,

In grace and goodnesse, since, before, or then.

Might once no minion dare to kisse her gloue

(Much lesse her hand) or Mistresse her mis-call;

As men are wont, when they for fashion loue.

So modest was she, and so mecke withall,

That all good folkes might to her Presence come

No lesse then to some Councellors common Hall.

[Page] More doth the suter than the gaudy roome,

Set out a Monarchs Maiestie, by ods,

When life or death he lookes for at his doome.

Not they that grau'd the gold did make the gods,

But such as did before them bow to begge,

All were they made of clay but only clods:

Nor they the Prince that still prouoke and egge,

(That only they may golden I dolls be

To which the subiect bends his seruile legge)

The sacred and annointed Maiestie

To robbe the realme, to gaine the subiects wealth,

And loose their hearts; But such as on the knee

Importune grace with happinesse and health,

Not posted off to those extreame delayes

Of bribing fauorites, which is worse then stealth,

And scarce was heard of in those happy dayes.

Her selfe a widdow, would for widowes pleade

With much compassion, and at al assayes,

But as for Orphanes bills, them would she reade,

And then shut in her princely Orphans hand,

[Page] Whereby along with her she would him leade

Vnto his Vncle that did rule the land:

Hard were the heart, that in so iust a cause,

With two such suters vpon tearmes could stand,

And not dispence a little with the lawes.

Thus with her great delight in doing good,

Shee wanne such fame and popular applause,

That on a time the goddesse of the wood

Diana sorely longed once to see

This [...] street model of all womanhoode,

And next her selfe the flowre of chastitie.

Wherefore the (Sunne now scorching in the skull

Of L [...]o) foorth a hunting needes would shee

To Windesore forrest, which she found as ful

Of deere, as trees: yet trees so many ar,

As there the darts of Phoebus are too dull;

And pierce no more then doth the meanest starre.

There was the Lawrell that was glad to hide

Her greene head from the face of Phoebus farre,

The I ordly Oake that scorn'd not by his side

[Page] The bragging Brier, and with wilde yuie was

Like great God Bacchus crownd, there was, beside

The smoothskinn'd Beech all kerued as did passe,

In curious knotts that did the names entwine

Of many a Louer, and of many a Lasse.

There was the Elme that vnderprops the Vine,

And Box, wherof poore shephards frame their pipes,

The gentle Wood bind, and sweete Eglantine,

Each other clipping with their amorous gripes.

The budded Hawthorn, and our London dames

Holy-reformers: the Birch lacing stripes

On lasie truands, with such like, whose names

I know not, saue the Willow that did guirde

The bankes forsaken of the slippry Thames.

On euery tree did sit a seuerall bird,

And euery bird did sing his seuerall note:

This to the base a fift, that sung a third,

Each one according to his aery throate.

A Summers day me thinkes were nothing long

With the rare Musike which they made by rote:

[Page] Phoebe her selfe with all her Nymphs did throng

To heare it, as she had not heauenly beene:

And this was all the burden of their Song,

Long liue Diana and faire Katherene.

Wearied with toile, but neuer with the noyse,

High time she thought to goe and see the Queene,

For her declining brother, that enioyes

One part in one of her three-formed realmes,

Bade her breake vp those sports and earthly ioyes,

Sith he must neuer quench his thirsty beames,

Till she to heauen returne and take his place

To gouerne there the starres, and here the streames.

She therefore to the Castle gan to pace

That bounteously was built of faire free-stone,

Whose guilded inside, for the greater grace,

Was all set out with many a precious one,

And they with one that yet more precious was:

The cristall windowes round about it shone,

That as she stood therein the very glasse

Seem'd rather to let out the lusty light.

[Page]

On did the goddesse with her meany passe,

Till they came to a roome all richly dight,

Of heauenly blisse and happinesse the bowre,

Where each of other had this happy sight.

The place was after calld the Maydens towre,

But of Diana and her Maydes no doubt

So called was, and is vnto this howre.

Much the amazed goddesse look'd about,

But most astoned at the Queene shee stood,

That ready word she could bring hardly out,

Before the louely Queene, (who could more good

Then halfe a world) did silence softly breake,

Each Lilly blending with a Rose of blood.

Madame (she sayde) my tongue can hardly speake

That vvorld of worth which I in you admire:

Then all that I can doe is farre too weake

To answere your desert and my desire:

For since my Lord, my life, (God his soule saue)

Was laide (as well may witnesse my attire)

My better halfe since he was laide in graue,

[Page] I neuer yet came foorth in companie;

But in my chamber my selfe buried haue.

Wherefore, if person here, or aught there be,

That vnto you may breede the least offence,

God knowes it is without my priuitie:

But did I knowe, I soone should rid him hence,

That of this action is not humbly glad,

And therewithall, they both lowe reuerence

Did one another. Vp the while was had

A Banquet to a by rome as did passe,

Bisket-bread, Sucket, Marchpane, Marmalad,

Candids, Conserues, and all that dainty was:

It haild downe comfects, and through euery spoutt

The Sugar-Castles powrd out hypocras

Walk'd vp and downe the boles, so as I doubt

If I may call them standing cups or no.

And as the wine, so went the day about.

Diana rose, and ready was to goe,

When in an other cup of massie golde

They crownd her wine that sparkled to and fro.

[Page]

It was the king Confessors Cup of old,

Who liu'd a maried man, and died a maide.

She kist the cup, where grau'n, she might beholde

Actaeons death, and downe it quickly laid,

Then turn'd a little to her maydes aside,

Rebuk't their want of secrecie, and saide.

Could ye no better your owne counsailes hide,

But ouer England too it must be blaz'd?

Lo heere, Actaeon in his horned hide

While on our shame and nakednesse he gaz'd,

Therewith she pawz'd, but they no word could say,

So were they at that liuely mappe amaz'd.

And sure the cup did all so wel display,

As if it white wine were that therein stoode.

Then would ye sweare Dianaes selfe there by,

Nakedly clothed with the cristall flood.

And were it redde, there lay then would ye swears,

Actaeon bathing him in his owne blood.

At last, as one that halfe abashed were,

Vnto the Queene she turn'd and vttred this.

[Page]

Alacke, alacke, if his owne hownds did teare

This fond Actaeon, yet the fault was his,

And mine the griefe: we gods are no lesse sory

For mortalls punishments, then for their amisse,

Though we, by this, and that, declare our glory,

And our owne iustice in them both exalte:

Yet some will say (and they too peremptory)

That this his fortune was, and not his fault:

Was't not his fault so to prophane a place,

That hallowed was with franckincense and salt?

Were't not his fault that should surprise your grace

Here in your chamber, skare you or your traine,

And from your side your surest seruants race?

Abortiue fansies swimme about his braine,

And faile him when himselfe he most assures:

Runne all his plots and purposes in vaine,

That shall the like attempts on you or yours.

Thus ended she, and with this speach the day.

On stole the night, that parting stil procures,

As though it came to bid her come away,

[Page] Then tooke she leaue, and in her coach did clime,

The Easterne hill with horses yron gray,

Where in slowe minutes she must tell the time,

And serue the vse of man. God bade her so.

When neither Cocke doth crow, nor Clocke doth chime,

Whether we see her siluer face or no,

Yet there she walkes, as wel by day as night,

And still about her cristall or be doth goe.

But (lord) with what a longing and delight

To Windsor ward she downe woulde cast her looke,

And guild the wide Thames with hir trembling light.

An other heauen ye would haue thought the brooke

With Moone and Stars, and here and there a cloude:

But in high heau'n what way so e're she tooke,

Queene Katharines praises there she rung aloude,

Set to the tune of her well tempred spheare,

Much more harmonious then is harpe and croud.

Hermes, that all the ghosts belowe can reare,

And gently vsher with his snaky rod,

To this new Caroll gaue' attentiue eare:

[Page] And (as he is a very prating god)

To the bright Venus hath it told anone

From the first point to the last period.

When she in all the haste would needes be gone

To see below, what all had heard aboue,

Of Englands Queene and peerelesse paragon:

Her Coach was drawne by many a Turtle-doue,

And driuen by a coachman of great worth,

Her little sonne, the mighty god of Loue.

So long he guided on his course by North,

When hauing past the seauenth and vtmost clime,

Out of the sea he might see peeping foorth

A spot of Earth as white as any lime:

To which he thought it best his course to hold.

Now was the Earth, for it was past the prime,

That had vnmask'd her of her tawny old,

Reuested with a flowry diadem,

And new greene veluet, spangled all with gold.

Thus were the fields enameld all of them,

Along the siluer Thames that did embrace

[Page] The golden meades in wanton armes, and hem

Their looser skitts like an indented lace.

Acrosle, and vp and downe the riuer swame

Her sacred swannes, who when they saw her Grace,

Vnto her Coach to doe their homage came:

And from the land came Turtles many a paire,

Vnto her Deity who did the same.

Then Citherea seeing them so repaire

Bespake, Sir boy, we sure be gone amisse:

(But yet, the best is this, the way was faire)

Nay doubtlesse, that no way to Windsore is,

But to our palace in mount C [...]theron.

And Cupid he was sore afraide by this

Lest it were so indeede, when (hauing gone

A little further) he might plainely see

Where with his eye a castle met anone

High on a hill (as though it scorn'd to be

Built on the baser earth) and towr'd aboue

The lofty clowds, with such a Maiestie,

As saide it could not be the Court of Loue.

[Page] Howe often haue you seene together dwell

The lordly Eagle and the lowely Doue,

Or Loue and Maiesty concording well?

By this, they to the castle-gate be come,

That was shut in by warning of a bell,

In euery roome yet stirring heard they some,

Which made them loudly call, and loudly knocke,

Yet none, no more then if they had bin dombe,

Would answer them; a long houre by the clocke,

They waited there; now he, now she, now both:

Cupid at last did peepe in at the locke,

Yet no man came; Then Venus waxed wroth,

And since of force she must her purpose misse

To be reueng'd she tooke a solemne othe

And saide. Much worship haue we won iwis,

If thus one silly woman may abuse

Two such great Godheads; if wee suffer this,

What wretch I pray you may not well refuse

To burne on our high altars his perfumes,

And by this president the fact excuse?

[Page] Whether she on our gentlenesse presumes,

Or her owne greatnesse, all is one for that,

I shall ere long so pull her peacockes plumes,

That though she now be young and faire and fat)

She shall no sooner looke vpon a glasse

But she shall greeue and sore repine thereat,

And say, That now is hay was sometimes grasse.

Thinkes she to scape our hands so franke and free,

That shee forsooth of France the daughter was,

Englands fresh bride, and thereby chaunc'd to be

Mother to him that now is King of both?

Alas, what's all this to a Deitie?

No more but titles and meere toies in troth,

As then she hath deseru'd, so shall she haue,

"Diuine reuenge comes sure, though late and loth.

Belike these giddie French thinke they may braue

My sonne and me at pleasure, leaue vndone

What at their hands most lawfully we craue,

Or do all lawlesse outrage vnder Sunne.

They make but cu'n a Woman and a childe

[Page] Of me and thee, and thereby thinke to shunne

Our vengeance, this it is to be so milde

To malefactors, that for very spight

Our Temples and our Altars haue defilde,

Left vnprophaned no religious rite,

But hauocke made of holy maiden-head,

As if the Charge we had renounced quite

That appertaineth to the Bridall bed:

Wherein the lawfull heire begotten is,

Whom after nine months fully finished,

The shame-fac't father shall not feare to kisse

At midnight to him by the Midwife borne,

Yea he himselfe will sweare it to be his,

When Lucifer lets foorth the blushy Morne.

But if they still my patience thus shall wrong

By S. Adonis here loe haue I sworne,

And will not faile, I shall, ere it [...]e long,

A plague send on them that will quickely tame

Their pride, and teach them sing another song.

It shall feede in their marow like a flame,

[Page] And rage through eu'ry corner of the land,

That of the nation it shall take the name.

But to the point that now we haue in hand.

Which to effect with more successefull speede,

Sonne Cupid, you awhile my friend must stand.

Mother (quoth he) to feare you shal not neede,

For I haue still beene your obsequious sonne,

And still wil be, in thought, and word, and deed.

Yet hold I not this dame so much, a Nunne

By nature, as by vertue of the clime

Is far remoued Northward from the Sunne.

For she hath lou'd, and so may do in time.

The bird that hauing once escap't the net,

Defies the fowler, may be caught by lime

Or other engines that for him be set,

And so may she by some more quaint deuise,

But what that is, my selfe knows skarcely yet)

Maugre her heart all were it made of yce.

Gramercie sonne, quoth he, why then no doubt

(Though she were ten times more then she is nice)

[Page] This act we shall bring well inough about.

But that I feare me which you lately tolde

About the Climat all this Isle throughout,

Is all the let that euer happen could,

For though the Sunne now in the Lion raigne,

And his Meridian, yet an vncouth cold

Me thinks doth hit me now through euery vaine.

In Affricke if the Lyon list to rage,

Who shall him from his Ladyes side restrayne?

Yet here he sleepeth out his idle age,

And dreames not once of Natures kindely sport.

Were it not this, what grate or yron cage

Could coope him from his pleasure? To be short,

The Vine that with the scorching sunne by noone,

Growes quickely ripe in France, if you transport

Into this Country, ripeneth not so soone:

Yet is the soyle as thankful heere as there.

Yea th'Elements, all vnderneath the Moone,

Remou'd from their owne place, some otherwhere,

Take new impressions to them, for the fire

[Page] That only shines in his celestiall sphere

Here burnes most violent. And with desire

Said Cupid, shall this Saint, this Katherine

In Windshore burne whom he did so admire,

The man of Monmouth when she did but shine

In France at Melaws, like a blazing starre:

Whose faire aspect and influence diuine,

Did stoppe the hoarse and open throate of warre.

As there great Henry fel in loue with her,

Heere of another shall she dote as farre,

Except my cunning, or this hand doe erre:

And that rich dowre, yea were it ten times moe,

Vpon a subiect shall I soone conferre.

What, on a Saxon Cupid, will yee so?

Now by this Mole (quoth she) vpon my cheeke,

I rather had this high reuenge forgoe

Which I on her so thirstingly do seeke,

Then any flinty Saxon should succeede

A Prince so mighty, and a Prince so meeke.

These Saxons cleane haue wash'd away my seede,

[Page] Swallowing the fat soyle like another flood.

Those sturdy Saxons whom the stones did breede,

Which Pyrrha (when yet all the earth was mudde)

By diueli [...]h diuination backeward threw

To take the forme of flesh, and bones, and blood.

These men, these stones, at an aduantage slew

Of thy poore kindred thousands with the sword,

And all the wofull remnant did pursue

To the bare Mountaines, that could scarce afford

Foode for themselues, or safety from the foe,

Fowly intreating them indeede and word.

Long were they torne and tosst thus to and fro,

Now foiling, and then foild, till at the last

Edward the first (their fates ordaining so)

To make them subiect to his Crowne did cast.

His tender babe to be their Prince they tooke,

To whose succeeding heires they stucke so fast,

As none of them their faith as yet forsooke,

Saue onely one Owen sirnam'd Glyndoore,

Who became Rebell against Bullinbrooke,

[Page] And by his pride made all his Country poore.

Ah Harry why shouldst thou a Ciuill Prince

For one mans fault and fury play the Moore

Or Tartar thus, and tax a whole Prouince

With such vncourteous and Barbarian lawes

As neuer heard were of before, or since?

If Ioue alas, as oft as men giue cause

Did euery time but hurle a fiery ball,

A little time then should he haue to pause,

And in a while himselfe leaue none at all.

For all yet that betide them could, or can,

Here liues one still, and stil I hope he shall,

A gallant and resolued gentleman,

Faire Owen Tudyr, fire thou hir in loue

With him, my boy. Mother (said he) your Swanne

Shall not exceede this Eagle, nor your Doue:

Hereafter shall she stoope so to the lure,

Though now a while the clowds she towre aboue,

For her pure bosome with a brand as pure

I wil so kindle yet before the sunne

[Page] Get out of Libra, that none may recure

Her heart, but onely Owen. Well saide sonne,

(Him answered she) why should I then despaire?

But (as one Owen hath vs all vndone)

Another Owen may those harmes repaire.

For who doth know, but that in time to come,

There may spring from this wel consorted paire may

(I will so blesse and fructifie her wombe)

H. 7. That seauen times happy man, who one day

Sit on this throne, and thence with mercy doome

His and my people? O when will that day

Shine from the East vpon this Northerne Clime?

Then, then may well both Welch and English say,

That they were borne in a most blessed time.

Mother, quoth he, thereof mine be the care,

And if I faile therein, mine be the crime:

But sith the court of heauen can hardly spare

Vs both at once, this cause to me referre,

Perhaps the Gods in no such busines are,

Yet mortalles are. How shall the Mariner

[Page] That long in the wide Ocean tossed is,

And nothing sees saue sea and heau'n, but ere

When your propitious starre he there doth misse?

How shall the shepheard doe, that to the hill

Leades forth his flocke, and home againe by this?

How shall the strugling Bride against her will,

With her impatient loue this night conceaue,

Vnles your gratious influence doe fill

Her fruitfull lap? Gods must not therefore leaue

To helpe and comfort mortall men, because

Of their due honor they the Gods bereaue.

This said, he stayd, and with this only clause

She condescended, that all should be done,

As that her selfe therto her best applause

Should giue, and that as soone too as the sunne

A iudge betweene the night and day became.

O silly Queene! these snares how canst thou shun?

And how, O Venus (hadst thou any shame?)

Canst thou but blush what haue ye reap't by this,

Thou and thy sonne, what great and glorious name,

[Page] When by two Gods beguyld one Woman is?

A month and more to make the Queene his slaue

He sought by all such traines and trickes of his

As knowe ye louers (God from them me saue)

By dreames and fansies whilst abed she lay:

So wisely though herselfe she did behaue,

That once he thought it best to runne away.

By this the golden Eye of heau'n the Sunne,

From that disastrous and midnight of day

Wherin his clewe of life was cleane out spunne,

Henry the first in fame, in name the fift,

About the siluer skarfe of heau'n had runne.

Whose firy Coursers (howsoeuer swift

To some glad harts) seeme to the sory slow

And dull as lead, then first the Queene did lift

Her drooping Ey-liddes from the Earth belowe.

As one that hauing horded vp his cheefe

His only treasure, still his eye doth throwe

Backe to the place as to his best releefe;

So was the Queene and all the Court to glose

[Page] The more with her did flatter this her griefe:

For like the Prince the people them compose.

Moou'd for their sakes, God wot, more then her owne,

The Dowager Queene (like to the Virgin Rose

That all night is bedew'd, and newly blowne

Vnto the morning Sunne for comfort seekes)

Those purer Roses wiping that were sowne

Among the Lillies in her louely cheekes;

And with her teares bedewed day and night

By the full space of two and fiftie weekes,

Resolu'd at last to come by candle-light

Into the Presence chamber, and to glad

Her heart a little with the peoples sight,

Who to see her againe were nothing sad.

For all the lusty Courtiers did deuise

(So soone as notice of her minde was had)

To entertaine her with some strange disguise,

Done by Dan Lidgate a great learned Munke,

Who then in Poesie bare away the prise;

For after Chaucer had he deepely drunke

[Page] Of Helicon, as few besides haue yet.

Now when the Sunne into the Sea was suncke,

They all together in the Wardrobe met,

And them among (though farre aboue them all)

The gentle Owen was, a man well set:

Broad were his shoulders, thogh his waste but smal;

Straight was his backe, and euen was his breast,

Which no lesse seemely made him shew, then tall.

Such as Achilles seem'd among the rest

Of all his army clad in mighty brasse:

Among them such (though all they of the best)

The man of Mone magnifique Owen was.

He seem'd an other Oake among the Breers:

And as in stature, so did he surpas

In wit, and actiue feates, his other peeres.

He nimbly could discourse, and nimbly daunce,

And ag'd he was about some thirty yeeres:

But armed had ye seene him go to France,

Ye would haue saide, that few on foote or horse

Could haue so toss'd a Pike, or cowch'd a Lance,

[Page] Wherewith to ground he brought full many a corse.

That oft alone when I recount the same,

My tender heart cannot but haue remorse.

To write it then, alas, I were too blame:

Of onely Loue, and of his armes I sing,

Thy warres (O Mars) I meant not once to name,

Yet hardly could I spare that haughty string,

Did not the Boy mine eare pull now and then

Beyond my bounds for feare I chance to fling.

The fame and splendor of my Countrymen

Inuite me so. What is he that can holde

In his rude fingers such a flaggy pen,

If aught by chance of Agincourt be tolde,

But into teares his eies would quickely thawe,

In steade of inke, to write the manifolde

And goodly slaughters which our men did drawe

That day in blood' But O thou mighty ghost

Of Henry Monmouth, who yet holdes in awe

My bolder Ditty that so longs to boast

Those olde Heroês crown'd with holie bayes,

[Page] That vnder him did vse to leade his hoste;

Beauforts, Veres, Neuills, Talbots, Cliffords, Grayes:

O pardon thou, and they that I leaue out

Th' immortall mortall fights and blody frayes

By force of armes there fairely brought about.

And thou Iohn Huntington, whose acts I more

Admire than all, before whose face the rout

Of fearefull Normans, when thou cam'st ashore

From the triumphed Ocean fled away

As heartlesse Hares the Greyhounds doe before▪

Redoubted Earle, of pardon I thee pray.

God wot I would, yet halfe so great a taske

I dare not vndertake: and sooth to say,

That argument a lowder Trump doth aske.

To sound a March too slender is my Reede,

Inough is it to tune a Courtly maske,

Then to high purpose and the point proceede.

While they made ready there, ye might haue seen,

One or an other in a masking weede,

Go friske about vpon the rushes greene,

[Page] And wish if aught he chanced well to do,

That all were done no worse before the Queene.

Some one the God of Loue did pray vnto,

With his milde mother, so to stand his friend,

As he thereby his Ladies loue might woe,

To whose sweete praise his paines he did commend.

Another, that he might good honors make

As eu'ry Measure did beginne or end

Whereof his Mistris might due notice take.

One that the dropping linkes defilde him not

For his white suite of costly satten sake:

An other that his Imprease or his Mot,

Or aught of his the Princesse minde might please.

Full many a suite in broken sighes, God wot,

Was offered there, yet all could not appease

His kindled ire, who by this easie baite

Thought now or neuer on the Queene to sease

That had so often made him sound retraite.

It fell that foure and twenty Pages were

Appoynted on the Reuelers to waite,

[Page] Who two by two, before each paire should beare,

The linkes aloft, and for the greater showe,

Like suites to them and vizards also weare.

The wily god that all this did foreknow,

By putting on the person of a page,

Made vp the compt, his quiuer and his bowe

To buy a visard which he layd to gage;

But turned into a blazing torch his brand.

A pretty strippling, much about the age

Of fourteene yeares he seem'd when he did stand

Among the rest. Now was it time to sup:

So costly nothing was by sea or land

But it was had, while still the frothy Cup

Did haste to deale about the lusty wine.

When all was ended, and the boord was vp,

In heau'n aboue the starres began to shine:

Where also burned Cithere the bright,

To Cupid nodding, who knewe well the signe.

And like an other heau'n with starry light,

Adorn'd was all the Presence round about,

[Page] That into day againe did turne the night,

Although the cheefest light was yet without.

With this the trumpets lo began to sound,

And eke the multitude aloude to shout,

(That all the roome did eu'n againe rebound,

Reecchoing no particle amis)

God saue your Grace, & God your foes confound.

To some her hand of snowe she gaue to kis,

She talk'd with other, and gaue thanks to all,

Along the chamber as the manner is.

Behold how many fiery sparkles small,

The Moone about her siluer or be doth spend,

When Hesperus the Euening foorth doth call:

So many glorious ladies glad to tend

Vpon the Queene vnto her princely State,

Downe to the ground before her Grace did bend.

As there in Maiesty awhile she Sate

With shame fac'd lookes lowe fix'd vpon the ground

Loe three faire damsels fal'ne at foule debate,

And them before a Trumpet hard to sound.

[Page] The Damsells dreast in white and blew and blacke

Were asked, whence they were, and whither bound?

Whom they did looke for, or what they did lacke?

A while they paus'd, and oft they changed hew,

The one still to the other looking backe,

Till she, that all appareld was in blew

Stept foorth at last, and making Curt'sy low

Beganne aloud. Most Mightie Queene, to you

In humble manner we present this showe

A silly Maide, a Widow, and a Wife,

As by our habits you may partly know.

A late betwene vs hapned heauy strife,

Whether the Wife, the Widow, or the Maide

Liues the most happy and contented life?

All what we could, we three therin haue said,

And women (as men clatter) want no words.

Yet heere (alas) the matter hath not staide,

For acted it must needs be by the swords

Of Martialists, but your Maiestike hand,

That vnto misers mercy still affoords,

[Page] The same by your authority with stand;

Which is so soueraigne, and doth carry weight

With all the mighty Sprites of the land,

That ended all this sturre will heere be streight.

Eight hardy Squiers doe holde of Maidenhead,

(Whereof is Owen Tudyr chiefe) and eight

Maintaine that it much better is to wed,

The last eight by like arguments approue

The life sequestred from the nuptiall bed.

Renouned Empresse, then let pitty moue

Your royall breast to saue them from the spoile,

What heart of yron hath she that doth loue

To see one man in fight an other soile?

Or once abide to see the blood to streame

That in the manly bosome wonts to boile?

Heere at, as one awak'd out of a dreame,

The softly sighing Queene vp started soone,

Guilding the world with such a glorious Beame

As doth the Sunne this Hemispheare by noone,

With morning showrs though somewhat ouerspred:

[Page] Or, as when in some misty night the Moone

Breaks through the clouds, and shews her siluer head.

And thus she spake. Ye vertuous Maid and Wife,

(For such ye seeme) and thou whose halfe is dead,

Whose other halfe resolues to leade the life

That also doth thy Queene; not all this Ile

A fitter one could yeeld to stint your strife,

Extended out though it lie many a mile,

And, but the Sea, abides not any bound.

For all three courses haue I knowne awhile.

A very Maide of me King Henry found,

(Whose soule God pardon, and to mercie take)

To whom my loue my faith kept euer sound,

That all the world my honour might not shake,

Ne wracke my fame against so foule a shelfe.

As vnto him, so for his onely sake

I will remaine no lesse true to my selfe:

For Henries Wife and Widow will I die.

Honours, vaine pleasures, transitory pelfe,

I force not of such gawdes a whit, not I:

[Page] Yet doth this trash the mindes of many tempt

To Loues delights, from whose vile tyranny

Princes, no more then other, are exempt.

But onely him I lou'd, so doe I now,

And euer shall, of whom both thought and dreamt

I haue so oft, that no man else may bow

My setled heart: onely (were he aliue)

He might perhaps preuaile against my vow.

And God I begge it now, so let me thriue,

If aught I speake the worlds good word to woo

Beyond my worth, but with his thunder driue

Mee quicke those vgly shades of hell into,

Before, O shamefastnes, that I forsake

Thee, or yet any lawe of thine vndoe.

Might I with me my little Henry take

To some remote and solitary denne;

Your noble Prince, his seruant God him make,

(Whereto the people cried Amen, Amen)

I could be well content no more to come

Among the prease and multitudes of men.

[Page] Not that I doubt but vertuous there be some,

I know there be, and many in this place.

This of my speech then is the very summe;

That oft alone when I recount my case,

No life me thinkes is like to widdowhoode,

So God but guide it with his holy grace.

Heereat the Maide and Wife astoned stoode.

Mistake me not, quoth then the louely Queene,

For often hath it beene no lesse a good

To marry wel, then to liue singly seene.

Perhaps the more, if heart as well as hands

Be rightly tied the married paire betweene:

Not altogether wedded vnto lands,

Ne wealthy dowres: ah, neuer may she thriue,

That on the purse aboue the party stands.

She that so weds (as I know none that did)

Beguiles her husband, he hath but the hiue,

Another eates the hony. God forbid

That euer any courtly Dame should carry

A heart so base within her bosome hid.

[Page] As for my selfe, had I not lou'd my Harry,

Perdy I make a vow, that for my part

No kingdome could haue tempted me to marry

Against the loue and liking of my hart.

But ah, not long had I enioyed my Ioy

When vgly Death comes stealing with his dart,

(For hand of man could neuer him annoy)

And him of life, and me of loue depriues.

Yet hath he left behinde a princely boy,

That in my breast his heau'nly shape reuiues.

So like the father doth he daily grow,

As any you haue seene in all your liues,

Yea like him hee already learnes to goe▪

So would he bend the browe, so would he looke,

His eies his hands, he cast he carried so.

But whither haue I like a wandring brooke

Thus err'd by loue? Few liquid pearles then gusht

From out her eies, and there her breath she tooke.

But (Lord) then how the louely Virgine blusht,

When all the people did the Queene pursue

[Page] With fresh applauses; till, when all was hush'd,

The Queene did her continued speech renew.

Ladies it seemes (and therewithall she sate)

It seemes I say to vs, that each of you

So pleased is with her peculiar state,

That all the world may not your wills reclaime.

Me leuer also weare your loue then hate,

Whereat no vertuous Prince did euer aime.

Tyranny feare, and feare this hate begot.

What duety then can want a priuy maime

That of the subiectes loue proceedeth not?

I then conclude, no kinde of life amis

That is so fixt, and alters not a iot:

Vnhappy most, the least resolued is,

When as the great Commander in the warres

Affects the Marchants life, the Marchant his,

Who knowes each crooked motion of the starres,

The Clerke againe enuies the Courtier,

And he the Clowne. To leaue particulars

In vs, and you, (for oft thus one may erre)

[Page] I must (I hope to none of your disgrace)

Together when all courses I conferre,

Of force define, that both resigne the place

To maidenhead, as Copper doth, or Brasse,

When Indy Gold their glory doth deface.

A worthy wife no doubt Susanna was,

Redeem'd from death, as she was thereto led:

Yet did the widdow Iudith her surpasse;

Who smote off, as he breath'd his last abed,

That horrid head, yet breathing warre and lust.

But vnto MARY well of Maidenhead,

This, and that other yeeld of duty must.

The Maide where three times three months did repose

The Sunne, in whom reposde is all my trust.

A virgin is but eu'n a very Rose,

For once if hand of man thereon be laide,

Both sent and colour it will quickly lose,

So tender in the bloome is eu'ry Maide.

That innocent and euer happy state

(Had our forefathers not so fondly straide)

[Page] Wherein God humane nature did create

In holy maidenhead resembled is,

Whence hauing falne too soone, we grieue too late:

When all the world doth point at our amis,

Then see we naked shame with open eies.

Yea maidenhead goes farre beyond all this.

For in that earthly place of paradise,

As heere we doe, they did by Gods behest:

But in that heau'n where his owne owner lies,

As are his Angells, such are all the rest;

Maides and vnmarried: heere then I conclude

That Maidenhead of all is only best.

And as she saide, so saide the multitude.

Then all three Ladies (who did now relent

And pardon aske that they had beene so rude)

Besought the night in sportes might now be spent,

Whom so to doe with many thankes she praide.

So they vnto the foure and twenty sent

To certifie them what the Queene had saide,

And therewithall to bid them haste away.

[Page] The messenger so did, and they obaide.

Alacke for pitty now what shall I say?

A wily traitor and a very thiefe,

That all the while in ambush closely lay,

Among the Maskers is become the chiefe:

And to the Castle is already come,

Good Queene, I feare me to thy further griefe.

Herewith was heard the Trumpet and the Drum,

As if they had beene marching for the field:

By two and two they entred all and some

Each after other offering vp his shield,

While she, that in all curtsie did abound,

To euery man particular thankes did yeeld.

The softer musicke then beganne to sound,

And eke the Ladies were had out to dance:

It also pleasde the Queene to walke a round,

The Courtly sportes the more to countenance,

With whom (bicause he did the Measures leade)

To couple it was Owens happy chance.

Then all in order gan it softly treade

[Page] Vp and downe, in and out: the planets seauen,

Rapt with harmonious spheres (as we may reade)

So daunce about the lofty pole of heauen.

The Measures ended, it grewe very late,

(For it was halfe an houre nigh past eleauen.)

Then bade the Queene, that one belowe the State,

A stoole for her should set vpon the ground:

This done, anone downe therevppon she sate,

Some in their cinqueapase did nimbly bound,

Some did the Cros-point, some high Capers cut,

And on the toe some other turned round,

While still the Minstrell on the trembling gut,

Stroue with diuision to outrunne the time

That hasted on the Reuells vp to shut,

(For midnight now the clock began to chime.)

Then issued Owen out among the rest,

Reserued vntill then as only prime

Of all the Maskers, and the very best.

LOVE that did all the while no wile forsloe,

That holp to sett afire her snowy brest,

[Page] Resolu'd at last, that it must needs be so.

Wherefore, as Owen did his galliard daunce,

And grac'd it with a turne vpon the toe;

(Whether his eyes aside he chaunc'd to glaunce,

And like the louely God became so blinde,

Or else perhaps it were his happy chaunce,

I knowe not, and record none can I finde)

This is the shorte; The Queene being very nigh,

He fell, and (as he forwarde downe declinde)

His knee did hit against her softer thigh.

I hope hee felt no great hurt by the fall,

That happy fall which mounted him so high.

For vp he quickly sprang, and therewithall

He fetch'd me such a frisk aboue the ground,

That, O well doone, cried out both great and small.

The Queene arose then, and dealt thanks around

To all of them, but vnto Owen most:

The Trumpets also they began to sound,

For on she passt, and after her an hoast

Of louely ladies, while the people praied,

[Page] That God would guide her with his holy ghost.

Thus all the Court was very well apaide,

And euery dauncer in delight did swimme,

But Owen onely, who was so dismaide,

That all the Company came to comfort him.

Amongst all, one wisht it had beene his happe:

I can not blame him, though he lost a lim,

That long'd to pitch in such a princely lappe.

But out alas, what shall there more be saide?

This was but eu'n an engine and a trappe,

That for the seely foule was lately laide:

The fairest foule I weene that euer was,

This onely tricke so fowly hath betraide.

As into some one centre of the glasse

The Sunny beames we doe contract to light

Diuine Tabacco, that all balme doth passe,

Because all vnion hath the greater might:

So fierce Cupido causde his fiery brand

Vpon that Eagle-eye of his to light;

That in the very turning of a hand,

[Page] Reflected it might set afire her heart,

That obstacles none might it once withstand.

The wound did at the first not greatly smart,

For it was inward, and there softly bled

Feeding the fire, till (hauing got apart)

Her yuory body laide in yuory bed,

She there afresh of all beganne to thinke

(For idle fancies there be soonest fed)

And vnawares let Loue in softly sinke

Betweene the lillies of her louely brest.

What should she doe? she could not sleepe a wink,

Nor any respite take, nor any rest,

Nor once but dreame (for how can one awake?)

That in was got such an vnruly guest.

Which on the gods behalfe did greatly make.

It was the very dead of drowsy night,

When euery creature else his ease did take

But onely yong Queene Katharine the bright,

Whose eies (like two faire Diamonds set in rings,)

Awak'd her outward little world to light.

[Page] For vgly night with her broade Rauen-wings

Had ouerhild the golden goodly face,

As well of heauenly as of earthly things,

And the dull humour powred downe apace

On weary miserable mortall men:

Loe, then beganne her eyes first to embrace

An easie slumber: her deuotions then

She softly sigh'd, and Requiem also saide,

For her deere Lord; thus (hauing breath'd Amen,

And softer checke vpon soft pillow laide)

Fell fast asleepe: who then but Cupid sung?

Who laugh'd, who danc'd, or half such herods plaid?

For here and there the fire about he flung,

As did in Aetna his supposed Sire:

That where before she was but only stung

A little in the fancie with desire,

And quickely might haue cur'd the same againe

(Had she but vsde the meanes:) his raging fire

Diffusde the venim now through eu'ry vaine.

As Elementar fire doth closely creepe

[Page] Betweene some plankes the greater height to gaine,

Not daring out of his blinde Cell to peepe,

Before alas (as oft it doth befall)

The goodman of the house be fast asleepe:

Then opposition finding none at all,

About the Noone of night inuades the sparres,

And many hundred thousand sparkles small,

About the welkin hurls to mocke the starres:

At last in smoaky flames it chokes the skies,

And of the building all the beauty marres,

Or once the Owner halfe can ope his eyes.

O mercy God, O Loue, O Charity,

What is this heate, or how doth it arise?

Is it begot but of a wanton eye,

And so conceiued in a gentle hart?

If it be so, then aske I reason why?

Thy selfe, O Loue, of eyes depriued art▪

But if by fatall reuolution

Of any starre, O god thou guide thy dart

(Sith that we know the certaine motion

[Page] Of euery Starre in heau'n, both her degree,

Her opposition, and coniunction,

With euery other hidden qualitie,

Portending what is likeliest to befall)

Reueale, O God, reueale thou vnto me

That am thy Priest (though worthy least of all)

So long haue I rebel'd against thy law,

Blaspheming it as ceremonial,

Enacted onely fooles to keepe in awe:

Yet sith I doe recant my folly now

That into danger youth might haply draw,

Reueale the reason, and the cause, why thou

In all thy deedes so diuerse euer art;

And doe, I pray, instruct thy Prophet, how

In euery pageant thou dost play thy part,

Prouoking here to loue and there to lust.

[...] Why should a Lady like with all her hart

(Her selfe borne vnder Ioue and Venus iust)

A tawny face befurd with sable haire,

Borne vnder old Saturnus starre combust?

[Page]

What appetite the foule hath to the faire

Is euident, for euery seelv soule

Knowes with perfection how things long to paire:

But that the faire should stoope vnto the foule,

A wonder it doth seeme to me no lesse

Then if an Eagle should vnto an Owle.

Yet more may be then I can haply gesse,

I might be numbred eighth among the Wise,

If all to know my selfe I should professe.

Is it because that in faire womens eyes

Blacke men seeme pearles (and women all iwis

Would be: or else, which doth aswell suffice,

Reputed faire?) or is it haply this,

That any beauty layde against the blacke,

Of much more beautie and more brightnes is?

Is it because we like (though nought we lacke)

What other haue? or else because this hue

Lends liuelier heate and moisture to the backe?

Why should a Queene to whom so many sue,

So many Princes would be prowde to serue,

[Page] Bid all the glittering pompe of Court adue,

And to a priuate loue her sweets reserue?

Why should she spend with him her happy dayes,

That hardly doth to serue her but deserue?

This is thy power, O Loue, this is thy praise,

For vnto Gods it only doth belong

The mighty downe to pull, the meeke to raise;

Thou findest likes, or else ere it be long,

Thou framest such of sundry qualities:

It is then open and no petty wrong,

To charge thee so with incongruities:

For onely thou alone in all thy deedes,

As at the first yet work'st by contraries.

Whenas together all the sundry seedes

Of vndigested Chaos did conspire

To mould the body that so many breedes:

The Earth, the Aire, the Water and the Fire,

(For each was vnto either deadly foe)

To sundry rankes did all at once retire:

The leight got vp, the heauy stay'd below,

[Page] The Sea did start aside to show the land,

The windes did on the billowes stifly blove

All which be now tied in so friendly band,

As they may not beyond their limits range,

And this was done by thy Almighty hand.

Nor art thou Lord (for all thou seeme so strange)

Yet halfe so mutable as any man:

But as resolued and vnapt to change,

As at the day when first the world began.

Perhaps by some to scorne I shall be laught

For bolding so, say all they what they can,

This is the truth, thus other shall be taught:

Yea (though therefore I should be tortured)

I would not alter any word for aught,

For all is right, if it be rightly read.

FINIS.

§

§

[Page]

[figure]

§

§

[Page]

PANCHARIS: The first Booke. Containing The Preparation of the Loue betweene OVVEN TVDYR, and the QVEENE, Long since intended to her Maiden MAIESTIE: And now dedicated TO THE INVINCIBLE IAMES, Second and greater Monarch of great Britaine, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with the Islands adiacent.

Mar. Valerius Martialis. Victurus Genium debet habere liber.

Printed at London by V. S. for Clement Knight, M D CIII.

TO MY LORD THE KING. Sonet Acrosticke.

[Page]

[Page]

IMage of God; first as a Man, and then

As King, by most Desert, and onely Right:

Man is the King of Creatures, and thy might

Exceedes this too, for thou art King of men.

Sunne of our Sphaeie, may neuer Clowde vp pen

So radiant Beames from thy poore Subiects sight:

That still our Eyes may see their happy Light,

Eu'n as their Heate did warme our Bosoms, when

Vnseene they shone beneath the fixed Star.

Vp Noble Minde to thy fift Empirie,

And some yet higher then thy fortunes ar:

Resemble Heau'n in all but Leuitie,

Take after Earth in nothing more or lesse

Except an irremooued Stayednesse.

TO THE BRIGHT QVEENE ANNE his deere Wife, and our dread Lady.

[Page]

1

WHat is she that like siluer Cynthia shoeth

Amidst the hoast of heauen,

But fairer three times seauen?

It is the Queene of Loue, see where she goeth.

The Queene of Loue and Beauty, (lo) together

With her faire son the Prince of Loue comes hether

2

The Southpole that in our Horizon shined,

And made the Earth to wonder,

Gone is that Earth all vnder,

And to the Northpole hath her roome resigned:

On whom to waite our Eyes and Harts perseuer,

And may they cease, ô neuer, neuer, neuer

3

Thou in whose Zodiak of white armes enchained

Our Sunne so oft hath shined,

In whose wombe was confined

What in this Isle scornes to be long contained;

Liue thou and he, and maist thou see him rather

Copartner then Successor to his Father.

TO MY LORD THE PRINCE. Sonet Acrosticke.

[Page]

HEire of thy Sires foure Realmes, and (which I more

Esteeme) foure vertues, that vnto a fift,

No doubt will thee (o slowly slowly) lift;

[...]e [...]iue this Ryme of thine old Auncestore

[...]ong Prince of Wales, and pardon me therefore.

So may glad VICTORY be one day swift

To crowne thy sacred head (that art a grift

Extracted hence) with holy Bayes, before

(Vnuanquish'd or vnhurt by sea or land)

Vpon thy brow the Wreath of England sit:

And I with crowned head, but armed hand,

Ride by thy Lordly side, and after it

Turne from thy Grandsires loues to sing thy wars,

Exchanging Venus Mole for Marses skars.

Illustrissimae Dominae. ARBELLAE STVARTAE. Sonulus Elegeiacus Acrostichus.

[Page]

A Vricomum alterius Mundi iubar altera Virgo,

Regia cui stirps est, Mens neque stirpe minor;

Bu imperfectum facili cape fronte Poema:

Est quia perfectus qui tibi mittit amor.

Lactea nec Venus est illic, nec Vena, nec unquàm

Latus Amor Musa nouit adesse meae.

Attamen Eugenij sacros cantillat amores,

Senfit amans socium queis Catherina iugum.

Tandem orata Venus sic ambos iuvit amantes,

Vnde genus tantis Regibus, at (que) tibi.

At (que) mihi scribenti utinam sic aequa fuisset:

Ritè ego si colui, dum sub Amore fui.

Tutamen (horriduiae faueas licet ipsa Dianae)

Alma veni, Musis & Venus esto meis.

Clarissimo & Candidissimo jngenio Praeceptori olim, semper Amico GVLIELMO CAMDENO Armorum Regi nulli secundo Poemation hoc censendum & emendandum mitto.

[Page]

NAnus Musaei cupit in quacun (que) locari

Parte liber, magnum nec capit ille locum.

Sed ne (que) se magnis studet immiscere Poetis

Quales Meonides maximus, at (que) Maro.

Cern [...]us hic veterum lambat vestigia vatum,

At (que) pio sanctos basiet ore pedes.

Cum Nasone tamen ponas (hic nam (que) libellus

Sanctior, vt multis doctior ille modis)

Vel cum Chaucero (nec enim mihi fidus Amator

Est minùs, & multo Nympha pudic a magis.)

Plus quo (que) quam tetigisse pedes fortasse meretur,

Quando tuas meritus sit tetigisse manus.

Andreas Downes Graecus professor Regius Cantabrigiae.

[Page]

ANtiquos memorat vatum chorus omn is amores,

Sed plerum (que) quibus non Venus aequa fuit:

Foelices HOLLANDE canis foeliciter igneis

Tu veterum, quibus hand abnuit alma Venus.

Et REGINA fuit memorabilis, & THEODORVS:

Illam qui meruit, carmine dignus erat.

Nec tant [...]m furor ambobus fuit ille secundus,

Nec blandum hoc modò tum iuvit vtrum (que) iugum:

Sed populos domuit saeuos gentes (que) feroceis

Hic tandem placidè conciliauit amor.

Cuius nunc voluend a dies fructum attulit vitro,

Et maiore beat munere longa dies.

Nam (que) tribus populis discordibus insula diues

Ante colebatur, bella (que) crebra mouet.

Verùm exhinc mox laeta duos Concordia iunxit,

Firmus & hic stabili foedere vinxit amor.

Tertia magnanimis restabant regna Britannis,

Haec quo (que) magnifico sub duce nunc coeunt.

Hac etenim de stirpe venit Rex inclytus, at (que)

Clara recens soboles, & noua progenies.

[Page] Quae penitus toto seclusos orbe Britannos

Aeternâ reget in pace, fauente Deo.

Et maioribus auspicijs dominabitur orae,

Circumqua (que) ingens quà fluit Oceanus:

Sceptra tenens, diadema gerens, IACOBI age honores,

Aggredere ô magnos, maxime, laetus ouans.

Horridulâ genitum in regione Eremanthidos Arcti,

Sol regem vidit te simul at (que) hominem.

Creuerunt animi pariter crescentibus annis,

Sors tandem aequa animis cedere regna iubet.

Finibus exiguis arctari magna recusant,

Virtuti campum fata dedêre parem.

Mollior horrifero Boreae superadditus Auster,

Vna est virtutis facta palaestra tibi.

Quàm sapiens fuit Empedocies, qui foedere amoris,

Et caelo & terrâ cuncta coire facit!

I nunc ô vates & Theseas at (que) Ariadnas

Medeas (que) truces dic & Amazonidas:

Materiam noster nouit sibi sumere dignam,

Dignos & versus pangere materiâ.

Nicolai Hilli Carmen Testamentale & viaticum.

[Page]

NVnc migro, nec patrios forsan rediturus ad agros

Vrget, & officij debita cura premit.

Quid prohibebit enim quin veri testis honestem,

Quem studij paritas iustra (que) multa probant?

Raptim & discedens verbo quod sentio dicam,

Totius gregis est gloria, nemo gregis.

Ornat & egregijs Catherinam millibus effert:

Vt canit ille suam, sic canit illa suum.

E: B: Anacreontickes.

[Page]

SCarse 'till now hath ENGLAND seen

A Poëm, but of verses store;

Here an vnenforced green

Hath natiue flowres, which heretofore

Had, at most, well painted been,

As was the season which them bore:

Arts each Venus that doth shine

In antient Poësie, heer more.

HOLLAND, this first birth of thine

Put forth imperfect, stands before

The finished, and shall in fine

Somewhat be new for worlds t'adore:

CYNTHIVS (as we diuine)

And the MVSES, and the GRACES,

And their QVEENE, by thee refine

Bastard Songs, whose common bases

Were but words, that KATHARINE

Beautie ęquall to her faces

Might enioy Here then vnhard

A Princely Love, and learned Bard.

Ben: Iohnson. Ode. [...].

[Page]

WHo saith our Times nor haue, nor can

Produce vs a blacke Swan?

Behold, where one doth swim;

Whose Note, and Hue,

Besides the other Swannes admiring him,

Betray it true:

A gentler Bird, then this,

Did neuer dint the breast of Tamisis.

Marke, marke, but when his wing he takes,

How faire a flight he makes!

How vpward, and direct!

Whil'st pleas'd Apollo

Smiles in his Sphaere, to see the rest affect,

In vaine to follow:

This Swanne is onely his,

And Phoebus loue cause of his blackenesse is.

[Page]

He shew'd him first the hoofe-cleft Spring,

Neere which, the Thespiad's sing;

The cleare Dircaean Fount

Where Pindar swamme;

The pale Pyrene, and the forked Mount:

And, when they came

To brookes, and broader streames,

From Zephyr's rape would close him with his beames.

This chang'd his Downe; till this, as white

As the whole heard in fight,

And still is in the Brest:

That part nor Winde,

Nor Sunne could make to vary from the rest,

Or alter kinde.

"So much doth Virtue hate,

"For stile of rarenesse, to degenerate.

Be then both Rare, and Good; and long

Continue thy sweete Song.

Nor let one Riuer boast

Thy tunes alone;

But proue the Aire, and saile from Coast to Coast:

Salute old Mône,

[Page] But first to Cluid stoope low,

The Vale, that bred thee pure, as her Hills Snow.

From thence, display thy vving againe

Ouer Iērna maine,

To the Eugenian dale;

There charme the rout

With thy soft notes, and hold them within Pale

That late were out.

"Musicke hath power to draw,

"Where neither Force can bend, nor Feare can awe.

Be proofe, the glory of his hand,

(Charles Montioy) whose command

Hath all beene Harmony:

And more hath wonne

Vpon the Kerne, and wildest Irishry,

Then Time hath donne,

Whose strength is aboue strength;

And conquers all things, yea it selfe, at length.

Who euer sipt at Baphyre riuer,

That heard but Spight deliuer

His farre-admited Acts,

[Page] And is not rap't

With entheate rage, to publish their bright tracts?

(But this more apt

When him alone we sing)

Now must we plie our ayme; our Swan's on wing.

Who (see) already hath ore-flowne

The Hebrid Isles, and knowne

The scatter'd Orcades;

From thence is gon

To vtmost Thule: whence, he backes the Seas

To Caledon,

And ouer Grampius mountaine,

To Loumond lake, and Twedes blacke-springing fountaine.

Haste, Haste, sweete Singer: Nor to Tine,

Humber, or Owse, decline;

But ouer Land to Trent:

There coole thy Plumes,

And vp againe, in skies, and aire to vent

Their reeking fumes;

Till thou at Tames alight,

From whose prowde bosome, thou began'st thy flight.

[Page]

Tames, prowde of thee, and of his Fate

In entertaining late

The choise of Europes pride;

The nimble French;

The Dutch whom Wealth (not Hatred) doth diuide,

The Danes that drench

Their cares in wine; with sure

Though slower Spaine; and Italy mature.

All which, when they but heare a straine

Of thine, shall thinke the Maine

Hath sent her Mermaides in,

To hold them here:

Yet, looking in thy face, they shall begin

To loose that feare;

And (in the place) enuie

So blacke a Bird, so bright a Qualitie.

But should they know (as I) that this,

Who warbleth PANCHARIS,

Were CYCNVS, once high flying

With Cupids wing;

[Page] Though, now by Loue transform'd, & dayly dying:

(Which makes him sing

With more delight, and grace)

Or thought they, Leda's white Adult'rers place

Among the starres should be resign'd

To him, and he there shrin'd;

Or Tames be rap't from vs

To dimme and drowne

In heau'n the Signe of old Eridamos:

How they would frowne!

But these are Mysteries

Conceal'd from all but cleare Propheticke eyes.

It is inough, their griefe shall know

At their returne, nor Po,

Iberus, Tagus, Rheine,

Scheldt, nor the Maas,

Slow Arar, nor swift Rhone; the Loyre, nor Seine,

With all the race

Of Europes waters can

Set out a like, or second to our Swan.

To my Mayden Muse.

[Page]

GOe Virgin Muse to her Diuinity,

That is the Vesta of Virginity:

For vnto whom shouldst thou goe rather

So bound to her, and to her father?

Be gonne, and when thou com'st before her,

Vpon thy knee, see thou adore her.

For thou mayst gather by her feature,

She is more then an earthly creature.

In whom no Elements are combined,

But a fift Essence well refined

Aboue the vulgar grosse confections

Of any of the fower complexions,

Flegme, Sanguine, Melancholy, Coler.

Tell her that once I was her Scholer,

And how in Grammer I was grounded

In the best schoole she euer founded,

By two great Clerkes (two greater wasters

Of oyle then houres) that were my Masters:

Where I liu'd partly of her larges,

And partly of my parents charges.

[Page]

Thence was I had to learne more knolledge

To Cambridge, and her fathers Colledge,

Of him whose fame is flowne ALL-OVER

As well beyond as this side Douer.

On Aristotle oft I pored,

And here and there him ouer-skored.

Where Poetrie too I found defined,

To which by birth I was enclined.

Yet heard I worthy DOVVNES in Homer,

And euery day I glean'd my gomer.

Thus hauing there for Lea serued

Though some saide Rachel I deserued)

Some thought the house could stand without me.

I then began to looke about me:

And forthwith desperately did ventre

The wide world, in whose little Centre

My friends (of whom death hath bereft me)

My louing friends some liuing left me,

Enough (if God the grace but lend me)

From Cold and Hunger to defend me:

[Page] That I may study still by leasure,

Without all paine, and at my pleasure.

Now the blacke Doune began to couer

My pale Cheekes (for I was a Louer)

And sung Acrosticke Sonets sweetely;

For (if that some can iudge discreetely)

I neede not feare that daintie DAVIES,

Though he sing sweeter then the Mauis.

And of my Loue they were. But stay thee,

No more of that my Muse I pray thee.

For either it must show my folly,

Or else renew my Melancholly:

Yet was she faire, and Honourable,

And Vertuous (had she beene more stable.)

Though she perhaps did but forget her,

And now likes May denhead the better:

Whereof she is the richest border

Next CYNTHIA Soueraigne of that Order.

When Loue my bosome thus had fired,

Me for his Prophet he inspired:

[Page] That euery line, and euery letter

Of my deuise might passe the better.

Yet of this Legend but the writer

Was I, and he the sole inditer.

For how alas can it be other?

I am not I the Muses brother.

My lips I neuer yet haue sowsed

In Hippocrene, nor carowsed

The lusty Liquor thence distilling

The braine with holly fury filling.

The Climat where I was begotten

Of father Phoebus is forgotten,

No Parnasse there (though Mountaines many)

Nor Muse (though Nymphs as faire as any)

God wote it is too farre remoued

From her, to be of them beloued.

Apollo, they and all the Graces,

Attend her onely in all places.

This in effect when thou hast told her,

Thou must be yet a little bolder:

[Page] And beg that thou mayst waite vpon her,

Among her many May des of Honor;

A modest Maide with chaste variety,

To lull asleepe that sweete Society.

Who may as well as any other,

Reade euery line before the Mother.

So shamefa'cd are they, and so holly,

Voide of all loosenesse, and light folly:

Else had it beene too much impiety,

To vow them to so great a Deity.

This done, againe on knee lowe bended,

And hands as high to heauen extended,

Ascribe me of this golden story

Onely the paine, and her the glory:

Praying she would but reade the proem,

And so breath life into my Poëm

Richardo Martino Hugo Hollandius Optimo Oratori Pessimus Poëta, veteris & perfecti amoris ergò nouum sed imperfectum poëma mittit. Sonulus Hendecasyllabi [...]us.

[Page]

HOc Martine tibi vetus sodalis

Nuper mitto nouum poema coeptum,

Nec doctum satis id, nimisue ineptum:

Vester Pegasus est, nec opse talis

Qui t antis vehar incitatus alis.

Verùm me videor sat esse adeptum,

Si carmen tibi tale sit receptum:

Nec lectum tibi non fuisse malis.

Quod (si quid saperem) domo quiet â

Annus debuerat videre nonus:

O sed famâ ego gloria (que) spretâ

In pessum cecidi poeta pronus;

"Tanto pessimus omnium poeta,

"Quanto tu optimus omnium patronus.

To Sir Robert Cotton Knight, Lord of Cunnington.

[Page]

MY Reasons can no longer hold out, nor yet my Modesty: Nature indeed hath armed me against Blushing, not against Bashfulnes. Haue here thē this double imperfect Poëm. First, though ill, not all done: Secondly, through all il done. The faults I confes in making (as they be many) are mine: the fault in setting forth (if it be any) is yours, & so much the more yours, by how much the more you would haue mine published. It was (if you remember) the worke, or rather the Pastime of one Vacation. Howbeit that can no way iustly excuse me. For (if the Destiny of these leaues should out-spin [Page] Nature in our liues) how should posterity be informed in how short time the same were written? All the writings of old time were as the Testaments of the writers: But most of the writers of our dayes, are as Executors to their writings, not vnlike Hecuba in the Tragedy, who in her owne life time saw the death of all her children. And to say but truth (had not I beene the more indulgent father) these Rimes of mine (which nigh vpon two yeares haue nowe layen by me) had long since made windeing-sheetes for perfumed gloues in the EXCHANGE. The last Summer I began to put this Infant (then about some twelue-moneths old) out of his foule and swatheling clowts; and (like our London Nurses, who when they bring their foster-children to be shewed the friends, dresse them vp in their best habilimen [...]) wrote it out curiously with mine own hand, think to haue gone into Scotland and to haue giuen it the King. Towards whom my loyaltie, I was in those dayes as daring to powre into your bosome, as I [Page] found it ready to endeere the same. Your loue to me, and our duty to him gaue vs both confidence therevnto: to speake nothing of particular Interest, his Maiesty and you descended of two brothers, hee from Rob. le Bruse, and you from Bernard. But ill newes carried me into Wales, and vpon my returne Maister Secretary Herbert (with whom was in commission the Noble and gentle Lord Eure, and the right worthy and vertuous Maister Doctor Dun) being ready to goe into Germany (which was his thirteenth publike Employment) I signified to his Honour the desire I had but once in my life to see the world (for vntill then I had beene alwayes one of the Queenes Decre) and he louingly consented thereunto. Beleeue me Sir Rob. hee is the man I tooke him for, and told you of. I will not speake of honors and titles, things (like representations in glasses) actuated by other: but rather of his learning, his wisdome, [...] honesty, the first and last whereof are goodly Vertues in a man of his Fortune, all three lying within [Page] the spheare of our owne actiuitie. At Amste [...]red [...] in my way homeward (for I returned before their Lordships) I met those good ill-newes of the Queen [...] death, to whose honour and memory (néque me m [...] [...]inisse pigebit ELISAE) as by the Preface may appeare I had once entended this first booke of the Praeparation or Praeludium of the loue betweene Owen Tudyr and the Queene. Which Praeface notwithstanding I will haue printed with the rest, that I doe so much right to that dead Lady, sometimes our Soueraigne Queene and Mistresse. The very Gospel itselfe (next which no gladder tidings could haue pierced our eares, then that King IAMES his head should be inuested with the Royall Diadem) did allow the Law an honorable buriall. Neither should we fashion ourselues to such whose affection to her waxed cold before her body, who thought they had done her a stout piece of seruice that they forsooke not her body before her soule did. I iudge modestly of them all, and hope it was but a longing they had to see his [Page] Maiesty, whom God of his mercy long preserue, lest he, who hath freed vs from one curse of a Kingdome, that is, a Woman, leaue vs vnto another, that is, a Childe. I haue written an Acrosticke Sonet to his Maiestie, a Canzonet to the Queene, and another Acrosticke vnto the Prince; whose Seruant I am by vow, and subordinate Subiect by birth, For I doubt not but his Noble Father will shortly kisse him, and deliuer him the Verge of gold with his Patent, whereby hee is entituled Prince of Wales. Which (though now high in nothing but Mountaines) I hope one day shall be raised by his Graces presence. In whom we claime a double interest, as well by Walter Stewarte, as Owen Tudyr: both of them lineally descended from the most haught and magnanimous Princes of Wales. My second booke (if God spare life) of the entertainment of their loue (which I principally vow to the honour of the better parte of his Graces Principallity my beloued Country gentle Northwales, where by the way I am to speake somewhat [Page] of the warres of Owen Glindoure, with the worthy deeds of the two thunder-bolts of warre, the Noble Percies) I purpose to consecrate vnto his Highnesse: As also the third booke of the perfection of their loue vnto the Queens Right excellent Maiestie. For vnto whom should I dedicate the perfection of Loue but to the perfection of Beautie? I speake this but by heare-say, you haue seene her and know I flatter not: from which fault (if from any) I am most free. For in flattery (saith Tacitus) is the foule fault of Slauery, and freedome of speach will be thought Malice. Howbeit after the faire Example of our good friend M. Martin (who with like libertie, as eloquence was not afraide to tell the King the truth) I will so comporte my selfe and wade warily betweene both, that I euer carry the heart of a Monarchy, and the tongue of a Common-wealth: the one loyall, the other liberall. In which resolution I end, Commending this Poëm to the conceipt of the Reader, my selfe to you, and you to God.

Your very louing Hugh Holland.

§

§

[Page]

[figure]

Information about this book

Title statement

Pancharis the first booke. Containing the preparation of the loue betweene Ovven Tudyr, and the Queene, long since intended to her maiden Maiestie: and now dedicated to the inuincible Iames, second and greater Monarch of great Britaine, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with the islands adiacent.

Holland, Hugh, d. 1633.

Edition statement

1603

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A03470

ID [STC]

STC 13592

ID [STC]

ESTC S116940

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99852155

ID [PROQUEST]

99852155

ID [VID]

17464

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A03470)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 17464)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1382:16)

Source

— Pancharis the first booke. Containing the preparation of the loue betweene Ovven Tudyr, and the Queene, long since intended to her maiden Maiestie: and now dedicated to the inuincible Iames, second and greater Monarch of great Britaine, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with the islands adiacent., Holland, Hugh, d. 1633..

Extent

[86] p. : ill.

By V. S[immes] for Clement Knight,. Printed at London :: M D CIII [1603]. (In verse.) (Signed at end: Hugh Holland.) (Printer's name from STC; Roman numeral date is made with turned C's.) (Signatures: A-C¹² D (-D8).) (First and last leaves have woodcut illustrations only.) (Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.)

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