ANGLIA Rediviva: OR, ENGLAND Revived. AN Heroick Poem.

London, Anno M.D.C.L.VIII.

To his Highnesse OLIVER Lord Protector, &c.

My Lord,

ALL I can hope, when your Highnesse reads this Piece, is onely your Pardon for my writing it: which I did upon a double im­pulsion; the Excellency of your Per­son, and the forcible inclination of mine own Genius, to Honour, Ad­mire, and Celebrate all that is Ex­cellent.

If things happen as I have Ima­gined them, I am both Poet and Prophet too: If not, I am a Poet onely, who has more liberty than the Historographer, and his likelihood (most commonly) is more worth than tothers Truth.

Mean time (my Lord) tis my ambition, not yours; you have glo­ry [Page]enough in refusing the Crown, and it should be ours in urging you to the accepting it, which all should do, who understand the publique Interest: for those who do not, I should be glad to teach them this verity, that (things standing as they do) no Fagot with its band broke, would sooner fall in pieces; Nor Edifice without foundation, sooner fall to ruine and destruction, than we should, were you a way, (which God defend:) Tis the hearty prayer (my Lord) of one, who has no par­ticular Interest of his own, being so wholy unknown unto your Highness as it were superfluous for me to sub­scribe my self by any other name, than only

Your Highnesse most faithfull Honourer and Admirer.

Canto 1.

The Argument.
By Themis in full Parliament's declar'd
The Kingdoms state, and want of King, which heard,
All opinat with general Consent
For King again, and Kingly Government.
NOw the great Body of the State to frame
From several parts, its several Members came,
Just as the Sultans Ingeniers, Canons make
In several pieces, they asunder take
Till Warlike execution's to be done,
When all the pieces are conjoyn'd in one.
And now the Members all inbodyed, strait
Assume again, their oft assum'd debate,
The State o'th'Kingdom rightly understood,
Which most conduc'd unto their present good,
Which most their future dangers to prevent,
Or popular, or Kingly government.
Much for the first by popular spirited men
Contested was, and much for th' last agen
By such, who though they were not Kings, at least
Had Kingly spirits reigning in their breast.
Nor could it be determin'd more than when
Now Eurus blows now Aquilon agen,
To whither part th' impulsed waves in fine
Equally 'twixt both suspended should incline.
Untill at last (a) Themis the sage arose,
Themis the just, they had for Speaker chose,
Than whom a sager, nor a juster man
Athens nor Rome ne'r bred, and thus began:
When 'th politique Body's sick which (as you know)
Has as the Natural, its sickness too,
(Faint languishings, and strong Disterp'raturs,
Cold Lethargies, and burning Calenturs)
It fits the Statists, as Physicians care,
Well to examine what the Causes are,
What the effects, what every circumstance
May th' cure retard, or malady advance,
As with their utmost diligence t' explore,
Its state of health, and Regiment before,
That so (those known) they better might apply
To every Ill convenient remedy.
For ours, what most perturb'd us has of late
Are some disquiet humours in the State
Occasion'd by unskilfulness of (b) some
More skil'd in stirring, than in purging them.
Of consequence so dangerous, as just
As th' Hedg-hog of its prickly brood, at first
Might be delivered with little pain
Till too indulgent to its ease, whilst fain
It would escape, by shrinking up its wombe
At last 't dos so intollerable become,
Without huge torment 't can'st delivered be
Without huge jeopardy of life. So we
So long deferred have the cures of them
They almost are incurable become
By 'indulging them we gaining nothing else
But ruine and destruction of our selves.
As for the rest, who is't that does not see
Our former state of health was Monarchy?
As that, which did maintain that state agen
In vigorous health, was Kingly Regimen;
Nor may we ought expect but crassy health
Whilst we remain in state of Common-wealth,
More than our Bodys but continual pain
Till its dis-joynted Joynts be set again.
There being a certain Innate quiet in things,
Which once disturb'd, as great disquiet brings:
So th' Mariners needle by some tamp'ring hand
Turn'd from its North, mark how't dos wav'ring stand
In restless agitation and pain
Till it return unto its North again.
Vice-nature Custom rendring all things light
And easie t' us. With it there is no weight,
No pain: without it, ease, repose ther's none,
But all is trouble, pain, vexation,
All is impediment, let, and hinderance,
There is no clog but in-accustumance.
This if we know, ther's hope of remedy,
If not, more dangerous is our malady,
Since those sick's healths are most despair'd of stil
Imagin they are well, when they are ill.
For but compare our Countries former state
And welfare, with 'ts condition of late;
At home its plenty, and its opulence,
Abroad its reputation, when (c) France
With none than us more feared war, and Spain
With none than us more wished peace again,
When we in all the Christian worlds affairs,
Were absolute Arbiters of peace and wars,
And all, not passion-blind shall see themselves
Happier in Kingdoms than in Common-wealths.
But some perchance will say, t'had nothing don
Or too much rather Kings had overthrown,
If now we should decree (to their disgrace)
T' advance a new some others to their place,
As if't had been against the lawfull use
Of Kingly government, and not th' abuse
Th'ad tan up arms and so much bloud had shed,
VVhich mighty workat last accomplished
VVhat rests there, but th'abuse away being tan
The lawfull use of Kings should still remain?
So when we bend t'on waies a rod or wand,
That tother waies did too much bended stand,
'Tis to redresse, and straighten it again,
Not that it crooked so, should still remain.
(d) For Parlaments which some cry up again,
Rare helps of Government, whilst Kings did reign
As formerly with Members all compleat,
But not as now, all maim'd and mutilat,
We as of fire and water well may say
That they command ill, though they well obey.
Nor is it just the odium they have cast
On names of latter Kings, should longer last
Than Love and Reverence w'are oblig'd to bear
To names of former Kings who reigned here.
(e) Edgar as far extending our command
By Sea, as our third Edward did by Land,
Or our fifth Henry, glories of their name
And ours, and Englands everlasting Fame.
As for the Peoples, Angel, Liberty
And Friend, Oppression and Tyranny
They err, suppose this found with Kings alone
Proudly and sternly seated on their Throne,
Bout which a barbarous crew of Lectors stands
With visages as bloudy as their hands
Violently keeping all like slaves in awe
With nothing but their wills and lusts for law.
You 'll find as well with th' popularity
Who proudly mincing Kings authority
Either as rigid, fell, and cruel are
As ever yet Sicilian Tyrants were
Or else (oth' contrary) remissive grown,
Ech seeks their private good, the publique none.
So whither Kings, Liberties Banks restrain
Or these or' flow them, still the harm's the same;
And to the State alike pernitious tis
Where all is lawfull, or where nothing is,
Only of every domination,
Whether of many, or of one alone,
(Of King or People) this we may conclude,
The nobler Lord, the nobler Servitude.
For Liberty, which some, un-skill'd to make
Their right distinctions, for licence take,
As there no difference were between the thing
They freedom call, and Shrovetide ryotting;
'Tis true, 'mongst mortals it was found at first,
Whilst nothing they desir'd but what was just,
Whilst vertue only kept their minds in awe,
And every one was to himself a Law.
Till Lawless grown, and Vice their minds pos­sest
Expelling Vertue and Justice from their breast,
From Cities, Courts, and Villages it fled,
Mans habitation quite abandoned,
Making to desart wilderness repair,
And ever since has liv'd an Hermit there,
Choosing (so great aversion 'thas from men)
Rather to live amongst wild Beasts than them.
Only there still remains a bastard one
Begot 'twixt Power and Moderation,
That Fantosm or Fools-Paradise 'ith' air
With vain endeavour some seek here, some there
When all is sought at last you'll find alone
In well obeying, just dominion.
Where one, or more must govern; if one, he
Is then the King, what ere his Title be,
If more, w'ave got by alteration
But only this, 'thave many Kings for one:
Less care for doing well, whilst each one has
So many to participat the praise,
Nor ill, whilst they so many have again
Participating the reproach and shame.
Let levelling Spirits then, go equal all
At home, and wee'll allow them, so withall
They can aswell equal and level too
Our Neighbours all abroad, which till they do
They for our honours should provide but ill
To lessen us, and leave them greater still.
For Times are chang'd, and Common-wealths no more
In such high reputation, as before
When Romain Citizens to Kings gave Law,
And Common-wealths their Kingdoms kept in awe.
Now petty Provinces may cantonize
And call their Weaknesses, their Liberties,
Whilst mighty Kingdoms common notion
Is many Provinces conjoyn'd in one.
If then the Kingdom you'd again restore
Unto the royalties it possest before,
The publique to their honour and their wealths,
The private to their freedom, and themselves,
Nobility its splendor, Law its course,
Justice its awe, Authority its force;
Make us a Kingdom, give us Kings again,
May date from this day their first year of reign,
As we our first of happiness, happy alone
May choose our King, and be inforc'd to none.
By suture times so shall you equail'd be
To those first founded have our Monarchy.
Since tis as great a work, and greater too
To raise from ruines, as to build a new.
So all things setled as they were before
None e're shall seek for innovation more,
Nor e're shall count more reformation fit,
For rightly ordering or our selves, or it;
So shall our foes, and those to them adhear
No longer hope, and we no longer fear;
So wars, dissentions, factions, all shall cease,
And we enjoy an everlasting peace;
So Heaven shall bless you, and men look upon
Your work (in fine) as work of Heaven alone,
And all shall bless and praise you, (as tis fit)
As Heavens sole Iustruments in doing it.
At this unanimously all arose
(Just as in Forests when Favonius blows
With gentle breath, and all one waies inclines
The heads and murmurs of the lofty pines)
Inclining all with gentle murmuring
To Themis vote, for Kingdom, and for King.
But as when this great Fabrique began,
God first did make the world, & then made man:
So they enough of business did suppose
For first daies work, the Kingdom to have chose,
Leaving to an other day their choyce of King,
As we t' an other Canto for to sing.
FINIS CANTO 1.

ANNOTATIONS Upon the first CANTO.

(a) WIth good reason Themis or Ju­stice is introduc'd, voting for the postliminary Restitution (as I maysay) of ENGLAND to its former Royalties again, and state of Kingdom, which immemorable Time be­fore it had been possessed of, without disputing whe­ther [Page 14] Monarchy or Democraty be the better form of Government, it being best for every one to con­tinue in the state they have alwaies been, and Justices part to give to every one their own.

(b.) The Bishops chiefly, who when they per­ceived Sectaries grown dangerous, forbad them the publique Pulpit, without prohibiting them their pri­vate conventicles: by which means those peccant hu­mours droven inwards apostumed, and wext after­wards more dangerous.

(c) France more feared war with us, than with any other Nation, experiencing alwaies by their losses, that they alwaies lost by it; And Spain was so desirous of peace with us, as it became an ordinary Proverb with them Pace co l' Ingleterra e con toto il mondo guerra, not caring so they had peace with us, though they had war with all the World besides. For our arbitration of the Christian worlds affairs, we need look up no further than to the times of King Hen­ry the 8th. and in no other Author than every Chro­nicle.

(d) The Parlament of England is neither an imperious Master, (as in some Countries are their As­semblies of States) nor an abject Vassal (as are the Parlaments in other Countries) but only in nature of an humble Friend, to propose unto the Soveraign Majesty what they imagine most expedient for the [Page 15]Kingdoms good and theirs. Nor is the Soveraign power more bounded and limited by them, than is the Ocean by its shore, preserving it only from effusion and dissipation, and not so much bounding and limiting it, as not leaving it altogether boundless and limit­less, there being certain things which seem onerous and burthensom (as the wheels of Chariots, wings of Birds, and such like) which on the contrary more lighten and alleviat the load. The Soveraign Majestrate then in England can do all things without Parlament, but only ruine the Kingdom and himself, a restriction no more derogating from his Soveraign power, than it does from Alm. God's, the not being able to sin and do amiss, which on the contrary is one of his most God­like attributes. And all this be spoken by the way for the better information of some, who count nothing great but what is excessive, and imagin how to reign courteously as they do in England, is only to reign at others courtesies.

(e) Edgar of whom thus Daniel writes, Edgar re-edified and set forth a Fleet, consisting as some write of 1600 sayl, others a far greater number, which he divided and plac'd in four parts of the Realm, ma­king his progress yearly with part of this mighty Navy round about the Isle.

Touching Edward the 3d. and Henry the 5th. none I suppose is so much a Stranger to our Countries Histories, as not to have read of the Battels of Cressy, Poictiers, and Agincourt, where he took the French King Prisoner, and conquer'd France.

(f) Of their furious and fanatical deportments, I need only mention the Anabaptists at Munster, under title of the Spirit tyrannizing and perpetrating such horrible Actions, and acting such bloody Tragedies, as no Spirit but that of the Devil could e're suggest, and just such an other Common-wealth we should have in England, if your fift Monarchy-men, and such like Rabble of other Sectaries might obtain but their de­sires.

Canto 2.

The Argument.
All generally Oliver for King do choose,
He modestly the Kingdome does refuse,
Ʋntill in forc't, his Shoulders he bows down
To th' Royall Roabs, and Head unto the Crown.
NOw morn appear'd, and yet you could not say
By th' doubtfull light, whether t'were night or day
As black and white do both in mixture meet,
And different sexes i'th' Hermophodite:
And now as soon as twi-light they discern'd,
All hast to th' House, both curious and concern'd:
These Votes to give, and those their Votes to hear,
Still greater part in all Assemblies were,
As in our Theaters, the Spectators are,
Than Actors alwayes numerouser far:
All certain of their choise, or if there were
Any oth' choise were yet uncertain there:
Themis with pondrous Reasons thus inclines
The ballances of their suspended mindes.
Since all (I know) come with prepared breast,
To choose for King, the fittest and the best,
And easie is that choice, that has some one
More eminent than the rest to fix upon;
Most easie will be ours, have such an one
Propos'd to day to our Election:
So Eminently worthy, 'bove the rest,
So absolutely, fittest and the best:
Where he pretends to th' first, he scarcely has
Any may but pretend to th' second place:
One at all parts of body and of minde,
We well may call the unique of his kinde:
One, that who doubts where he deservs the crown,
But stand with him in competition;
And they shall soon unto their shames confesse,
If he deserve it not, themselves much lesse:
If they, than he much more; so every one
Must needs conclude him worthiest alone.
Oliver I mean, our great Protector, who
Is both our Glory and our wonder too;
How one mans valor could alone suffice,
T' have gain'd so many mighty Victories;
Or one mans wisdome could suffice alone,
So many mighty Affairs to have undergone.
Whose modesty perchance I might offend,
Whilest thus his valour and wisdom I commend:
But he's so friend to modesty I know,
He's greater friend to Truth; which being so
I'le boldly add for Royall dignity;
Never was any worthier than He;
Never was any worthier th' esteem
Of being made for th'Crown, & th'Crown for him;
Whom Heaven instructs with every Kingly part,
The Serpents prudence, and the Lyons heart,
Guarding us from our own and others harms,
By's prudent Councels, and victorious Armes.
The Eagles providence and peircing eye,
All practises against the State to espie,
And so divine a faculty agen
When once espied, for preventing them:
Tis Heaven elects that man for King, not we
Pointing as t'were with th' finger this is he:
To which so clear election of Heaven,
Long since we all our suffrages have given:
(a) If who protects us, in effect's the same
With King, by giving him Protectors name:
Who put i'th' scale with others to compare,
Hee'll hoist them all like feathers into aire;
For Kingly parts, we may oppose alone,
To all the Kings, that e're possest the Throne:
As his fam'd temperance and clemency,
(b) To his libidinousnesse and cruelty,
Hen. 8.
Of either vice, t'was truly said, he ne're
Man in his wroth, woman in's lust did spare:
And his admir'd frugality agen
Rich. 2.
To th' prodigall waste, and riotousnes of him:
Who for a feast, or Revels short delight
The Treasury of the Land exhausted quite;
Not to compare his judgment and his wit
With his, who for a wanton Favourit
Edw. 2.
Ingag'd so far, in fierce and bloody strife,
Cost him at last his kingdom and his life.
(c) Here one just like a Child, or Baby goes
Wrapt up in Purple as in Swathing cloaths,
Never in councell, never in field appears,
Till dying a child at last of fourscore years,
This finally unto all-judging Heaven
Of's long-short life, is all th'accompt is given,
He eat, and slept, and dyed, the Sapless Tree
Is not more stock, is not less King then he;
Whilst ours like an Intelligence in his sphere
Or orbe, doth every thing, is every where,
Actuats, puts life in businesse, commands,
In councell, is all head, in Act all hands,
Perpetuall fast, perpetuall vigil keeps;
And when affaires exact, scarce eats or sleeps.
(d) Another yet more shame to kingly state,
Becomes by niceness so effeminate;
Like Nero Castrated we well may call
Half man, half woman, and whole monster all;
For getting so themselves by flattering them
They think th'are Gods whilst they are scarcely men
We well the pest of humane kind may call,
Th'are so puft up, and so do swell on all:
Whilst ours (with masculin virtue) pride dos take;
(e) Only great states, of little on's to make,
So civil, courteous, debonaire to all
We him delight of humane kind may call,
One neither froward with his honours weight
Proud of their store, nor giddy with their height,
Giving the praise of all he has (in summ)
Only to heaven from whom all honours come.
And lastly whilst another you shall finde
So weak of spirit, impotent of minde,
As giving's passion every thing it craves
H' unkings his Reason, and himself inslaves,
Living like Lions in their dens at home,
Fearfull to all when they abroad do come
Ours hear, not Lord but (f) Father we may call,
In private studies the obliging all
In publique, like the chearfull sun appears
To all mens comforts, but to no mans fears,
Bravely commanding o'rs his passions so
When he bids stay, they stay; when go, they go,
And all in such subjection do's bring
Where Kings are slaves, he there dos raign a king,
Then let us choose him king, w'are sure can tell
By well obeying, to command as well;
And who (with all) w'are sure will as he do's
Command more strictly or'e himself than us.
At this like Instruments tund unison
Each cord resounding at the found of one,
To be the first, each one did make such hast
To second him, scarce any one was last,
Nor ever was there louder consort known
Nor more concordant voices joyn'd in one
When who had seen glad England that had been
In mourning long, just like some widow'd Queen:
Finding her self unable all alone
To weyld the scepter, and support the Throne;
Had chose some princely husband well she knew
Could weyld the one, support the other too;
Might frame the Image of a joy too great
For mans expression, or for mans conceit.
But see the force of modesty, can stay
Kingdomes in full speed like some Remora:
Whilst he Importun'd was by every one
With force and prayers to accept the crowne
Prouf'gainst those importunities of theirs;
H' opposes force to force, and pray'rs to pray'rs;
Knowing so well the pondrous weight o'th'crown
He wold not stoupfort tho'twas thrown him down
What others would have div'd the deepest maine
And clim'd aires highest Region to obtain;
Saying to 's silent thoughts, h'ad nothing done
Or coming, should he now be overcome:
And he should loose in this one Victory o're
Himself, all th' victories he had gain'd before:
No, no, (quoth he) 't shall ne're be said that I
Ambitious was of Soveraignty:
Nor shall the People ever say agen,
That I had Conquerd for my self, not them;
For me, I'm ready, when their dangers ask
To put my Armour on, and heavy Cask,
The Royall Ornaments and Crown (said he)
Let who's list take, who's list put on for me;
Resolv'd to live and dye with this Renown,
Tis gloriouser to win, than wear the Crown.
Let those with glittering things so pleased be,
They even are pleas'd with glittering misery,
Be taken with't, for me, I think 't heavens will
For such as those to guild the bitter Pill;
And bait the Inward hook, with outward sweet,
None else would be so fond to swallow it;
Such is the happinesse of uncrowned heads,
They find soft rest even in the hardest beds:
While such is their unhappinesse wear the crown,
They hardly rest even in their beds of down.
Nor did he this now out of sluggishnesse,
Like some love honour, but more love their case,
Contented still the greatest part to share
Oth' Kingdomes troubles and the kingdoms care;
Whilst freely he resign'd to others, all
By falser Titles, they Illustrious call.
So the Libidinous may refuse a Wife
For incommodities of mariage life;
But when that incommodities are none.
But they refuse for Continence alone,
From all the Rags of Interest, stript and free.
Their single life than shews most gloriously.
But be't our vice or virtue to become
More vehement by opposition,
Or modesty, to merit adds a grace
Makes it appear twice worthier than it was;
Or Honour has our shaddows property,
To fly who follows, follow those who fly;
This his refusall rendred them but more
Eager to presse him than they were before;
Counting him now doubly for honour fit
Both for deserving and refusing it.
When seeing all refusall was in vain
To those, wear full resolved to obtain,
Forc't, his unwilling shoulders he bowd down,
To th' Royall Roabs, and head unto the Crown;
Especially since so great consentment showd
The voice oth' People was the voice of God;
From whom then, by their hands deliver'd him,
He did accept the Royall Diadem:
At which the numerous multitude aloud,
With voices heaven, as they the earth did croud,
Made th' middle vault with acclamations ring
In joyfully proclaiming him their King:
Whilst one more eloquent amongst the rest
In's one voice thus, the voice of all exprest.
Even such a person, such a minde as thine
Brave Heroe Emperours had in ancient time;
When choosing men for Empire onely sit,
The bravest mind and Person carried it;
Till by a Tenour worse than Gavel-kinde,
They Empire gave to th' body, not the minde,
Kings in cold blood, their Active heat quite gone,
Becoming such chil passive things alone,
No wonder they and th' Throne together fall
"Where men do nothing, Titles can't do all.
But pitty (alas!) rather than envy those,
For others virtues, not their own are chose;
Tis Fortune to be Kings as others be,
But onely virtue to be one like thee.
And who now doubts whe're he be King or no
The people generally have proclaimed so?
Or who so selly is, to doubt again,
Where he or no legitimatly raign;
The Laws confirm, together with th' applause
Of the whole Kingdome, that confirms those laws.
FINIS CANTO 2.

ANNOTATIONS on the Second CANTO.

(a) OF Soveraign Titles, some are Military some Civil; that of Imperator, or Emperour, (as Dux or Duke) most properly taking its denomination from the wars; the one signifying one who has Soveraign Command over the Ar­my, the other one who leads an Army, though since promiscuously us'd, and appropriated to Civill government as military conquerers appropriated to [Page 22]to themselves the Countries Conquered. That of Rex or King most properly signifies a Pacifique Ruler or Governour, whose Office being chiefly to Defendand Protect the People. King and Protector are but Titles convertible (in this sense) and signifie but one and the same thing; though in England the papular ear, be more accustomed to the sound of t'one than tother, and their minds to a more awfull reverence of the name.

(b) Henry the 8. is reported in disparing manner at his death to have said (to one who put him in mind of Gods mercies) How can he have mercy on me, who never spared man in my wrath, nor woman in my lust? A fearfull example to all such as he, if it be true, as like enough it is, considering the libidinous­nesse and cruelty of his life.

Richard the 2. Is famous in History for his magni­ficence even to profusion and prodigality, which pro­ved his ruine in the end; for what Princes spend pro­digally one wayes, they injuriously extort of the People the other; of which whilest they complained (who are alwayes most insolent over necessitous Princes) that quarrell begun, was never ended but by his untimely end.

There is nothing in our Chronicles more notorious than Edward the 2s. immoderate favor to Peirce Ga­veston, and the Spencers, which cost them all their lives at last. The too great favour of weak Princes not able to defend them from the hatred of the people, and envy of the Nobility, proving alwayes fatall to their [Page 23]Favourites in the end, if not unto themselves (as it did to this unfortunate Prince) the counterblow of the blow given the Favourite, most commonly lighting upon them at last.

(c) Such a shaddow of a King was Arideus, Alex­anders umbratile successor, according to Plutarch and others.

(d) There are but too many examples of such Prin­ces, taught so long by their Flatterers to remember their Authorities as they forget themselves: even to suffer themselves like Herod to be cryed up for gods, whilst the poor miserable man (like a painted Sepul­cher) all glorious without, was all consumed within with worms and vermine.

(e) Alluding to that saying of Themistocles, who requested to touch I know not what Instrument of mu­sick (a quality then much in vouge and fashion a­mongst the nobler and better sort) answered; He could not Fiddle, but he could make a great Citty of a little one.

(f) So they stile Titus Vespasian, and deservedly, it being his usuall motto, that none should ever depart a Princes presence disconsolate and sad, whence he never denyed them any boon they asked; and if per­chance he remembred at night that none that day had askt him any, he was accustumed to say, in sighing [Page 24]to those about him, that He had lost a day; counting his life more by giving than by living, and living more for others than for himself.

(g) Pater patriae, or father of their Country was a title more ambitioned by the antients, then that of King or Emperour, it speaking somewhat more of gen­tleness than tother; and consequently more of lasting­nesse, for nihil violentum diu, nothing violent can last.

Canto 3.

The Argument.
In passing forth to's cornation
His Triumphs, Trophees, in first Arch are shown.
His Battails, victories gained every where,
All speaking him a mighty conquerer.
ANd now that day more gloriously shone,
Made gloriouser by's Coronation:
When Envie pale companion of night
And darkness, dazzled with so great a light,
To caverns subterren Inhabited
By guilt, and mischief, all astonisht fled,
Where it absorping its own venume lay,
With grief and anguish, quite consum'd away.
Mean time the coronation pomp set on
Assisted by the joyes of every one:
Old men in blessing time, th'ad liv'd to see
The joyfull day of that solemnitie;
Children and Babes rejoycing they were come
In time to see it from their mothers womb;
The streets they past all pav'd with feet, the aire
All canopy'd with heads, (assembled there,)
And windors glaz'd with eyes; whilst Oliver
Did all in gallant Equipage appear;
His noble courser prauncing as he rod,
As it were proud, and glorious of its load:
Nor long h'ad rid, e're he espy'd (a far)
(High rays'd) the first Triumphant arch of warr
By fower faire (a) dorick pillars was sustaind,
As many large compartements contain'd,
The severall monuments of his victories
To take the curious, and the wondring eyes.
Above, and all about, disposed are
In various bordurs, Instruments of war,
Drums, trumpets, Clarions; as warres utensils.
Swords, pickes, & guns, in sheavs, & by themselves;
Neither the Idumenian Palms did want,
Branching from Crowns, for greater ornament;
Than to afford the sculpters art more scope,
The Front was highly rais'd, and on the top
In a fair Nich, England triumphant sat,
Victory o're head, each side for greater State,
Two Sister Kingdoms ranckt beneath her stood;
She could have us'd like Captives if she wo'd:
As in a scedule there annex'd was sed,
Oliver for England these had conquered.
A wood of Lawrell then inviron'd her,
As planted by the hand o'th Conquerer:
And in that wood disperced all about,
Trophees of several Battails he had fought,
Which striving to express at every part,
The sculpter had exhausted all his Art.
The bases of its pillars did contain,
The several Towns and Fortresses h'ad tan;
The raz'd so figur'd as they seem'd to ly,
Now level with the ground, once stood so high:
Others as they their sieges, scares did bear,
Seem'd as their Rampards all demolisht wear.
Twixt them, the two compartments below,
As many of his fam'd exploits did shew;
His Irish first, where 'gainst his activeness,
Nothing avail'd its boggs and fastnesses:
Nor do their swiftness more advantage them,
Than 'twould against (b) Atlante's self, 'gainst him.
Nothing so Invious but he over-runs,
Nothing so Arduous but he overcoms;
Griev'd that Resistance he not found enough
To put his noble valour more to proof;
For victory, just like ware too cheaply priz'd
By th' victor is conte [...]ed and despis'd:
So here the Irish at so cheap a rate,
Did sell their Lives, their Liberties and State:
He well might say, he (c) came, saw, overcome,
So soon they fled, so soon was Ireland wone.
Poore land its fall by rising deer bought,
Whilst inauspiciously it freedome sought:
Now must thy kerns forsake their native land,
And forced by their Conquerours command;
In forraign Countryes banisht and exil'd,
Add stile of Vagabond, to that of wild.
Now may they answer, as the hebrews did,
When they to far captivity wear led,
And urg'd to their suspended Harps to sing
"Songs ill become our plaints and sorrowing;
"Those won our Harp, far better it becomes,
'Than us(alas!) to sing triumphant songs.
Then passing unto Brittany again,
To seek more victories o're the watry main:
(The porch betwixt, all waved as the sea;
Here vessels saile, and there the dolphins play)
Returnd, he finds new matter for his sword
To work on, brought by th' Hamiltonian Lord,
Who both to's own, and to his Countries cost
Invaded England with a numerous host;
Who whilest in number onely they conside
With nothing of the souldier beside:
Lay so disorder'd, and so scatteringly
They afforded us too cheap a Victory,
And at so vile a rate did sell themselves,
They seem'd the victors sport and nothing else.
So when a flock of filly heartlesse sheep:
O're wch the Sheapheard carelesse guard dos keep,
I'th' pasture stragling goes, some Lyon comes,
And in a moment all the flock o're runs:
Here one is slain, another there dos fall:
His sport or pray, till h'as destroyed them all.
Unquiet and ambitious Hamilton,
Dear didst thou pay for thy Ambition,
Dear for disquiet, fomented by thee,
Both in Religion and in Monarchy.
Now, all the harm in Scotland thou hast bred
In England justly fals upon thy head:
Heaven so ordaining, things wherein w' offend
Should ever prove our punishments ith' end.
But since tis fit some Epitaph thou have,
This be the Epitaph written on thy grave
By Ignis fatuus of State, misled,
Who neer did rest alive, rests now he's dead:
And he who griev'd his head did want a Crown,
To such ambitious height his mind was grown,
By one dayes chance of war, so low did fall,
He wanted both a Crown, and Head and all.
Dunbar is next in prospective appears,
Than wch no fight more numerous trophies bears
Unto the Conquering side; than which no field
More wreaths of Laurel, did to th'conqueror yeeld
(Though gain'd from those, were neither Laureat,
In Arts nor Arms, Religion nor State.)
Here (in effect) their ruine first began,
Was finisht after, just as th' battring Ram,
When once the wals and lofty Towers it shakes,
And for the souldier breach and entrance makes,
Upon the Town, they pell mell on do fall,
And in a moment pill and sack it all.
So in the next fatall Wosterian fight,
That ruine here began, was finisht quite;
Victory no lesse did to'ther victory Crown,
Than taking th' fort, dos taking of the Town.
Here those were overthrown, who did in vade
Scotland to England's tributary made
Here all its glorie's lost, and in this field
St. Andrews, to St. Georges crosse dos yeeld,
The Royall Scottish Lyon's, almost tane,
And his Engraile converted to a chaine;
Here th'Scotch Nobility all are overcome,
Routed and slain, and here was Scotland won.
Go now and boast you never Conquer'd were
Nor ever taught the servile yoak to bear:
Oliver in this one Action has done more
Than Rome, or England e're could do before,
Outdoing Caesars by his conquering you,
And all our Edwards and our Henry's too.
Nor grieve fort, for by him tis a degree
Next unto Conquering, conquered to be,
As to be civilized, is no servitude,
But Liberty, for the Barbarous and rude:
So tis for you abuse your Liberty
Far better now to serve than to be free.
For now no more (an Art ye know too well)
You shall against your King, nor Church rebell.
Who disobedience learn to Monarchy,
By disobedience unto Hierarchy.
Now shall your Castles all unrased stand
More ras'd by yours, than by your Conquerours hand.
Now all your broyls and deadly feud shall cease,
And you be taught by Warr, to live in Peace.
Nor ought ye of our Justice to complain,
Who thus repay the war you lent, again,
It was no free, but mercenary war,
You Covenanted to be payd, and so you are.
Next this in midst of all the Arch appear'd
Oliver's Equestrian statua highly rear'd,
In compleat Armour mounted on his steed,
Joy to his friends, terror to's foes did breed,
Above his head suspended every Crown
As ever yet won Conquerour renown,
(e) Castrensick, Murick, and above them all
That far more glorious one, they Civick call.
While saving one of's own, he more did prize,
Than killing thousands of his Enemies.
So carefull was he of them, as he wo'd
Scarce leave to Fortune, powr to spill their blood,
Their Armes so strong, Death's darts could hardly pierce,
This made them so couragious & fierce,
For nothing can a Souldiers heart dismay,
When fear of death, and danger is away.
How much does England ow him for this care?
Who strove to make it an unbloodyed War,
Whilst others car'd not so they Conquered
How much of English blood they spilt and shed.
An other score, she ows him for no less
Was his perpetual care and wachfulness
For th' Sun ne're rose, but he was up before
The countenance of the Enemy to explore,
Their marches; and advantages to find
Of joyning battail; when the battail joynd
Never was greater resolution shown
(Cesars was Cesars but his own's his own)
With such celerity following (f) Victory
Such vigor, such Impetuosity,
Maugre her wings, even from the Enemies host,
Hee'd fetch her back to's own, when she was lost,
Like Thunder, or a threatning Ruine just
Falling o'th'foe, and crushing them to dust.
Now after having given you hint of these,
We might conduct him to the Arch of peace,
There to repose his wearied Limbs at last
After so many Toyls and Labours past,
But that 'mongst all the rest of's Triumphs, was
By th'skilfull Artist left one vacant space
There to insert an other victory,
Over a far more puissant Enemy;
Over a far more pertinacious one
Than all the rest whom he had overcome,
The Envie of his high Felicity,
Honours, and Dignities, an Enemy,
Even Hercules after all his Labours past
Had much ado to overcome at last.
Such yet's his modesty in bearing u'm,
That too (no doubt) at last he'ill overcome;
As what so ever other Enemies,
Shall dare against him in Rebellion rise.
FINIS CANTO 3.

ANNOTATIONS on the Third CANTO.

(a) TO say nothing of the Tuscan (or basis of all the rest) there are three orders of Pillars, the Dorick, Jonick and Corinthian, which (besides their proportions) are chiefly distinguisht by their Acanthes or Coronements, the Crown of the Dorick more massive plain, and therefore attributed [Page 38]by the Antients to more masculine uses, as building the Temples of their gods: The Corinthian more flowry and flourishing; and therefore accoumpted more feminine, and chiefly imployed in the Temples of their goddesses; observing which decorum or di­stribution, I make the Arch of War sustained by Do­rick Pillars, as afterwards that of Peace by Corin­thian.

(b) Atlanta was feigned so swift and light of foot, as shee would run o're heads of standing Corn, with­out ere laying, or depressing them.

(c) Alluding to the motto of Cesars Victory over Pharnaces King of Pontus, Veni, vidi, vici, whose incredible Celerity and Felicity in Conquering, his Highnesse in all his Expeditions (as in all his other Military vertues) seems to equalize.

(d) The boast of Galgacus a Scottish Generall, re­corded by Tacitus (in the life of Julius Agricula) in these words; We the flower of the Brittish Nobi­lity, and therefore seated the farthest in, never beheld the Coast of Countries in servitude, &c. the whole Oration being richly worth the reading, and observing.

(e) The Romains answerable to their several merits, rewarded their Soldiers with several military Crowns; The Castrensick (otherwise the Valaris) was be­stow'd on them who had expugn'd the Enemies Camp, the beams or Radii of which Crown, were several pales or palisads affixed to the Wreath or Circle, as the bat­tlements of walls were to the Murick Crown, be­stowed on those who had first scaled the walls of any Town or place: And both these were of gold; but the Civick Crown, (the reward of him, who had saved the life of any Citizen, or Souldier) was the honourablest of all, though composed onely of Oaken leaves, they wisely seting the price of their rewards, more in the ho­nour, than the richness of the Crown.

(f) Victory that is figured wavering and hovering betwixt the two Armies, in the beginning and prosecu­tion of the fight, is alwayes taken down, and brought to the Lure as 't were, of that Army which in the end has its force intire: And blind Fortune (the Mistrice that predominates most in Warr) is ever master'd by him at length who has his eyes most about him; this his Highness wisely considering, did alwayes keep a Re­serve of Army intire, for the last, the supreamest point of skill in a Generall, as 'tis in a Gamster not to set all his rest at one stake: a Merchant not to venture all his wealth in one bottom, and a Prince not to hazard all his Fortune in one Enterprize: And by this admi­rable [Page 40]Providence of his, his Highness won all his batails, or recovered them when they were lost; as well those in which he commanded in chief, as those under others commands, by his Auspice were obtayned.

Canto 4.

The Argument.
The next Triumphant Arch, dos represent
The Excellency of Peacefull Government,
And Oliver as accomplished declares
I'th Arts of Peace, as in the Arts of wars.
AS War dos end in Peace, so now they are
Ariv'd to th'Arch of Peace, from that of War;
Which Oliver no sooner came unto,
(O th'
The Ensign of Peace.
Olive has both name and Omen too,)
But that magnanimous feaver in his breast,
Whose ardent heat, no more would let him rest
Beholding's own, than could Themistocles,
Beholding Trophees of Meltiades,
Began to quit his bossom, and relent,
At sight of what, next Arch did represent.
So when the wind's allay'd that rais'd so high
The Oceans troubled billows, presently
A gentle Calm dos serenat its breast,
As when the peacefull Halcion builds her neast.
The scene all changed then, and with the scene
The minds and dispositions of men;
The Arch of Warr, now disappeared quite,
And onely that of Peace, appear'd in sight;
Of gentle Peace, that every breast inspires
With cheerfull thoughts, and pleasantest desires,
Its fabrique fair Corinthian pillars rear,
The bordurs all with Flowers crowned were;
A hundred festons, hundred frutages,
Depending from its Corniches, and freez;
The Niches fill'd with Curious Imagry,
All representing the felicity
Of Peacefull dayes, Peace in the midst dos sit
With Olives crown'd, and Oliver over it
Inthron'd in state; her right hand dos adorn
Her sister Plenty, with her fruitfull horn;
Her left Content, and smiling Cheerfulness,
Inseparable companions of Peace;
(a) Whilst sullen and repining Discontent
Offended still with present Government,
Rumour, and popular murmurings to boot,
Oliver nobly tramples under foot,
As knowing ne're brave Action was done
By those who feard, or apprehended u'm.
So having well resolved what to do,
As resolutely going through with't too,
He his conspicuous courses still holds on,
Just as at midnight, the Celestial Moon,
Her constant motion ne're dos intermit,
For all the midnight doggs that bark at it.
Who out do all detraction can do,
Far worse then Calumnie, or Envie too;
For Calumnie adds some ill unto our name,
Detraction takes away some good from Fame,
Envie with heavy weight, hangs on the feet
Of Worth, to weigh it down as low as it;
But discontent 's a far more Rabid beast,
A far more venemous Serpent than the rest,
And dos not only bark, but rend, tear, bite,
Hisses and stings, blasts and impoysons quite.
This Monster then, he under-foot dos tread
As Hercules the barking Cerberus did,
In noble posture setting of his foot
Wholly to quell it, on its barking throat.
By him was Order, and Equity, the one
And t'other main supporters of his Throne;
Who every thing, by War disordred was,
Compose and apt unto their proper place;
And persons too, compose and order so,
Each one his proper rank and place dos know;
So in the generall Confusion
Of things, when this great Machin first begun,
The Universall Genius, did sit
On the rude Chaos, so composing it
The whole, ow'd all its Ornament, and Grace,
To th' apting every part, to 's proper place:
Nobility then he dos again restore
Unto its state, and dignity before,
And to the Honour, and the Reverence too,
That to its state and dignity is due.
Purging the drossy, polishing the rude,
New fashoning the Rough-hewn multitude,
From all Estates banishing abuse, for what
Corruption is in naturall Bodies, that
Abuses are in manners, nor can we
From t'one and t'other totally be free,
Though tis the Princes, as Physitians care
To endeavor purging them, where e'r they are.
Then since both King, and Subject it becomes
To know their severall relations;
(Like Masters, and like Fathers those to sway,
Like Servants, and like Children these obey.)
A mistique Janus that supports the Throne,
In forme of Fear and Love conjoyn'd in one,
Declares how kingly, Throne ne're stood secure
Where t' one and t'other was unmixt and pure,
For fear alone brings hatred, and that hate
Brings sudain ruine to a Princes state,
And Love's too high and too Etheriall,
In low ignoble bossoms ere to fall,
As vulgar bossoms too ignobly low,
So high, and so Etherial fire to know,
Their Love's ith Belly and the Eyes, so they
For sports
Pane & Circense
and bread a Nero would obey,
And on the least Capriccio agen
Rebell 'gainst Trajan, or the best of men:
Others, by other wayes then; Kings, alone
Grow popular by Admiration.
Since th' people them ne're hate, where they Ad­mire,
He to this admiration dos aspire,
By tempering so the Rayns o'th Government,
They might be both obedient, and content,
With intire servitude could nor agree,
Nor capable were of intire Liberty.
So th' excellent Rider gently doth force
The stuborn neck of the unruly Horse,
The byt sometimes and curb imploying too,
When gentle hand, and snaffle will not do;
(b) For nothing's more untractable and rude,
(They'r furies up) than the wild multitude,
As nothing is more tractable and tame,
Their furies once allayd, than they again;
All in extreams, as those who never know
Reason, nor ground for any thing they do:
Now as Tempestuous as the Sea instorme,
And now again (the Tempest ceas't) as calme,
To rule which, is so difficult a work
A God's imployd in't with his triple forke;
Mean while to steer the bark of Government,
No Poet God enough could ere invent:
So difficult a task have they who sit
At helm of State, to Rule and Govern it.
Especially in peace, they find it farr
More hard to Rule, and govern, than in war,
Where common danger makes them all agree,
Ill humour's purged on the Enemy.
Of discontent, or murmur, not a breath,
To disobey, or mutin, present death;
Here, they fall fowl on friends, humerous with ease
Are discontented out of wantonness,
Murmur, and mutin, against those who sway,
Counting it gallantry to disobey.
Peace then's a machin of more subtle frame,
Though War do bear the more Robustous name.
This Oliver knowing, (ignorant of nought,
But what's not worth his knowledg & his thought)
The outward building fram'd, dos streight begin
To bend his care to furnishing 't within,
And more by example, than by precept rules
(For Princes alwayes are the noblest Schools)
Teaching them morall vertues first, and then
Their duties towards God, as towards Men,
Reducing their devotions from the meen,
Or outward face, unto the heart within;
The minds, and Consciences of every one,
True channell where devotion should run.
To shew Concatination then of things
How Kings are link't to Gods, Subjects to Kings,
Down from above a golden chain dos fall,
In mutuall links, binds and combines them all,
And he's no longer part of th' universe
Who dos substract himself from this commerce.
So stones once layd, the Mason straight dos come
And with his Cyment so conjoyneth u'm,
None from the rank th'ar placed in dos swarve,
But every one to's proper use dos serve.
Last, to declare how every power below,
To highest heaven dos all Allegeance ow,
Midst golden beams came streaming from a cloud
(As it some bright divinity did shroud)
A hand extended forth, a Crown dos bear,
Sent (as it were) from Heaven to Oliver,
By me Kings Reign, fair written over head,
By which Inscription's clearly signifi'd,
How Crowns not by the peoples power are given,
Nor by our own, but onely sent from Heaven;
And heaven it is that dos transfer them still,
By onely right of its supreamest will;
As clearly in our Brittish one is seen,
Observe how often't has transferred been,
Unto the Romains from the Brittains, then
Unto the Saxons from the Romains, when
T'had streight another turn to th'warlike Dane,
In divers Battails wonn and lost again,
Untill at last the Norman Conquerers,
Conquers them all, and makes all England theirs.
Just as when many for the prize do run,
Amongst the brave Concurrants, here some one
The others quite outstrips, another then
As farr the formost dos devance agen,
Untill at last the most succesfull makes
The Garland his, and claimeth all the stakes.
So goes the world, whilst in your private cause,
Mens differences decided are by Laws;
But th'publique, by the sword, who has most might
(c) To Empires alwayes has the greatest right,
So much't imports, great Monarks, if they will
Conserve their Kingdoms, to go armed still;
And as in Kingdoms, and in Monarchies,
So tis in Royall Lines, and Families,
Their Capets line, dos Charlemain exclude,
Plantaginets heer in Tuders dos conclude,
This famely to that famely dos pass,
One race succeeds unto another race,
One house is lost in t'other, and in fine
One Line's extinguisht by another Line.
So tis O Heaven! O justest Heaven so tis,
In thy divine, Adorable decrees,
None may grow proud when they exalted are,
And none when th'are deprest again, dispair,
Heaven so at pleasure changing state of things,
It Kings of Subjects makes, Subjects of Kings.
That each one this important Truth might know;
All change and alter in this world below,
Who change and alteration do not love,
Must leave this world, and go to that above.
FINIS CANTO 4.

ANNOTATIONS on the Fourth CANTO.

(a) FOr discontented persons, thereare, have bin, & ever wil be such, in all new Go­vernments; neither is the soveraign Magistrate to expect other Fortune in Governing it, than God himself in Governing the World, who can never please every one, mens minds and dispositions are so opposite and diverse; one would have fair weather, another rain; one [Page 53]this another that, none thinking himself happy, great, nor rich enough; onely (as one said facetiously) every one imagins himself sufficient and wise enough, though in that they are the most deceived of all: and this in­deed is the main cause of all their discontents, whilst (for want of judgement) they weigh things with­out their counterpoise; look on effects without their causes: know not the wayes which self preser­vation obliges States to take; are never contented with their present condition: besides a naturall envy most men bear, to all advanc't in dignity above themselves: when did we but judiciously consider things, and look upon them with unpartiall eyes, we should perceive our selves at present like men waded through many dāgers, and even arrived to the brink of safety; when to offer to return again, what were it but to plung and ingulph our selves into new dangers, and be alwayes begin­ning, and never make an end? Or if we consider the Body of the Kingdome, in good convalency from its former sicknesse, we should easily perceive their in­gratitude to the Physitian; who should rather blame him for that they had not recovered their former health, than thank him for recovering them from their late Malady. I need make no application of this unto his Highness Person, who certainly preserves us daily from as great or greater dangers than those we have already past; and has so far advanc't us on the way of health, as we might easily be well, if we would but commit our cures to him, and not permit such Empericks and Mountebanks to tamper with us, who propound ways altogether destructive to it, and us.

(b) Some aptly compare the vulgar to the Sea, then which nothing is more calm and quiet (when unmov'd) nothing (when moved once) more unquiet and turbu­lent; they assigne therefore no lesse than a God to go­vern it, with his trident, or triple Scepter, of force, gen­tleness, and knowledge how to temper them. And as Neptune (in Virgil) reprehends Eolus' for stirring them up unto commotion; so Princes are alwayes to be jealous of popular persons; especially such as from the Pulpit preach the People up to such a height of Re­bellion, as even to wrest the trident out of their hands, and involve all in tumult and confusion. All Bookes therefore teaching them any thing but obedience to the Magistrate, (which includes that to God) are to be prohibited them; their reading, even the best (of late) having occasioned more harm than good, (the corrupti­on of the best being always the worst of things) through their corrupt and preposterous interpreting and under­standing them. Others, no lesse aptly compare the Vulgar to a Horse, which well mannaged is most ruly and serviceable, but ill, the most unrulely and unser­viceable beast of all. The Prince therefore is to suffer none to mannage them besides himself, which when he does (through weaknesse, or ignorance) those whom he imploys in it, are rather Princes than himself; of whom finally we may say, that those who could run away, and cast their Rider, when they were ridden onely with a Snaffle and gentle hand, should be rid hereafter with a Byt and Curb (by my consent) but there is great difference to be observed, betwixt peo­ples natures and disposition; some as Tiberius said, [Page 55]of the Romaines, seeming onely born for servitude, o­thers (such as the English) neither patient of intire Servitude, nor capable of intire Liberty: All in gene­rall (for the shame of mankind; I grieve to say it) be­ing of the lowest sort of men, and nighest unto the Beast: Hating and envying all wiser and better than themselves, the lesse judgment they have, the apter to judge every one; their common trade being to speak ill of all, and sell others sames, at price of their own reputations, like savages staring and offended with every one that is not of their own heard and crue; doing nothing well but follow, and never lea­ding but they do ill: of so ignoble natures, they are onely to be rull'd by fear, incapable of so noble a passion as Love: Whence those who when they are up, whole Armies cannot lay, One Constable with his staff can awe, when they are down; No matter for their grum­bling them, who alwayes do things unwillingly, but do them as well as if they did them willingly, when they must needs: nor are these by birth, but manners to be distinguished from the better sort; your Nobles themselves not being exempted from them, when once they degenerate and do ignoble things.

(c) This being so, let whose list admire Catos un­seasonable constancy, struggling so long against Au­thority, till he was pluckt out of the publique Assembly by violent hands, and laid violent hands on himself for sinal remedy: Or, Cicero's as unseasonable eloquence, who talkt so long against the Conquering side, till he was proscribed, and lost his head at last. I hold him far the wiser man, who thankt God, he was made of Willow, and not of Oake, that could yeeld and bend in [Page 56]storms, whilest tother got nothing by its resistance, but onely to shatter its branches and break it self: and if any think them worthy reprehension, who are al­wayes contented and pleased with the present: cer­tainly they are more reprehensible, who are alwayes discontented and displeased with it; foolishly loosing the present (the onely moment they have to live in here) with vainly dreaming of the past, or fu­ture (no part of their lives at all.)

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