A Poem presented to the Archdeacon of Worcester, and many other Ministers when they met at Stratford upon Avon, Octob. 1. 1661. About the Free Present.
WHen any asks what Present I
Intend his Sacred Majesty,
I troubled am; not as Churles are,
Who say they nothing have to spare,
Their Charge and Payments are so great:
Besides they art so much in Debt:
And think it not a fitting thing
For them to give unto a King:
For so to do what can it be
But to add water to the Sea?
And wonder why the Parliament
Would such a Deed of Gift invent:
What? had they nothing else to do
But to set men a giving so,
When the most part in every place
Are not yet in a Dative case?
And add, they verily believe
The Money which now people give,
Will be so Clipt, his Majestie
Will scarce receive two parts in three:
And if he should receive full pay,
His Kindness would soon giv't away.
These Churles in grain thus and more say;
I might have said they thus do Bray.
These love a Crown above their King,
And count their Coin The Soveraign Thing.
Most Midas minded Miscreants: who
'Twere well they shew'd his long Ears too:
And found the Metamorphosis
That Miser did in every dish:
Untill their dog-like appetite
Were sated and extinguisht quite:
And the Guilt of this Powder-Treason
Against their Soveraign Lady, Reason,
Were purg'd by some choice Offering
Unto our Soveraign Lord the King.
My trouble is not with my Heart,
That something now I must impart
To Him, who all I have preserves,
And all I have and am deserves,
But that my Hand no better keeps
Pase with my Heart: The one but creeps,
The other flees, and takes a view
Of all the Treasure in Peru.
Mountains of Gold it doth conceive,
Yea more, of Pearls: and then doth grieve,
That 'tis not able to command
What it conceives into my Hand.
Araunah, as a King, unto
King David gave. So would I do
Unto King Charles: I would present
Something like Him, Most Excellent:
That, as He is of Kings the Best,
Should make Him Greater than the rest.
And 'tis my comfort that I see,
My Hand being bound, my Will so free:
And that if my Tenuitie
Shall forty Crowns add unto three,
(Wishing they were so many Thrones,
Made all of Pearls and pretious Stones,)
They'l with Great Charles acceptance find
According to my Willing Mind.
For He is like the King of Kings,
Who thus accepts mean Offerings.
2 Chr. 17.5. The Lord established the Kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat Presents, and he had riches and honour in abundance.
2 Chron. 32.23. And many brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem, and Presents to Hezekiah, King of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all Nations from thenceforth.
Ad Symmystas venerandos, Verbi divini Ministros, cum Calendis Octobris, Anno Dom. 1661. Stratfordiae. in agro Varvicensi, Amorem suum Gratitudiném (que) in Regem Serenissimum, summé (que) [...] dexteris [...] testandi ergô convenirent.
DIgnus es Argento, fulvo quo (que) dignior Auro.
Naso poëta suum sic est affatus amicum.
O quanto magis est Carolus Rex dignus utroque!
Qui superat Reges alios, ut quaeque metalla
Aurum praerutilans, aut Titan aureus astra.
Scilicet, Auri instar, lento spectatus in igne,
(Ah quàm dura et dira tulit!) Purissimus exît.
Numinis hinc Illi Cultus, Sapientia, verae
Relligionis amor, Candor, Prudentia rerum,
In sese Imperium, Regnorum Cura Paterna,
Justitia, at (que) Fides, & quaevis deni (que) Virtus,
Crevit in Immensum. Virtutum Tanta Corona,
At (que) Satellitium, quo non Augustius unquam,
Sacrum hunc Sceptrigerum modò non Coelestibus aequat.
O Fortunatae divino Rege Britannae
Insulae, & Hybernae! sed Tanto Rege minores:
Rege, & totius digno moderamine Terrae.
Huic Placuisse Patri Patriae, qui Martis alumnos,
Terrificos nuper dominos, discinxit, & almâ
Pace haec Regna beat; qui singula Munera Regis
Callet, & exequitur; cui Civibus una voluptas
Est Prodesse suis; Cives Certare decehit,
Et donare pias testantia Munera mentes.
Pulchrum hoc donandi spectat certamen ad omnes.
Ad nos praecipuè, Sacri qui semina Verbi
Spargimus. Ille Pater nobis Nutricius, Ille
Patronus Summus: qui nos, qui nostra tuetur
Sing ula, nec duris tradit Patrimonia votis.
Ista sed an quisquam, metuisset Fulmina nostrum?
Quis non speravit linguás (que) animós (que) faventes?
Et favisse minùs, cui non mirabile visum?
Exprimit & cui non sua spes illusa querelas?
Nónne Togata fuit Gens, exule Rege, tot annos
Sat misera, aut potiùs sat Mortua? Vivere certè
Vix dici poterat, sic incutiente timores,
Injiciente manus, mortém (que) minante cruentam
Milite Sacrilego, doctarum Osore Sororum:
Té (que) illi dictante scelus, Fanatica Turba,
Docta solo Coelum miscendi, Sacra prophanis,
Mutandi Lucem tenebis, Quadrata rotundis:
Turbo rapax, barathrúm (que) vorax pestis (que) tremenda.
Quae propè bis denos miserè grassata per annos,
Regnorúm (que) trium facies populata venustas,
Contemtrix Superûm, parendi nescia, soli
Visa tibi sapiens, monitus exosa salubres,
Seditionisamans caedis (que) (hos Schisma Superbum
Parturit infestos, mater nimis impia, foetus;
Haec ova hi corvi, hos fructus haec arbor amaros.)
O utinam aut saperes, aut his excedere terris
Vellos, at (que) novas alibi tibi quaerere sedes.
Indigna es patriis, quas (sic ingrata, rebellis,
Hoere siúm (que) ferax) valdè foedásq, gravás (que).
I precor, i properè: vacuum sed delige regnum,
Ʋt nè quem posthac occidas moribus ist is.
Verùm ego quò rapior, Turbam dum persequor istam?
Ad Gentem redeo nostram Carolúm (que) Patronum.
Gentem hanc, quae Carolo tandem redeunte revixit,
Afflictam rursus quosquam voluisse? misellae
Invidisse suos reditus? Curtare parâsse?
Quàm sors instabilis nostra est! quàm expôsta periclis!
Quàm foret haud paucis longè suavissima Praeda!
At Caroli Pietas non vocibus annuit ullis
Res tenuaturis nostras: Augescere Censum
Quàm minui nobis mavult: Spoliis (que) Suorum,
Praecipuè accisi metuit ditescere Cleri.
Hoc Magnus pacto Rex Carolus esse recusat.
Illi cura Sui minima est; sed maxima Nostrî;
Quos amat at (que) fovet, quantum lymphata caterva
Devovet, obstitimus quòd turpibus istitius ausis.
Incolumem Priùs Ille Fidem servavit, utrin (que)
Invictus. Bellona ferox, & dira Suorum
Seditio potuere nihil: nil Gratia summa
Blanditiae
(que), quibus
Quercum * Hanc persaepe petebant
Papicolae astuti, sperantes posse moveri.
Illabefacta tamen multo & firmissima mansit.
Res Jam respiciens nostras, tutáns (que) voléns (que)
Esse Suae similes Fidei, meritissimus audit
Magnus Defensor Fidei, Gentís (que) Togatae.
Deberi Carolo nos nostráq, jure fatendum est.
Is facit aethereâ verè vescamur ut aurâ.
Vita quid est etenim? nonne est Salvere, Valere,
Libertas, & Honos, & Opes, & Gaudia vitae?
Haec sunt vita, haec vita est nostra, & Muneris Ejus.
Ergo laetati Magnum sanxisse Senatum
Arcâ ut quis (que) suâ in Regem testetur Amorem,
(Et nos demeruit, quòd se taem Regis Amantem
Praebet, & exhaustis ità consulit Illius Arcis.)
Corda aperite Patri, Fratres, aperite Crumenas.
Siqui deliteant, quibus haud Stymphalides uncos
Immisere ungues (& Paucis, spero, pepercit
Ferrea Tempestas) Fulvos jam promite nummos.
Prodeat Argentum, si fortè haud suppetit Aurum.
Non ingrata vices supplebit Cynthia Phoebi,
Cùm caput occiduis rutilans is condidit undis.
Esse Nefas Summum dextram jam credite Mancam;
At
(que) Nefas Magnum dextram jam credite
* Parcam.
Quae procul à nobis, precor, ô procul omnibus absint.
At (que) aberunt, nisi nos Ingratos esse velimus
In Regem, Meritis qui nos Ingentibus implet,
Et Regum in Regem, qui nos Hoc Rege beavit.
Fallor? an est Gregibus manus haud ita Libera vestris?
Sunt bene Nummati, qui nec munuscula donent.
Pars horum censet Sua viscera viscera Terrae,
Nec minui Loculos unquam sine Sanguine sentit.
Divitiis inhiat, majores quaerit acervos
Per fas at (que) nefas, illos sua Numina ducens.
Haec donanda sibi sperat: qui munera verò
Sperat ab hac, & aquas à scabro pumice speret,
Clavám (que) Herculeis paret extorquere lacertis.
Et tamen impensè Regem se jactat Amare.
Forsan Amat, sed Inanis amor res Vilis habenda est.
Hos homines Nihili verè quis dixerit esse.
Pars nec Amat, cui nempe Grave est, caligine pulsâ,
Rursus in astrifero Solem splendescere Coelo,
Et Mare pacatis tandem subsidere ventis,
Astraeám (que) suos terris ostendere vulius,
Et dare Monstra hominum meritas Saevissima poenas,
Agminá (que) Errorum damnari in Tartara nigra,
Huic cum desit Amor, mirum est si Dextera de sit?
Quid tribuent Soli tenebrae? quid Tartara Coelo?
Quid Jovis alitibus milvi corví (que) rapaces?
Sunt quibus esi Animus Dives, sed dextera Pauper:
Nil penitus quod donet habens. Fortuna novercans
Quantumvis tenuem vix illis porrigit escam.
Non Mens Grata deest, non Officiosa Voluntas,
Non Amor, ac ejus comites. Laetantur abundè
Rege suo, Recinunt (que) ejus per compita Laudes:
At (que) Dolent non esse sibi vel parvula dona.
Nunc Onus est solito Gravius, nunc Acriùs urit
Pauperies: Duplicat gemitus jam Curta supellex:
Excitat ingentes jam res angusta querelas.
Nunc Magnas Mirantur Opes, solos (que) Beatos
Censent esse, quibus norûnt turgere crumenas.
Nunc in Vota rôrunt; sed quae Mediocria spernant.
Maxima quaeque petunt, Summós (que) repente creari,
At (que) Opibus Crasso Croesóque excellere poscunt.
Ista perire sibi cernentes, altera vota
Concipiunt pro Rege, quibus Deus annuat oro.
Nimirum, ut quoniam Regum est longè Optimus, et sit
Majestate pari, Regum quo (que) Maximus: Hostes,
Quotquot iifuerint, contundat: Schismata (Pestes
Regnorum) tollat: tandem sit Conjuge felix;
Quae, foecunda Parens, non solùm Regna Britanna,
Sed vicina etiam, Natis Stellantibus ornet:
Et quam Nutricem haec Ecclesia sentiat Almam;
Qualis Elisa fuit: quam secula nulla silebunt.
Deni (que) Coelestes serus repetatur in Arces;
Nempe senis Pylii postquam numeraverit annos.
Has aliás (que) Preces ex imo pectore fundunt:
At (que) profusuros (si res ità postulet) ipsas
Sese Animas etiam (quia desunt Munera) spondent.
Paucos esse reor, queis rerum Copia Magna,
Et Mens Magna simul, digno se Munere prodens.
Hinc vobis augetur onus: cervicibus illud
Suscipitote piis: vestrum est Duo Munera Munus.
Nec ducatis Onus. Decus est dare Munera Regi.
Nec Dare credatis, sed Reddere. Reddimus Illi
Quae prior Ipse dedit. Nec reddita Perdita fas est
Credere. Nam Carolus quodcun (que) acceperit illud,
Fertilis instar agri, multo cum foenore reddet.
Reddere coepit enim Rex Aureus Aurea secla.
Per Munus, erga Regem & honos & affectio ostenditur. Irenaeus lib. 4. cap. 34.
The Great Windfall.
CHilds Oke, the glory of
(a) Balshall Heath,
Felt long ago the stroke of death.
No radical moisture could be seen
For many a year in the least Green.
The Head was bald, the Arms were shrunk,
And some decayes were in the Trunk.
Yet still it stood: it's destiny
As though it purpos'd to defie.
Till
windy Tuesday (b) gav't a Blow,
Struck up it's heels, and laid it low.
A goodly corpse now you may see:
Childs Oke had been a Masty tree.
Like that of Ceres, which did go
For a fair Grove.
(c) Childs Oke might so.
Childs Oke? the Giants Oke say rather,
Or of all neighbouring Okes the father.
A Princely Plant, a Patriot
Of very great and eminent note.
A gallant way-mark: which gave light
To Travellers both day and night.
Now Travellers, what will ye do?
Where's one that will direct you so?
I pitty you: for sure as day
Ye frequently will lose your way.
And now ye Neighbours, think ye good
To burn Childs Oke, that Noble wood?
Keep off your fingers, and attend
Unto the course I shall commend.
Some of this Oke I pray you take,
(Some of the Best,) and thereof make
Mercurial Statues: thus it will
Retain it's former office still.
Make Staves for ancient men of Some:
And One so good, it may become
From year to year the worthy hand
Of Him, who Warwick shall command.
Warwick, where to be seen do lie
The Dun Cows Rib, and Sword of Guy.
To those this Staff may added be,
No despicable Rarity.
Turn into Rulers Some; that so
Childs Oke may pleasure Children too,
In drawing lines, by which they may
Their wandring Penns keep in the way.
Then make you may of some o'th' rest
Skreen, Table, Stool, Box, Desk, and Chest.
Any of which will matter be
Of a delightful history.
What's for no other use may go
Toth'fire, and there it's service do.
But be sure that you lay it by
Untill some Great Solemnity.
'Tis fuel for a Christmas-day:
Or for the Twenty-ninth of May:
When loyal hearts pray fervently
The Royal Oke may never dye.
Childs Oke adieu; it grieveth me
To take my last farewell of thee.
I n'er shall see thee more: but I
Will keep thee still in memory:
And think of what thy Death and Fall
Do speak aloud unto us all.
That Greatest strength, even Heart of Oke,
Cannot withstand Deaths conquering stroke:
That they which longest live must Dye:
And men may Fall, though n'er so High,
And n'er so Good: while Meanness Stands,
(Shrublike,) unhurt by violent Hands.
Oratiuncula ad Regiam Majestatem Varvici habita, Augusti 20. 1636.
QƲàm dilatantur nostra gaudentium corda! quàm discurrit festivus sanguis! quàm exultant laetabundi spiritus! ipsi animi induuntur purpurâ, rubore per ora fuso; & per amplissimos laetitiae campos spatiantes, libamenta felicitatis futurae praegustant. Illuminamur scilicet, obscurae sortis homunculi, auspicatissimo tanti Luminaris adventu: cujus radii oculos nobis praestringunt juxtà ac perficiunt: & in cujus luce Britanniam felicissimè apricantem stupet, non sine invidia, universus orbis. Quò enim terrarum non penetravit fulgor Majestatis Tuae? quos non occupavit sensus praestantia conditionis nostrae? Terra oportet sit Incognita quae Insulas nostras, Te imperante, Fortunatas nescit. Nam quotusquisque Principum tam Divinitatis particeps? tam ejus imaginem in virtutibus suis exprimit, & subditorum animis imprimendam curat? quotusquisque tam provinciae suae invigilat? tam Sibi imperat? tam divini corporis fili & temperamenti, non modò ad Justitiam, sed ad Temperantiam, sed ad Fortitudinem, sed ad Prudentiam, [Page 14] sed ad Heroicos animi motus? Et quid ulterius in Principe, omnium virtutum coronâ sic circundato, omnium Gratiarum satellitio sic stipato, cupiamus, nisi ut sit Immortalis? Quin & divini Numinis benignitatem agnoscimus admirabilem, quae felicitati nostrae hanc indulsit appendicem, ut Phoebum nostrum, simul atque occideris, exoriturum speremus gloriosum in jam oriente & adhuc tenella stirpe. Quae faxit idem Numen ut tam patrisset, quàm humillimis illud precibus fatigamus, ut suis Britannis Majestas Tua quàm diutissime affulgeat.
Sumus quidem Britanni omnium, quos sol videt, beatissimi Tuo Imperio: sumus & Varvicenses omnium Britannorum, nunc temporis, Tuâ Praesentiâ. Non se suorum oculis subducit (ut moris fuit aliquibus,) Majestas Tua: sed Sui videndi, Sui affandi copiam tam ruri quàm civitati facit: caetera invidendis se non invidet. Neque prodeuntis in publicum vultus (ut olim Dictatoris cujusdam Romani) plebem fugat, sed instar magnetis attrahit. Quà descendis, aut morulam facis, quàm densus spectator! quàm ingens inermium exercitus! qui affectibus Tibi militant, qui Majestatem Tuam obsident, & victa paenè verecundiâ nihil non agunt, quó illius conspectu oculos pascant. In quo certè non minùs sibi gratulantur quàm olim aut Archimedes in deprehenso aurifabri dolo, aut Anaxagoras in conspectu solis; quo compensari quicquid pertulerat [Page 15] aerumnarum judicabat. Te, solem nostrum fulgentissimum, suspicimus, Te veneramur: sunt felicitates nostrae radii Majestatis Tuae: quibus eam Vestalem honoris & officii flammam in nostris omnium pectoribus accendisti, quam solius rogi est extinguere.
At quas gratiarum victimas Majestati Tuae immolabimus, quae servulorum suorum humillimos dignata est beare vivifico conspectu Sui? aut quâ novâ obstetricandi ratione immortalem, quam animo concepimus, & quâ intumescimus, laetitiam pariemus? Factus est nobis Augustus, Tuâ praesentiâ, mensium Augustissimus: & hodiernus dies dierum, quos vidimus, omnium Serenissimus. Cujus pompâ, & splendorem Comitum nostrorum obruente, & antiquitatibus nostris antiquissimis multo nobis antiquiore, superbire si minùs liceat, gloriari licet. Et gloriantes quidem omnes cernit Majestas Tua, & praecipuè Tredecimviros. Quorum etiam illi, quibus capita hyems aetatis aut penitùs abrasit, aut canis aspersit, quíque alterum, ut dicitur, pedem in cymba Charontis habent, vix sibi temperant à tripudio. Plures quidem vitas sibi optant qaus pro Majestat Tua, si opus sit, profundant. Illud autem nos omne dolore non levi afficit, quôd cùm ad pectora nostra Majestati Tuae exhaurienda vel amphora non sufficiat, tenuitati nostrae non nisi tantillus iste cyathus super sit. Pauperculum quidem munusculum, sed [Page 16] gratiarum, sed officii plenum. Quód (que) ut Artaxerxes aquam rustici, si vultu benevolo, placido, sereno, id est, Tuo, accipere digneris, nos Nectare & Ambrosiâ donas. Sospitali-Numini quàm ardentissima vota fundimus, ut in taem morbida tempestate Majestatem Tuam sospitet, & primo morbo senectute ultima afficiat.
Dixi.
A Second Dish. Jan. 10. 1647.
Toward the end of the Greek Oration an old Woman brought three Rods into the School, and laid them on the Table: When the Oration was ended, these following verses were spoken.
WHat Hagg is this which hither brings
These terrible tormenting things?
I tremble every joynt to see
Such instruments of cruelty.
They talk of Quakers now adaies,
Who in themselves strange Earthquakes raise.
How soon am I become a Quaker,
Or at the least a Button-maker!
Three Suns were lately seen: that sight
Did not my mind so much affright
As these three Rods: which seem to mee
To represent the Furies Three:
And plainly to pronounce Ʋntruss,
You must begin the New-year thus.
Your Feasting's past: but you shall find
An heavy reckoning comes behind.
O grievous, boyes, what shall we do?
How shall we scape this Threefold woe?
Let us with all humility
Implore aid from Authority:
Get the
* White Staff us to release
From the Black Rod, and keep the Peace.
And if you think there's too great odds
Against one Staff in three great Rods,
We'l of the Keyes this favour crave
To joyn their strength, and so us save.
O worthy Pretor, and Divines,
Whose goodness like the Sunbeams shines;
Who came to hear our Exercises,
And not to see our sad Assises:
Our Execution is at hand,
Unless our singulat friends you stand.
If you demand what is our Crime,
We all were loth to lose our Time;
Our antient time of Liberty,
Our long'd for Month of Jubile.
Our Masters resolution was
Still to keep School, but ours Christmas.
We will not shew our selves thought we
Guilty of such simplicity.
When other boyes at home do stay,
And sweetly do themselves enjoy,
Shall we be ty'd unto our Books,
And be expos'd to angry looks,
And sit and freeze, and stand in fear
Of bloody Birch and Feruler?
Shall we be cag'd, and others flee,
Be put i'th' pound, and others free?
At other time our School's our glory,
In Christmas time our Purgatory.
And if we spend this time i'th' School,
Which of us will not prove a fool?
His body present sure his mind
He cannot chuse but leave behind,
And so through many an heavy knock
He will become a Christmas Block.
Such thoughts as these our minds possesst,
From which we could not be at rest,
Until we had resolv'd upon
Our wonted Relaxation.
About the time that heretofore
We commonly had given ore,
Two Latine and one Greek Oration
Still ushering in this grand Vacation,
Began our absence from this place,
Which only now left speechless was.
To shut our Masters out of door
We did as much as they abhorre.
Those boyes are brutes that so abuse
Whom with all reverence they should use.
We fairly left them, and believ'd
Although we had them so deceiv'd,
They needed not to be displeas'd,
Being of their Trouble fairly eas'd;
And knowing how their time t'imploy
In Study, as we ours in Play:
But all our time we have not all
Sported away. These Speeches shall
Which we have spoken for us speak.
They are, we must confess, but weak,
Yet th'are our strength; nor can we go
A further step, our Masters know.
They also know there is not one
Among us all that ought hath done
Since our departure from this place
which doth or them or it disgrace.
Yet loe three mighty Rods upon
The Table, ready to fall on,
And of this Christmas so to clear us
That none hereafter need to fear us.
For after so much whipping chear
Who'l live to feast another year?
Right Worshipful, that do supply
The place of that Great Majesty
That casteth now so great a Light
Ʋpon the little Isle of Wight:
You that are now as heretofore
Famous for mercy to the Poor:
Providing for them liberally
In times of so great scarcity:
Vouchsafe we pray you to bestead
Poor Scholars in a time of need.
Right Reverend, that the Keyes do carry,
O be to us a Sanctuary.
If you will speak as you are able;
Our Masters will be exorable:
So that these Rods we hence may take
And a brave Bonefire of them make.
O this would be a gallant sight
To see our Fears turn'd to delight!
Or, if we may not so destroy them,
Our Masters will forbear t'imploy them,
Until some future provocation
Shall call for some sad castigation.
If by your means we may obtain
Either of these, we shall remain
Yours most oblig'd, and shall not cease
To praise the makers of our Peace.
On the most Execrable Murther of the Best of Kings, our most Gracious Soveraign, Charls 1. Jan. 30. 1648.
O Sad! an Axe for [...]! my Soul is wounded at His Fall.
O what times are these, when a Crown is made but a Football!
O. O. Woe. Woe. —
Linguâ tacente ac nesciâ ulteriùs loqui
Praestent ocelli impensiùs munus suum.
In Horrendam caedem Triumvirorum ter Illustrium, Ducis Hamiltoniae, Comitis Hollandiae, & D. Capelli, Martii 9. 1648.
ULtima fit Carolo Regi penultima Jani;
Ʋltima sed Sceleri non fuit illa dies.
Saevit & in Regni Proceres furibunda securis.
O cui securo jam licet esse Pio!
Sed Capite abscisso cui non vilescere debent
Cervices? cui non jam superesse Grave?
In istos quibus nec Januarii tricesimo Dolere, nec Maii nono & vicesimo Laetari libet.
QƲem non Atra dies Jani tricessima torquet;
Quem non Alba dies nona & vice sima Maii
Exhilarat, Summum ille Scelus non odit & horret,
Praesentis (que) Dei Summum non sentit Amorem.
Non illi Pietas, non illi Patria curae est,
Displicet Ordo gravis, gratum est Chaos at (que) Chimaera.
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Flenda Ecclesia.
Tu mihi flendus obis Prideauxi, summe virorum;
Sed neque vel minimùm Tu mihi flendus obis.
Te tua coelestis vexit super aethera virtus,
Et dedit Angelicis dia sedere choris.
Quàm fuit instabilis Sedes tibi nupera, diri
Omnia Mavortis concutiente manu:
Tam Felix nunc est Sedes, ubi gaudia mille
Circumstant, miserâ nec peritura vice.
Non igitur Tu flendus; at est Ecclesia flenda,
Ebeu Thesauro Te spoliata suo.
Quàm fuit illa suo felix Te sospite Ocello!
Quàm misera amisso est, & miseranda suis!
Te repetente Polum nobis Oracula cessant:
Nempe fuisti Anglis magnus Apollo tuis.
Quis Cathedram asoendet Fidei Defensor, & hostes
Terrifico veluti fulmine sternet humi?
Quis Romanenses contundet, & ora protervis
Obstruet Haereticis natus ad arma pugil?
Ah despero Tui similem, Celeberrime: nostram
Ah tristem posthac nil nisi flebo vicem.
[...].
Mittite me flentem, lacrymarum defluit imber:
Credite moerorem nec superare modum.
Postulat immensum immanis jactura dolorem,
Nec sinit ingenuas non maduisse genas.
Quid nisi nostra pluant sic lumina Lumine demto?
Quid nisi cor graviter Corde obeunte gemat?
Pectora non silices, non sunt mihi lumina pumex:
Hos ego jam lapides judico grande nefas.
Gratulor ipse mihi lacrymas, suspiria, luctum:
Debita sunt Bustis, Summe vir, illa tuis.
Nec gaudebo minùs, siquando Ecclesia Mater
Dixerit, Huic similem (quod cupis) ecce Patrem.
Infans Mater erit, vereor, nec talia promet;
Ah unquam poterit dicier, Ecce parem?
Montium editissimus.
Monticulus nuper, nunc Mons Bredona videtur,
Princéps (que), maximus (que) longè montium:
Non modò qui terrae (quae sat montosa) Britannae,
Sed universae sunt honora Tubera.
Caucase, tu cedis; celsae vos ceditis Alpes;
Athósque cedit nubifer cum Casio.
Scilicet in Sedem, quam culta Vigornia jactat,
Annis adhinc qui pauculus se contulit,
*Est jam suppositus
† Bredonae stellifer
Atlas.(Sic jure summus audiat Prideauxius.)
Hinc facilè montes mons hic supereminet omnes;
Nanus Gigante longiùe sic prospicit.
Sic sacer ego locus, sic monte sacratior omni;
Antistes aut sit montium quàm Amplissimus.
Novus Parnassus.
Non ego Parnassum posthac in Phocide quaeram:
Illi vicinum neve Helicona petam.
Facta viae tandem cerno compendia longae:
Bredonam video: gratior illa mihi.
Parnassi est instar mons hic, Heliconis & instar:
Hîc est cum Musis totus Apollo suis.
Hîc etenim situs est magnus Predeauxius ille;
Nuper Apollinei gloria magna chori.
Anglia non alio se plus jactavit Alumno,
Sit licèt innumerâ prole superba Parens.
Quàm decet Heröem Tumulus mons magnus! at Heros
Qui tegitur, Tumulum tollit ad astra suum.
Impetus ire mihi est, Monte & dormire sub illo:
Numine, post aliquot Somnia, plenus ero.
Carmina superiora in Prideauxium, [...],
statim ab illius obitu confeci Quod sequitur autem,
anno 1659 adjeci, cùm & ista & alia quamplurima,
ab aliis condita, publici juris se facturum prmioserat
vir ornatissimus Johannes Stephanus. Non praestitit
verò, quia & ipse ad plures, praematurè nimis, abiit.
Et jam non superest cui sint ea carmina curae.
Marmor Vocale.
Quaeris, viator, quem tegam tantus lapis?
Ne quaere Quem, sed Quot: tego laetissimus
Omnes Sorores, quas vocant Heliconidas.
Obscurior forsan sum: apertiùs loquar.
Illum en tego Doctissimum Prideauxium,
Episcopum Vigorniae Dignissimum.
Quo plura nemo sciverat mortallum:
Quo nemo plures auxerat scientiâ
Per lustra septem Oxoniae Miraculum.
Quot eruditos linguae & artes adsolent
Ornare, plena tot audiit Systemata:
Simúl (que) Sacrae Regium Theologiae
Syntagma, quale nulla posteritas dabit.
Didicisse cuncta credo quae disci queant.
At omnium perfectiùs didicit nihil
Quàm Christianè quàm fortissimè pati
Non Christiana: quod quidem didicit senex
Docuit (que) cunctos, mente dum magnâ tulit
Injurias, quas intulit rapax manus:
Laturus aequè fortiter dispendium
Vitae ipsius, si postulavisset Fides:
Ʋt Latimerus ille Martyr inclytus:
Quem & habuit alma Praesulem Vigornia.
Fidem saluti uter (que) longè praetulit.
Haud impares & Protomystae nuperi,
Mortonus, Hallus, Davenantius, Cokus,
Potterus, & Brunriggus, & Bedellius,
Usseriúsque Hiberniae Primas suae,
Alii (que) quos procella prostravit gravis,
Et Sedibus spoliavit heu prorsus suis.
Bellona quid non impii patrat ferox!
Non chara cuipium ex iis aequè fuit
Vitalis aura (quâ tamen quid amoenius?)
Ac sacrosancta veritas & religio.
In his tuendis perdidissent centies
Vitam libenter singuli: tyrannidis
Nihil morati fulminantem dexteram,
Nil flagra, carceres, cruces, flammas, rotas.
Et jam Columnas maximas Ecclesiae
Episcopos fuisse quis negaverit?
Quis non ruinae sentit esse proximam
Ex quo ruebant ejus haec fulcimina?
Quid Haeresis non ausa? quid non Schismata?
Blasphemiarum quae vagantur agmina!
Fraenâsset haec Episcopatus omnia.
Jam dira monstra quis domabit Hercules?
Sanabit ô qaae jam peritior manus
Ecclesiae periclitantis vulnera?
Sed reprimo me, non nescius quôd sim lapis.
(Lapidi at querelas haec suas mala exprimant.)
Et te, viator, pauculis pergam alloqui.
En Gratias, en Gratias Omnes tego.
Non splendet unquam stellulis Coelum magìs
Quàm splenduit virtutibus Prideauxius:
Illísque primae (crede) magnitudinis.
Non me madentem jam vides, sicut solent
Lapides subinde. In posterum si videris,
Prae gaudio lacrymas scias me effundere;
Quòd tam Colendum contigit mihi condere
Antistitem, Tantum Virum, seu veriùs
Tantum Virorum, Ecclesiae summum decus,
Mortale Numen sempiterni Nominis.
Quòd Magna de me sentiam, & superbiam,
Et glorier, quis esse jam non dixerit?
Cave, viator, me, licèt Tantum, Colas.
Nil vendito, nil vendico Lapidem supra.
Simul procaces me pedes temerent cave;
Non memet uspiam est lapis Pretiosior.
Magnum memineris quòd tegam Prideauxium:
Virum per Orbem scilicet Celeberrimum
Et Sanctitatis nomine & Scientiae;
Novem Sorores cum Sororibus Tribus.
The Bishop of Worcesters Visitation. 1662.
WHen Bishop Gauden was about to go
A
Visiting, * the
Bishop of Souls said, No;
My purpose is to Visit in thy stead,
And All thy Diocese in Thee its Head.
Then with a
Stone * gave him a
dreadful Blow;And for his Cure bade him to Heaven go.
Sad Worcester lamenteth to a wonder:
Esteeming this her Loss a second Plunder.
The Orphan-Clergy with Elisha cryes
My Father, my dear Father from us flyes.
Yea his whole flock accounteth the Translation
Of this rare Bishop a sore Visitation.
On the Book of Common Prayer, by whom and when compiled.
CRanmer, Skip, Goodrick, Thirlby, Holbeck, Day,
Ridley, Cox, Redman, Taylour, Heins & May,
With Robinson, these Tredecimviri
Compilers were of our Church-Liturgy.
In the Sixth Edward's third the month of May
Produc'd this Flower, and fill'd the Land with Joy.
'Twas Fresh and Fragrant then: Old now it is:
And yet it still retains its Fragrancies.
These Prayers, like Incense will acceptance find,
If they be offered with an Holy Mind.
1. Viro ornatissimo, Medico clarissimo, D. Edvardo Wagstaffo, Stratfordiensi.
COnsiliis parendo tuis (vir summe) fugavi
Terrificum, qui me nuper devicerat, hostem,
Vena mihi secta est, clyster injectus, hirudo
Admota est, & quae voluisti caetera facta.
Hinc propè convalui. Quôd si mens sana fuisset,
Nae penitus multo mihi vires antè redîssent.
Bis sua jam ferme complevit cornua Phoebe,
Ex quo crescentem cupiens firmare salutem,
Me crebrò in campos, Jove frigidiore, recepi;
Scaláq, appositâ decerpsi ex arbore poma:
At (que) alia imprudens feci; unde illa secuta est
Debilitas, quae me tantùm non clauserat urnâ.
At rursum emersi. Vires & spero futuras
Esse brevi tantas, ut te, Charissime, visam.
Intereà Edvardus Wagstaffo mille salutes
Dicat, & à nobis illi quae debita solvat.
2. To his Worthy Friend Mr. Edward Wagstaff.
SIR! next my Maker, I acknowledge You
Are He, to whom my greatest thanks are due.
My health was fled, my life was taking wing:
Your Art this stayed, the other back did bring.
Your Merit being such, and you being blest,
I make no doubt, with Galens weightiest Chest,
Who will not think't absurd, and to no boot,
As a reward, to send you an Old Suit?
Yet this I do: not doubting but you may
With credit wear it to your dying day:
And after you your Heir, though he should be
A person of sublimest dignity.
A Suit of Edward, that rare King, to wear
May those become that move i'th' highest sphere.
3. Fratri Charissimo, D. Guil. Du Gardo, Scholae Mercatorum Scissorum apud Londinenses Moderatori. 1653.
QƲae benè Gustavi mensam decuisset Adolphi,
Ad nos misisti Magnificam Artocream.
Ingentes agimus tanto pro munere grates.
Ah dolet hasce tuas posse perire dapes.
Si coquus Artocream nôsset struxisse perennem,
O mensae nostrae gloria quanta foret!
Vive, vale, & Reducem cùm afflicta Britannia Regem
(Quod non despero) viderit, at (que) Deum:
(Nam Deus à nobis dulci cum Pace recessit:
Has illi poenas rurba proterva damus.)
Mensa epulaturo quò sit mihi lautior, at (que)
Laetior, Artocream tu mihi mitte Novam.
4. Viro Ornatiss. affini chariss. D. Joh. Trappo, Westoniae Ministro. 1653.
NUmidicis avibus, pergrato munere, conjux
Donavit olim conjugem meam tua.
Nunc mea, cujus amor voluit majora, reponit
Junonias aves, marem unà & foeminam.
Si gratae fuerint, quantum Pavo iste superbit,
Illa efferetur gaudio, simúl (que) ego.
5. Viro ornatiss. D. Nicolao Camerario. 1655.
QƲum mea Malatibi mala non videantur, at esse
Te meliora neges, Camerari, haec paucula mitto.
Si tria, tosta probè, lectum libet esse petenti,
Ventriculo illa tuo percommoda credo futura.
Parcior esse cave: quum corbem absumseris istum,
Est mihi saepe novum qui suppeditabit acervus.
Noctibus hybernis quantum suffecerit addam,
Si jam missa tibi tu senseris esse saluti.
Quantum mente vales, tantum, dilecte, valebis
Corpore, si poterunt mea mala & vota valere.
6. Eidem. 1656.
QƲaere tibi uxorem quae sit pia, pulchra, pudica,
Provida, verborum parca, & parere parata.
Quaeris ubi Dos sit? visum est mihi dotis abundè,
Si tot sint dotes. Comitem tamen alma crumena
Si sese obtulerit, laetus cape. Nam (que) bonorum
Fit tanto melior quanto fit major acervus.
7. Juveni, quando vellem uxorem duceret roganti. 1658.
CƲm quatuor lustris octo sociaveris annos,
Si libet uxorem ducere, amice, licet.
Sit ter septennis quam vis tibi jungere virgo,
Sit par, sit prudens, praecipuéque pia.
Haec tibi filiolos alternis procreet annis
Per quatuor si non sint tria lustra satis.
8. Perdilecto Affini, filióque lustrico, D. Johan. Trappo, Albecclesiae Rectori. 1659.
COnjugium meditans plerum (que) Scholastica turba,
Si genus & species adsint, nil caetera curat.
Tu meliùs, fili, sapias, tibi virgo petatur
Cui sint omnigenae dotes te conjuge dignae:
Ʋt genus & species, ita mens pia, dextera solers,
Frugi sedulitas, candor, morumquè venustas:
At (que) aliae his similes. Dotum postrema putetur,
Sit licet haud paucis aut prima aut sola, metallum.
Sit comes haec reliquis. Alias haec splendida dotes
Eximiè splendere facit; lauta omnia donat;
Et mala conjugii (nam sunt mala) mollia reddit:
Ʋt minimè pigeat thalamum subiisse jugalem.
9. Viro amicissimo, D. Joh. Harpero, Cubbingtoniae Ministro. 1659.
PErtimeo veterem, necnon propè sentio morbum.
Pharmaca mitte, precor, Pharmacopoee sacer.
Nec donata mihi cupio sed vendita mittas.
Quidni sis etiam Pharmacopula sacer?
Esse tamen renuis; sat habens fecisse benignè,
At (que) graves morbos arte fugâsse tuâ.
Sat patet hinc menti quant um tua distet avarae,
At nè plus nimio distet, amice, cave.
Quae prosunt aliis tua fac tibi pharmaca prosint.
Sin donare velis, dona referre licet.
10. Viro ornatissimo D. Guil. Martino, Scholae regiae apud Varvicenses Moderatori. Jan. 16. 1660.
QƲi Literas tibi tradit has, è filiis
Minor est meis, augere qui gregem tuum,
Ʋt augeatur ipse literis, cupit.
Ascribe quaeso tuis, & excole gnaviter,
Ecclesiae olim forsan haud inutilem.
Periit misello temporis nuper nimis,
Musis (ineptus) quidlibet dum praetulit.
Quod seriò tandem, velut par est, dolet,
Ambítque rursus virgines illas sacras,
Te praesidem, te deligens Apollinem:
Quod gratiorem fortean reddet tibi,
Aliquantulúmq, calcar ac animos dabit.
Nec tibi peribit opera, quippe senties
Nec filium fungum, nec ingratum patrem.
Ignosce quaeso Literas quod miserim.
Adire debuisse non sum noscius.
At otium non est: erit spero brevi.
Brevi te adibo, nisi Deus mihi abnuat.
Nam te videre, té (que) gestio alloqui,
Quo nemo quis piari est tui studiosior.
11. D. Rich. Venoro, Symmystae venerando. 1660.
TErra licèt madeat, si coelum haud fuderit imbres,
Cras adero sacri sparsurus semina verbi.
At si manè pluat noli expectare Du-Gardum:
Qui graviter passus tandem formido saluti.
Munus hoc invenies aliàs praestare paratum.
12. Amico integerrimo D. Thomae Glovero, Hospitii apud Varvicenses Magistro, nec non Ecclesiae S. Nicolai apud eosdem Pastori. 1660.
QƲem mihi dixisti de vita & morte Lutheri
Esse tibi veterem, mittas mihi quaeso libellum.
Toxophilum Aschami, necnon & opuscula Carri
Posthuma, siqua habeas; Humfredi deni (que) siqua,
Aut etiam Hollandi (fuit hic, fuit ille Cathedrae
Grande decus sacrae) pariter peto, lecta remittam;
Et tibi par referam, lectissima nostra paratus,
Quandocun (que) voles, dare mutuò, vive valè (que).
13. Viro dignissimo D. Jacobo Prescoto. 1660.
HAs tibi Literulas qui tradidit, ora pudore
Suffusum cernis. Graviter peccâsse fatetur,
Et poenas meruisse graves. Quas (credere fas est)
Non tam formidat, quàm culpam damnat & odit.
Huic igitur misero veniae spes nulla supersit?
Spem superesse liquet, quia se tibi supplice voto
Advolvit, veniám (que) orat, simul impetrat à me
Chartam hanc: quam facilis solito precor accipe vultu:
Et da quod petimus, veniam commissa dolenti.
Quò dare nè dubites, noxa haec est prima, nec antè
Hoc juvenum integrior quisquam, nec amantior aequi,
Hinc adamaverunt omnes impensiùs illum:
Hinc Veteratoris, qui carceris incola tandem est,
Fraudibus illectum doluere impensiùs omnes.
Queis condonatae pariter gratissima culpae
Fama erit, & charum tua te clementia reddet.
Neve iteraturum metuas hoc crimen, ego ausim
Hoc spondere tibi: Non insidiabitur unquam
Cuniculis posthac. Securas esse licebit
Hisce feris; erit huic vilissima gratior esca.
14. Viro admodùm reverendo. D. Johanni Laeo, Solihulliae Rectori. Mar. 22. 1660.
QƲos tibi promisi, Clarissime, mitto libellos.
Post tres hebdomadas quaeso remitte mihi.
Et tua nè cesses celeri committere Prelo
Scripta; nimis sanè quae latuere diu.
Ede; nihil dubitans Carolo gratissima Regi,
Necnon & cunctis illa futura Piis.
Et tibi tot Regum tutanti nomina,
* nomen
Quantum erit! ex calamo laus fluet illa tuo:
Hic Defensorum Fidei defensor, hic ille est
Ille senex Philanax, hic Pius ille senex.
15. Viro Ornatissimo, D. Samueli Franklando, Archididascalo Coventriensi. 1661.
POst habuisse tuo mea magna negotio Ludo
Stat, modò Quadrupedem mihi ne misisse graveris.
Nam (que) mihi non est, etiam conducere non est
Qui bene sessori placeat. Meus ille nigellus,
Quem nôsti, generosus erat. Sed vendere visum est,
Quòd minor, at (que) Pari sessorum est creditus impar.
Majorem emturio; per rus indago, per urbem:
Nacturûm (que) brevi qualem desidero spes est.
Tu mihi mitte meâ qui me sine conjuge solum
Afferat. Illa valet, te (que) uxorem (que) salutat.
Eidem. Julii 11. 1663.
ADplures abeunte tuâ jam Conjuge, luctus
In nimios animum solvis, Franklande. Dolori
Pone modum, gemitus cohibe, pia lumina terge.
Nil tibi, nil illi lacrymarum flumina prosint.
Nec laribus te conde tuis; jam laxior aequo
Nè dolor augescat clausus. Te confer in urbem:
Cui decus es magnum, lenís (que) gravís (que) Scholarcha:
Qui pubem innumeram Musis & Moribus ornas.
Civibus hinc istis meritò charissimus audis.
Fac illos adeas quoties à Munere duro
(In quo Sedulitas magnae tibi maxima laudi est)
Otia contigerint, & quae solatia tristi
Obtulerint, alacer capias; monitus (que) fideles,
Quos simul addiderint, procul absit, amice recuses.
Illorum nemo est qui non tibi promserit ista.
Non est quod doleas, est quod laeteris, ademtâ
Jam tandem Consorte tibi: Coelestibus illam
Misceri, pia cùm fuerit, dubitare quis ausit?
Ociùs & superas hinc si migrâsset ad aedes,
Quis neget impe [...]sè cur laetarere fuisse?
Illa etenim morbis plures detrita per annos,
Et cathedrae lectóque affixa, sibi (que) suis (que)
Facta gravis, non viva fuit sed mortua Conjux.
Viva Cadaver erat: quod nec sepelire licebat.
An jucunda tibi afflictâ sic Conjuge vita?
Non tigris tibi mater erat, ne (que) Cornea fibra est.
Gaudia semper erant, ut par, communia utrique:
At (que) Dolor communis erat. Nunquam illa gemebat
Sola: tuum pariter pectus dolor illius hausit.
Et tu talis eras viduus quale illa cadaver.
Infelix viduus: viduo infelicior omni,
Quòd simul & Conjux: ut non iterare liceret
Connubium sanctum, viváque uxore beari.
Nunc iterare licet: tibi nunc nova gaudia quaere.
Dulcis Hymen, Hymenaee, o Hymen, o Hymenaee,
Ingemina, & thalami maturè damna resarci.
Nil ego contulerim placita cum Conjuge quidquam,
Quae parit huic miserae solatia maxima vitae.
Tu, quia te cingit virtutum tanta corona,
Et tua te Conjux tam mirè sensit amantem,
Et tum praecipuè, cùm vixit mortua, sensit,
Invenies facilè tibi quae velit esse marita.
At vix invenies quae sit te Conjuge digna.
Quaere tamen positâ lugubri veste Secundam,
Inventámque tibi numen coeleste secundet.
Talia Dicturos quosvis existimo Cives,
Queis ego me socio, dictis (que) haec insuper addo.
Ʋt viduam Coelebs duxisti incautior olim,
At (que) senescentem juvenis: jam suadeo nubac
Virgo senescenti viduo. Sed virginis aetas
Nolo tuae nimiùm distet. Bis quatuor annis
Aut bis quinque sat est si tu praecesseris illam.
Nè nimius videar, Postrema attentior audi:
Quae Prima, & meritò Commendatissima duco.
Hae tibi nupturâ fac sint in virgine dotes:
Sit genus & species, sit mens pia, dextera solers,
Frons hilaris, vox blanda, pudor, morum (que) venustas.
Octo his accedat par est & nona, Crumena.
Si tua sic numerum Musarum impleverit uxor,
Plus ego te novies dicam, Franklande, beatum.
Vive, vale; & simulac sese renovaverit annus,
Scribe mihi Tedas & te renovâsse jugales.
Intereà Nostris, sicut Vocalibus, ipsis
Sic etiam Mutis, à me dic quaeso salutem.
17. Viro ornatissimo, D. G. Martino, Archididascalo Varvicensi. Augusti 20. 1663.
QƲi modò Franklandum, sum consolatus amicum,
Plus satis extinctâ lacrymantem uxore, dolenti
Jam, Martine, tibi moerens haec paucula mitto,
Queis & te relevem, nostrum & tibi tester amorem.
Non dolor ille tuus tuus est solius; & urbem
Contristat totam grave & irreparabile damnum
Quod tibi sic animum, tibi sic affligit ocellos,
At (que) tibi gemitus sic exprimit at (que) querelas.
Rus etiam peragrat; nec quenquam è stipite natum
Aut scopulo offendit. Vox haec, Martina, mariti
Grande decus columén (que) sui, sobolis (que) tenellae,
Et quâ non fuerat praestantior altera conjux,
Et quâ non fuerat praestantior altera mater,
Undecimum foetum simulat (que) enixa fuisset,
Victa puerperii gravis, eheu victa, labore
E vita excessit. Vox haec, quorum attigit aures,
Reddidit attonitas simul atrocissima mentes:
Praecipuéque meam. Sortem miseratur acerbam
Me magè nemo tuam viduati Conjuge dulci,
Undenae sobolis (que) Piâ jam Matre carentis.
Cujus cura tuo jam pectore volvitur uno,
Grande onus, at (que) humeris compar utrius (que) parentis.
Nec sanè doluisse queat me veriùs alter;
Elapsi nondum quum sint bis quatuor anni
Ex quo sorte pari, pertristi ah sorte, premebar.
Namque mihi periit meritò charissima Conjux,
Filiolisqué meis merito charissima Mater;
Foemina, quâ nunquam cumulatior altera laude.
Omnibus una fuit vox, Est haec foemina phoenix.
Hâc mihi, bis denos quum mecum exegerat annos,
Ereptâ, quàm triste fuit mihi vivere! vitae
Sic vitâ fugiente, Mori quàm dulce fuisset!
Quodcunque aspexi, memet quocunque recepi,
Omnia sunt Tenebrae, sunt omnia Somnia visa,
Umbra mihi quoties, quoties exangue cadaver
Visus eram, caecis & tradita vermibus esca!
O mihi quàm placui sic visus! ut omnia vitae
Despexi! ut timui nè vita aliquando rediret,
Ni simul & Conjux, Conjux mea vita, rediret!
Sic ego desipui: pudet heu meminisse doloris
Immodici, tacitis qui me propè junxerat umbris.
Illo imbecillas & adhuc mihi sentio vires:
At (que) magis firmas penitus despero futuras.
Haec memoro, ut damnis monitus, charissime, nostris,
Maturè caveas, nec tradens luctui habenas
Abripiare, mei similis: qui, serò reversus,
Serò nimis doleo me succubuisse dolori.
Scire velis animum mihi quid sanaverit aegrum,
Et veteri miserè palantem sede locârit?
Commemorabo libens. Haec sum mihi verba locutus.
Ah quid, inepte, facis? Luctu quid inanius isto?
An poterunt lacrymae, questus, suspiria, planctus,
Vel revocare tibi uxorem rursus (que) beatum
Reddere te, vel ei quicquam prodesse sepultae?
Luxeris incassum, siquidem ploratibus aegris
Nec minùs ipse miser, nec sit felicior illa.
Sed Vanum esse parum est: quid luctu insanius isto?
Quis furor est etenim postquam te Conjuge Coelum
Dilectâ orbarit, temerè te velle tuósque
Perdere? sic (que) magìs divinum Numen ad iram
Irritare, feras quòd iniquâ hoc mente flagellum?
Missos fac luctus, atque incipe sanior esse.
Posce Deum supplex veniam: nè forsitan illo
Quo jam castigat, graviori fulminet ictu.
Nec Grates de sint: meritas etiam adjice Grates.
Quantum illi debes, primùm quôd Conjuge tali
Te sit dignatus: dein, quòd non ociùs illam
Indigno abstulerit! Reputa te Numinis iram
Commeruisse gravem: graviús (que) Admissa dolenda
Quàm tua Damna tibi. Jacturam Conjugis imbre,
Imbre levi excipias: Culpae vel flumina poscunt.
Scilicet hinc miseris mortalibus omnia Amara
Tanquam à fonte fluunt: hinc est quòd Dulcia perdant;
Hinc amissa tibi nunc est Dulcissima Conjux.
Hanc autem quoties amissam cogitat, aedes
Mens tua Coelestes & cogitet: altiùs urnâ,
Quae capit Exuvias tantúm, se tollat oportet.
Sancta Anima, his positis, aedes properavit ad illas;
Jam (que) Beata tui curam non exuit omnem.
Nam sibi Consortem rursus te sperat & optat.
Sic vitam instituas ut quos mors illius atra
Jam dirimit, tua mors iterum gratissima jungat.
Sedulus intereà quae pignora parva reliquit
Excole, quò referant olim suavissima Matrem.
Horum ergô sit Chara tibi tua vita salúsque
Convenit: his in te spes omnis vertitur uno:
Si non cura tui, teneros at respice Natos.
Sic etiam in Matrem gratus testeris Amorem.
Denique fac Alacer Spartam pro viribus ornes,
Sacra Gregi pandens divini Oracula Verbi:
Et jam praeteritis monitus, tibi quaeque futura
Ultra quàm satis est caveas Adversa dolere.
Nec tantùm Modicè Doleas, sed Tristia quaeque,
Quae passus fueris, ut sint tibi Pharmaca cures;
Pharmaca, queis animus, vitiorum foece levatus,
Surgat humo, & spretis sapiat Coelestia terris.
Sic decuit fecisse priùs. Nunc incipe saltem
Esse Malis Melior, nunc Damnum vertere Lucro,
Nunc Tenebris Lucem, Terrísque educere Coelum.
Hoc demum Sapere est: haec te sapientia ducat.
His ego restitui me tandem, his Nube fugatâ
Ad se mens rediens facta est, velut antè, Serena.
Forsanin his aliquid, Martine, inveneris, ipsi
Quod tibi conveniat. Sin, me prudentior, ullis
Haud egeas monitis: si non intensiùs aequo
Plores: si placidâ divinae verbera dextrae
Mente feras: supra si sydera mente feraris,
Conjugem ibi dulcem cernens: si plurima lecti
Non magè solicitum quàm par est Pignora reddant:
Si quantae fuerint curae Matríque tibíque,
Tantae ea Coelesti credas fore singula Patri,
(Illum quippe Patrem, qui Coeli quasque volucres,
At (que) minora etiam quaecun (que) animalcula pascat,
Nolle deesse sui veris Cultoribus unquam:)
Si naves operam tua quô charissima proles
(Icon viva suae toties repetitae Parentis,)
A teneris Summum veneretur rit [...] Parentem
Unguiculis, totam (que) Illi se consecret Ʋni:
Si quod volvisti magna cum laude tot annos
Acer hoc ac Alacer pergas grave volvere Saxum:
Si quo Fluxa magis quaevis mortalia sentis
Hoc minùs his fidas, at (que) ad Coelestia tendas:
Deni (que) (nè nimium pariat tibi taedia Carmen,
Et non solator sed sim nova causa doloris:)
Si praestanda tibi quae nôris caetera praestes:
Non tamen hanc operam calami aspernabere nostri:
Sed benè Martino credes voluisse Du Gardum:
Qui benè Martinum novit benè velle Du Gardo.
18. Viro Ornatiss. D. Johanni Rogerio, Hamtoniae-Episcoporum Rectori. 1663.
SImplicis ecce tibi mentis, Charissime, pignus,
Cydoniorum fructuum Pentas duplex.
Non pro more illam mitto, sed amore, precatus
Tibi, tuae (que), parvulis (que) perpetim
Sic validas vires, ut fulcra & pharmaca laeti
Et vividi spernatis omnes omnia.
Ʋxori, matri (que) piae, cum fratribus oro
Dicere salutem nè graveris plurimam.
Quos fratres vin' scire velim? Watsúm (que) Fabrúm (que)
Cum Ruddio: non frater est nunc Ruddius?
Esse reor; dignum (que) reor vel conjuge summâ:
Tuam & sororem Ruddio dignam viro.
19. Viro Ornatiss. D. Matthaeo Huntero, Nuboldiae Pastori. 1663.
MAla tibi, bona mala tibi, mala aurea mitto,
Aurea mala decem: consule mala boni.
Fac Huntere tuum pergas redamare Du Gardum,
Qui te, nê dubita, pergit amare: vale.
20. Viro Ornatiss. D. Guil. Dolitlo, Waspertoniae Ministro. Feb. 20. 1657.
EMta sibi, verum mihi si virguncula narret,
A me mala cupit tua dilectissima conjux.
Vendere nulla mihi est moris: ne (que) multa supersunt.
(Parcior Auctumnus solito dare multa negabat.)
Nolo tamen tenerae sint conjugis irrita vota.
Idcirco è paucis haec illi paucula mitto.
Plura quidem vellem, sed magna modestia parvi
Hujus corbiculi plura hinc auferre recusat.
Consuluisse boni uxorem, uxori (que) salutem
Te verbis dixisse meis Emisse putabo.
21. N. N. rationem auditorum famaeque minùs habenti.
RƲre tuo poteris quidvis proferre loquíque.
Ad Mariam veniens facturus verba coronae
Doctorum, haud fas est quaevis incondita fundas.
Huc afferre decet Musis & Apolline digna:
Ʋnde tibi & nomen surgat. Sin spreveris Aures
Sordidulus nostras, vertes in spicula Linguas.
22. Viro Ornatiss. D. Sam. Franklando, [...]. Feb. 18. 1663.
UXor, amice, tibi, non est inventa, reperta est:
Tuis reperta in aedibus.
Quò Deus, ex latere Adami qui condidit Evam,
(Ille Altiùs cùm dormiit,)
Addidit & Sociam, ut traducere molliùs aevum
Posset, & alacriter magìs:
Ducendam tibi (nil meditanti tale, velút (que)
Sopore vincto) adduxerat.
Quae sivere diu frustrà connubia multi,
Primis soluti vinculis.
Invenere alii facilè nova gaudia: verùm
Perpauculis pòst mensibus
Mel in fel versum est, in tristes oscula questus,
Trusere amorem jurgia.
At tibi suppetiit proprio ex lare virgo, resarcit
Quae damna jam lecti tui;
Et nil fellis habet, rixandi nescia, gratae
Cultrix quietis sedula;
At (que) sui similis semper mansura, placendi
Studio sior Domino suo.
Moribus illa tuis nupsit, praestare parata
Simulat (que) jussa acceperit.
Te novit nil velle mali, nil nolle quod unquam
Tibi recta ratio suaserit.
Felix illa viro, felix tu conjuge: utri (que)
Lectum jugalem gratulor.
Sunt illi Primae, tibi nuptiae, amice, Secundae:
Tamen fore Secundissimas
Auguror ambobus. Tibi nam Catharina videtur
Regina quod Regi suo.
Tú (que) illi pariter (summó (que) id jure) videris
Quod Conjugi Princeps suae.
2. An Epitaph on the truly pious, learned, humble, peaceable, charitable, faithful Pastor of Waves-Wotton, in Warwickshire, Mr. George Dunscomb, who dyed Septemb. 12. 1652.
Here lyeth Mr. George Dunscomb,
HIS Peoples joy, the Clergies Glass.
His Life a lively Preacher was.
A Life as spotless as the Sun.
O that his sand had longer run.
But such a Soul, so pure, so good,
As if the first man still had stood,
Or falling as he did, had done
No Prejudice to this his son,
Except in this alone that He
Must fill a Grave as well as we:
Such a rais'd Soul much fitter was
For Heaven then a lower place.
And if to Heaven he had gone
Like Enoch, by Translation,
Or in such State had thither rid
As the Seraphical Prophet did,
This Honour none had thought too high
For Grace of such sublimity.
23. An Epitaph on Mr. Roger Kimberley, Pastor of Kinvar in Staffordshire, who dyed in Septemb. 1658.
INterr'd with Great and General Grief here lye
The sad Remains of Roger Kimberley;
This Churches shining light: whose raised Parts,
Adorned much wi [...]h Languages and Arts,
Were laid out to the utmost that he might
Poor sinners turn from darkness unto Light:
And unto Light add Light, untill the Span
Or Babe of Grace were grown a Perfect Man.
He wrought apace, his work was quickly done:
He hath his Wages, a Celestial Crown.
24. To his dearest friend, Mrs. Mary Huggeford, with the Authors book called The Change, or the Blind Eye opened. Decemb. 28. 1659.
MY Dear! would not you think it strange
If you should find in me a Change
After Profession made by me
Of truest Love and Constancy?
Yet certainly I Changed am,
And yet as certainly am the same▪
That so I be most fit it is,
Changed, Ʋnchanged, That and This.
Were I not Changed, cause of woe
There would be great to me and you.
And were I Changed, no small shame
Might justly fasten on my Name.
Changed, and yet Ʋnchanged! you
Will muse how both these can be true.
Read on, I pray, and you shall see
In them no inconsistency.
That I am Changed, this small Book,
Called the Change, on which you look,
And which may be a Looking-glass,
To view the Heart in, not the Face,
Will probably to you declare,
When you with it acquainted are.
You will not easily judge that He
Which made it, is Himself Change-free:
To what my Book will of me say
This I can add, with Truth and Joy.
Our blessed Lord, both God and Man,
The pretious Souls Physitian,
Pitying my woful Cecitie,
Touched my eyes, and made me see.
Twice seventeen years ago almost
I saw my self utterly Lost
Without a Christ, and earnestly
Did to him for Salvation cry.
He graciously inclin'd his Ear,
And spake unto me not to fear,
For he to seek and save such came
As truly did believe in's Name.
Now I believe I so believ'd,
Because for Sin, as Sin, I griev'd:
And found my self much altered,
Like Lazarus raised from the Dead:
And Lov'd Christ for Himself alone,
Despising even Salvation
Compar'd with Him: whose shining Face
Would make even Hell a pleasant place:
And willing was to be, and do,
And suffer all he calld me to:
Displeased with my self when I
Displeas'd Him through infirmity.
Thus heretofore it was with me:
Thus 'tis, and still I trust will be.
Thus I am changed. This I prize
Above all earthly Monarchies.
Now that I am Ʋnchanged too,
Desire you that I likewise shew?
I do presume you do, and I
Desire to do't effectually.
Verbal expressions are but weak;
Realities do strongly speak.
Yet words use actions to forerun,
As Phosphorus doth the morning Sun;
And are acceptable till there be
[...]or more an opportunity:
[...]s silver Cynthia satisfies
[...]ill golden Phebus can arise.
[...]y this time you perceive, I know,
[...] am Unchanged toward you.
[...]nd reason good I should so be,
[...]ince cause of Change I none can see.
You Changed are no less than I.
Mary had no less Sanctity
Than Thomas.) This is in my eyes
The Queen of Amabilities;
Which, with the lovely Train I saw,
My best Respects did to you draw.
These you were pleas'd (which pleas'd me much)
Well to accept, and shew me such.
You are Ʋnchanged too, like me,
Delighting in Stability.
Believe it then until the fire
That's kindled in you shall expire,
[...] mean your Love to Christ and me,
[...]Which I believe will never be)
[...]t will be easier to remove
A mighty Mountain than my Love.
My Heart is constantly with you.
I will be shortly with you too.
Mean time, this First-born of my Brain,
The Change, I pray you entertain.
Let it be often in your Eye,
And let it in your Bosome lye.
Count it your near Relation,
And call it if you please your Son.
Though such a Dwarf you see it now,
It may hereafter bigger grow.
And might ere now have bigger been,
Had not our Land sad Changes seen.
What it may further see none knows
But God alone, who Scorpions owes
To daring Sinners that delight
In changing noon-day into night.
Farewell my Dear, and pray that we
May for all Changes fitted be.
Farewell again my dearest Dear,
God grant you many a good New year.
Griff-Lane.
GRiff! * thy
Long Lane to me most
Grievous was;
Being so deep that I could hardly pass.
I every moment fear'd a woful fall:
And travelling to a Friends Funeral,
Thought, sure mine own's at hand: this Lane of Griff
For ought I see, is longer than my Life.
My Grave is the next Hole. I sooner may
Go out o'th' World than this most deadly way.
Ye men of Griff, pray now amend your wayes:
[...]est honest men therein do end their daies.
[...]here went, I think, only a pair of Shears
[...]etween the Lane of Griff, and Vale of Tears.
[...]ow I can say that I have lately gone
[...]horow the
Oddest wayes to
Oddeston. * Sad Oddeston, the house of Mourning's there.
And not an eye i'th' Town without a tear.
Yea the whole Country mourns, as well it may,
For Mrs. Bressey was the Countryes Joy.
One more Belov'd, one Lovelier than was She,
They all conclude Oddeston will never see.
And I conclude that I shall never tread
More vexing wayes than those which thither lead.
[...]ll bad, all sad: but of all naughts the chief
[...]as that Infernal Lane, the Lane of Griff.
[...]arewell Griff-Lane: when I return to thee,
[...]e be content that Griff return to me.
Of the same.
GRiff-Lane's a Grievous Lane, a greater woe
One would not wish unto his greatest foe,
Than once a week to go and travel there
Where he shall tugge, and sweat, and grieve, and fear:
Grieve that he's there, Fear that he there shall lay
(Do what he can) his Bones, to mend the way.
It is Profoundly bad, yet I can say
This Good of it, 'twill teach a man to pray.
Such as in all their life nere prayed, if
They were once there, would quickly pray for life.
Were it to change its name, and I the man
Should give it one, I'de call it Prayer-Lane.
Lectori.
QƲo mihi Candidior reddaris Candide Lector,
Edendi est hujus ratio reddenda libelli.
Hoc utor Clypeo. Facilè sternuntur Inermes,
Quum satis Armati nôrint sua jura tueri.
Ʋtor & hoc Medico. Pereat qui Pharmaca temnit
(Quod sanè Insani est) maturè adhibere saluti est.
Hoc volui te scire. Vale jam Candide Lector.
FINIS.