THE Excellency of MONARCHY: A PANEGYRICK, Written Anno 1658. by a Learned and truly Loyal Gentleman, for Information of the miserably misled Commonwealths-men (falsly so called) of that deceitful Age; and now reviv'd by a Friend to the Author, and an Honourer of the Establish'd Government of these Nations.
1.
IF wanting wings one may ascend the Skies,
And Phaebus view, without an Eagles Eyes,
Then Rouze up (Muse) from thy Lethargick strains,
And (having first invok'd the God of Brains)
Let the grand Subject of thy Measures be,
No Rule to England like a Monarchy.
2.
It is the Image of that Domination,
By which Jehova rules the whole Creation:
Angels nor Saints, do in his Kingdom share,
God is Sole Monarch, They but Subjects are:
Whose Laws are such, as when they did Rebell,
Sequester'd not, but sent them strait to Hell.
3.
As Old as that Paternal Soveraignty
God plac'd in Adam, rul'd his People by;
Disown'd by None, but them whose Minds aspire,
And envy ONE should have what ALL desire:
For, be't a Few, or Many we live under,
Such shall repine, still, whilst not of the Number.
4.
The Antients did a Monarchy prefer,
Made all their Gods submit to Jupiter:
And (when Affairs and Nations first began)
Princes Decrees were th'only Laws of Man;
Experience will avow it, where there's Any,
One Honest Man is sooner found, than Many.
5.
The Rational Soul performs a Prince's part,
She rules the Body by Monarchick Art;
Poor Cranes, and little Bees (with shiv'ring wings)
Observe their Leaders, and Obey their Kings:
Nature her self, disdains a Crowded Throne,
The Body's Monstrous, has more Heads than One.
6.
A Monarchy's that Politick simple State,
Consists in Ʋnity, (inseparate,
Pure and entire) a Government that stands,
When others fall, touch'd but with Levelling hands:
So Natural, and with such Skill endu'd,
It makes One Body of a Multitude.
7.
In Order (wherein later things depend,
Or former) that's most perfect doth attend
On Ʋnity: But this can never be
The Pop'lar State, nor Aristocracy;
For where or All, or Many bear the sway,
Such Order to Confusion leads the way.
8.
A Monarchy more quickly doth attain
The End propos'd; For 'tis the single Brain
That ripens Councel, and concealeth best
Princely Designs, 'tis Deeds proclaim 'em Blest;
Whilst numerous Heads are rarely of one Mind,
Slow in their Motion, louder than the Wind.
9.
Treason, nor Fear, so suddenly divides
Th' Ʋnited Strength that in a Crown resides;
Sedition prospers not, it seldom here
Results the Object of a Prince's Fear:
Then when an Empire, Rome was ne're so strong,
Nor Triumph'd under other Rule so long.
10.
A Monarchy abates those Feverish Fits
Of Emulation, a Free-State begets;
A Prince cannot his Reins so quickly slack,
Or throw his Burthen on Another's Back:
But where so many Rulers have Command,
The Work's transferr'd, and toss'd from hand to hand.
11.
The People, or the Nobles, to debate
The deep Concernments of a Troubled State,
Set Times and Places have assign'd them, they
First meet, and then adjourn from day to day:
Whereas a Monarch, who by Nature's One,
Delib'rates always, never's off his Throne.
12.
But hold! methinks I see the Three Estates
Conven'd; Thrown open Prison doors and Grates,
Extinct our paltry Jealousies and Fears,
Grace offered to All, but Cavaliers
And Papists! yet with patience they abound,
In hopes of better, Now, the Wheel goes Round.
‘Monarchia à Monos Archôn; The Rule of One Prince or Governour, without a Peer, or the Government of One Man over Many, as in England, &c.’‘Britannia ab initio Mundi semper suit Regia, & Regimen illius simile ille Coelorum.’Howell's Praed. Basil.