THE BLESSEDNES OF BRYTAINE.
PEarce
Clio Muse, my weake, vnwoorthie wit:
Caliope, set foorth my stile with strength;
Vnfold her
Fame (with words foorth sounding fit,)
Whome
Kings adore, &
Lords in worldly length:
VVhose Sacred Hand the
Stately Scepters hold,
And Royall, Rules her Realmes in
Crowned gold.
A
Monarch Mayden Queene adorned rare,
VVith Regall Heauenly dowres, of diuers kinde;
In whome, who list
dame Natures Workes compare,
VVith those rich
Thewes, &
Vertues of her Minde,
Shall much admire, at such a
Myrrour sheene,
At such a
Prince, at such a
Peereles Queene.
The
Starre of VVomen Sex,
Graue Wisedoms store:
Sententious, speaking Tongs in filed phraze,
Profoundly learnd, and Perfect in eche Lore,
Her
Fame, no Rav'ning Time, shall euer Raze:
Hater of
Wrong, high Refuge eke for
Right,
Concord, and
Peace, continuing by her Might.
VVhat should I
Nymphs, or
Goddesses Recount?
Or
Aegypt Queenes, or
Romane Ladies
Befides that such manner of Reciting strange and Hethenish Names, were here altogether inconuenient, The author doth also of very purpose, somewhat shun that bea ten high way, to fil paper with pestring Names of fained Gods, Goddesses, Nymphs, Persians, Grecians, Romans, &c. Being a thing of some somtimes vsed, too too much, and to little effect.
name?
Sith as Supreme,
our Sov'raigne dooth surmount,
In choice of
Good, the cheefe of all those same?
For to compare the
Great, with simple
small,
Is thereby, not to praise the
Best at all.
Elizabeth, Large Light of
Sov'raigne Seat,
VVhose
Iustice, Prudence, Temprance, Fortitude,
Ingrafted yong, are grown foorth spreading Great,
Throughout the world, mong Nations wise & rude:
No land, but laudes this
right Resplendant Rose,
Tutor to
Frends, and
Terror vnto
Foes.
As
Shyning Sunne recleeres the darkned Skye,
The reestablishing of the Gospel, by her Maiestie, a work of inestimable worth, euerlastingly famous for euer and euer.
Primaris Principis Cura, Religio. Dauid. 1. P. 13. Asa. 2. Par. 14. Ichos. 2. P. 17. Ioosh. 2. p. 23. Iosias, 2. Reg. 22. Hezechiah, 2 Par. 29.
And foorth recalles eche thing, from shiv'ring Shrowds,
So hath our
Second Sunne, both farre and nye,
by brightning Beames,
outcleerd erronious Clouds:
Apow'rfull Prop of
Christes Euangell pure,
One whose Support, it rests Reposed sure.
Our
Currant Coyne was Mettall base and meane,
Argentum tuum Scoris. Isaiah.
1.22.
Till her most princely
Grace, the same put out,
By perfect Gold, and pured Siluer cleane,
Base Coynes abolished by her highnes.
VVhich passe for cōmon Coynes, her Realms throughout.
A Deede, deseruing her Perpetuall Praise,
And Publik Profit, to this Land alwaies.
Ad hereto
Armour, and
Artillery,
The royal increase of Armour, & Artillery, by her Maiestie for the defence of the Realme.
Foelix est ea Resp. quae tempore pacis, Bella inactat. Laur. Gr
[...]nal. de optimo Senatore fol. 71.
Of her most Royall Charges cheefely found;
As store of
Arming steele defensiuely,
And
Roring Gunnes, far rendring fired sound;
A furth'ring Strength for
Peace, and safe Repose:
And Meanes, resisting Rage, of
Warring foes.
I may not here omit in Silent sorte,
The incomparable Nauie Royall, built & maintained by her Maiestie. Pericles Athen, ait: Vnā pecunia parā da rationem put and am, Naues quamplurimas habere, alias vero extra eam rationes, nallius momenti existimandas.
Her
Royall Ships strong wrought for
stearnful warre,
(VVhereof all worldly Realmes do raise Report)
Through raging Seas discouering Regions farre:
A
Scowre-sea Nauy all bright & brauely burnisht
Foorth spowting fire, faire, huge, and fully furnisht.
VVhen floorisht
Learning to such
Type of height?
Plentiful exercise of Religion, perfection in all kind of learning, & right whol some lawes, enioyed by her Maiesties most gracious meanes.
Or
purefull Preaching, when had it more place?
VVhen was
Gods worde so knowne to euery weight,
VVhich heretofore, did suffer such Deface?
VVhen raignd
Religion so deuoyd of cryme?
Or rightfull
Lawes, as in her Royall tyme?
VVhen was this Realme so rich of glittring
Gold,
The Realme wonderfully enriched with Gold and Siluer. The earth most abundantly blessed with sertilitie, And euery man quietly enioying his own, vnder her highnes prosperous gouetnement.
Of
plated Siluer, pearle, and
precious stones?
VVhen was more
Tillage on this fertile Mold?
Or more riche streaming Graces growne at ones?
Or more
Concordant life, in Country and Towne,
Then since her
Regall Highnes came to Crown?
Her Sacred Senate by their graue foresight,
The vigilant Care, and incessant trauell of her Maiesties most honorable priuy Councel.
Prouide for
Publik Good and
Ev'ls preuent,
Conseruing
Common weale, from Perils plight,
In Rightfull Ruling, Concord, & Concent:
A
Senate well besitting Such a Charge;
Prudent, & prompt in Lore and Wisdome large.
From Wrathfull
VVarre, her People rest in
Peace:
The most blessed and peaceable state of her Maiesties subiects in comparison of other Nations, round about them. Strangers graciously receiued, and reseeued by hae Highnes, within her own king, dom.
From
wasting VVoes, her Subiects liue Secure:
And yet our Neighbour Nations VVarres not cease,
Their dire distresse, and wailfull VVoes still dure;
The
Most of Might, eke makes her Realm a Towre
Strangers to shield, from many a balefull Showre.
A
Mightie Queene, pure with Compassion prest,
Her Maiesties gracious aide vnto her distressed neigh bours abroad. Regia (credo mibi) res est succurrere laplis, Conuenit vt tanto, quantus es ipse viro. Ouid. li.
2. do Pon.
Rendring Reliefe, to Neighbour freends forlorn:
Her helping Hand, holds vp the weake distrest,
And hath the haughtie, dreadfull, oft downborn:
VVhereof Records, full rife re naining store;
Note
Scotland,
Low Countries.
Belgia, and many places more.
Lib'rall Rewarder of
Heroicall Acts;
Her Highnes bountiful liberalitie. Her Mercy towardes offenders. Imperi
[...] duobus potissiman continē tur, Nempe, Proemio & Pana
[...] teste Solone. Iusticia sine Misericordia Crudelitas. Misericordia sine Iustitia fa
[...]ittas.
Ritch in Reward, large giuing Gwer dons great;
Prone eke to pardon, many offending facts,
Yea though the same, concern her
Regall Seat;
Rigor of
Iustice, in Reuenging Lawes,
Mylde by her
Mercy, wreaks not eche Cause.
A Blessed Branch of
Brutus Royall Race;
Her Maiestie Princesse of Wales, where the Inhabitants enioy Gods worde in their own language, through the meere grace & goodnes of her highnes.
To
Brytish wightes a Blisfull worldly ioy,
Puissant Princesse of Their Natiue place,
To shield their Earthly liues from all annoy:
And to their Sickly Soules, a Sov'raigne Leche,
Graunting
Christs Gospel, in their Country speche.
Princely Possessor of this Realme full Right,
And
Heire apparant to the
Heav'nly Crown:
Assigned to serue
Gods Truthe, with Maine & Might
Vpraising
Vertue, Vice depressing downe:
Frutefull in
Faith, though fruteles, wanting feere:
Such brings shee
A perpetual memory of her manifold goodnes, in steade of Sonnes and daughters.
Praferre patr
[...] liberis Regem decet. Seneca in Tr.
Frute, in stead of Children heere.
Such Rare, Renowmed
Deeds,
Omnis la
[...] virtutis in Actione consistis Arist.
our
Queene hath don
And more than my poore powre may well expresse:
Violenta nemo Imperit continuit diu. Sen. in T.
Long hath her Raigne, this
Glorious Race foorth run
Long may it last, foorth bringing frutes no lesse:
Great is the
Good, thus grown foorth, frō
her Grace:
Great good shal grow, through her like lēgthned space.
Owretched Wights, that would this
Queene enharme,
A reproof vnto Traytors.
By close contryuing of her Cruell Death;
VVhat cursed
Circes, could their mindes so charme,
They rewarded me Euill for Good: for they haue priuily laid their Net to destroy me without cause. Psalm. 35.
As not to recke, to reaue their
Liege of breath?
Fell Raging
Rome, all this is long of thee,
From whome, no Troubling Treasons, here are free.
Our
kingly Rooted Rose, fresh flowring stands;
Garded by
Gods great Powre, and Prouidence:
A masing much, all Traitours trembling hands,
VVhich plye to pluck this
Plant by violence:
Yea
Magna est veritas, & Prau
[...]let.
Esdras. 3. c. 4.
Truthe downe treading
Treason vnto shame,
Victor suruiues, by vanquishing the same.
Thrise happie
Land, whose Sov'raigne Ladies life,
The
Lord enlengthning, saues from soddein haps;
Though Ciuile Bronds, and forrein Furies rife,
Conioyning erst, haue threatned
Thunder claps,
Yet Maugre
Malice,
Si Dent nobiscum, quis contra Nos. Paul.
8. Rom.
Foes are put to foyle,
And safe remaines, our
Sov'raigne, & our
Soyle.
Thrise happy
Queene,
The Angel of the Lord tarryeth about them that fear him, and that put th
[...]ir trust in him. Psal. 34. There is no King that can be saued by the multitude of an Hoste, &c. Behold the Eye of the Lord is vpon them that fear him, and that put their trust in his Mercy. Psal. 33.
acknown of
God so deere,
Gainst whome, what secret Mischeefs haue bin sought,
But that the same, would presently appeere,
By meanes
Miraculous, as yet vnwrought?
A Sured Signe, whome
God protects to
Ioy,
No
lurking Ev'l, can thereto worke Annoy.
O
Glorious Ruler of the glistring
Hev'n,
Prolong her Health, with Heapes of happie Yeeres,
That as her Rule hath Raignd twise
Lev'n &
Sev'n,
The prayer & wish of all good Sub.
So may shee still, surpas all Potent Peeres,
To liue, and long time wield the Ciuile swoord,
As far, as course of Nature can affoord.
Far
Forrain lands, be are witnesse of her
Name;
Far
surging Seas, haue felt her warlik Ships;
Both
Seas, &
Lands, foorth thunder out her
Fame,
Fama manet fact
[...], posito velamine, conrunt; Et memorem Famā, qui bene gessit habet. Ouid. l
[...]. 2. Fast.
Through force of flowring Acts, free from Ecclips:
Elizabeths due praise shall neuer dye,
In
Earth, nor
Seas, nor in the
starrie Skye.
Right
Reu'rend Princesse, rare is thy Renown,
Though
Spitefull Enuie, spue foorth poysned gall;
Naught shall it crase, thine Acts
Eternall Crowne,
Nor minish much, thy sound successe at all:
No Best may shunne fell
Ars prima Regni, est posse Inuidians pati. Sence. in Here. fur.
Enuies sowrfull stench,
VVhom
Kezars, Kings, &
Queenes, haue faild to quench.
As Highest Hils, bide fiercest force of VVeather,
And Tall Trees tops, be are greatest stresse of VVinde,
As finest Blacke, yelds showe of smallest fether,
And in Pure VVhite, the least black More we finde:
So
Enuies shaft, is shot at
Summa petis liuor, perflant altissima venti. Ouid.
Highest Marke;
And pries in
Purest Things, whereat to barke.
No
Ruler Such hath weld this Realme of yore,
Fewe Realmes haue ioyd, so long a
Iniq
[...]a nu
[...] quam regna, perptuo manent.
Senec. in Med.
Peacefull Rule:
No Realme is read, t'haue Rul'de bin heretofore,
By such a
Queene, safe quelling Ciuile Brule;
VVho raigning still, a Prince withouten peere;
Her highnes now, holds on her
Thirtieth yere.
Adore
Nouembers sacred
More fit to be solemnized, than many other dayes noted in the Kalender.
Sev'nteenth Day,
VVherein our
Second Sunne began her Shine:
Ring out lowd sounding Bels; on Organs play;
To Musikes Mirth, let all Estates incline:
Sound Drūmes, & Trūpets, renting Ayre & Ground
Stringd Instruments, strike with Melodious sound.
Ye Mightie Men of
Mars ennobled
Knights,
Aduaunce your selues, on fiery foming steedes:
Reuiue
This Tymes Remembrance, with all Rights,
In Armour bright, and gorgeous warlik weedes:
At
Tylt, &
Turnay, trying Martiall Might;
And Battring strokes, at
Barriers forcefull fight.
Ye Cuntry folke, foorth stalking in your feelds,
Lowd Carols sing, to celebrat This Tyme;
Show Signes of ioy (as Cuntry manner yeldes,)
In Sporting Games, with Daunce, and rurall Ryme:
Eche Swayne, and Sheppard, sound his piping Reede,
For ioy, enioying
Feelds, &
Flocks to feede.
Ye
Bryttish Poets, Repeat in Royall Song,
(VVith waightie woords, vsde in King
Arthurs daies)
Th'
Imperiall Stock, from whence your
Queene hath sprong;
Enstall in verse your
Princesse lasting prayes:
Masters in the Science of Musick.
Pencerddiaid, play on Auncient Harp, and Crowde:
Expert men in singing.
Atceiniaid, sing her prayses pearcing lowd.
Let Hilles, & Rocks, rebounding
Ecchoes yelde,
Of
Queene Elizabeths long lasting Fame;
Let woody Groaues, and VVatry Streames be fild,
And Creeks, & Caues, with sounding of the same:
O
Cambria, stretch, & straine thy vtmost breth,
To praise, and pray for
Queene Elizabeth.
Her
Third tyme Ten yeres Raigne, we now possesse;
Thrise three times Ten,
[...] euery faithfull subject say
[...]m
[...].
god graūt her
grace may raign
To this her Realmes long wisht for wealfulnesse,
VVhereby, eche long erst Losse, it may Regain:
And so Redound, the happiest Realme for ay,
Vnturnd from
Truthe, ev'n till the
Latter Day.
God Preserue Queene Elizabeth.