A panegyrike congratulatorie to the Kings Maiestie Also certaine epistles, by Samuel Daniel.

A PANEGYRIKE CONGRATV∣LATORIE TO HIS MAIESTIE.

1

LO here the glory of a greater day Then England euer heretofore could see In all her dayes. When she did most display The Ensignes of her powre, or whenas she Did spread herselfe the most, and most did sway Her state abroad, yet could she neuer be Thus blesst at home, nor euer come to grow To be intire in her full Orbe till now.

2

And now she is, and now in peace therefore Shake hands with Vnion, O thou mightie State, Now thou art all great Brittaine, and no more, No Scot, no English now, nor no debate: No Borders but the Ocean, and the Shore, No wall of Adrian serues to seperate Our mutuall loue, nor our obedience, All Subiects now to one imperiall Prince.

3

What heretofore could neuer yet be wrought, By all the swords of powre, by blood, by fire, By ruine, and destruction, here is brought To passe, with peace, with loue, with ioy desire: Our former blessed vnion hath begot A greater vnion that is more intire, And makes vs more our selues, sets vs at one With Nature that ordain'd vs to be one.

4

Glory of men, this hast thou brought to vs, And yet hast brought vs more than this by farre: Religion comes with thee, peace, righteousnes, Iudgement and Iustice, which more glorious are Then all thy Kingdomes, and arte more by this, Then Lord and Sou'raigne, more than Emperor Ouer the hearts of men that let thee in To more, than all the powres on Earth can win.

5

God makes thee King of our estates, but we Do make thee King of our affection, King of our Loue, a passion borne most free, And most vn-subiect to dominion: And know, that England which in that degree Can loue, with such a true deuotion Those that are lesse than Kings, to thee must bring More Loue, who art so much more than a King.

6

And King of this great Nation, populous, Stout, valiant, powrefull, both by Sea and Land, Attemptiue, able, worthy, generous, Which ioyfully imbraces thy command: A people tractable, obsequious, Apt to be fashion'd by thy glorious hand To any forme of honor, t' any way Of high attempts, thy vertues shall assay.

7

A people so inur'd to peace, so wrought To a successiue course of quietnesse, As th'haue forgot (and O b'it still forgot,) The nature of their ancient stubbornnesse; Time altred hath the forme, the meanes, and brought The state to that proportion'd euennesse, As t' is not like againe t' will euer come (Being vsde abroad) to draw the sword at home.

8

This people, this great State, these hearts adore Thy Scepter now, and now turne all to thee, Toucht with as powrefull zeale, and if not more, (And yet O more, how could there euer be Than vnto her, whom yet we doe deplore Amidst our Ioy?) And giue vs leaue if we Reioyce and mourne, that cannot without wrong, So soone forget her, we enioyde so long.

9

Which likewise makes for thee, that yet we hold True after death, and bring not this respect To a new Prince from hating of the old; Or from desire of change, or from neglect; Whereby O mightie Sov'raigne, thou art told What thou and thine are likely to expect From such a faith, that doth not haste to runne Before their time, to an arising Sunne.

10

And let my humble Muse whom she did grace, Begge this one grace for her that now lies dead, That no vile tongue may spot her with disgrace, Nor that her fame become disfigured: O let her rest in peace, that rul'd in peace, Let not her honor be disquieted Now after death: but let her Graue inclose All but her good, and that it cannot close.

11

It addes much to thy glorie and our grace, That this continued current of our loue Runnes thus to thee, all with so swift a pace; And that from peace to peace we do remoue, Not as in motion put from out our place, But in one Course, and do not seeme to moue, But in more ioy than euer heretofore, And well we may, since thou wilt make vs more.

12

Our Loue we see concurres with Gods great Loue, Who onely made thy way, thy passage plaine, Leuel'd the world for thee, did all remoue, That might the shew but of a let retaine: Vnbarr'd the North, humbled the South, did moue The hearts of all, thy right to intertaine, Held other States imbroyld, whose enuie might Haue fostred factions to impugne thy right:

13

And all for thee, that we the more might praise The glory of his power, and reuerence thine, Whome he hath raisde to glorifie our dayes, And make this Empire of the North to shine: Against all th'impious workings, all th'assayes Of vile disnatur'd vipers, whose designe Was to imbroyle the state t'obscure the light, And that cleare brightnesse of thy sacred right.

14

To whose reproach, since th'issue and successe Doth a sufficient marke of shame returne, Let no penne else blazon their vglinesse; Be it inough, that God and Men do scorne Their proiects, censures, vaine pretendences: Let not our Children that are yet vnborne, Finde there were any offred to contest Or make a doubt, to haue our kingdome blesst.

15

Bury that question in th'eternall graue Of darknesse, neuer to be seene againe, Suffice we haue thee whom we ought to haue And t' whom all good men knew did appertaine Th'inheritance thy sacred birth-right gaue, That needed n'other suffrages t'ordaine What onely was thy due, nor no decree To be made knowne, since none was knowne but thee.

16

Witnesse the ioy the vniuersall cheere, The speeede, the ease, the will, the forwardnesse Of all this great and spacious State, how deere It held thy Title and thy worthinesse: Haste could not poste of speedy anywhere, But Fame seem'd there before in readinesse, To tell our hopes, and to proclaime thy name, O greater then our hopes, more then thy Fame.

17

What a returne of comfort dost thou bring Now at this fresh returning of our blood, Thus meeting with th'opening of the Spring, To make our spirits likewise to imbudde? What a new season of incouraging Beginnes t'inlength the dayes dispos'd to good? What apprehension of recouery Of greater strength, of more abilitie?

18

The pulse of England neuer more did beate So strong as now: nor euer were our hartes Let out to hopes so spacious and so great, As now they are; nor euer in all partes, Did we thus feele so comfortable heat, As now the glory of thy worth impartes: The whole complexion of the Common-wealth So weake before, hop'd neuer for more health.

19

Couldst thou but see from Douer to the Mount, From Totnes to the Orchades, what ioy, What cheere, what triumphs, and what deere account Is held of thy renowne this blessed day, A day which we, and ours must euer count Our solemne festiuall, as well we may, And though men thus court Kings still which are new, Yet do they more, where they finde more is due.

20

They feare the humours of a future Prince, Who either lost a good, or felt a bad, But thou hast cleer'de vs of this feare long since, We know thee more, then by reporte we had, We haue an euerlasting euidence Vnder thy hand, that now we neede not dread, Thou wilt be otherwise in thy designes Then there thou art in those iudiciall lines.

21

It is the greatest glory vpon earth To be a King, but yet much more to giue, The institution with the happy birth Vnto a King, and teach him how to liue: We haue, by thee, farre more then thine owne worth, That doth encourage, strengthen, and relieue Our hopes in the succession of thy blood, That like to thee, they likewise will be good.

22

We haue an earnest that doth euen tie Thy Scepter to thy word, and binds thy Crowne (That else no band can binde) to ratifie What thy religious hand hath there set downe, Wherein thy all-commanding Sov'raintie Stands subiect to thy Pen and thy Renowne, There we behold thee King of thine owne hart And see what we must be, and what thou art.

23

There great exemplare prototipe of Kings, We finde the Good shal dwell within thy Court; Plaine zeale and truth free from base flatterings, Shall there be entertain'd and haue resorte: Honest discretion that no cunning brings, But councells that lie right, and that import, Is there receiu'd, with those whose care attends Thee, and the State, more then their priuate ends.

24

There grace and fauour shall not be dispos'de But by proportion, euen, and vpright, There are no mightie mountaines interpos'de Betweene thy beames and vs, t'imbarre thy light, There Maiestie liues not as if inclos'de, Or made a prey t'a priuate benefite: The hand of Powre deales there her owne reward, And thereby reapes the whole of mens regard.

25

There is no way to get vpto respect, But onely by the way of worthinesse: All passages that may seeme indirect, Are stopt vp now, and there in no accesse By grosse corruption, bribes cannot effect For th'undeseruing any offices: Th'ascent is cleane, and he that doth ascend Must haue his meanes as cleane as is his end.

26

The deedes of worth and laudable desarts, Shall not now passe thorow the straight report Of an imbasing tongue, that but imparts What with his ends and humours shal comport: The Prince himselfe now heares, sees, knows, what parts Honour and Vertue acts, and in what sort, And thereto giues his grace accordingly, And cheeres vp other to the like therby.

27

Nor shall we now haue vse of flatterie, For he knowes falsehoode farre more suttle is Than truth; basenesse than libertie, Feare than loue, t'inuent these florishes: And Adulation now is spent so nie As that it hath no coulours to expresse That which it would, that now we must be faine T'unlearne that Art, and labour to be plaine.

28

For where there is no care to be abus'd, None will be found that dare t'informe a wrong, The insolent deprauer stands confus'd, The impious Atheist seemes to want a tongue, Transform'd into the fashion that is vs'd, All striue t'appeare like those they liue among; And all will seeme compos'd by that same square, By which they see, the best and greatest are.

29

Such powre hath thy example and respect As that without a Sword, without debate, Without a noyse, (or feeling in effect) Thou wilt dispose, change, forme, accommodate Thy kingdome, people, rule, and all effect, Without the least convulsion of the State, That this great passage and mutation, will Not seeme a change, but onely of our ill.

30

We shall continue one, and be the same In Law, in Iustice, Magistrate, and forme, Thou wilt not touch the fundamentall frame Of this Estate thy Ancestors did forme, But with a reuerence of their glorious fame Seeke onely the corruptions to reforme, Knowing that course is best to be obseru'de Whereby a State hath longest beene preseru'd.

31

A King of England now most graciously, Remits the iniuries that haue beene done T'a King of Scots, and makes his clemencie To checke them more than his correction, Th'annoynted blood that staind most shamefully This ill seduced state, he lookes thereon, With th'eye of griefe, not wrath t'auenge the same, Since th'Authors are extinct that caus'd that shame.

32

Thus mightie riuers quietly do glide, And doe not, by their rage their powers professe, But by their mightie workings, when in pride Smal Torrents roare more lowde, and worke much lesse: Peace Greatnesse best becomes: calme power doth guide With a farre more imperious statelinesse, Then all the force of violence can doe, And easier gaines those ends she tends vnto.

33

Then England, thou hast reason thus to cheare, Reason to ioy, and triumph in this wise, When thou shalt gaine so much, and haue no feare To loose aught else but thy deformities: When thus thou shalt haue health and be set cleare From all thy great infectious maladies, By such a hand that best knowes how to cure, And where most lie those griefes thou dost indure.

34

When thou shalt see there is another grace Then to be rich;* 1.1 another dignitie Then money: other meanes for place Then gold: wealth shall not now make honestie; When thou shalt see the estimation base Of that which most aflicts our misery: Without the which, else couldst thou neuer see Our wayes laide right, not men themselues to bee.

35

By which improouement we shall gaine much more Then by Peru, or all discoueries; For this way to imbase, is to instore The treasure of the land, and make it rise: This is the onely key t'unlocke the dore, To let out plentie that it may suffice, For more then all this Ile, for more increase Of Subiects then, by thee, there can increase.

36

This shal make roome, and place inough for all, Which other wise would not suffice a few, And by proportion Geometricall Shall so dispose to all, what shal be due: As that without corruption, wrangling, brawle, Intrusion, wresting, and by meanes vndue, Desert shall haue her charge, and but one charge, As hauing but one body to discharge.

37

Whereby the all-incheering Maiestie Shall come to shine at full in all her parts, And spread her beames of comfort equally, As being all alike to like desarts; For thus to checke, imbase and vilifie Th'esteeme of wealth, will fashion so our harts To worthy ends, as that we shall by much More, labor to be Good, then to be Rich.

38

This will make peace with Law, restore the Barre T'her ancient silence, where Contention now Makes so confus'd a noyse, this will debarre The fostring of debate, and ouerthrow That ougly monster that fowle rauener Extortion, which so hideously did grow, By making prey vpon our misery, And wasting it againe as wickedly.

39

The strange examples of impou'rishments, Of sacriledge, exactions, and of waste, Shall not be made nor held as presidents For times to come, but end with th'ages past: Whenas the State shall yeeld more suppliments (Being well imploy'd) then Kings can well exhaust; This golden meadow lying ready still Then to be mow'd, when their occasions will.

40

Fauour, like pitie, in the hearts of men Haue the first touches euer violent, But soone againe it comes to languish, when The motiue of that humour shall be spent: But being still fed with that which first hath beene The cause thereof, it holds still permanent, And is kept in, by course, by forme, by kinde, And Time begets more ties that still more binde.

41

The broken frame of this disioynted State, Being by the blisse of thy great Grandfather, Henry the seauenth, restor'd to an estate More sound then euer, and farre stedfaster, Owes all it hath to him, and in that rate Stands bound to thee that art his successor: For without him it had not beene begunne, And without thee, we had beene now vndone.

42

Hee, of a priuate man, became a King, Hauing indur'd the weight of tyrannie; Mourn'd with the world, complain'd & knew the thing That good men wish for in their misery Vnder ill Kings: saw what it was to bring Order and Forme to the recouery Of an vnruly State: conceiu'd what cure Would kill the cause of this distemp'rature.

43

Thou, borne a King, hast in thy State, indur'd The sowre affronts of priuate discontent With subiects broiles; and euer beene inur'd To this great mystery of gouernment: Whereby thy Princely wisedome hath allur'd A State to peace, left to thee turbulent: And brought vs an addition to the frame Of his great worke, squar'd fitly to the same.

44

And, both you (by the all-working prouidence That fashions out of dangers, toyles, debates, Those whom it hath ordained to commence These first, and great establishments of States) Came when your aide, your powers experience (Which out of iudgement best accommodates These ioynts of rule) was more then most desir'd, And when the times of need the most requir'd.

45

And as he lay'd the modell of this frame, By which was built so strong a worke of State, As all the powers of changes in the same; All that excesse of a disordinate And lustfull Prince: nor all that after came, Nor Childe, nor stranger, nor yet womens fate, Could once disioynt the couplements, whereby It held together in iust Symetry.

46

So thou likewise art come as fore-ordain'd To re-inforce the same more really, Which oftentimes hath beene but entertain'd By th'onely stile, and name of Maiestie: And by no other councells oft attain'd Those ends of her inioy'd tranquilitie, Then by this forme, and by th'incumbrances Of neighbor states that gaue it a successe.

47

That hadst thou had no title (as thou hast The onely right, and none hath else a right) We yet must now haue beene inforcde t'haue cast Our selues into thy armes, to set all right; And to auert confusion, blood-shed, waste, That otherwise vpon vs needes must light: None but a King, and no King else beside Could now haue sau'd this State from being destry'd.

48

Thus hath the hundreth yeare brought backe againe The sacred bloud lent to adorne the North, And here return'd it with a greater gaine, And greater glory than we sent it forth: Thus doth th'all-working Prouidence retaine, And keepe for great effects the seede of worth, And so doth point these stops of time thereby, In periods of vncertaine certainty.* 1.2

49

Margaret of Richmond (glorious Grandmother Vnto that other precious Margaret, From whence th'Almightie worker did transferre This branch of peace, as from a roote well set) Thou mother, author, plotter, Councellor Of vnion, that didst both conceiue, beget, And bring forth happinesse to this great State, To make it thus intirely fortunate:

50

O couldst thou now but view this faire successe, This great effect of thy religious worke, And see therein how God hath pleas'd to blesse Thy charitable Councels, and to worke Still greater good out of the blessednesse Of this conioyned Lancaster and Yorke: Which all conioyn'd within, and those shut out, Whom nature and their birth had set without.

51

How much hast thou bound all posterities In this great worke, to reuerence thy name? And with thee, that religious, faithfull, wise, And learned Mourton who contriu'd the same, And first aduis'd, and did so well aduise, As that the good successe that thereof came, Shewdwel, that holy hands, cleane thoughts, cleare harts Are onely fit to act such glorious parts.

52

But Muse, these deare remembrances must be In their conuenient places registred, When thou shalt bring sterne Discord to agree, And bloody warre vnto a quiet Bed: Which worke must now be finished by thee: That long hath layne vndone, as destined Vnto the glory of these dayes, for which Thy vowes and verse haue laboured so much.

53

Thou euer hast opposed all thy might Against contention, fury, pride and wrong, Perswading stil to hold the course of right, And Peace hath beene the burthen of thy Song, And now thy selfe shalt haue the benefite Of quietnesse which thou hast wanted long, And now shalt haue calme peace, and vnuion, With thine owne warres, and now thou must go on.

54

Onely the ioy of this so deare a thing Made me looke backe vnto the cause, whence came This so great good, this blessing of King, When our estate so much requir'd the same, When we had neede of powre for the well-ord'ring Of our affaires: neede of a Spirite to frame The world to Good, to Grace and worthinesse, Out of this humour of Luxuriousnesse.

55

And bring vs backe vnto our selues againe, Vnto our ancient natiue modestie, From out these forraine sinnes vve entertaine, This loathsome surfets ougly Gluttony, From this vnruly and this idle vaine Of wanton and superfluous brauery, The wracke of Gentry, spoile of Noblenesse, And spare vs by thy temp rate Sobernesse.

56

When Abstinence is fashion'd by the Time, It is no rare thing to be abstinent, But then it is, when th'Age full fraught with crime Lies prostrate vnto all misgouernment. And who is not licencious in the prime And heate of youth, nor then incontinent When out of might he may, he neuer wil; No power can tempt him to that taste of ill.

57

Then what are we t'expect from such a hand That doth this sterne of faire example guide? Who will not now shame to haue no command Ouer his lusts? Who would be seene t'abide Vnfaithful to his vowes; to infringe the band Of a most sacred knot which God hath tide? Who would now seeme to be dishonoured With th' uncleane touch of an vnlawfull bedde?

58

What a great checke wil this chaste Court be now To wanton Courts debaucht with Luxurie? Where we no other Mistresses shall know But her to whom we owe our loyaltie: Chaste Mother of our Princes whence doe grow Those righteous issues, which shall glorifie And comfort many Nations with their worth, To her perpetuall grace that brought them forth.

59

We shall not feare to haue our wiues distain'd, Nor yet our Daughters violated here By an Imperiall lust, that being vnrain'd Will hardly be resisted any where. Hee will not be betraid with ease, nor train'd With idle rest, in soft delights to weare His time of life. But knowes whereto he tends, How worthy mindes are made for worthy ends.

60

And that this mighty worke of vnion now Begunne with glory, must with grace run on And so be clos'd, as all the ioynts may grow Together firme in due proportion; A worke of power and iudgement that must shew All parts of wisdome, and discretion That man can shew: that no clowd may impaire This day of hope, whose morning shewes so faire.

61

He hath a mightie burthen to sustaine Whose fortune doth succeed a gracious Prince, Or where mens expectations intertaine Hopes of more good, and more beneficence: But yet he vndergoes a greater paine, A more laborious worke, who must commence The great foundation of a Gouernement, And lay the frame of order, and content.

62

Especially where mens desires do runne A greedy course of eminencie, gaine, And priuate hopes; weighing not what is done For the Republicke, so themselues may gaine Their ends, and where few care who be vndone, So they be made, whil'st all do entertaine The present motions that this passage brings With th' infancie of change, vnder new Kings.

63

So that the weight of all seemes to rely Wholy vpon thine owne discretion, Thy iudgement now must only rectifie This frame of pow're, thy glory stands vpon: From thee must come, that thy posterity May ioy this Peace, and hold this vnion: For whil'st all worke for their owne benefite, Thy only worke must keepe vs all vpright.

64

For did not now thy full maturitie Of yeares and wisedome, that discerne what shewes, What arte, and colours, may deceiue the eye, Secure our trust that that cleere iudgement knowes Vpon what grounds depend thy Maiestie, And whence the glory of thy greatnesse growes, We might distrust least that a side might part Thee from thy selfe, and so surprize thy hart.

65

Since th'arte but one, and that against thy breast Are laide all th'ingins both of Skil and Wit And all th'assaults of Cunning are addresst With stratagems of Arte to enter it: To make a prey of grace, and to inuest Their powres within thy loue, that they might sit, And stirre that way which their affection tends, Respecting but themselues, and their owne ends.

66

And see'ng how difficult a thing it is To rule, and what strength is requir'd to stand, Against all the'interplac'd respondences Of combinations, set to keepe the hand And eye of power from out the prouinces, That Auarice may draw to her command, Which, to keepe hers, she others vowes to spare, That they againe to her might vse like care.

67

But God that rais'd thee vp to act this parte, Hath giuen thee all those powers of worthinesse, Fit for so great a worke, and fram'd thy hart Discernible of all apparences: Taught thee to know the world, and this great Art Oford'ring man, Knowledge of Knowledges, That from thee, men might reckon how this State Became restor'd, and was made fortunate.

68

That thou the first, with vs, in name, might'st be The first in course, to fashion vs anew, Wherein the times hath offred that to thee, Which seldome t'other princes could accrew: Thou hast th'aduantage onely to be free, T'imploy thy fauours where they shall be dew, And to dispose thy grace in generall, And like to Ioue, to be alike to all.* 1.3

69

Thy fortune hath indebted thee to none, But t'all thy people vniuersally, And not to them, but for their loue alone, Which they account is placed worthily: Nor wilt thou now frustrate their hopes, whereon They rest, nor they faile in their loyaltie; Since no Prince comes deceiued in his trust, But hee that first deceiues, and prooues vniust.

70

Then since we are in this so faire a way Of Restauration, Greatnesse and Command, Cursed be hee that causes the least stay In this faire worke, or interrupts thy hand, And cursed hee that offers to betray Thy graces, or thy goodnesse to withstand, Let him be held abhorr'd, and all his race Inherite but the portion of disgrace.

71

And hee that shall, by wicked Offices, Be th'author of the least disturbancie, Or seeke t' auert thy godly purposes, Be euer held the scorne of infamie: And let men but consider their successe Who Princes loues abus'd presumptuously, They shall perceiue their ends doe still relate, That sure God loues them not whom men do hate.

72

And it is iust, that they who make a prey Of Princes fauours, in the end againe, Be made a prey to Princes, and repay The spoiles of miserie with greater gaine; Whose sacrifices euer doe allay The wrath of men, conceiu'd in their disdaine: For that their hatred prosecuteth still, More then ill Princes, those that make them ill.

73

But both thy iudgement and estate doth free Thee, from these powres of Feare and Flattery, The conquerours of Kings, by whom we see Are wrought the acts of all impietie: Thou arte so set, as th'hast no cause to be Iealous, or dreadfull of disloyaltie, The pedestall whereon thy Greatnesse stands, Is built of all our hearts, and all our hands.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nam vbi cupi∣do diuitiarum inuasit, neque disciplina, ne∣que artes bonae, neque ingeni∣um vllum satis pollet.
• * 1.2

  It is iust a hun∣dred yeares since the Lady Margaret was married to IAMES the fourth, King of Scots.
• * 1.3

  Est Iupiter omnibus idem.