The remains of Sir Fulk Grevill Lord Brooke being poems of monarchy and religion : never before printed.

A TREATISE OF MONARCHY. (Book 1)

By Sir FULK GREVILL Lord BROOK.

Of the beginning of Monarchie. SECT. I.

1.

THere was a time before the times of Story, When Nature raign'd instead of Laws or Arts, And mortal Gods, with Men made up the Glory Of one Republick by united Hearts, Earth was the common seat, their Conversation In saving Love, and ours in Adoration.

2.

For in those Golden days, with Natures Chains Both King and People seem'd conjoyn'd in one, Both nurst alike, with mutual feeding veins Transcendency of either side unknown, Princes with Men using no other Arts But by good dealing to obtain good hearts.

3.

Power then maintaind it self even by those Arts By which it grew, as Justice, Labor, Love; Reserved sweetness did it self impart Even unto Slaves, yet kept it self above, And by a meek descending to the least, Enviless swayd, and govern'd all the rest.

4.

Order there equal was, Time Courts ordain'd To hear, to judge, to execute, and make Few and good Rules, for all griefs that complain'd, Such care did Princes of their people take Before this Art of Power allay'd the Truth: So Glorious of Mans greatness is the Youth.

5.

What wonder was it then if those Thrones found Thanks as exorbitant, as was their Merit, Wit to give highest Tributes being bound, And wound up by a Princely ruling Spirit To worship them for their Gods after death Who in their life exceeded humane faith?

6.

And shall it Error, nay Impiety In Heathen Souls be thought to recompence The Absent with immortal Memory, Goodness with Praise, and Benefit with Sence? Or rather such a Golden natur'd vein As in the World might Golden days maintain.

7.

For where should thankful Ingenuity Think the Fear-thundring Scepter fit to rest, With Knowledge, Vertue, and Felicity, But in mild Jupiter's well-doing brest? Or where but in Olympus, Heaven to be? Which was his dwelling place in Thessaly,

8.

And if departed souls must rise again Severely to become examined And bide the Judgement of Reward or Pain? What Chancelors seem fitter for the dead, Then Rhadamanthus, and stern Minos were, True Types of Justice while they lived here?

9.

Thus Kings may see, while greatness did descend, And Care as far spread as Authority, Grace did restrain and disgrace did amend, The Vice was hateful and the Majesty Of Justice held up for a common good, A work by Kings and Men well understood.

10.

Kings creatures then were no vain Favorites But Guardians of the poor, Eyes of the Crown; Lest height of place should oversee the right And help the proud to pull the humble down; All Laws like Cobwebs, catching little Flies But never great ones without Princes Eyes.

11.

Under Euristus that brave Prince of Greece No Pallas, no Narcissus delicate Were minions, whose Lusts did the people Fleece, Nor could sufficed be with Midas State, And whose effeminate unactivevness To make themselves great, still made Scepters less.

12.

But Hercules a brave laborious Spirit, Who having freed Greece from home-Tyranny As born of more then his own soyl to merit, Was sent to purge the Earths iniquity Egypt of Busyre, Diomedes of Thrace, Italy of Cacus, Spain of Gerions Race,

13.

Nor could a Goddess spite (which Juno veils Under emploiments specious pretences) Change Nature, or make true worth strike her sails, One God appeasing other Gods offences, When she that by his Labour sought his doom There made him Trophies, where she meant his Tomb.

14.

Yet did he raise no Pyramis for pain But his Republick's good, his Masters Fame; As thinking selfness but a trivial gain To him that builds an universal frame; No Trophies fit for worth, but Love and Praise Which shadow-like still follow active Rays.

15.

Jason, again (who serv'd Thessalia's King) What else did he affect from dangers past, When he the Pleece of Colchos home did bring, Then in the Rolls of large time to be plac't, For undertaking passages unknown, Through which the wealth of many states have grown?

16.

Now whilst pow'r did thus really proceed Not on advantage, Humor, Slight, or Will, Her Zeal with Honour mixt peaz'd every deed; Time did not yet encline to mask her ill; Words grew in hearts, Mens hearts were large & free, Bondage had then not brought in Flattery.

17.

But by decree of Fate this Corporation Is alter'd since, and Earths fair Globe miscarried, Mans Craft, above these Gods in estimation, And by it wisdomes constant Standard varied; Whereby the sway of many years are gone Since any Godhead rul'd an earthly Throne.

18.

Whether it were Mans false Pygmean wit Captiving Envy,, or the Giants pride, Which forc't these Worthies to abandon it I know not; but some disproportion'd Tyde Of Times self-humours hath that Commerce drown•• To which this Image shews those times were bound.

19.

And when those Golden days were once expired Time straight claim'd her succession in the Brass, And to her ends new instruments inspired, With narrow selfness staining all that was: Power still affects more inequality Which made Mankind more curious to be free.

20

Divided thus, Kings quit their Fathers hand In Government, which men did earst adore, People again by number sought to stand, And scorn'd that power which earst they did implore, Goodness goes from the Earth, and Greatness too, In Will, Fear, Craft, Men forming all they do

21.

Hence these Gods tir'd with neighborless deceit Have rais'd their Thrones above Mortality And chang'd their sweet Aspects with sour retreat. Whence all things blest before now blasted be With tempests, earthquakes, fire, and thunders terrors Shewing and threatning Mans corrupting errors.

22.

By which strange plagues these Gods do testify Mankind to be of such a Metal cast, As neither Fire can melt, Air qualify, Water dissolve, or stroke of Hammer waste, No Native Notion, Law, or Violence, Fashion his hard heart to an humble sence.

23.

But that he should still grudge at Government, Scorn Mercy, yet rebel at Tyranny, Repine at Discipline, rest discontent Both with his equals, and Authority; As in whom pow'r might without goodness be, And base subjection without Loyalty.

24.

In which confused state of declination Left by these Gods, Mankind was forc't to trust Those light thoughts which were molds of his privation And scorning Equals, raise a Soveriagn must, For frailty with it self grown discontent, Wardlike must live in others Government.

25.

Man then repine not at the boundless Kings, Since you endure the fate of your fore-fathers, To whom God did foretell, on humane wings How inequality once rais'd still gathers, Their choice offended him, please you it must Whose dregs still in you, on you, make it just,

26.

Princes again, o'r-rack not your Creation, Lest pow'r return to that whence it began, But keep up Scepters by that reputation Which raised one to rule this world of Man; Order makes us the Body, you the Head, And by disorder Anarchy is bred.

27.

Let each then know by equal estimation, That in his frail freehold of flesh and blood, Nature her self declines unto Privation, As mixt of real ill and seeming good; And where Mans best Estate is such a strife, Can Order there be permanent in life?

28.

Now, if considered simply, Man be such, Cast him into a Throne or Subjects mould, The Function cannot take away this touch; Since neither what he ought, or can, or would, Both King and Man perplexed are in state, Improve their ends, and set no other rate.

29.

In which imperfect temper, expectation Proves unto each a perverse Enemy; Whil'st Pow'•• with Soveraign partial Contemplation Aime at Ideas of Authority More abs••l••te then God himself requires, Who of us, onely what he gives, desires.

30.

Again, while People do expect from Kings Such a protecting popularity As gives, forgives, intends no other things But in a Crown a common slave to be, Thus over-valuing each Estate too farre Makes both full of Misprision as they are.

31.

In judging other then let either know, As they are men, they are a mean Creation Betwixt the Heaven above and Hell below, No more deserving hate, then Adoration: Equal in some things are the great'st and least; One disproportion must not drown the rest.

32.

The odds to be examined then is Place, What that doth challenge, what again it owes, Not peazing these in dainty Scales of Grace Where pure simplicity for wisdom goes; Or vain Ideas formed in the Air, To self-imagination onely fair.

33.

But in the World as Thrones now moulded are By Chance, Choice, Practice, Birth, or Martial awe, Where Laws and Custome doe prescribe how far, Either the King or Subject ought to draw These mutual ties of Duty, Love, or Fear To such a strain, as every man may bear.

34.

Which place, what is it but of Reverence A Throne rais'd on man's Reason, and Affection Where that well happy mixt, and confluence Of Earthly and Celestial reflection Should wear the publick, in the private good, And to protect both, govern Flesh and Blood.

35.

Yet, since Election doth resign to Birth, True worth to Chance, brave industry to Blood, Nature to Art; and Force command the Earth, That Native Commerce which wrought mutual good 'Twixt Crowns and Men, was soon exil'd from hence, And we like Beasts left no right but in Sence.

36.

To fortify which confident rais'd Throne And keep Mankind with it in Unity, The wit of Pow'r cannot suffice alone, Man is not strong to bind Humanity; Therefore above man, they that would man bound Still sought some shews of everlasting ground.

37.

Hence was pow'rs Zenith raised up, and fixt Upon the Base of superstitious rights, Whose visions with the Truth and Error mixt Make humane wisdomes yet seem infinite, By giving vain opinon (born of Sence) Falsly the Sacred stile of Conscience.

38.

For as by optick repercussions here The Light with shadows mixt, makes Sence mistake, Whereby the less oft greater doth appear, Creating Castor God for Pollux sake; And as the Rainbow but a shadow being, By shadows forms another to our seeing,

39.

So from the Mirror of these visions more Second reflexions which doe represent Forms of the ill below, and good above As humane Laws, Fame, Honour, Government; All shewing Man (though in unperfect Light) That Thrones may seem, but are not Infinite.

40.

Now if from these dumb shadows there break out Light to shew Thrones are not indefinite; In true Religions cleer beams who can doubt But that Pow'r bounded is with wrong and right, The Infinite in Wisdom drawing down The Will of Tyrants to the Laws of Crown.

41.

Wherein that other superstitious Sphere Chance, and Opinions nimble Idols Raign, Racking up Tributes out of Hope and Fear, By which weak Mankind lose; strong Scepters gain; As where no limits be to Pow'r or Will, Nor true distinction between good and ill.

42.

So then when Man beholds this boundless sea Of Will, and no shoar left to shew her streams, He straight beleeves Thoughts may sail every way Till Pow'rs contrary winds difperse these dreams; And make men see their freedom bound so fast, As it of no forbidden fruit dare taste.

43.

Yet happily had Man not thus been bounded With Humane wrests, aswell as moulds Divine, He in his passions must have been confounded, Desire in him is such an endless Mine. Eve would have Adam been, Man Kings, Kings more, Till such destruction fall as fell before.

44.

Therefore if pow'r within these Scepter Lines Could keep, and give as it would be repaid, These mutual fed, and mutual feeding Mines Would still enrich, could hardly be decayd; For Chance gives mutual Confidence a bliss; And God helps those frames, which shew likest his.

45.

Besides this activeness it self maintains, And rather then live idle, can do ill; Those Images it raiseth in our Brains Having alliance not with Truth, but Will, And to confirm this, strives to pull all down That limit the excesses of a Crown.

DECLINATION OF MONARCHY. To Violence. SECT. II.

46.

NOw though the World on the Excentricks be Fashion'd to move, and ballance her own weight, Not much enclining to obliquity, Yet is her Ruler Man, through self-conceit, Violence of Pride, fate of corruption, Apt to give all her best works interruption.

47.

For since Religions name, not Nature, came To Rule, those ancient forming pow'rs gave place, The stile of Conscience over-weighing Fame, And Reason yielding up her Soveraign Mace Unto those lively Pictures which produce Unactive apparitions of no use.

48.

Which Change straight wrought, but was not straight-ways found, Pow'r was so veil'd with formal laws and baits Under which still the infinite lay bound And Man bewitcht with wits confufed sleights, To make pow'rs Throne the Idol of his heart Transforming Zeal and Nature into Art.

49.

So that without the guide of Cloud or Fire, Man since sails fatal straights of hope and fear, In Ebbs and Flouds of travelling desires, Where what we have to us is never dear Pow'r making men vainly, by off'ring more, Hope to redeem that state they had before.

50.

Hence falls it out that silly people loose Still by these thin webs of Authority. Which they that spin, yet therefore cannot use, Because these threds no more inherent be within themselves, but so transcrib'd to Crowns As they raise Pow'r by pulling freedom down.

51.

Thus by a credulous obedience, Mankind gave Might a ground to build up more, Cooling and kindling his desire with sence, Even of such things as were his own before, Disease and Error meeting both in this That many follow where one rooted is.

52.

For thus imbas'd, we since want pow'r to tie Others to us, or us unto our own; Our many passions serve to bind us by, And our distractions keep our strengths unknown, One holding that which others give away; The Base, whereon all Tyranny doth stay.

53.

Hence came these false Monarchal Councils in, And instruments of Tyrants States apart, Which to their private from the publick win, While Man becomes the Matter, Pow'r the Art; Making obedience too indefinite As taxt with all the vanities of Might.

54.

The Tenure chang'd, Nature straight chang'd the use For all the active spirits follow Might; Ignorance baseness; Negligence abuse; Inconstancy disunion, oversight, By Crowns to people so intail'd are they As no subjection can put these away.

55.

Whence neither makers now, nor Members held Men are, but Blanks, where Pow'r doth write her Lust A spriteless Mass, which, for it cannot weld It self, at others pleasure languish must; Resolve to suffer, and let pow'r do all Weakness in Men, in Children natural.

56.

From which Cras'd womb of frailty was brought forth, A Giant Creature in excess of Might, To work in all with every pow'r but worth, Who to be sure, that never shall have right, Takes not God as he is, but makes him new Like to his ends, large, narrow, false, or true

57.

Religion, Honour, Natures Laws and Nations All moulds derived from that gift transcendent, These Monsters stampt, or gave disestimation As they did find them theirs or undependent; Left nothing certain here on earth but Will, And that yet never constant, for tis ill.

58.

Instance proud Mahomet when he propos'd The Empire of this world to his ambition, Under Gods name were not his acts dispos'd To change Mans faith and freedom of condition? The sacred Dove whisp'ring into his Ear That what his Will impos'd, the World must fear.

59.

Unto Cambyses all his sages vow'd That in their reading they of no Law wist Which Marriage with his Sister had allow'd, But that their Monarch might do what he list; Licet si libet, and what be these other Then hellish words of Caracalla's Mother.

60.

And doth not our great Capitolian Lord Use the same compass in each course he steers? Are not those Acts which all Estates discord, As Kings assasinate, mutiny of Peers Stirr d up by him under pretence Divine, To force those Scepters he cannot encline?

61.

Nay, hath he not a higher pitch attain'd, A more compendious power of perswasion? Having, since Phoebus and Cybele Raign'd, Made himself, such a Trypode by occasion, As may not be examin'd, or withstood, But with a Godhead equally made good.

62.

Which Errors (like the Hectick Feavers) be Easie to cure, while they are hard to know; But when they once obtain Supremacy, Then easily seen; but hard to overthrow: So that where Pow'r prevents not this excess, Miters grow great, by making Scepters less.

63.

Therefore did these proud Tyrants live awake, Careful to Cancel all inferior Rights, And in Creations still keep pow'r to make, To fit each Instruments and fashion Spirits, That as the Head Ideas rule the Heart, So pow'r might print her Will in every part,

64.

For active Rulers seldom fail of means, Occasion, Colour, and Advantage too, To bind by Force, by Wit, by Customes chains, And make th' oppessed souls content to woe: Fear suffering much, for fear to suffer more, As still by smart made greater then before.

65.

Knowing that Men alike touch't never were, That divers sence works diversly in woe, The nimblest Wits being still kept down by fear; Dull wits not feeling neighbors overthrow; The wise mistrust the weak, and strive to bear, Thrones being strong, because men think them so: Yet mark at length how Error runs in rounds, And ever what it raiseth up confounds.

66.

For when this pow'r transcendent grows secure Flattering it self that all is made for one, Then Will, which nothing but it self endure And Pow'r that thinks it stands and works alone, With an unsatiate pride and wanton ease Surfets it self with other mens disease.

67.

Hence Laws grow tedious, and the very names Of God and Truth, whose Natures died before A heavy burthen to these racking Frames, That with a word would wrest up all and more; Assemblies of Estate disparagements be, Taxe, Custome, Fear, and Labor onely free.

68.

Hence Thrones grew Idols, Man their Sacrifice, And from the Earth as to the Sun above Tributes of Dew and exhalations rise; So humane Nature yields up all but Love, Having this strange transcendency of Might, As Child of no mean vice, but Infinite.

6

Whereby these strengths which did before concurre To build, invent, examine, and conclude, Now turn disease, bring question and demur, Oppose, dissolve, prevaricate, delude, And with opinions give the State unwrest To make the new still undermine the best.

70.

Caesar was slain by those that objects were Of Grace, and Engines of his Tyranny, Brutus and Cassius work shall witness bear, Even to the Comfort of posterity, That proud aspirers never had good end; Nor yet excess of Might a constant friend.

71.

So that although this Tyrant usurpation Stood peaz'd by humours from a present fall; Thoughts being all forc't up to adoration Of wit and pow'r (which such Thrones work withal) Yet both the Head and Members finite are And must still by their miscreating marre.

72.

The nature of all over-acting might, Being to stirre offence in each Estate, And from the deep impressions of despight Enflame those restless instruments of Fate, Which as no friends of Duty, or Devotion Easily stirre up Incursion, or Commotion.

73.

Occasion for a forreign Enemy, Or such Competitors as do pretend By any stile, or popularity, Faction or Sect, all whose endeavors tend To shake the Realm, or by assasinate, Into the People to let fall the State

74.

In which excess of Tyrants violence, If Nero lack a foreign Enemy Nero from Vindex shall receive offence, Safe from his guard Caligula shall not be; Or if these Tyrants find none worse then they. Otho shall help to make himself away.

75.

But grant the World slept in her misery, Yet greedy Time, that good and ill devours, To cross this head-long course of Tyranny, Takes from the Throne these ancient daring pow'rs; And by succession of mans discontent, Carries mischance upon misgovernment.

76.

Wherein observe the wit of former days, Which feign'd their Gods themselves (oft to prevent Pow'rs inclination to oppressing ways) Came down and give offences punishment; Lest Man should think, above mortality Against injustice there were no decree.

77.

For proof, when with Lycaon's Tyranny Men durst not deal, then did Jove to reform Descend, and savage natur'd cruelty Fitly into the greedy wolf transform; So was that Tyrant Tereus nasty Lust Chang'd into Upupa's foul feeding dust.

78.

Hence was Megaera, and her Sisters tied By God to attend the crys of Mens oppressions; Whether Orestes were for Parricide To be distracted with his own impressions; Or Pentheus for his proud blaspheming scorn In many pieces by his Mother torn.

79.

Thus as we see these guides of humane kind Chang'd from Gods, and Fathers to oppressors; So we see Tyrannie's excess of mind Against her own Estate become transgressor; And either by her subjects craft betraid Slain by themselves, or by Gods Judgement swayd.

Of weak-minded Tyrants. SECT. III.

80.

OLympus kept her Scepter without stain, Till she let fall Pow'rs tender reputation, By gracing Venus and her Son to Raign, Who with the First Gods had no estimation, For when these faint thoughts came to rule above Pow'r lost at once both Majesty and Love.

81.

A work of Saturn, who with narrow spite Mow'd down the Fat, and let the Lean Ears spring, That after his sithe nothing prosper might; Time that begets and blasteth every thing, To Barley making Wheat degenerate, As Eagles did into the Kites estate.

82.

But let us grant excess of Tyranny Could scape the heavy hand of God and Man; Yet by the natural variety Of frailties, raigning since the world began; Faint relaxations doubtless will ensue, And change Force into Craft, old times to new.

83.

Worth must decay, and height of pow'r decline, Vices shall still, but not the same Vice, Raign; Error in Mankind is an endless Mine, And to the worst, things ever did constrain: Unbound it would live, and delight by change To make those formes still welcome that be strange

84.

Hence like a Ball, how hath this world been tost From hand to hand, betwixt the Persians, Medes, Romans and Greeks, Each name in other lost? And while Romes pride her Government misleads To scorn the Asian Grecian Arms and Worth, Made slave she was to those Lords she brought forth.

85.

What marvel is it then to see the Earth Thus chang'd from Order into Anarchy? When these Ideas of refined birth Were thus transform'd from reasons Monarchy Into that false Oligarchy of passion, Where Princes must bear every bodies fashion?

86.

And whereby man may really conclude, That in it self Time onely doth not change, Nature affecting like vicissitude; Whence to see Vice succeed worth is not strange, Weakness and strength, aswell as Youth and Age Having in each Estate a various stage.

87.

So that out of this Phaenix fire there bred Birds that do wear no Feathers of their own, But borrow'd Plumes, which imping ever need, And such as are by divers colours known, Not of or for themselves to move or be But under them that guide their Infancy.

88.

Which changling weakness made to serve, not raign, Possessing all without a doing Lust; To add more scorn to her fore-runners stain Dare neither cherish ill, nor goodness trust; But slacks those Engines which are wound before, And so gives people back their own again and more.

89.

Then, Man, mark by this change, what thou hast won That leav'st a Torrid, for a frozen Zone; And art by Vice-vicissitudes undone, Whose state is ever fatal to her own, The active Tyrant scarce allowing breath, While this unactive threatens lingring death.

90.

For where to Power absolute, such spirits Are raised up, as unacquainted be How to create, to censure faults or merits, Where to be bound, to bind or to be free, Amidst the ocean of Mans discontent, They want both Map and Scale of Government.

91.

Since where the Poyze, betwixt Heart, Wit, and Right Unequalis, and Wit predominant, Opinions shadows must seem infinite To Passive Circles large, the Active scant, All cleer Zones dimly overcast with fear, And to those false Mists Mankind forc't to swear.

92.

Whence from inferiors, visions fitted be, Deceiving frailty with her own desire; Ease is made Greatness, Trust a Liberty, A point of Craft for power to retire, To work by others held a Soveraign State, Resting as God, who yet distributes Fate.

93.

Under which Clouds, while Pow'r would shadow Sloth And make the Crown a specious hive for Drones, Unactiveness finds scorn, and ruine both, Vice and Misfortune seldom go alone, Pow'r loosing it self by distast of pain, Since they that labor will be sure to raign.

94.

For though like AEolus from the hills of Might, Thrones can let winds out to move Earth and Sea, Yet neither can they calm or guide them right From blasting of that Mountain where they lay, Because these spirits joyn, part, war, agree To rob weak minds of strong authority,

95.

Thus did old Galba Raign in Pupillage Under the Tutorship of two or three Who rob'd, built, spoil'd upon the publick stage, Cloth'd with the vail of his authority: Thus Claudius in his Empire liv'd a thrall, Scorn'd by those slaves rais'd by him to do all.

96.

Besides what Feavers then must raign, when these Base idle fantosmes, Creatures of Grace, Impossible to temper, hard to please, Shall have the pow'r to raise up or deface? Since mean born Natures, Artless fortune great, Hate them that merit, scorn them that intreat.

97.

Which blasting humours wound both Men and things, Down go the Schools, the Pulpit and the Barr, States fall where Power flies with feeble wings, To make a man, such Kings of't Kingdoms marr, Nothing and all alike are currant there, Order springs up and dies, Change no shape bears.

98.

Hence come contempt of Laws, and Bullions fall, Riddles of State which get by doing harm; Statutes for words, bondage unnatural, Offices, Customes, Cittadels in farme, Engaging Crowns, making pow'rs name a stile To ruine worth, which it cannot beguile.

99.

Yet mark how Vice (that it self only friends) In her own web, still wears her own disease, By disproportion compassing her ends, And disproportion ruining her ways; For those that rose by Providence, Care, Pain, And over pow'r which wanted these, did raign

100.

Grow fondly scornful, idle, imperious, Despising form, and turning Law to Will, Abridge our freedom to Lord over us, Loosing the fruit of humors with the skill; Till by degrees insensibly they fall By leaving those Arts which they rose withal.

101.

When instantly those undertaking pow'rs Care, hazard, Wit, misplaced Industry (Which helpt to build their oligarchal Tow'rs) Fly from these downfals of prosperity; As Spirits that to govern were created, And cannot lower properly be rated.

102.

The pride of such inferiors did constrain The Swiss against the Austrians Cantonise; So were the Belgians likewise forc't again A new Republick finely to devise. * 1.1 In which that Monarch was compel'd to Treat As with States equal Free, not equal Great.

103.

For Vices soon to heights and periods rise, Have both their Childhood, state and declination, Are sometimes currant, but at no time wise; Like blazing Stars that burn their own foundation, Or shadows which the shew of bodies have And in self-darkness both a Life and Grave.

104.

Whence it proceeds that all the works of Error Live not in state of health, but sick and cured, Change carrying out Excess, to bring in Terror, Never securing, nor to be secured; But Physick-like in new diseases bred, Either substracts or adds till all be dead.

105.

Thus rose all States, thus grew they, thus they fall From good to ill, and so from ill to worse; Time for her due vicissitudes doth call, Error still carrying in it self her curse; Yet let this Light out of these Clouds break forth, That Pow'r hath no long Being but in Worth.

Cautions against these weak Extremities. SECT. IV:

106.

NOw to prevent or stay these Declinations And desperate diseases of Estate, As hard is as to change the Inclinations Of humane Nature in her Love or Hate; Which whosoever can make straight or true As wel is able to create her new.

107.

Hence falls it out that as the wise Physitian, When he discovers death in the disease, Reveals his Patients dangerous condition; And straight abandons what he cannot ease Unto the Ghostly Physick of a Might Above all second causes Infinite.

108.

So many grave and great men of Estate In such despaired times retire away, And yield the stern of Government to Fate, Foreseeing her remediless decay, Loath in confused torrents of oppression To perish as if guilty of transgression.

109.

Who then can wary Seneca reprove? After he had observ'd his Pupils rage, The Brother poison'd (strange bewitching Love) The Mother slain, of vice his patronage; If he from bloody Nero did remove, And as the Pilots do in Tempests groan, To Fate give over Art, and all their own.

110.

But grant such spirits were to be excus'd, As by oppression or necessity Disgraced live, restrained, or not us'd, As part themselves of publick misery, Yet who are free must labor and desire To carry water to this common fire.

111.

Have not some by equality of mind, Even in the crossest course of evil times, With passive goodness won against the wind? So Priscus pass'd Domitian's torrid Climes, And scapt't from danger to the full of days, Helping frail Rome with un-offending ways.

112.

Was it true Valour or Timidity That made stern Cato so impatient Of his own life, and Caesar's victory? Vanity it was, like smoak not permanent That wrought this weak work of strong destiny Where while he lost his life and Rome a friend, He lost that Glory which he made his end.

113.

For since the most Estates at first were founded Upon the waving Basis of confusion; On what but fear can his discourse be grounded That in distress despairs of good conclusion? With mysteries of which vicissitude Fate oftentimes doth humane wit delude.

114.

Again, who mark times revolutions, find The constant health of Crowns doth not remain In pow'r of Man, but of the pow'rs Divine, Who fixe, change, ruine, or build up again According to the period, wain or State, Of good or evils seldom changing fate.

115.

First then let Tyrants (as they do encline By nature, either way unto excess) Conceive, though true perfection be Divine And no where ever brought to pass with less: Yet in the world, which they would govern well, Cures and Diseases both together dwell.

116.

And though to live by rule proud man be loath; Yet rules to Kings and Subjects are such stays As Crutches be to feeble Ages sloth, Or as the main turmoiled Mother seas Do find those banks which then confine her course, When rage blown up, would els make all things worse.

117.

Let no man then expect a constant Air Between the sence of Men and senseless Might, Where one man makes skies foul, another fair, In Passive orbs who looks for other right, Child like must break all toys for loss of one, And by their fall add honour to a Throne.

118.

Rather let People, as in Airs infected, Not seek to master but avoid disease, By absence now, by homage now protected, Not looking high for stumbling in their ways; Lest, as of old, curst with confused speech They now find no word currant but, Beseech.

119.

Again, let weak Kings keep their homour chaste, Not daring violence, lest over-built They help to lay their own foundation wafte, And failing themselves, multiply their guilt, Since hearts as strong as their Estates must be, That can enlarge themselves by Tyranny.

120.

For as in weak Estates, so in weak Minds, To injure or oppress humanity Stirs up Right, Wit, and Heart in divers kinds, To shew how easily hazard makes men free; Where prospect must appear to these weak kings A sign that ruine flies with nimble wings.

121.

This weakness which I mean hath divers kinds, Some water-like, easie to take impression, And like it leave not any print behind, Which I omit as fit for no profession: The other wax like, take, and keep a mind, And may in strengths they have, not of their own, Be helpt by common Duties to a Throne.

122.

For as, when Birds and Beasts would have a King, To furnish this fair creature for a guide; Out of their own they gave him every thing, And by their gifts themselves more surely tyed; Eyes, Voices, Wings, and of their natures skill, To govern, raise, and ruine them at will.

123.

So may these frail unactive kind of spirits Be with the Milk of many Nurses fed, All striving to hold up the Scepters rights With Subjects strengths by Crowns authorised, Whereby the feeble may again be wombed, And there get life even where it was intombed.

124.

Which outward help of others providence Watcheth occasion, poizeth each intent, Nor is Crown-wisdom any Quintescence Of abstract Truth or art of Government, More then sweet Sympathy or Counterpeaze Of humours temper'd happily to please.

125.

But their best help indeed is happy choice Of under Ministers of every kind, By whom discreetly Thrones may judge the voice Of Images projected to their mind: And so by weak but wakeful jealousie, The true of false scope of propounders see.

126.

Whence mark, how that young unexperienc'd spirit Alexander (who was after nam'd Severe) During his youth did of his people merit, By help of Council uncorrupt, to bear The practice of his publick government Under good Laws, which gave good men content.

127.

Now though pow'r hardly can fit spirits to place, Which must want Judgement wanting industry, And so as rarely well dispose of Grace, Having but Chance, no true Nobility; Yet kinless Fame helps weakness what to judge, Till from an eccho, she become a drudge.

128.

For as the Painter (curious in his Art) Extream ill features easily represents, And by deformity in every part, Express the life and likeness to content; As he in ••atures good proportions shews, That in her pride Art equal with her goes.

129.

So Fame this Quintescence of humane spirit, Brings unto light the divers states of men, And seldome to unworthiness gives merit, Or lets Perfection languish in a Den; But on her wings alike brings either forth; The one as good, the other nothing worth.

130.

Thus may Fames many Eyes, Heads, Wings and Heart, Instruct weak pow'r to keep her state upright; And as to rule these is a Masters Art; So to rule by these is one way of Might, Wherein the Crown can feel no great distress And for the People, they must sure find less.

131.

Besides the help of Fame weak Thrones shall find The wit of Time, and selfness in mens hearts, Will teach how one man, many men may bind, And raise the head by counterpoize of parts, All having charge and subaltern degree, To ease the audits of Authority.

132.

Where else weak hands in mighty works must fail; And all transform'd be to Usurpers passion; Thrones then reserve your selves, choice and appeal; Greatness her way must with some labor fashion, With many Eyes he must see wrong and Right, That Finite being, would rule Infinite,

133.

Or if Pow'rs tender thoughts will needs make pleasure The end of Crowns, which God made publick good, Yet give your seconds scope in such a measure, As may for Chiefs still make you understood; Which one poor priviledge you may reserve, By thinking more, then one, can well deserve.

134.

For: as in bodies living (though decay'd) If all parts equally chance to be stain'd, The whole is by an AEquilibrium sway'd, As where no odds can easily be gain'd; And so Mortality adjourn'd as far Oft as in those: all whose parts sounder are.

135.

So these weak Pow'rs (in whom States are diseas'd By equal disproportion in each part) May scape great fits and happily be eas'd Keeping her tottering Ballance up by Art: In making Faction which destroys the strong, By peazing weak Pow'rs to preserve them long.

136.

What had become of Romes vast Monarchy, When Galienus buried was in Lust, Sloth, Riot, and Excess of vanity, Even while the Barbars swarm'd like barren dust; Had not the Thirty Rivals to each other From one Mans Tyranny preserv'd their Mother.

137.

Let Place then Rule, let Favor raign, not Merit; And each in his Predicament be King; Do of a head use neither pow'r nor spirit To audit, question or judge any thing; Onely let Faction multiply her seed, Two bodies headless seldom danger breed.

138.

For equals soon each other will oppose, And both in Thrones as suddenly unite, To it they pray, they travel, they disclose; Creation only ballanceth their Might; Reserve, distribute that in jealous measure, Then Crowns may stand, and Kings may take their pleasure.

139.

These partial wits (which Faction works withal) Though fatal Judges, yet good Sisters be, Which while they strive each other to enthral, Cleer up the dimme lights of authority; And shew weak Crowns what weight of hope or fear The State or mind of every man can bear.

140.

Besides Thrones have all moulds of their forefathers, Safe under-buildings of the wisdoms dead, Exchequers that Revenues Judge and gather, Courts that examine Treason to the head; Parliaments, Councel-seats, Tripods of Law, Engines of pow'r to keep desire in awe.

141.

For forain practice they have spies of time And place, to which intelligence is due; For Church inferior functions, and sublime To teach men God, and take a spiritual view Of Schisme in Doctrine, and in life of sin, That neither Sect, nor scandal enter in.

142.

Onely let not weak pow'rs lay new foundations, Who cannot judge how time works on the old; But keep the ancient forms in reputation To which Mans freedom is already sold, Since Order over-worn is yet a frame, Wherein Confusion rarely weavs her name.

143.

Thus much for weakness in that Royal part Which doth concern Justice that is supreme; Whose Golden Links (though forg'd by powers Art) Safe Circles are to compass every Realm; And keep out all thoughts of irreverence, As bearing in it every mans defence.

144.

Where frailty else, ever unfortunate Wanting true cales between Place, Wit, and Heart, Scatters the strength, and honour of a State, By suffering more to play one Tyrants part; And blows the people ike louds here and there, As (till exhausted) objects of their fear.

145.

Lastly, if these mild Cautions fail to stay These frailties, which disease-like turn and toss, And so for that change every where make way, Which Change unguided still begetteth loss; Then he who cannot take, must taken be, Such sharp points hath frail mans Supremacy.

Of Strong Tyrants. SECT. V:

146.

NOw from the setting of this evening Star Ascends that morning Planets influence, Which both in Light and Glory passeth far; These Comets of strong pow'r in feeble sence, And who from inequality of state Strive to make all, for one, unfortunate,

147.

I mean such confident imperious Spirits, As over act with restless Scepter-wit, Thinking the world inferior to their merits; And brook no other bounds or laws in it, Then to make all their own thoughts, words, and deeds Receiv'd of people not as Rules, but Creeds.

148.

Which souls thus over-swoln with windy vice, Must wisely be allay'd, and moulded be; Lest Torrent-like, they with the prejudice Of People, wast their own transcendency; And thus by cutting real grounds too thin, Have their ambitions ever to begin.

149.

For though Throne-vice be publick, like her State (And therefore must (of force) wound many ways) Yet some move scorn, some faults men wonder at, Others harm not so many as they please, Ill chosen vices vanish in despair, Well chosen still leave somthing after fair.

150.

Vitellius vertueless in Life and Raign, Yet by a gluttons familiarity, The German Armies did so finely gain, As against Otho, he had victory; Brake the Praetorian forces; and in vain Vespatian had aspir'd his Monarchy, But that each vice fits not all times and states, For what one age affects another hates.

151.

Pertinax again, in whom predominant Few vices were, yet narrowness of heart Made him the fortune of great Armies want, Where Caesar mixt with Vices, Worth, and Art, Had with the people for his death such moan, As if in him Rome had been overthrown.

152.

In him that first did spoil her Treasury Ravage her Provinces and Tyrannise, While as bewitcht with prodigality, They sell themselves for what in their pow'r lies: Thus pleasing vices sometimes raise a Crown, As austere vertues often pull it down.

153.

Pow'r therefore must those womanish slight errors, Which publish to the World self-love or fear, Carefully shun, as crafty peoples mirroirs, To shew both what the King and Crown can bear; And teach Mankind on humors to take hold, That otherwise with Thrones durst not be bold.

154.

From hence the Macedonians did get heart To dally with that tenderness they found In their great King, and finely frame an Art To keep the Monarch with his own thoughts bound; For when Hephestion died he did aspire, Through him to make a God of his desire.

155.

Unto which God some straight did Altars build, Some Sacrific'd, others sware by his name, Some told their dreams, others were vision-fill'd; All which inspirings from Hephestion's came: As Grace or disgrace did in Nero's days, To those that did his singing scorn or praise.

156.

Aspires therefore on corruption founded, Should use their vice as Merchants do their ware; Not choak the Market, lest their vents be bounded, But martial these things which excesses are, So as by Vice made slaves they may not be, But rather Vice made Arts of Tyranny.

157.

For Majesty then sinks, when private vice Is not kept servant to the publick State, But rather crowns with common prejudice Subjected basely to their Vices fate; Because of consequence then power must Serve them in all things that observe their Lust.

158.

Wise Salomon was taken in this Net, When those strange Women which bewitcht his mind, By it a pow'rful government did get, To wave his own faith, and seduce Mankind; For which Vice if his heirs did loose the Throne, It proves, disorder never goes alone.

159.

Again, as Tyrants are Eclips'd by this, So falls the Scepter when it bankrupt grows In common Fame, which Natures Trumpet is: Defect, for ever finding scorn below; For Reputation airy though it be, Yet is the Beauty of Authority.

160.

Which to improve, strong Princes must despise All Arts that blemish Birth, Place, Courage, Worth; For Tyrants unto men then Sacrifice Their Thrones, when inward errors they shew forth, Which curiously the wise have ever us'd To keep conceal'd, well ballanc'd, or excus'd.

161.

Such are extortions, cruelty, oppression, Covetousness, endless anger, or displeasure, Neglect, or scorn of person, or profession, Pride, baseness, rudeness, vain expence of treasure; All which like number multiplied by place, Do in the Man the Monarchy disgrace.

162.

Dissolving due respect and reverence, Which gentle raines in active Princes hands Give such restraint or latitude to sence, As with the end of government best stands, And who lets fall these pleasing inward ties Must either fall in State or Tyrannise.

163.

Let Rehoboam then in all his ways Avoid yong Council which enflame the hearts, And so on ruine pow'rs foundation lays In which light youth hath still the chiefest parts: Their wit is force, the old mans force is wit, And then for Thrones, let no man judge what's fit.

164.

But above all, such actions as may bring His Faith in doubt, a strong Prince must eschew, Because it doth concern a boundless king To keep his words, and contracts, steddy, true, His Grants entire, Graces not undermin'd; As if both Truth and Pow'r had but one mind.

165.

What did it profit that great Charles the fist To traffick with the proud simplicity Of German Princes, by unprincely shift, Misletterd writs, a Conclave subtilty? Since ill fate then, and ever did befall That broken faith aspirers work withal.

166.

The precepts of Lysander to beguile Children with toys, and men with perfidie, Records himself by this infamous wile, To be their Tutor in malignity, Who since conclude that perjury no sin, Which by equivocation enters in.

167.

A vice so hateful never as when it Borrows the veil of justice for deceit; Hollow Tiberius plays not with his wit, But to give his false practice better weight; Hence sacred Virgins are to be defil'd By hangmen first, to have the Law beguil'd.

168.

The Poets shew what credit with these Gods Truth had, by Sacred oath of Stygian lake, The heavy dooms, and still tormenting rods, Which they reserv'd sor them that sware and brake; And freed from pain if these pow'rs could not be, What shall we think of Tyrants blasphemie?

169.

Did Tantalus, belov'd of Jupiter, With his own Nectar, and Ambrosia nurst; Or Battus painless in perjuring erre? — — — When Tantalus in hell sees store and starves, Which senceless Battus for a Touchstone serves.

170.

Thus see we how all times, all sorts of Faith, Some by the Cloud of fained transformation, Others by humane censure unto death, And some by heavy doom of discreation, To keep Truth sacred carefully have sought, Without which no society is ought.

171.

Therefore let pow'r in her deliberations, Take time and care before she undertake, That she an equal Princely calculation Of wealth, strength, titles, fears, and hope may make, Because if Tyrants there poize all things right, To do, or to forbear, it gives them light.

172.

The pain's no more, or rather not so much To shun the sickness as to seek the cure, And yet in gain, and honour far more rich, It is within her strength to rest secure, Then peece, veil, yield, when she hath done amiss, Since great descent in Scepters fatal is.

173.

Pow'r, make your leagues, gifts, contracts therefore just, Since wrong prescribes not Crowns by time or deed; Thrones never wanting means, occasion, Lust, To try by hazard how their right shall speed, In whose uncertain orb yet Princes shall Oft find mischance, upon misdoing fall.

174.

For howsoever to the partial Throne Of mighty Pow'r, the acts of Truthless wit May currant go, like Brass, amongst their own; Yet when the World shall come to judge of it, Nature that in her wisdom never lies, Will shew deceit, and wrong are never wise,

175.

But grant this honor unto faithlesness, That sometimes it may prosper with occasion, And make true wisdome in appearance less, Yet what gains Pow'r by loss of reputation? Since every blossome which ill-doing bears Blasteth the fruit of good success with fears?

176.

Again, as Tyrants ought to soar above This reach of humours, so ought they to bear A Rulers hand, and every Spirit move, That under them shall govern hope or fear, Since by whose wisdomes States are governed, They of the same States, are reputed head.

177.

Yet must not this supremacy descend Of Sect or Faction to become a part, Since all is theirs, all must on them depend, And to make use of each side is their Art; Else like Kings forc't for refuge to one Town, They in that one, cast Dice for all their Crown.

178.

Rather must they by providence unite All parties so, as none may gage their state, Or in their private ends withdraw from might, But give their greatest, such a yielding rate, As like the Earth plow'd up, they must not groan, Though greedy pow'r exhaust more then their own.

179.

For Faction else lurking in hopes and fears, When it awakes by opportunity, Straight Hydra-like, in many foreheads bears Horror, division, multiplicity, Nor safe unto it self, nor to those Kings That unto mean birds will lend Eagles wings.

180.

Therefore should this well masked Cockatrice Be carefully even in the egg supprest, Before the venome of her poisoning vice Against the Prince and Kingdom be addrest; It being not safe for strong-witted might To give subjection any regal right.

181.

For as we see in deep corrupted airs,, Each petty sickness turns to pestilence, And by infection common ruine bears, So, in the Orb of Kings omnipotence, Faction oft makes each private discontent Swell above Law to plague the government.

182.

For to make bodies strong, proves heads are weak, And so two Sects prepared in one Realm, Which doth the beauty of obedience break, By tempting discontented minds to glean; And so force Thrones to one side for protection Whose being is to keep both in subjection.

183.

Nor holds our rule alike with weak and strong, Since weak Kings raigns do very seldom raise Such spirits, as dare shuffle right aud wrong, At least what breeds them, breeds their counterpeaze; Corruptions weak birth therefore yielding many, Lest Liberty should be ingrost by any.

184.

Whereas this other Princely stirring stuff, Oft by example gives new Laws to Kings, With danger to Soveraignity enough By those new fashions which they give to things: Therefore are factions here to be supprest; Which in mild times support weak Princes best.

185.

Now how pow'r so should ballance things and minds, As all dissentions may in her unite, Or from what place Pow'r arguments should find, To make the crooked undergo the right; How it should pierce the skin of passion, And yet in these wounds instantly give fashion,

186.

Strong hearts learn out of Practick wisdom must, Which knowing how to pay each with his own, By mixing good and ill, with fear and Lust, Reap among Thorns, Seeds by them never sown; And make the people yield up their Estate, To add more still to government they hate:

187.

Which artificial steerage of affection, Having but small affinity with good, No Essence, but an Essence like reflection; Will best by opposites be understood, The soul excess of ill being only that Which to avoid in Pow'r I level at.

188.

Therefore as little Bridles to restrain Mans climing mind in Princes boundless might, Let Tyrants that think all their acts remain Spread, like Apollo's beams, in each mans sight, Which by the divers fate of good or ill Either produce scorn, malice, or good will,

189.

Lastly, this Tyrant-pow'r (veil of the Man) In peoples eyes must not assiduous be; What hath respect appears but now and then; Reservedness, that Art of Tyranny, Equally graceth both pain and reward; Demission works remission, not regard,

190.

Thus much in brief, to temper head-strong vice Which thorow Princes often wounds the Crown; To shun which dangerous racking precipice, Tyrants should all signs of their selfness drown; And yet by odds of place work every man To serve them with the best, and worst they can.

191.

But if Pow'r will exceed, then, then let Mankind Receive oppression, as fruits of their error, Let them, again, live in their duties shrin'd, As their safe Haven from the winds of terror. Till he that rais'd Pow'r to mow mans sins down, Please for Pow'rs own sins, to pluck off her Crown.

Of Church. SECT. VI:

192.

THus having in few Images exprest The effect which each extremity brings forth, Within Mans nature, to disturb mans rest; What enemies again they be to worth, As either Gyves, which freedom doe restrain, Or Jubiles which let confusion raign.

193.

There rests to shew, what these degrees of vice Work. when they fixt be to the moulds of might; As what relation to the prejudice, Or help they yeeld of universal right; Vice getting forces far above her own, When it spreads from a perfon to a Throne,

194.

For as in Princes natures, if there be An Audit taken, what each kind of passion Works and by what usurp't authority, Order and reason's peace they do disfashion; Within mans little world, it proves the same Which of pow'rs great world doth confound the frame.

195.

Whence spread Kings self-love into Church or Law, Pulpit and Bar streight feel corrupted might Which bounded will not be, much less in awe. Of Heavenly censure, or of Earthly right: Besides Creation and each other part Withers, When Pow'r turns Nature into Art.

196.

For as between the object and our sence, Look where the mediums do prove dim or cleer, Mens minds receive forms of intelligence, Which makes things either fair or foul appear, So between powers lust, and peoples right, The mediums help to cleer or dazel light.

197.

Therefore to let down these high pillar'd Thrones To lower Orbs where Prince and People mixe, As Church, Laws, Commerce, Rights well temper'd Zones, Where neither part extremity can fixe, Either to bind Transcendence by constraint, Or spoil mankind of all rights but complaint,

198.

And where by this well-ballancing of Might, Regalities of Crowns stand undeclin'd, Whose beings are not to be infinite, And so of greater price then all mankind; But in desire and function temper'd so As they may current with their people go.

199.

When Theopompus, Lacedemons King Had rais'd up a Plebean Magistrate, (Like Roman Tribunes) which the soaring wing Of Soveraign excesses might abate; He therein saw, although he bound his Child, Yet in a less room he did surer build.

200.

For infinite ambition to extend The bounds of pow'r (which finite pow'rs must weld) As vain is, as desire to comprehend, And plant Eternity in natures field; Whereby the idle, and the over-doing Alike run on, their own destruction woing.

201.

Active then yet without excess of Spirit, Strong Princes must be in their Government, Their influence in every thing of merit, Not with an idle, glorious name content, But quick in nimble use, and change of wombs, Which else prove Peoples snares, and Princes tombs.

202.

Placing the first foundation of their Raigns Upon that frame, which all frames else exceeds; Religion, by whose name the Scepter gains More of the world, and greater reverence breeds In Forrainer, and home-bred subjects too, Then much expence of blood and wealth can do.

203.

For with what force Gods true Religion spreads, Is by her shadow superstition known; When Midas having over Phrygia shed Seeds of this Ceremony, till then unknown, Made Asia safer by that empty word, Then his forefathers had done by the sword?

204.

And is not Mahomets forg'd Alcoran Both with the Heathen in Authority: And to the Christians misled Miter-throne Become a very rack of Tiranny? Their spirits united, eating men like food, And making ill ends with strong Armies good.

205.

Religions fair name by insinuation Secretly seiseth all pow'rs of the mind, In understanding raiseth admiration, Worship in Will, which native sweet links bind The soul of Man, and having got possession Give pow'rfull Will an ordinate progression.

206.

Forming in Conscience lines of equity, To temper Laws, and without force infuse A home-born practice of civility, Currant with that which all the world doth use, Whereby divided Kingdoms may unite If not in truth, at least in outward rite.

207.

Therefore I say Pow'r should be provident In judging this chief strength of Tyranny With caution, that the Clergy Government Give not the Miter Crown-supremacy; Making the Sultan and the Caliph one, * 1.2 To Tyrannize both Cair and Babylon.

208.

The Churches proper Arms be Tears and Prayers, Peters true Keys to open Earth, and Sky, Which if the Priest out of his prides despair Will into Tybris cast, and Pauls sword try; Gods sacred word he therein doth abandon, And runs with fleshly confidence at random:

209.

Mild people therefore honour you your King, Reverence your Priests, but never under one Frail Creature both your soul and body bring, But keep the better part to God alone, The soul his Image is, and onely he Knows what it is, and what it ought to be

210.

Lest else by some idolatrous conceit, You give them, that at sin can cast no stone, Me••ns to pluck down the Godhead by deceit, And upon Mans inventions raise a Throne: Besides, where sword, and Canons do unite, The peoples bondage there proves infinite.

211.

Princes again wake, and be well advis'd, How suddenly in Man Kings pow'r is drown'd, The Miter rais'd, the Scepter prejudic'd, If you leave all rights Superstition bound; For then as souls more dear, then bodies are: So these Church-visions may strain nature far.

212.

Kings therefore that fear superstitious Might, Must cross their courses in their infancy, By which the Druids, with their shadow'd light, Got Goods from them that took their words, to be Treble rewarded in the life to come; And works not Paradice the same for Rome?

213.

For with such mystical dexterity, Racking the living Souls through rage of sin, And dying souls with horrors mystery, Did not the Miter from the Scepter win The third part of the world, till Luther came, Who fhak't the Doctrine of that double frame?

214.

Lie not France, Poland, Italy and Spain Still as the Snow doth, when it threatens more, Like Engines, fitted to draw back again Those that the true light severed before? And was not Venice excommunicate, For curbing such false purchases of late?

215.

Which endless thirst of sacred Avarice, If in the infancy it be not bounded Will hardly by prosperity grow wise; For as this Church is on apparence founded So besides Schools, and Cells which vail her shame, Hath she not Armies to extend her name?

216.

Pow'r for a Pensil, Conscience for a Table, To write opinion in of any fashion, With Wits distinctions, ever Merchantable, Between a Princes Throne and Peoples Passion? Upon which Texts she raiseth or puls down All, but those objects, which advance her Crown

217.

Pow'r therefore, be she needy, or ambitious, Dispos'd to peace, or unto war enclin'd, Whether religious in her life, or vicious, Must not to Miters so enthral Mankind; As above Truth, and Force, Moncks may prevail, On their false visions Crown-Rights to entail.

218.

Again, let not her Clerks by Simons ways, Lay wast endowments of devoted spirits; And so pull down, what their forefathers raisd With honour in their actions, if not merit; Least as by pride they once got up too high, Their baseness feel the next extremity.

219.

For first besides the scandal, and contempt Which those base courses on their Doctrine cast; The stately monuments are not exempt, Because without means, no time-works can last; And from high pomp a desperate descent Shews both in State and Church misgovernment.

220.

Whereof let her take heed, since when Estates From such a greatness do begin to fall, Descent is unto them precipitate: For as one Gangren'd member ruines all; So what the modesty of one time leaves, The time succeeding certainly bereaves.

221.

Therefore must Thrones (as Gods of forms exterior) Cast up this Earthly mettal in good mould; And when men to professions prove superior, Restrain proud thoughts, from doing what they would, Guiding the weak, and strong, to such extension, As may to order sacrifice invention.

222.

And hereby work that formal unity, Which brooks no new, or irreligious Sects, To nurse up Faction or Impiety, Change ever teaching people to neglect: But raise the painful, learned, and devout To plant obeying conscience thorowout.

223.

Veyling her Doctrine with Antiquity, Whence, and where although contradicting Sects Strive to derive, and prove their pedigree, As safest humane levels to direct Into what mould opinion should be cast, To make her true, at least like truth to last.

224.

Or if their times will not permit a Truce, In wrangling questions, which break natures peace, And therein offer God and Man abuse; Let pow'r yet wisely make their practice cease, In Church or Courts, and bind them to the Schools, As business for idle, witty fools.

225.

Ordering that people from the Pulpit hear Nothing, but that which seems mans life to mend; As shadows of eternal hope and fear, Which do contract the ill, and good extend, Not idle Theorick, to tickle wit, Empty of goodness, much more nice then fit.

226.

To which refining end, it may seem just, That in the Church the supream Magistrates Should ancient be, ere they be put in trust, Since aged wit best tempers, and abates These heady and exorbitant affections, Which are of blind proud youth the imperfections.

227.

The Roman Laws for Magistrates admit None that had not pass'd the meridian line Of youth, and humours incident to it; And shall it not in functions Divine Be more absurd, to let that youth appear, And teach what wise men think scarce fit to hear?

228.

Besides, chaste life years easilier may observe, Which temper in Cathedral Dignity, Though Wives be lawful, yet doth well deserve, As to their functions leaving them more free: Instance their Learned works that liv'd alone, Where married Bishops left us few, or none.

229.

And if men shall object, that this restraint Of lawful Marriage will encrease the sin, And so the beauty of the Church attaint, By bringing scandal through mans frailty in, I say mans fall is sins, not Churches shame, Ordain'd by censure to enlarge her Fame.

230.

Censure, the life of Discipline, which bears Pow'rs spiritual Standard, fit to govern all Opinions, Actions, Humours, Hopes, and Fears, Spread knowledge, make obedience general; Whence Man instructed well, and kept in awe, If not the inward, yet keeps outward Law.

231.

Which form is all that Tyranny expects, I mean, to win, to change, and yet unite; Where a true King in his estate affects So from within man, to work out the right, As his Will need not limit or allay The liberties of Gods immortal way.

232.

Where Tyrants discipline is never free, But ballanced, proportioned, and bounded So with the temporal ends of Tyranny, And ways whereon pow'rs greatnesses are founded; As in Creation, Fame, Life, Death, or War, Or any other heads that Soveraign are.

233.

Pow'r may not be opposed, or confounded; But each inferior Orb command or serve, With proper latitudes distinctly bounded, To censure all States that presume to swerve, Whereby the common people and the Throne May mutually protected be in one.

234.

Not rent asunder by sophistication Of one frail sinner, whose supremacy Stands by prophane or under-valuation Of Gods anointed Soveraignity: And by dividing subjects from their Kings Soars above those Thrones, which first gave them wings.

235.

Affecting such irrevocable might With us, as to their Mufty, Turks liv'd under, Or rather sacriledge more infinite, From Jove to wrest away the fearful Thunder: Salmoneus pride, as if the truth then fell, When he alone rul'd not Earth, Heav'n and Hell.

236.

Salmoneus who while he his Carroach drave Over the brazen Bridge of Elis stream, And did with artificial Thunder brave Jove, till he pierc't him with a lightning beam; From which example who will an Idol be, Must rest assur'd to feel a Deity.

237.

Thus much to shew the outward Churches use, In framing up the superstitious sphear, Subject alike to order, or abuse, Chain'd with immortal seeming hopes and fear; Which shadow-like their beings yet bereave, By trusting to be, when their bodies leave.

238.

Whereif that outward work which pow'r pretends, Were life indeed, not frail Hypocrisie, Monarchs should need no other Laws to friend, Conscience being Base of their authority; By whose want, frailty flashing out mans error Makes Thrones enwall themselves with Laws of terror.

Of Laws. SECT. VII.

239.

HEnce when these ancient friending Gods foresaw, Schism and division would creep into Nations, By this subjecting subtilty of Law, Which yet did yield their makers reputation; They out of Grace, sent down their progeny, To keep men as they were created free.

240.

Were not to this end Ceres well fram'd Laws As proper for Mankind, as was her Corn? Unto which cleer-ey'd Nature gives applause, By mutual Duties to which man is born And from which no soul can delivered be By time, discretion, or authority.

241.

Which Laws were not engrav'd in Stones, or Brass, Because these Mettals must corrupt with time, Mans understanding that impression was, Which did contain these Images Divine; Where Conscience seal'd with horror plagueth those That against these born-duties doe oppose.

242.

But after Mankinds hard and thankless heart Had banisht mild Astraea from the Earth, Then came this Sophistry of humane Arts, Pictures, not life of that Celestial birth; Falling from Laws of Heav'n-like harmony, To Mans Laws which but corrupt reason be.

243.

Of this kind Solon was in Athens one; Lycurgus Cobwebs over Sparta spread; The Locrians by Seleucus Nets were known, By Zoroasters Bactria was misled; Numa was he that first enthralled Rome, And Natures freedom under legal doom.

244.

After which Change, men have liv'd more divide By Laws, then they at first by Language were; For who before by reasons light were guided, Since, fondly worship to such Idols bear; As those new masters stir up in mans heart, Who seldom find truth in the weaker part.

245.

A Master-piece of pow'r which hath extinct That former light of nature men liv'd in, Holding the world to crown opinions linke Who simply prize not good, nor punish sin;

But whatsoever doth withstand their Will, That bar, as if by nature it were ill.

246.

Yet in Mans darkness since Church rites alone Cannot guard all the parts of Government, Lest by disorder States he overthrown, Pow'r must use Laws as her best instrument; Laws being Maps, and Councellors that do Shew forth diseases, and redress them too.

247.

For though perhaps at first sight Laws appear Like prisons, unto Tyrants Soveraign Might, Yet are they secrets, which pow'r should hold dear, Since envyless they make her infinite; And set so faira gloss upon her Will, As under this veil pow'r cannot do ill.

248.

After Augustus had by civil sword Made that large Empire thrall to his ambition, Men yet retain'd their priviledge in words, And freely censur'd every mans condition, Till by the Laws of wounded Majesty, Nor words, nor looks, nor thoughts were left them free.

249.

For then was this reproof of publick vice And censure of their Emperours misdeeds Made Treason, and maintain'd with prejudice Of men inforc't to nurse destroying weeds; I mean that Vice which Tyranny protected, And by example all the Earth infected.

250.

Hence was it not a Trespass Capital For men to say, vain Nero sang not well? In nature then what Latitude at all, If o're Mans freedom Tyranny thus swell? Whether by Law men root or ruine take, Sure am I, Scepters it doth Sacred make.

251.

Besides, Laws fixe the bents of peoples minds From prying up, while selfness doth intend Other mens faults, and therein heedless binds That common freedom. which they would extend, Laying an impost upon every vice, To spread the Crown by peoples prejudice.

252.

This was that Apple fatally cast down By Momus, to set Goddesses at war, Which erst too busie were with Joves high Crown And Cabinet, where all dooms fixed are,

Judg'd by a shepheard, for it was thought due That to inferiors they submit that sue.

253.

Old Rome again was never out of strise Between the People and the Magistrates, Till Appius brought from Athens rules of life, Which are call'd Laws in every other state, Whetting their edges so against their own, As none found leisure to restrain a Throne.

254.

Since then, by Laws, the best and worst affections Of Pride-born-Tyrants form'd and disform'd be, To give for them some general directions, As stays against confounding Liberty, I think were fit, as wel to shew the abuse In making, as their good effect in use.

255.

Therefore if sometimes pow'r do Laws apply To humors, or occasions, time, or place, Yet those are found of most equality Which bear a careful universal face; Whereas particular and present Laws Diseases oft in time succeeding cause.

256.

Again those Laws which universal be, And thereby freely currant every where, Doe with the grounds of nature best agree, And so with Man most reputation bear; As reason cast in frames to mould his passion, Which kept in bounds, keeps all his acts in fashion.

257.

But the true ground of all our humane Laws, Ought to be that Law which is ever true, His Light that is of every being cause; Beyond whose providence what can be new? Therefore as means betwixt these two extreams, Laws should take light at least from those sweet beams.

258.

Yet by the violence of superiors passion, And wandring visions of inferior spirits, Pow'r to make up it self strives to disfashion, Creating error new aswel as merits, In hope to form Mans outward vice by Laws, Whose por'r can never reach the inward cause.

259.

Yet do these Laws make spirits of their profession, Or such as unto them subject their state Publickly wiser, warier of transgression, Fitter to traffick, or negotiate,

Both in all other Countreys and their own, Far more respected, and much better known.

260.

For as the Man that means to write or draw, If he unperfect be in hand or head, Makes his straight lines unto himself a Law, By which his after-works are governed, So be these lines of life in every Realm, To weigh mens acts, a well-contenting Beam.

261.

Hence must their Aphorismes which do comprise The summe of Law be published and stil'd, In such a common Language as is priz'd And us'd abroad not from the World exil'd; Lest being both in Text and Language thrall, They prove not Coyns for traffick general.

262.

For is it meet that Laws which ought to be Rules unto all men, should rest known to few? Since then how can powr's Soveraignity Of universal justice bear a shew, Reform the Judge, correct the Advocate, Who knowing Law alone command the State?

263.

After the infancy of glorious Rome, Laws were with Church rites secretly enshrin'd; Poor people knowing nothing of their doom, But that all rights were in the Judges mind: Flavius reveal'd this snaring mistery Great men repin'd, but Rome it self grew free.

264.

So with the crafty priesthood was the year Made short or large by their intercalation, Selling the time to publicans more dear, Till Caesar did reform this computation, And brake these threads of a varice they spun, Measuring swift time by due course of the Sun.

265.

Hard is it therefore for men to decree, Whether it better were to have no Law, Or Law kept onely as a mystery, In their breasts that revenue from it draw; Whether to bar all Mandates be not one With spreading them in Dialects unknown.

266.

For as when Liturgies are published In forrain tongues, and poor souls forc't to pray, The tongue is trusted without heart or head To tell the Lord they know not what they say;

But only that this Priest-obedience, 'Twixt Grace and Reason, damns th' intelligence.

267.

So when our Law, the beams of Life and Light, Under a cloud or bushel shall burn out, The forrain accents which are infinite, Obscuring sence, and multiplying doubt; We blinded in our ways by this Eclipse Must needs Apologize for many slips.

268.

Again, Laws order'd must be, and set down So cleerly as each man may understand, Wherein for him, and wherein for the Crown, Their rigor or equality doth stand; For Rocks, not Seamarks else they prove to be, Fearful to men, no friends to Tyranny.

269.

As making Judges, and not Princes great, Because that doubtful sence which they expound Raiseth them up above the Princes seat, By offring Strength, Form, Matter, and a Ground To fashion all degrees unto their end, Through mens desires which covet Law to friend.

270.

For as the Papists do, by Exposition Of double sences in Gods testament, Claim to their Chair a Soveraign condition; So will these Legists in their Element Get above Truth and Thrones, raising the Barr As high as those unerring proud chairs are.

271.

All which just ballancing of Judge and Law, Be matks of wise and understanding Might, As it is under Orders Lines to draw These Courts Supream which manage wrong & right, Well auditing ill Councels of Estate, And giving each degree his proper rate.

272.

Prohibiting those lawless Marts of place, Which, by permission of a careless Crown, Corrupt and give the Magistrate disgrace With servile purchase of a selling Gown; And so rate Justice at as vile a price, As if her state were peoples prejudice.

273.

Again, the length and strange variety Of Processes and Trials, Princes must Reform; for whether their excesses be Founded upon Judges or Pleaders Lust,

The effect of either ever proveth one, Unto the humble Subjects overthrown.

274.

In course of Law beside pow'r must advise Whether for tryal of mens private right, It will be found just, equal, fit, or wise To give the Judges any other light, Then in mens Titles by cleer evidence: In case of Crime by testimony of sence.

275.

Again, if common justice of the King Delay'd, dishonor'd, or corrupted be, And so the subject rackt in every thing, By these word-mongers, and their liberty, Whether Gods Government amongst his own, Was not more wise, which Advocates had none?

276.

The warlike Lacedemon snffered not In her Republick any Advocate; The Learned Athens neither used Lot Nor Plea, but party, and their Magistrate; As if these Courts, would never stainless be, Which did allow that gaining mistery.

277.

Because their end being meerly Avarice, Winds up their wits to such a nimble strain, As helps to blind the Judge not give him eyes, And when successively these come to Raign, Their old acquainted traffick makes them see, Wrong hath more Clyents then Sincerity.

278.

Hence these new Judges made, sometimes adhere Unto the plain words, sometimes sence of Law, Then bind it to the Makers of their chair, And now the whole Text into one part draw; So that from home who shall but four years be Will think Laws travell'd have aswell as he.

279.

Moreover, to give Justice ready eyes Kings here and there in Provinces remote Should to establish proper Courts devise That their poor Subjects might not live by vote, Nor yet by charge of Cares far fetched right, Give more advantage to oppressing might.

280.

Such be those Seven Sinews mystical, In the French Monarchy, sent from the Brain, To spread both sence and motion thorough all, And over sence, opinion, custome raign;

Paris, Grenoble, Tolous, Bourdeaux, Rone, Dijon, and Aix, Seven pillars of a Throne.

281.

Which, were they not oft subject to infection From noisome Mists beyond the Alpes arising, Would keep the health of that State in perfection As well from falling as from tyrannizing, But fate leaves no man longer quiet here, Then blessed peace is to his neighbor dear.

282.

Pow'r then, stretch no grounds for grace, spleen or gain, But leave the Subject to the Subjects Law; Since equals over equals glad to raign, Will by advantage more advantage draw, For Throne-examples are but seldom lost, And follow'd ever at the publick cost.

283.

People by nature love not to obey, By force and use yet grow their humours mixt, Now soft like wax, now hardned like the clay, And so to make or marre, soon mov'd or fixt, As these two Moderators Wit and Might To their ends wave or let them stand upright.

284

Craft though unpunished in Majesty, Yet never Governs, but works by deceit, Base instrument of Humane frailty, Which Audits not by Standard, Number, Weight, But with false Lights makes Tyranny descend To do, and hide, by which stairs none ascend.

285.

Crowns therefore keep your oaths of Coronation, Succession frees no Tyranny from those, Faith is the Ballance of pow'rs reputation, That Circle broken, where can man repose? Since Scepter pledges, which should be sincere, By one false Act grow Bankrupt every where.

286.

Make not mens Conscience, Wealth, and Liberty, Servile without book to unbounded Will, Procrustus like he racks Humanity, That in pow'rs own mould casts their good will, And slaves men must be by the sway of time, Where Tyranny continnes thus sublime.

287.

Observe in greatness this one abstract notion, That odds of place possest by spirits inferior, Must find strange hills and dales in every motion, Nature and Chance growing by turns superior;

Whence inward weakness never shall be able To keep the outward borrow'd Glories stable,

288.

Yet above all these, Tyrants must have Care, To Cherrish those Assemblies of Estate Which in Great Monarchies true Glasses are, To shew mens Griefs, Excesses to abate, Brave moulds for Laws, a Medium that in one Joyns with content a people to the Throne.

289.

Besides a safe wrest of these boundless Kings To get supply, or envyless reform. Those over-stretched, or relaxed strings, Of many members which might else deform; Still friends to Thrones, who (as Lords of the choice) Give life or death to all acts by their voice.

290.

For as in Man this little world of ours, All objects which affect him diversly With pain or pleasure under feeling pow'rs Of common sence, are summon'd presently, And there diminisht, judged, or approved, A Crisis made, some changed, some removed.

291.

So in the Kingdoms general Conventions By confluence of all States doth appear, Who nurseth peace, who multiplies contentions, What to the people, what to great men dear, Whereby Soveraignity still keeps above And from her Center makes these Circles move.

292.

Again, since Parliaments assembled be, Not for the end of one State but of all, Practice of no side can be counted free, Anger of greatness there is short-breath'd fall, Altring, displacing, raising, pulling down Offends the Burroughs, adds not to the Crown.

293.

People like sheep and streams go all one way, Bounded with Conscience, names and liberty; All other Arts enhance, do not allay The headlong passions they are governed by: Craft teacheth Craft, practice goes not alone, But ecchoes self-wit back upon a Throne.

294.

Small punishments fail not to multiply These Hydra heads, and gives them glory cheap, Blood were too much, great bodies cannot die; Pow'r that sows Truth, may wealth and honor reap,

Men joy in war for Conscience, and can die Giving their wealth to save their liberty.

295.

Conscience (I say) is to the people dear, And liberty they (like all Creatures) love; What then needs any force or practice here, Where men upon such fair wheels easily move? It may stir Jealousie, but cannot friend, That which both King & Men should make their end.

296.

Pow'r, therefore bring all ways degenerate Back to their old foundations whence they grew, And suffer not these Pillars of estate By private selfness to become still new; Of private Orbs th' Orizons are not great, Must they not then diminish where they Treat?

297.

The large times, strength like, kept elections free, Sheriff's us'd no self-Art in their County-days; Great men forbore those shapes of Majesty Which gave the people freedom in their ways, And what can Scepters loose by this free choice, Where they reserve the Royalty of voice?

298.

At their Will, either to dispense with Law, When they are made as prisons of Creation, Or Legal yokes which still more bondage draw By bringing penalties in reputation, Mild people of the Throne desiring leave More specious Nets on all estates to weave.

299.

Freedom of speech ecchoes the peoples trust, That credit never doth the Soveraign harm Kings win the people by the people must, Wherein the Scepter is the chiefest charme; People, like Infants joy in little things, Which ever draws their Councels under Kings.

300.

Hence Power often in her largest days Hath chosen free and active instruments, From Subjects faith, that in the subjects ways Humbly to suffer have been well content; And since Man is no more then what he knows Ought he not pay that duty which he ows?

301.

And what expect men for their lives and goods, But some poor feathers out of their own wings? Pardons (I mean) from those Law-catching moods, Which they before had begged of their Kings: Let them speak freely, then they freely pay; Each Creature hath some kind of Sabbath-day.

302.

Lastly, when Princes most do need their own, People do spy false lights of Liberty; Taxes there vanisht, impositions gone, Yet doth the Parlamental Subsidy Relieve Kings wants at home with peoples wealth, And shews the World that both States are in health.

303.

From these sweet Mountains therefore let us view The former great Estates which govern'd all, And by the use of many people knew, Which way to frame things for the general; Yet kept their Soveraignity above, By using Councels not of Fear, but Love.

304.

The Roman State, for all free States a Glass In her deliberations of weight, When she did strive to shun or bring to pass Her real Councels, or well mask't deceit; Had to her Five and Thirty Tribes recourse, Assemblivg many, to keep all from worse:

305.

By them determining in Mars his field The denizing of Realms, Magistrates creation, When Rome was barren, what did over yield, When Peace or War, and why, had reputation, Peazing the Senates pride, the Peoples rage, Lest the excess of one should all engage.

306.

And by this equal ballance kept upright Her far extended Government and Law; Till War, by over-adding unto Might The scale uneven, did on her side draw, And by a martial mutinous election Of Emperors, brought Empire to defection.

307.

Far different is the course of Tyranny, Where Mans felicity is not the end, But self-contracting Soveraignity, Neither to Scepter nor to People friend, The mystery of iniquity being there, Not to assemble Parlament for fear.

308.

Instance the present brutish Rapsody Of Mankind under Ottoman's base line, Where if in one Man should assembled be, Of their well beings freely to define, What were it but a liberal Commission, For them, to cast off Bondage by sedition.

309.

The true uniting Grecian policy, Of course frequented twice in every year, Their ancient Amphiction Synodie, A Parliament for many causes dear, Aswel at home to curb mens divers minds, As all encroaching forrainers to bind.

310.

For active pow'r must not her bounds enlarge By stretching Crown rights (which by Law descend) To Taxe, impose, monopolize, or charge, As if both God and Man's Law had no end; But to enhance Prerogatives as far, By arts of Peace, as they by Conquests are.

311.

Else when this Crown-assumed liberty Hath shuffled all distinct Imperial rests, To give confused will Soveraignity, Order thus shak't in Thrones, in subjects breasts Makes Duty nothing else but servile fears, Where fruits alike for both, occasion bears.

312.

And as these Laws which bind mans birth to Thrones, Have therefore, under wise Kings government, Never been Creatures of their wills alone; But like Man-yokes made by Mankinds consent, So taxe again to one from many paid, Is not from one voice well, but many laid.

313.

Much less ought Pulpit Doctrine, still'd above Thorough Cathedral Chairs or Scepter Might, Short, or beyond th'Almighties tenure move, Varying her shape, as humors vary light, Lest, when men see God shrin'd in humane Law, Thrones find the immortal chang'd to mortal awe.

314.

And to descend from visions of the best, Both place and person from her shadows must Be so upheld, as all may subject rest To pow'r supream, not absolute in trust: So to raise fees beyond reward or merit: As if they might both Taxe and disinherit.

315.

Which to avoid, as pow'rs chief Mystery, Birth, Education may give Princes light, Yea in each Art the Master-peeces be Help to select among the infinite, No work of Chance as from Pandora's Tunne, But happy choice, by Fames cleer Eye-sight wonne.

316.

Again, though use of taking from mans youth Be but a doubtful way of discipline To work a habit in the Love of Truth, Though instrumental practice do refine The serving, not the judging pow'rs of wit, And for uprightness, so the more unfit,

317.

Yet in the liberty of Advocates, Which are of Judges now the nursery, Fame is a Glass, where Governours of States, May see what good or ill proportions be In every heart fram'd to do wrong or right Against temptations both of Gain and Might.

318.

Nor ends this work when Men are chosen well, Since place corrupts them as it shews them forth, Some humours rais'd, some humbled do excel, Security is no true nurse of worth: Therefore that spirit of Fame, which made the choice, Must still in ears of Princes keep a voice.

319.

And whence hath Pow'r more safe intelligence? Since Fame doth serve them at her proper cost, And is not thrall to grace, or to offence, Though sometime clouded, very seldom lost, And where she lies by evil information, She thinks retreat no loss of reputation.

320.

Now since these rules for Laws, do even like Laws, Equally serve the Tyrant and the King; This, to good uses for the publick cause, That, all mens freedoms under Will to bring, One Spider-like, the other like the Bee, Drawing to help or hurt humanity.

321.

If I without distinction do set down These humble precepts in a common stile, Their difference being not placed in the Crown, But Craft or Truth to govern, or beguile; Let him that reads in this and in the rest Each crudity to his fair end digest.

Of Nobility. SECT. VIII.

322.

WHen wise Prometheus had his fine Clay drest To fashion Man, he nothing more did shun Then Natures uniformity in Beasts, Of which by Art there can be nothing won, Whence in these creatures frame he did comprize Many both strong and strange varieties,

323.

That as there divers kinds be of complexions, So in them there might be preheminence, Divers of spirit, vigor, and affections; To keep up which degrees of difference, Reason, of Life the Guardian, was ordain'd, As Conscience to Religion was chain'd.

324.

And to confirm this inequality Have not the feigned Gods in Orbs above Gloriously plac'd that specious Hierarchy Whose influence doth inferior spirits move; And in slack, or swift courses, high or low, The divers honours of each being show?

325.

So that of force he must a stranger be, To their Republick that will not confess The supream Synods of this Deity, To be compos'd of differing Nobleness; And partially who can be placed there, Where they that cleerest shine, most honor bear?

326.

By birth and worth that Hercules high-priz'd Shines he not over Cassiopea's head? Justice she being onely Canoniz'd For Perseus sake who did her Daughter wed; And he that for anothers sake doth rise, His merit not in worth, but favour lies.

327.

Would it not be an aukeward consequence To see that Virgin frail Erigone Who by compassion got preheminence, Adored by our Mariners to be Far above those two brothers saving light, Whose Twinn-like Glory makes the Zodiack bright?

328.

Doth not Orion worthily deserve A higher place, even for the constant Love Wherewith he did the chaste Diana serve, Then frail Bootes who was plac'd above Onely because the Gods did else foresee, He should the Murtherer of his Mother be?

329.

Let therefore no man mutine, when they see Pow'r borrow patterns of creating Art Out of these Thrones wherein the Majesty Of Nature is maintain'd through every part, By their well-laid distinctions of degree, Which grow confus'd again by parity.

330.

For as the Harmony which sence admires Of discords (yet according) is compounded, And as each creature really aspires Unto that Unity, which all things founded; So must the Throne and People both affect Discording Tones united with respect.

331.

By which consent of disagreeing movers, There will spring up Aspects of reverence, Equals and betters quarrelling like Lovers, Yet all confessing one omnipotence, And therein each estate to be no more, Then instruments out of their Makers store.

332.

From whence Nobility doth of Creation A secret prove to Kings, and Tyranny: For as the the stamp gives Bullion valuation, So these fair shadows of authority Are marks for people to look up unto, And see what Princes with our Earth can do.

333.

In whom it is great wisdom to reward Unequal worth with inequality; Since it doth breed a prosperous regard Aswel to Princes as to Tyranny: When People shall see those men set above, That more with worth then fortune seem in Love.

334.

Yet must this brave magnificence be us'd Not really to dispossess the Crown, Either of Pow'r or Wealth, but so infus'd As it may rather raise then pull it down; Which frugal Majesty in growing Rome Gave her above all States a lasting doom.

335.

For fhe discern'd, although her wealth were vast, Yet People, and desire did far exceed it, So as what spread too far, could never last, And for a State to give away, and need it, Shadows for bodies she saw were to choose, Which must both strength and reputation loose.

336.

The way she therefore did observe to prise Well doing subjects, and encourage merit, Were Titles, Trophies, which she did devise, Costless, and yet of force to quicken spirits, Thus unto Africanus Scipio's name, Hannibals and Carthage eccho'd were by Fame.

337.

His Brothers Sirname Asiaticus The Story was of Asia subdued; Perseus captiv'd by Macedonicus: To Iugurth straight Numidicus ensued: By which course as each conquest brought forth more So they by giving still encreast their store.

338.

Besides, proud Princes must in their Creations Of Form, Worth, Number keep a providence, For if too many; that wains reputation, Bought worth, or none, lets fall their reverence, With men, that think hability to do, The scope creating-pow'r is bound unto.

339.

For farewel publick Stiles and Dignity When Nero's dark thoughts shall communicate, Unto his fellow Minstrels levity Triumphal Statues, offices of State, Or honour to such spirits, as though in age Never serv'd Mars, nor Muse but on a stage.

340.

Nor must this specious body rise so high As it short shadows may on people cast, Or by reflexion dim the Princes Eye Who Creatures over-greatness cannot taste: But live like Clouds in middle Regions blown Which rise and fall to make their mover known.

341.

Slaves with the Romans were not justice-free, If all but Nobles should stand so confin'd, What wretched state were our humanity? As if Step-mother-like, Nature combin'd With Pow'r, not only to make most men slaves, But in a few Lords to prepare them Graves.

342.

Such Laws in Poland set so easie rates On mean mens lives, rate great mens lives so high, As they may murther all inferior States, Yet subject to no other justice lie, Then (as for Dogs) a senceless Money fine, As if men were not Images Divine.

343.

Against this can it strange or wonder be, Where Creatures their Creators overgrow, If Princes hold their Crowns by curtesie? Poland and Germany are ballanc't so, As Scepters glory is in both these lost, And nothing left Kings but a name to boast.

344.

Fair Albion, when she swel'd with subjects worth, And by her Princes merits gather'd Fame, Examples then did to the World bring forth, That over-greatness often sways great frames; Instance her active Barons Martial pride, Which helpt the Royal issue to divide.

345.

Likewise while glorious Naples did enjoy Of home-born Princes the felicity, Yet even then, Peer-greatness did annoy That dainty Scepter with strange mutiny, As oft as to the Pope it seemed good. To serve his turn by hot aspiring blood;

346.

Till at the length this waving course of theirs Under a great Lord wrought their servitude, Who now curbs all their mutiny with fears, And yet that fear again with hope deludes, Keeping men like Reeds, to his self-ends bent, By making new Rome with her'own content.

347.

Kings therefore that would not degenerate Their Scepter Arts to Artless Anarchy, To many, few, or any other State Must wisely bound their own Nobility, Not raising men by charge, but specious shew, Nor yet so high as they may overgrow.

348.

In Scotland their hereditary sheriffs (Each is a Vice-roy in his native shire;) Add oft to Princes dangers Peoples grief; Justice so like to Faction looking there, As men are sometimes forc't to fall from Kings For shadow, under subalternate wings.

349.

Princes, then know it to be ominous For you; to spread, or to participate That Pow'r creating, which doth govern us, Either to baseness, still unfortunate; Or else to such a strengthned Corporation, As easily cannot wave her reputation.

350.

The Lustre wherein Pow'r is magnified Being only to command that tame wild Beast, People I mean, who oft prove dangerous tides, And love equality undistinguisht best; Against whose rage there is no better fence, Then well advised pow'r may have from hence.

351.

Where else, while both Nobility and Kings To poize themselves, as neither can be great, The People pulling feathers from both wings, Will first like equals, not like subjects, Treat Of all prerogatives, and then aspire To be the doom, or standard of desire.

352.

Wherefore this great and little Corporation Should be so temper'd as they both may give Unto their head a strengthning reputation, And thence that freedom take in which they live; People not rackt, exhausted or made proud, But to be kept strait, evermore kept bow'd.

353.

For Soveraign pow'r, which cannot stand alone, Must by her subalternness supported be, Keeping a distance between every one, To shun contempt even in authority; Whose little springs unto that Mother sea, Whence they derived are, must tribute pay.

354.

Nor were these humane gods so prodigal Of given Honours, but they did reserve A power to curb their Citizens withal; Phaebus well did his banishment deserve By offering to these Thunder-workers wrong, Cyclops, which to his Father did belong.

355.

Now when these ebbing, or still flowing states, Thrones wisely have with bounds established; Then that this frame prove not unfortunate, Foe to it self, and doubtful to the head; Pow'r must with constant stern of government, Suppress dividing humorous discontent.

356.

Especially that brutish ostentation Of private courage, which sets life and soul Not only at a trivial valuation, But lifts a Subject farre above his Roll, Into the Princely Orb of making laws; As Judge and Party in his private cause.

357.

Which confident assumings, if they be Suffred, do much allay the Soveraign right, Since all the moulds of Fame and Infamy, Pow'r of mans life, and death, be acts of Might, And must be form'd by Majesty alone; As Royalties inherent to a Throne.

358.

Whose delicate complexion is such, That if in any member it be wounded, It Gangrenes all; nay when man doth but touch Her Mysteries, then is her state confounded: Besides, who as a King, dare kill a man? As Man again will kill Kings, if he can.

359.

Lastly, where many States become united Under one Throne, though not one Government, Civil dissentions easily are invited, And in mans nature (ever discontent) Under the colour of a private feud, More mischief stirr'd up is, then understood.

360.

Thus absolute pow'rs that will respected live, Must govern greatness, with a greater mind, And care their actions may no scandal give, As unto change or littleness inclin'd; But with a constant universal care, Make them good Subjects that ill people are.

Of Comerce. SECT. IX.

361.

WHen these Gods saw Mankinds simplicity Wander with Beasts, as fellows in Creation To both their thirsts alike the water free, Acorns their food, Earth bed and habitation, They take compassion, and from Heaven sent Their spirits, who did handicrafts invent.

362.

Which mysteries the slownes of mans wit, In many years could else not have attain'd, That as men grew, so they might learn to fit Nature with Art, to be by them maintain'd; And on the earth find hearbs for food and health, As well as underneath it, Mines for wealth.

363.

To which end Ceres down to Sicil came And spread her fruitful Art of sowing grain, As Bacchus taught the Naxians how to frame The Grape for Wine; and Pallas shew'd the vein Of planting Olives, which do bear her name, A Goddess Motherless, born of his brain, That over all the other Gods did raign.

364.

Which wisdome likewise first taught men to hide Their naked skin, that bears no native wooll; And by chaste Pallas did reveal beside, How from the Worm of silken riches full, The peoples hands might work choice Robes for Kings, Which since the pride of man, in Common brings.

365.

Again, when Mankind was thus finely taught To use the Earth, with all that on it grew, Instantly Vulcan, through her bowels sought For precious Mettals, then to People new; Helping this common Dame of ours the Earth, By many Midwives, unto many births.

366.

Lastly, lest one Clime should abound, and burst Starving the rest, which of their store had need; This active Pallas likewise was the first That found, and gave these moving Bridges speed As well to import, as to carry forth, From Zone, to Zone all Richesses of worth.

367.

And of her loving Father did obtain Castor and Pollux, as two saving lights. To calme the storms, which hidden do remain In furrows of the Oceans face, who spites To have his deep complexion without leave Plough'd up by those, that venture to deceive.

368.

Thus did these Gods, ore great to doubt the might Of all the World, though pride and wealth they knew Apt to conspire against the ways of right, In hope to make Soveraignity still new; Yet suffer men to grow in wealth and pride, As helps not to unite them, but divide.

369.

Whence in the world they publisht, that each Zone Created needful was of neighbor climes; And (for they must corrupt that needed none) God made them subject, both to want, and times; That Art and Nature changing each with other, Might nurse all Nations like a common Mother.

370.

For long ere Jove, slye Mercury enjoyn'd By the advantage of his Golden tongue, To fashion grounds, from whence arts might be coyn'd, To leave the weak, and qualifie the strong, With an attentive sweet obedience, Helping his reason, to command his sence.

371.

Long, as I said, ere this felicity Did these ingenious Goddesses descend; And in that Golden times simplicity, As unto need, and not excesses friend, So finely Art, and Nature mixe in one, As made Pow'r rich with more then was her own.

372.

Thus see we in this native Image-light No lack where Art and Nature joyned be; Who therefore will in idleness delight, And make not doing his felicity, As earth by him turns wilderness again So nature in him rusts for lack of pain.

373.

Labor and care then must familiar be, Thorough the vigor of mens education To give mankind against necessity Protection, in some honest occupation, And all grow undertakers, not a drone, Both ignorance and idleness unknown.

374.

To which end pow'r must nurseries erect, And those Trades cherish which use many hands, Yet such as more by pains then skill'd effect, And so by spirits, more then vigor stand; Whereby each creature may it self sustain, And who excel add honor to their gain.

375.

For traffick is a quintescence confected Of mixt complexions, in all living creatures: The miracles of which may be collected Out of those fine webs which on natures features Art works to make men rich that are not good; A Base, whereon all governments have stood.

376.

Venice, that famous Merchant Common-wealth Raised her rich magnificence by Trade, Of Coasts, Towns, Creeks, erst refuges for stealth, Along the midland sea she Suburbs made; Spices of AEgypt, Barbaries fine Gold; All Works of Syria her Marts bought and sold.

377.

A City, till the Indian Trade was known, That did like Europes Exchequer fill and spread, Adding more Provinces unto her own, By Mines of Money with her Traffick fed, Then martial Philip had subdu'd in Greece, Or he whose Art brought home the Golden Fleece.

378.

Wherefore with curious prospect these proud Kings Ought to survey the Commerce of their Land, New Trades and Staples still establishing, So to improve the work of every hand, As each may thrive, and by exchange, the Throne Grow rich indeed, because not rich alone.

379.

Whose misteries, though tearm'd Mechanical, Yet feed pow'rs Triumphs, nurse necessity By venting, changing, raising, letting fall, Framing works both for use and vanity In mutual traffick, which, while Marts stand fair, Make natures wealth, as free as is her air.

380.

To ballance these by equal weights or measure, The Audit of our own must be the guide As what for use, for honour, gain or pleasure. At home now is, or else might be supply'd: The rest so by exchange to rise or fall, As while none loose, we yet may gain by all.

381.

For as in Leagues of States, when either might Advantages of times, words, humours, wit Unequally have lost, or gotten right, This surfet ever brings disease with it; Which (like a Torrent) fails not to break out, Leaving with loss of faith both States in doubt.

382.

So when these little limbs of great estates By craft become on either side opprest, Can Wit bind Pow'r with her deceiving rates, Or hatch her Cuckoes in the Eagles nest? No; Marts and Trades, which natures standards be Straight find, and break this inequality.

383.

Thus did the Hanse's sometimes Tyrannise The Northern Princes in their infancy Of Trade and Commerce, till with time grown wise, Kings saw how Crowns deceiv'd with homage be; Which once discern'd, these Contracts won by stealth, Can never stand to harm a Common-wealth.

284.

Now under Merchant, Miner, Clothier, Plough, Are all these Arts and Mysteries contain'd, Which out of each do teach our Princes how Their pomp in war and peace may be maintain'd; As in whose Choice, Use, Government, and Measure, Though Bullion wants, yet States recover Treasure.

385.

All which rich Mines, made for the good of all, Are yet abus'd by short breath'd wits that will The price and true encouragements let fail Of Industry; and excellence in skill; Hoping through ignorance, deceit, and stealth, While they loose Art and Credit, to get wealth.

386.

The cure of which contagious disease Rests only in the pow'r of Government, That must with real Arts her people raise; Not'marre her Markets to give fraud a vent, And can almost as well make flesh and blood, As Artisans, that shall be true, and good.

387.

For though each vice brings for her occupation, Wherein Earth yields the matter, Art the Forme, To make gain infinite by transmutation, Since Forms redoubled, triple gains return; It being fatal to refined sin, By staining manners to bring profit in.

388.

Yet must there be a kind of faith preserv'd Even in the Commerce of the vanity, That with true Arts their Markets may be serv'd, And credit kept to keep them great and free; Weight, number, measure truly joyn'd in one, By Trade with all States to enrich our own.

389.

Among which mass of Arts, if one too much Draw up, then Traffick stands, and Realms grow poor; Whereas in States well temper'd to be rich, Arts be the men's, and Men the Princes are; Form, Matter, Trade, so working every where, As Goverment may find her riches there.

390.

Then must the supream pow'r, this wakeful spirit Observe proportion in her industry, Never her own from traffick, disinherit, But keep exchange in due equality, Not bringing home more then she carries forth, Nor buying toys, with things of Staple worth,

391.

But work her matter with her home-born hands, And to that use fetch forraign matters too, Buying for toys the wealth of other Lands, To gun by all the good or ill they do; Keep up the Bullion, for it doth entice, Yet not transport it, for 'tis prejudice.

392.

Wherein wise Princes ought to imitate The Saracens inriching-industry, Who AEgypts wealth brought to their barren state, Enticing vice by far-fetcht vanity; And for their Ostridge feathers, toys of pride, Get Staple wealth from all the world beside.

393.

Which as a watch word, shews pow'r may impose, With less hurt on the Commerce of delight, For there by dearness, what can credit lose, Where fancies value is so infinite, As wealth and reason judge not, but devise To serve her both with Objects and with Eyes?

394.

Thus the Sabeans heapt up mass of Treasure, By venting Incense unto every Nation, Aswel for superstition as for pleasure; Thus Syria got by Balsam estimation, And Milions brought by Custom to the Jew; Wealth kept for him that their State overthrew.

395.

Hence trains the Hollander his little Child, To work toys for the vanity of us, And in exchange our Cloth to them we yield; Wise men and fools, even serve each other thus, The standard of the whole world being seen To furnish hers, by carriage out and in.

396.

Now though wise Kings do by advantage play With other States, by setting Tax on toyes, Which, if Leagues do permit, they justly may, As punishment for that vice which destroys; Of real things yet must they careful be, Here and abroad to keep them custome free.

397.

Providing Cloth and Food no burthen bear, Then equally distributing of Trade, So as no one rule, what we Eat or Wear, Or any Town the Gulf of all be made; For though from few wealth soon be had & known, And still the rich kept servile by their own.

398.

Yet no one City rich, or Exchequer full Gives States such Credit, Strength or Reputation, As that foreseeing long breath'd wisdom will, Which, by a well-disposing of Creation, Breeds universal wealth, gives all content, Is both the Mine and Scale of Government.

399.

Admit again the Holland industry Lay Tax on Victual, spare their Merchandise; Yet is it not ground for a Monarchy, To view his own frame with Democrate eyes; Since Soveraign Pow'r in One, and Many plac't From divers lights, must divers shadows cast.

400.

Do we not see the fertile soyls decay'd And Eastern Cities by the Tiranny Of that great Lord, who his vast wealth allay'd By bringing all those Cities into three? * 1.3 Which three prove greedy ill digesting wombs, Not Treasuries of wealth, but rather Tombs.

401.

And while the forraign Gulfs I thus discribe, My wish is that I may not seem to stain Some ore-Swoln City of the Albian-tribe, Which starving many, smother'd doth remain, And yet will not be cured of this grief, By yielding to the neighbor Towns relief.

402.

Moreover, fix and Marshal in such wise Pow'r Commerce must, of strangers with her own, As neither may the other Tyrannize, But live like Twins out of one body grown; The strangers ships not banisht, nor their ware, Which double Custome brings, and gages are.

403.

No Monopolies suffered in the Land, All interpoling practices withstood, In Merchant Laws, a constant gentle hand Imposing, parallel'd with letting blood; The Bullion not enhanced nor embased, The Forrainers not dandled nor disgraced.

404.

Lastly, she labor must to draw her Marts Within her Ports, and so the strangers wealth, Framing such Laws and Rates for forrain parts, As publick Commerce may be kept in health; Their Goods as pawns, their Industry as vents To multiply our Traffick, Shipping, Rents.

405.

Which may be done in any great Estate, Whose native Riches others do exceed In real worth, and thereby may give rate And draw home forrain States by gain or need; But where this wants, there Treaty must supply, Farming our neighbors wares to work this by.

406.

So had that Worthy, Great and Maiden Queen, If she had liv'd, brought home that staple wealth * 1.4 Of the Muscovian Empire to have been Conjoyn'd with hers, for either Countreys health; He selling his here dearer then elsewhere, She fixing by them both a Staple here,

407.

And when these had been Stapled here together, The Silks and Riches of all other parts, Must needs have follow'd these great Standards hither, With such as live by Commerce or by Arts; A work already by experience known, Trade having staid or chang'd with ours alone.

408.

And though the stranger rarely will commit His ship and ware to Island Princes States, Yet if he wealth or freedom find with it, Fear of Imbargo it easily abates; Since by the present gain, if evil come, He hath to buy, or bear out heavy doom.

409.

Therefore let Thrones, whose States have seas to friend Study by Trade to make her Navies great; As glorious Engines, when they will offend, Magnificent Theaters when they Treat, Bridges that will transport, and moving Tow'rs, To carry in and out Triumphing Pow'rs.

410.

Under which safe, yet moving poliey, Did Finite Athens make the Infinite Forces of Xerxes out of Greece to fly; Lepanto likewise proves the Christians Might Able by sea to shake the Turkish pow'r, Where his Land-Armies all the World devour.

411.

England, this little, yet much envy'd Isle, By spreading Fame and Power many ways. Admit the World at her Land-Conquests smile, Yet is her Greatness reverenc'd by seas; The Ocean being to her both a Wall, And Engine to revenge her wrongs withall.

412.

To which end Kings must strive to add a spirit Unto the Mariner, in war and peace, A Minister of use and double merit, Train'd without charge, to travel without cease; Pow'r hath no Nobler, nor yet surer way Then that by which both save and get they may.

413.

Now though this course of traffick may appear To multiply strange shipping, not our own, Yet in the practice all States find it cleer, That still by traffick Mariners have grown; As ships by Manufactures multiply, And where good ships be us'd, Vents cannot dye.

414.

Instance of both the Netherlanders be, Who have encreast their Shipping with their Marts, Adding to each by that fair industry Of manufactures, many forming Arts, By wealth and concourse of all other nations, Even in war, grown rich with reputation.

415.

And though of Staple riches they have none, By nature in their native Countrey bred, To sway or to induce more then their own, Yet are they by these Arts established; Merchant and Mars his well mixt policy Of all Exchanges grown the Nursery.

416.

Whereby they want no Bullion, Cloth, or Food, Lut with the Surplus, when need is, supply'd, Enrich themselves, raise Custome, yet do good To all their Limbs, amongst whom they divide Here Law, there Court, here one Trade, there another, Lest any should engross to hurt their Mother.

417.

Again, Thrones must, by regal providence, Govern that much us'd unknown mystery, And costless Model of intelligence; Exchange the Type of Merchants policy, Whereby he raiseth or lets fall all things; And, though inferiour, binds and looseth Kings.

418.

By which large providence of Government, Both over native, and the forrain wealth, None shall be over-strain'd or discontent, But from the heart each Limb receive his health; The Crown reliev'd without restraint or craving, By Tributes for our safety, of our saving.

419.

In all which fair particulars recited. Pow'r shall concurrence and assistance find From every subject, with self-ends invited, To improve Arts, Earth, men in every kind, Making the Harvest great, the Labor small, By doing all things with the help of all.

420.

Now, if against these Noble Mines of wealth, Any from forrain strains of Tiranny, With colour to keep all degrees in health, Would bind or limit this prosperity, As nursing pride and luxury in one, Vices that easily climb up to a Throne;

421.

And out of these false grounds make pow'r conceive Poverty to be the best end of subjection, Let him, to judge how much these mists deceive, First, put himself in poverties protection, And he shall find all wisdoms that suppress, Still by misforming, make their own forms less.

422.

For every open heart knows riches be The safest gages to keep men in peace, Whose natures cannot rest in misery, No more then flesh can, till her anguish cease; So that who over slaves do tyrannize By choice, are neither truly great nor wise.

423.

Therefore proud Princes ever must propound That Royal and ingenious design Of making all men rich, not minute bound, And to the same end, study to refine Nurseries for Traffick, Mysteries and Art, To furnish equal wealth in every part,

424.

For poor then, tell me, how can Scepters be When all their Subjects shall in wealth abound? Or how, not great in Fame and Majesty When strangers help to frame our traffick sound? And so make people strengths unto their King, Who, without these moulds, charge and danger bring.

425.

Besides, severely here may Laws proceed Against the drone, the vagrant, or the thief, Where occupations doe supply mens need, And labor give each family relief; Lastly, how can mens spirits mutiny here, Where each mans private, to himself is deer?

Of Crown Revenue. SECT. X.

426.

THe ancient Sages took our Earth to be A simple Element of one Complexion, Differing onely in variety Of heats and cold from Heavenly reflexion; But nature which can never be confin'd To narrow contemplations of one mind,

427.

This abstract dream of former time confutes; For in the circuit of one clime her womb Compos'd as various is, as are her fruits; Here Gold for life's use, Marble for her Tomb, Here veins of silver, there quick Mercury, Here Pales, there Pomona fruitful be.

428.

Which sweet variety doth not proceed, From influence, or temper by the Sun; But from the first diversity of seed Which did through her created vessels run, And to the heat (as Tributes) pay their springs Which unto ripeness Phoebus after brings.

429.

Cold Germany thus yields from her deep Mines Under the Earth, a lasting spring of Treasure, Thus Hungary, where Phoebus neerer shines, Above the Earth, yields native wealth and pleasure; As in her Center she besides contains Of Gold and Silver many hidden veins.

430.

Hence again France, though ever martial bent, Was by her late Fourth Henry's policy, Known for a Paradice-like Continent, Who out of that discern'd fertility Both multiplied the Crown, and peoples part, By Natures emulation with his Art.

431.

From both which Mines in and above the earth, Nature excludes the sloth of each degree, Offring the riches of her many births, Onely where she her self gives industry; As if both man and things, must there consent Where wealth is multiplied to ornament.

432.

For as rich nature is the mould of plenty; So Art again is natures consummation: Again, as Phoebus Throne in stuff was dainty, And yet the work of far more estimation; So under Kings, not Earth, or Creatures dumb, But Art of man it is that yields the sum.

433.

Pow'r therefore, that these pillars of estate Church, Laws, Trade, Honor have established, Must then take care as equally to rate Rents, and expence, that by those to the head, Wealth Sinew-like may give a strength to move, And breed respect by mixing Fear with Love.

434.

First, because Forrain States bear reverence Where they find wealth in Soveraignity, As they which need keep no intelligence; Besides the example of frugality, By cutting of excess, that else consumes; Tempers proud vice, which otherwise presumes.

435.

Again, for wealth though these fair grounds he laid, And treasure gotten by these harmless Mines; If Order yet be not as well obey'd In the expence, wealth suddenly declines; And want pressing through mans faults, on the Crown, Morefatally pulls King and People down.

436.

Therefore ought Monarchs to be provident, In weighing things, which though they trivial seem, Yet are of consequence in Government; As difference of Diet, Custome, Clime, Since high rais'd Athens, and Piraeum Port Had manners, and askt Laws of different sort:

437.

Whence I conclude that Northern Princes must Cherish the Staple rent of their demesnes, And to their own inheritances trust, Which to the Crown of old did appertain, At least by Parliaments supply their Lust; Else shall these Kings be easily overthrown, That Taxe, and give the peoples with their own.

438.

And though the finer heats scorn these safe stays Of Crown Revenues, as if pow'r and wit From peoples wealth might endless profit raise, Yet in the practice, who observeth it, Shall find those Taxes, which the south brooks well, Do often make the colder climes rebel.

439.

Besides, who well observes a Monarchy, Shall find disorder there a fatal thing; The head being both of unprosperity, Good Fortune, Fame, or infamy the spring: So that oppression, which makes both sides poor, Ought to have entrance at a narrow door.

440.

Again in Taxes, differences be Some from the Crowns prerogative alone, Pleading an over-racking pedigree, Others by Parliaments, so mixe the Throne With commen peoples good, as but excess Nothing can thence rise, to make Scepters less,

441.

France then, thou large extended Monarchy, Keep to thy self the charge of Crown-demesne, For bleeding Taxes which breed misery In men, and so reflect on Crowns again, By forcing them to sell Tribunal seats, Which make thy Justice vile, thy Judges great.

442.

Lewis th'Eleventh of Craft, not Majesty, The perfect Type, being asked what the Crown Revenues might of France amount to be, Said, France a Medow was, which mow it down As oft as need, or pleasure did require, Would yet grow up again to feed desire.

443.

Where Majesty indeed is kept above By true Magnificence, rais'd of her own; Riot a steep is where States headlong move; The rage of Pow'r is by low stooping known, For as, but Miters, few by Stews do get, So who but Negars tax on breathing set?

444.

Kings then that would have their Magnificence To be maintain'd by springs which should not fail, Must with that Council keep intelligence, Wherewith the dying Farmer did prevail, To make his Children dig his Vine for Gold, Who found it not in Mettal, but in mould.

445.

This Vineyard in a King is his demesne, Joyn'd with that Art of Arts, which man improves And envyless makes active Monarchs Reign, Rich both in peoples Treasures and their Loves: What Midas wish, what dreams of Alchimy Can with these true Crown-Mines compared be?

446.

Again, Prerogatives in Government, Which priviledg'd pow'r at first to take, then prise What might her true necessity content, Kings should not multiply, to prejudice That Infancy, where men, by what they gave, The rest intended for their use to have.

447.

But where excess of times makes pow'r exceed This safe equality of old foundations; Rather with temperance qualifie that need, Then strain old words to modern intimation, And thereby wrack men to provide for more Excess, then all those ages knew before.

448.

Of which excess, whether the root proceed From humours naturally unsatiate, Or Casually made violent by need; Odious those cures are which equivocate, As did Caligula when by quirks of Law Sibi & suis he to Sons did draw.

449.

And though it for a wisdom of estate Enrolled be in the Senate house of Rome, When they with Carthage did capitulate, That she must from her old sea-nurses come; Inferring (City) signified no wall, But Laws, which men obey and rule withal.

450.

Whereby although more got was, then was meant, And by advantage evil acts made good; Yet what this adds to any government, Is in dishonour ever understood: Since crafty webs, which oft serve present turn To warn times coming, do like Beacons burn.

451.

Besides, if pomp of Princes must exceed, In those kinds rather let their riot be, Whose natures though they leave the Crown in need, And so embase the State of Majesty; Yet keep the Bullion still within the Land; And go, and grow, like fame, from hand to hand;

452.

Yet as a spring for ever feed the Crown, By making people able to relieve, Where riots that transport, pull Scepters down, Give Kings and People mutual cause to grieve, At that extreme and fatal consequence Of Coin trans ported by misgovernment.

453.

Among whose many heads, though of the chief, Is that most idle and unmeasured charge Of Leager Agents, sent to take a brief, How forrain Princes alter, or enlarge Alliance, Councels, Undertakings, Trade; Provisions to defend, or to invade.

454.

Which indigested pomp was never known Nor us'd of old, but in the Factorage Of Merchants States to pass away their own, By making Princes Marts, their proper stage, Whereby exchange, want, folly, or desire To self ends they let fall, or raise things higher.

455.

Else springs it from improper imitation Of that long breath'd incroaching Court of Rome, Which to give her stain'd wares deer valuation, And govern all by superstitious doom; From her false Ark these Cormorants sends forth, To prey on every thing they find of worth:

456.

And to that end retaineth every where A spy, promoter, treasurer, and Mint; Whose charge those humble provinces must bear, That are besides, exhausted without stint, By Priests who cherish for their pride and gain Those sins the very heathen did restrain.

457.

The narrow Center of which Cloister wit, As it seeks to contract the Deity, In finite frames of Arts contriv'd by it; So are the large acts of humanity Shut up in Dungeons, by their muddy sence, That, except error, nothing comes from thence.

458.

Now what affinity can other Kings Assume with this, that only spend to know Which feathers soar in forraign Eagles wings? From whence there can no other profit grow, But vainly by expence of wealth, to buy, The vicious forms of forrain Tyranny.

459.

And so, by these mistrained instruments Bring Faction home among the liberal arts, With her unequal moulds of Government, To traffick or distract the peoples hearts; Free denizing that practical deceit, By which not small, but great States gather weight.

460.

Out of the insight of which error, many Wise Kings this modern course have alter'd, And rarely either sent, or taken any, Unless for present good occasioned To treat of Marriage, Commerce, Peace or War, In which returns the expences answered are.

461.

Again, since as of duties, so expence, There is a divers nature, and degree, Kings in the choice of their magnificence, Though absolute they seem, yet cannot be; But bound amongst the many heads of charge Chiefly their Fame or Empire to enlarge.

462.

Nay, even in these expences which be founded Upon the Laws of Nature, Honor, State; Wise Princes with their fortunes must be bounded, Since all excesses be unfortunate, And do not onely prejudice a Throne. But leave no creature master of his own.

463.

Of this kind charge of Children, buildings be. House-keeping, Furnitures, Gifts and Rewards, All lively shadows of authority, To multiply obedience, and regard; Wherein yet Kings should therefore keep a measure, As in things fram'd to live, and die with treasure.

464.

Whence I conclude it for a Monarchy Wisdome, in her expences and creations, To use a spare discreet frugality Which gives the work and workmen reputation; And so again by all ingenious ways Descending Rents not impositions raise.

465.

And when with these fair cautions Princes have Forrain Revenues, and their native Rents, Disposed thus both to beget, and save, They may with costless grace or disgrace vent Mens thoughts, and frame their due obedience More then can be wrought in them by expence.

466.

For Kings are Types of Heavenly excellence, How be it drawn in finite colours mixt, With Pow'r and wit both earthly influence; Yet were but these Arts in our Princes fixt, How to be strong by others Love, and Might, Their States would soon clime far above their Right.

Of Peace. SECT. XI.

467.

PEace is the next in Order, first in end; As the most perfect State of Government, Where Art and Nature each to other friend, Enlarge the Crowe by giving men content; And what by Laws within and Leagues without, Leaves nothing but prosperity to doubt.

468.

So that in her Orbe there is left for Kings Great undertakings, far beyond the flight Or pitch, of any lower feather'd wings, The Charge, Care, Council being infinite, As undertaking rage of time, and seas, Which Tyrant-like, to ruine else finds ways.

469.

Ordering of Boats, and Bridges to be placed Upon advantage, for the trade of men, Rebuilding Monuments, or Towns defaced, Cleansing of Havens, draining dry of Fenns, Fitting out Brooks, and Mears for navigation. All works of Princely Art, Charge, Reputation.

470.

Such was the cleansing of the AEgyptian sluces, Which got Augustus Ornament and Food, For his Praetorian bands, and peoples uses, In this kind prov'd the Appian high-way good; Those publick works which active States bring forth, Shewing the stranger Maps of wealth and worth.

471.

Therefore Kings providence should still adorn Natures producements, by the pow'r of Art; But to subvert her frames proves Scepters scorn; Through Athos, who yet sails in any part? Is Corinths Istmus from the main Land torn? Caesars vain dreams, as if fall'n flattering Rome Over the free made Elements, had doome.

472.

The Base of great works, and the Majesty, Is when the the workers Pow'r, and wisdom shew, Both in the use and possibility; So over Ister, Trajan's bridge did goe; Amasis and Cheops how can time forgive, Who in their useless Pyramids would live?

473.

Next, and of more refined policy, The founding is of these sweet nurseries, Where knowledge, and obedience multiply The Fame, and Sinews of great Monarchies; As Schools, which finely do between the Sence And natures large forms, frame intelligence.

474.

Unto which end in Achai, Athens, Creet, Rhodes, Lacedemon, and more, were erect Illustrious States, and Paedagogies meet, By reason and example to protect The coming ages from that Barbarisme Which first breeds Ignorance, and after Schisme.

475.

Whence again Rome in all her Colonies, Even while her Eagles march't, had yet a care, To plant the Muses in the soldiers Eyes; Such means to move or qualifie they are; Where, in the Turks excess of Tiranny, These dainty Nymphs excel'd for ever be.

476.

And to give more faith to this Sympathy, Which between Mars and Muses ought to rest, The Poets in Idea's far more free, Then any other Arts of mortal breast, Have in their fables ever shew'd them mixt, As, if divided, neither could be fixt.

477.

Hence feign they, when Jove sent his Daughters Nine, To polish Greece, he would not have them pass Alone, expos'd to every savage Myne, Or rage, where in the earth abundant was; But gave them Hercules for such defence, As active vertue is to innocence.

478.

Have not again these Muses, when they sing The Jo Paean of their thundering Father Apollo, with his shafts nock't in the string, For Consort of their Quire, or Master rather; To shew where Truth chains not men by the ear, There Savage nature must be rul'd by fear.

479.

Whence amongst all the famous victories, Which old Rome frome the East did triumph on, Even that of Fulvius did deserve the prize, Who for a Trophy of Pow'r overthrown Brought home the Statues of these Sisters Nine And that of Hercules, alike Divine.

480.

For which the City did a Temple build, As spoils that their God Mars did better fit, Then all those dainties which fine Asia yield, Or curious Cobwebs of AEgyptian wit, Plenties of Nylus, wealth of Macedone, Which helpt not to raise up, but wain a Ihrone.

481.

Hard by which Temple, Rome built up two more, The one to Worth, the other unto Fame, From Worth to Fame, there was an open door, From Fame to Worth she did no passage frame; The mind of which brave Nation was in this To shew that Fame, but Vertue's shadow is.

482.

Now, though it rarely be to be expected. That all Kings perfect should, like Caesar, be, Who in himself both Muse and Mars erected, At least with Trajans ingenuity, Let them that do in either branch excel, Still, in the other, cherish doing well.

483.

And as the Elephant, who not created To swim, yet loves and haunts the waters shoar; So let wise Pow'r in Mighty Empires stated, Though boast they cannot in the Muses store, Yet honor spirits of Parnassus free, As knowing best what fits humanity.

484.

Nor is the building of the Muses Cell Pow'rs chief work, but to manage every spirit, And frame each Science so to doing well, As States and Men may multiply by merit; All Arts prefer'd by odds of practick use, The meer Contemplative scorn'd as abuse.

485.

Chiefly this Cell-Art of the wrangling Monks, Captiving both Mans Reason and his Sence, In dreams of yesterday, wherewith these Trunks Strive to corrupt Divine intelligence; Their nominal and real Pedigrees Being but descents of curious Vanities.

486.

And hence it is, the acts of Peace and War Never recorded here so bravely were, As when these abstract wits liv'd not to mar, By making their fond visions Characts bear, Of these mens deeds, who, what by sword they wan, By Pen as lively Registred to man.

487.

For as that active Worth was then admir'd, The effects it wrought being of large extent; So in those times less actively inspir'd, The stiles of that time seem Magnificent: As if God made them Trumpets fit for Fame, Who by their Deeds deserv'd to bear her name.

488.

Meaning that when times iron days should blast That Manly discipline of doing well, The Art of Writing should no longer last; Like Natures Twinns that must together dwell; Doing and Writing being each to other, As Bodies be of their own shadows Mother.

489.

This was the Form, the Birth, the Education, And Art of that Age, which did train her own, To keep up great estates in reputation, Making them stand, by Worth, as they had grown; And drawing men from visions of abuse To Arts, whereof both War and Peace find use.

490.

In which account of objects still are, Life, Speech, Manners, Scepter, Sphear, Earth, Shield, & Sea, All Reasons Children, by the Sence his wife, Fram'd to guide Nature in an active way; Whether she would be rich, or serve her need; Raising no Trophies for her, but by deed.

491.

Now when of Monarchies the Mother seat On these chief pillars thus shall setled be; Then active Princes may grow rich, and great, By striving under one self-policy, Their Provinces divided to unite, As worths addition unto native right.

492.

Which union must all divers things attone As Councils, Laws, Church, Commerce, Language Coin, Degrees, and Forces, so that in the Throne, As in one head, they may like Members joyn, Intirely, without any reservation; Which Union is, all else but Combination.

493.

A State, like unto Coats with many seams, Subject to all the rents of Time and Chance, As floating high upon occasions streams, Which one by harming others, doth advance, The witty selfness of each humour hiding That which in common traffick proves dividing.

494.

Whereas that first and well united frame With Head and Members joyned to one end, Can bring forth nothing to divide the same, Each in the whole to it self being friend, Whereby no inward storm can easily rise, Nor outward forces do it prejudice.

495.

And though of these the Rights divided be, Some into hands of People, some of Kings; Yet must not Scepters by Transcendencie Draw home their own Right with Imperial strings, But by applause, to make up this new Chain, Rather perswade the people then constrain.

496.

More tenderly of force ought Thrones to deal With those, where men prescribe by right or use, For common liking must to common weal Be wonne, or Man his profit will refuse, And turn his waxen Mettal into Steel, Which, harming others, self-harm cannot feel.

497.

And when unto a true equality All inequalities pow'r hath reduced, Leaving her subjects no regality, Lest divers minds should easily be seduced; They that enjoy them, to restrain a Throne, And they again to mutiny, that have none.

498.

Then yet all wandring Titles of succession Wise Princes must with Providence unite; Else will these Crown-rights leave a deep impression, That no set course can long continue right; Since when the one line shall become extinct, All Union built on that Base lies unlinckt.

499.

Moreover, Realms of natural descent, When they with those which Chance or Conquest win, Shall be united in one government, Then Scepters may more famous works begin; Planting new Colonies in savage parts, There to spread Wisdom, Pow'r, Laws, Worth, and Arts

500.

Following, for guide of this establishment, Either the common standard of Mans reason, Or else the second light of government. Which stories yield, and no time can disseason, Drawn from those Monarcies which overran In little time all this known world of Man.

501.

Whose bent ambition still to conquer more, Compell'd them wisely to dispose their own, And by that discipline they us'd before, Work nations conquer'd neer as soon as known, To live in Order, and by Trade get wealth; With equal justice, keeping both in health.

502.

By which mild wisdome, they grew Lords of Fame, As well as Crowns, and rather wanted Men Then Stages, Means, or Models how to frame Ruines, mishaps to better form again; Building upon the Barbarous conquered, The uttermost of ill, well governed.

503.

See we not even among the brutish Nations, If men to them transport Civility, Those Colonies are dear in reputation, And soon link't with them in affinity? Their comings construed not to spoil, or take; But as come from their dwellings for their sake.

504.

So Athens with Jonian Colonies Did people Asia; Lacedemon spread Her Dorian Tribes thorough fertile Italy And so by her that Euxine barbarous sea Made hospitable is unto this day.

505.

This the chief Pillar is of Policy, That ever by the Romans was invented, Envyless to uphold their Monarchy, And make the stranger with their yoke contented; Prodigal of Rome they to their neighbors were Whereby her own womb did the Empire bear.

506.

For by the long breath'd course it came to pass, That all States did not onely stand in awe, Of Rome as Mistriss; but all the whole world was Link't unto her in Traffick, League, and Law; And did so much adore the Romans Fame, As they forsook their own to bear her Name.

507.

Where, in this crafty worlds declining age, Those large spread roots, are withered, or dead; All spirits of Worth to present Pow'r engage, And there so master'd, dull'd or measured, As while men fear their litle toys to loose, Worth they choose rather to suppress, then use.

508.

From whence it is, that we find of erecting Decay d Estates, or Colonies deriving, Or proper Laws, the present time directing Examples few; but many Princes striving Through fear of change, and fatal hate of pains; With publick loss to bring in private gains.

509.

Which privatenefs forgets Times glory past, And useth Time to come but to despise; Her narrow ends being on the present plac'd, And so in narrow selfness onely wise; No undertaking Empire to extend, To purchase Fame, or any Noble end.

510.

But felfly to root out our Enemies, Deface fair Monuments, spoil civil places, Dispeople Realms of Men, and Earth, of Trees, Spoiling, to varnish Tyrannies disgraces, And bring the World to those days back again, Where Pow'r did over Beasts, not People Raign.

511.

Again, this Art of Tyrant Cittadel, Not suffering free Citizens but slaves, What is it, but a Council out of Hell, Making the Princes Triumphs, Peoples graves? And sorts it not well with the Sultans word, Who vaunts, Grass grows not, where his horse hath stood?

512.

This is the cause the Holy Prophet spake And wrote, but of four Monarchies alone, As if the rest, these Lights did rather take To be on slaves a strict Dominion; Not Empire but a crafty violence, Whose Ruines never raise Magnificence.

513.

For that indeed is no true Monarchy, Which makes Kings more then Men, Men less then Beasts, But that which works a perfect Unity, Where Kings as heads, and Men as members rest, With mutual ends like Twinns, each helping other, In service of the Common-wealth, their Mother.

514.

Thus unto Kings their Provinces remote (Which oft else grudge at subaltern Subjection,) May with good government be kept devote, Men do ascribe so much unto Protection, And oft adore most what they least do know, Like specious things which far off fairest shew.

515.

And as Mans heart, though in one place confin'd, Yet to remote Limbs sends forth vital pow'rs, With ease or disease to affect the mind, According to her good or evil hours; Whence sometimes Arms have of her Pulse more sence, Then other Members less far off from thence,

516.

Even so, that providence of Heavenly love, Which holds the opposing Elements in awe, Though in her Thronè advanced far above The finite reach of any mortal Law, Yet never rests confin'd to any seat But by far spreading, proves her own pow'r great.

517.

Therefore, since wisdom works both far and nigh, As boundless, not restrain'd to time or place, Ador'd when absent, honour'd in our Eye, The more assiduous, still the more in grace; Repressing Mans ambition with his fear, A Ballance Kings must use, and People bear.

518.

On these States, what true judgement can we lay Which by the arts of crafty Tyranny, So to their ends do peoples humours sway, As Thrones rights grow a kind of mistery? Whence Mahomet himself an Idol makes, And draws Mankind to Mecha for his sake.

519.

Thus did the Caliph of great Babilon, In former times, bewitch the Barbarous nations, With sight of rich Robes, fhadows of his Throne; Reserv'd Magnificence gives such reputation, Adding to arts of pow'r, which still seem more, By making those souls less that must adore.

520.

But to conclude, as Modern Tyranny Hath not in any kind established A State by peace unto prosperity Of people, or of honor to the head; But rather to the prejudice, or shame Of both, like torrents, spread abroad ill name.

521.

So against this, Pow'r absolute should strain In their Estates to settle such a Péace, As, People pleas'd; Kings might with pleasure Raign, By making mens wealth to their use increase; Which so will link all members to the head: As Change shall there find all her movers dead.

Of War. SECT. XII.

522.

MAn's error having fram'd his Mind and Sence So divers, as no real works long please, Is justly scourg'd by that Omnipotence Which never in it self lets Vice find ease; Whence the vicissitudes of Peace and War, Pow'rs punishments, as well as Glories, are.

523.

Yet since excess in some bounds must subsist, And War have bounds from other heads then Might, Because her torrents else run where they list, And in desire raise titles infinite; Right and Defence must therefore be her Base, Which yet may varied be, in many a case,

524.

Among which, let Protection be a chief, When weak Crowns threatened are to be opprest, An Image of the Deities relief, Shewing that Thrones at once can move and rest And so grow greater by that aid they give, As in whose pow'r more then their own States live.

525.

Crown-right again which natively descends, Claiming Estates in other Crowns possession, Must not neglected be in Princes ends, And yet have curious Audits in progression, Wealth, Right, Occasion from the Barr of words, In Princes States appealing to their swords.

526.

In petty Rights therefore proportion'd care Doth well become the Royal States of Pow'r; But that indeed by which Crowns honour'd are, Is care, no one Throne may the rest devour; So that to wain a growing Empires Might, Infallibly is every Princes Right.

527.

Lastly, it much more danger will be found, Where Princes shall be thought adverse to war, Out of the hearts Effiminatish ground, Then to be held as Wit and Courage are, Ambitious undertakers, and no friends To any Right that interrupts their ends.

528.

For since most Crowns were first established By War, can times or States vicissi tudes So constantly by Man be governed, As they shall not his idle times delude; And on those Monarchs desolation lay, That will neglect that Bafe whereon they stay?

529.

Hence sprang that wisdom, whereby Martial Rome Did Janus Temple, in Eight hundred years, Not Three times shut, but open to the doom Kept them of Mars, whose force each question cleers, And to his Banners did one Consul fit, As she in justice made the other sit.

530:

Then let not Kings by their neglect invite A spiring States or Princes to do wrong; Security exposeth Wealth and Right, And prays to their ambitions that are strong; Nor is the spoilers hand so soon made free, By any thing as inhabilitie..

531.

But so provide for unprosperities, As fate at least may qualified succeed, Framing for change of time such Policies, As no distempers or diseases breed; By home broils to tempt forrain Enemies; Lest we for them, not for our selves prove wise.

532.

To which end Princes must raise Ordinance, Provide Munition, Armor, Fortify Such places as may best secure mischance, Siege, or surprize, which Conquest trafficks by, And such again, as if a tumult grow, Wise Princes to them may for Refuge go.

533.

Euphrat, Danuby, Rhene were those old bounds Of Rome, which Barbars ventur'd not to pass, While many Legions kept their winter grounds, But chang'd by Constantine when that force was, Goths, Hunnes, and Scythians over-spread her face, Like Horses running in a champian Race.

534.

Such Bulwarks modernly have held out Spain, From her mixt stiles of Right and usurpation; Such have withstood the Sultan's force again, And sav'd the Germans from depopulation Whereas for want of these, fair Albion Hath Five times been assail'd, Four times orecome.

535.

Besides, strong Kings must arm and exercise Troops of their people in securest times; And to the same end ever patronise Some active spirits in wars of forrain Climes, To train up Leaders, who, before need come, May discipline their men for Mars his doom.

536.

Luctatius, who the good luck had to end Romes first great Punick war, did on the Land By practice teach his Seamen how to mend That discipline in peace by which wars stand; As Philopoemen made Achaia spread By lazy peace, yet lively governed.

537.

If Roderigo that unlucky King, Over those Goths which did inhabit Spain, Had well observ'd these Rules, that savage Spring Of Saracens could not have shak't his Raign, But still confin'd unto the Africk shore, Must have remain'd and not have sought for more.

538.

Where he at home, afraid of Civil war, Disarm'd his Men; which to bold Tarrif was A sign that active force might venture far, And by Spains weakness bring his ends to pass: Which shews again, when friends or foes draw swords They ever loose that rest or trust in words.

539.

Who knows not that the Roman conquering nation, Lest their brave people should degenerate By peace, to keep up spirit and reputation, Trained their soldiers in each neighbor State, And under colour of protecting friends, Laid new foundation for her own new ends.

540.

Sounding the wit and force of every Nation, That when time serv'd, they might their Masters grow; Thus held they up the AEtolians reputation, To conquer Greece, and Asia overthrow: By friending Eumenes, Africk's made theirs, Colour'd by help to Masanissa's heirs.

541.

Pow'r must again so plant intelligence, And Ballance neighbor Princes by their good, As in our dangers they may feel offence, And hold it fit even with their Subjects blood, In our protection so to work out theirs, That publick pow'r may warrant publick fears.

542.

Not highly changing Party, ends, or way, But constant keep their course on beaten grounds, Urging, that equally all Princes may Abjure incroaching, rest within their bounds, Not strive by adding others to their own, To make the Worlds divided Empire one.

543.

And as the times now stand, unto this end They must keep open still that chief division, Not peiecing it for Enemy or friend, Fear, Want, or any false gloss of misprision; For it takes hold upon the Soveraign part, Which still by Conscience multiplies the heart.

544.

I mean that many headed separation, Which irreligious being, yet doth bear Religions name, affects her reputation, And which, (as it is now us'd every where) Becomes the ground for each ambitious thought, And shadow of all actions that be naught.

545.

Her name being dearer far, then Peace, and Wealth, Hazard for her, of Freedom, Life and Goods, Welcome, as means to everlasting health, Hope with no mortal pow'r to be withstood; So much of greater force is Conscience, Then any lower vision of the Sence.

546.

This Rupture therefore never must unite, Nor yet the heat of opposition slack, Chiefly, because her Pope is infinite, And to his own ambition lives awake; Affecting greatness by that temporal pow'r, Which in all else he studies to devour,

547.

Deposing Kings as Hereticks that leave her, And poizing of her own Kings in such manner, As of Supremacy none shall bereave her, But march as soldiers underneath her Banner, And all her Armies, both of War and Faction, Wage at their charge, to serve the Church in Action.

548.

So that to let her Seminaries spread Within the bowels of a Soveraign State, Or leave her Enemies abandoned, By force, or secret practice unto fate; Were to let friends decrease, and factions grow, As still they do by Neuters overthrow.

549.

Nor let this falacy of her declination Perswade, that with her strength, her ends are chang'd; Since Pride had never such an elevation, As when aspiring superstition rang'd; Which sin was at the first the Angels fall, And in the outward Church, since natural.

550.

Whereby she still unform'd lives, till a head Supreame she finds, or to her self makes many; A body such as must be governed, Within it self, not subject unto any And in each minute of her nature swels, Even with that Pride, wherewith the whole excels.

551.

So as this Flesh-born Church Supremacy, Whether form'd in Monarchal Government, Or State Aristocratical it be, With less then all can never be content; But by the Sophistries of Wit and Will, Strive ever to be head of good and ill.

552.

Therefore I say, let not this gathering Mass Of Superstition (whose true Base is fear) Lurk, and by false faith, bring her ends to pass, Or to the World such threatening Ensignes bear, As Time will shew are form'd to serve the turn, Of other Kings, that in her Lust do burn.

553.

But let Kings rather watch this Governess, That by her wisdom, they may fashion theirs; When to be merciful, when merciless, Time having taught her, to use hopes, and fears, Power, and Wit, that each may help her ends, Which are to have all slaves, no foes, no friends,

554.

Therefore when she lets Inquisitions raign, Pow'rs, Laws, as freely should their Process use; When by Confession she seeks to maintain, That mapp of Secrets which she doth abuse; Then must Kings by all Tryals gage her Nest, So as her Birds may neither Hatch nor Rest.

555.

Nor must we give her ear when she propounds Freedom of Conscience, that yields others none; But work against her on the same strict ground, Whereby she would bind strangers to her own, Suffring no freedom in Dispute, or Book, But such as her false Discipline doth brook:

556.

For if she Conscience plead, the like do we, And so in Faith the same Religious bands; If she doth therein claim Supremacy; Soveraignity (which under no pow'r stands) Plead, that we may deal so with forraign pow'rs, Here, or abroad, as they shall deal with ours.

557.

Lastly, when she, and her sword-bearers strive In Peace, War, League or any Combination, By fall of other Princes States to thrive, We must of force break that association; And if they arm in clouds, then arme so too, And Countermine by doing as they do.

558.

Or else she by her Contracts without charge As well as War, will still divide in gain; Where Kings their Crowns, she there her Cells enlarge, And bring her Harvest home with others pain; Making poor Princes by her dreams of spirit, Like slaves, that onely for their Lord can merit.

559.

Trust not their Church with her scope infinite, As King-ships in this world, more in the other; Here to seem greater then refined right, There both of Grace and Innocence a Mother; For God, a Pope; for Angels, Cardinals; A Church more over-built then Babels walls.

560.

An outward Church, that must stand as it grew, By Force, Craft, Rapine, and Hypocrisie, An earthly Faith, even every day made new, Built on the Base of one's Supremacy; A pride born of that Angels pride that fell, Prising for Peters pence, Heav'n, Purgatory, Hell.

561:

Trust not this Miter which forgiveth none, But damns all souls that be not of her Creeds, Makes all Saints Idols, to adorn her Throne, And reaps vast wealth from superstitious seeds: For must not she with wet or burnt wings fall, Which soars above him that created all?

562.

Suffer not men of this Divine profession, Which should be great within, Religious, True, As Heralds sent by God to work progression From Sin, to Grace, and make the old Man new; Let them not with the worlds Moralities, Think to hold up their Doctrine with the wise.

563.

Let them not fall into those common moulds Of frail humanity, which scandal give; From God they must take notice what they should; Men watch not what they speak, but how they live. Malice soon pierceth pomps mortality, The sin derides her own hypocrisie.

564.

The Clergies praise, when they from Pulpit come, Is to keep that Decorum in their lives, Which wall them in, from each unreverend doom Of Libertines, who to deface them strive: For messengers of Heav'n must still appear, As if that Heav'n, not Earth, were to them deer.

565.

From Abbies let them not hope to uphold Excess and Riot by the peoples voice; Where good and ill alike are cheaply sold, And frail Mankind confounded in his choice. Good Life, and Doctrine, are both Light and Food To starve the Ill, yet doe the chosen good.

566.

Now though this Council seem to fit a King, And not the steep excess of Tyranny: Yet Beams and Bodies being divers things, Finely in shadows may resembled be; Whence in the outward varying forme of things, Tyrants may well use rules set down for Kings.

567.

Let not Kings therefore on this old foundation Fear to continue Taxe, to hazard paid, Since War and Crowns consist by reputation, Which must not eas'ly from their course be sway'd Either by want of Ship, or Sail, or Shroud, Unless Kings will loose Tides, for every Cloud.

568.

But rather follow Mars in forrain parts, Who ever friends the undertaking spirit, With honor, hope of spoil, and all those Arts, Which still as Treasure are reserv'd for merit; Nor be these helps in Minutes understood, Which in the Mass, make undertakings good.

569.

Since here admit the worst that threatens come, And causeless Fortune like her felf should raign, How can the assistance yet find heavy doom, Whose Chance at home is to be cast again? And by their neighbors stumbling, not their fall, Each Monarch taught to have an eye to all.

570.

Nay, grant these mutual succors should at length Engage our own Estates into a war; Yet can they never take us in their strength, Who in their growings interrupted are, And to assail those pow'rs which wounded come, Doth certainly pronounce them fatal doom.

571.

Besides, it often falls out in distress, Where States by want exhausted are, and spent; That change of vices give their wounds redress, And qualify the common discontent In people, who when Peace is turn'd to War, Find Subsidies no Taxes, but Revenues are.

572.

Whereby disease grows cure unto diseases, A wisdom proper to humanity; For while in something, she her self ore-peazes, Yet stands by equal balla nc't vanity, And unto Chance things present sacrificing, Finds from those Ashes better times arising.

573.

And so we see in muddy Northern air, Winds, Thunders, Storms, (Earths present misery) Yet instantly makes foul horizons fair; So doth the war and her impiety Purge the imposthum'd humors of a Peace, Which oft else makes good government decrease.

574.

Only let Princes that will Martial be, Reform that common stained Discipline, Which is the Base of unprosperity, Sin against nature, Chance, and Pow'r Divine, Wherein I fear the Turk doth us excell. They keeping deeds, we words of doing well.

575.

Again, for those which unto war are bent, To right their wrongs, revenge themselves, or gain, How brave advantageous an instrument A well-fram'd Navy is to entertain, Let them be judge who understand how sea For hers, like Air, doth every where make way.

576.

For whatsoever odds in Man or Beast Between the Christian, and the Turk there be, By delicacy, hardness, industry or rest, Our fatal discord, or their unity; Yet we that thus on disadvantage stand, Stand fast, because he makes his wars by Land.

577.

Whereas each man of understanding spirit Knows well, that if this Mighty Tyrant would Have chang'd his war, and so his ways of merit, From Land, and made the waving Ocean mould Of all his Expeditions undertaken, The Christian Churches had long since been shaken.

578.

Nay in the Indians East and West again, What great things men may with sea forces do, Not only in suppressing of the main, But in possessing Land and Cities too, By undertakings of a Maiden Queen, * 1.5 May as in Models to the world be seen.

579.

So as since seas be Mothers unto Fame, Whose bravest Feathers Martial actions be; And Mother-like, since their breasts nurse that name Which they beget by strange prosperity; Let those Kings seek the secret of that womb, That will of Riches, Right and Wrong give doom.

The Excellency of Monarchy compa∣red with Aristocracy. SECT. XIII.

580.

NOw, if the tediousness of Mortal days, (Which suffers no man in his state content) Will seek a change in all things that displease, Then can no real form be permanent; Vain Lust and Novelty will never rest, Pleasing diseased natures ever best.

581.

Yet first let these light spirits which love change, Consider whence and whether they would go; Lest while they grow bewitcht with what is strange, They think that, Happiness, which is not so; And by affecting Mortal Heavens here. Hold only those things which they have not, dear.

582.

Doleful Alcyon had, perchance, good cause Both to suspect the frauds of Men and Beasts; Yet over-acting passion makes ill Laws, For to avoid which fear, she built her nest Upon the Oceans shoar, where storm and wind Since Tyrannise both her and all her kind.

583.

From like grounds, do not thoughts impatient, Which work new fangledness in peoples minds, And have their proper Lord in discontent, By such dislike of every air they find, While they would run from shadows that offend, Like rowling stones change place, but never mend?

584.

For if men will according to the name, Conceive th' Aristocratical estates Of Government, to be the perfect frame, And number able to give proper rates To lavish humours, then a Monarch can; What is this but new fangledness in man?

585.

And let not man examine this by book, As States stand painted, or enamel'd there; But rather upon life then pictures look, Where practice sees what every State can bear; And where the Peoples good, the wealth of Realms. Shew cleerly what forms spread forth sweetest beams.

586.

Which view will prove, how speciously soever These many heads enter with glorious stile Of conquering Worthies, yet they have never Long born those Titles, but within a while Been forc't to change their many heads to one; As blest by inequalities alone.

587.

For instance of which strange inconstancy, Take Rome, that sublime Senators estate; Did she not first the Sons iniquity Plague in the aged guiltless Fathers fate? And then her Monarch into Consuls throw, Under which yet Rome did an Empress grow?

588.

Soon after she erects the state of Ten, And even before th' ungrateful memory Of Appius Claudius buried was with men, She still affecting change of policy; Carelesly left her Government in trust, For some years, to her Martial Tribunes Lust.

589.

Lastly, as if in that unconstant wit They had concluded to dissolve the frame Of their Republick, by oft changing it; To such descent of Anarchy they came; As in five years they Governours had none, * 1.6 But stood upright by hap of time alone.

590.

For had there any undertaking state Assail'd them then, this France wherein they stood 'Twixt life and death, must needs have given fate To wandring humours stain'd with native blood, And by the factious government of Three, Have freed her slaves, to bring in Tyranny.

591.

Thus sick, and fully ripe for cure, or death, Rome did enforce a Caesar of her own To loose his honour or to break his faith; Her state alike being each way overthrown; Wherein yet he that brought back Monarchy * 1.7 Err'd less then he that set the people free.

592.

For after Tarquin, though Rome stood entire, Yet fell she into many headed pow'r. By which, like straws, light people set on fire, Did by confusion, which waits to devour, Yet raise again that brave Monarchal State; As souls well organ'd to be fortunate.

593.

Besides in Athens, what were Codrus merits That after him they should endure no King? Was it not he that sacrific'd his spirits, To qualifie Apollo's threatening? In which work this captiv'd unthankfulness, Which stained her, soon made her fortune less.

594.

Again, what comfort, or true estimation Can active vertue either take or give, Where many heads have power of Creation? Or wherein can these brave enticements live, Which raise exorbitant aspiring merit, Since many Judges never have one spirit?

595.

Must not Laws there, and Ordinances be Like Oracles, meer abstract and ambiguous, Fit for discourse, or books, not Policy, All practice dull, delaying, or litigious? Mans Justice seldom cleer, and never wise, As seeing right or wrong with chances Eyes?

596.

What Symptome is besides so dangerous To Mortal Orders, apt to be diseas'd, As Faction, on whose Crisis ominous Those States depend where many must be pleas'd, And where unequals are, by government, With equal measure forc't to be content.

597.

For as to make all Rulers of estate Alike wise, honest, rich, and honourable, A work is hardly possible to fate; So (without disproportion) who is able True worth and inequalities ambition, To please with equal ballanced condition?

598.

Out of which swallowed discontentment grows That Monster which then most the publick spoils, When to the world it best pretences shews, And as with Faction, Emulation, Broils, These many heads oft Civil war invite, So against forraign force they worse unite.

599.

Under three Leaders did not Athens wain * 1.8 Her right to Samos, and her reputation? As she before at Siracuse did stain Her Glory, and let fall her Estimation Under the guide of Alcibiades Joyn'd with stern Nicias, faint Demost∣henes.

600.

Whence the Athenian Orator aver'd, * 1.9 That their State never prospered in War, But when all pow'r was upon one confer'd; And when again was Rome engag'd so far, * 1.10 As under Canna's many-headed flight; Where chance & mischance, had pow'r infinite,

601.

Besides, as mild streams in an Ocean sea Loose both their Current, Sweetness and their Name: So here the best men must be sent away By Ostracisme, to qualifie their Fame, As for this State too great, which feareth Worth, Knowing that it still Monarchy brings forth.

602.

For is it not to them of Banishment Sufficient ground, to be reputed just? What other cause was there of discontent Gainst Aristides, but his worth's mistrust? How us'd they him that conquer'd Marathon? Or him, who Xerxes host had overthrown?

603.

Rome shew'd her greatness, when she did subdue Africk and Carthage, yet who will observe How little she thought to the Scipio's due, Or from Camillus how soon she did swerve, Shall see, in Aristocracies, the fate Of Noble actions is the peoples hate.

604.

Besides, where this name publick shall have pow'r To bind reward, with wreath'd frugality; Where sad stil'd Justice shall Mankind devour, Thorough a bloody stern severity; Must not these Glorious stiles of Common-weal, Wound even that worth wherewith it should deal?

605.

Faction again is ever soonest made, Where many heads have part, and Councils known There soonest are, where men with many Trade; Besides alliance here binds not her own; Nor adds unto the publick any might: Which makes their League, their Love, their Malice flight.

606.

Lastly our finite natures do not love That infinite of multiplicity: Our hopes, affections, fears, which ever move, Can neither fixt, nor yet well govern'd be, Where idle, busie rulers, with a breath, Give doom of honor, Grace, Shame, Life, or Death.

607.

Thus is Mankind, in numerous estates Wantonly discontent with liberty, Where equals give and take unequal rates, Moulding for good and bad one destiny: Whence Athens swaying to Democracy, For ever changing her Archontes be.

608.

And as ill luck makes man of man despair, And thence appeal a Supreme Soveraign, So grows adversity the peoples stair, Whereby they clime to Monarchy again: What wants Dictator but the name of King, Being as Soveraign else in every thing?

609.

So as if Aristocracies will claim To be the best of humane Government, Why do they from their Magistrates disclaim, As in extremities still impotent? Since who in storms the fittest Pilots be, Are ablest sure to guide prosperity.

The Excellency of Monarchy compared with Democracy. SECT. XIV.

610.

NOw, if the best, and choicest Government Of many heads, be in her nature this; How can the Democratical content, Where that blind multitude chief Master is? And where besides all these forespoken fates, The most, and worst sort govern all estates?

611.

Since as those persons usually do haunt The Market places, which at home have least; So here those spirits most intrude and vaunt To do the business of this common beast, That have no other means to vent their ill, Then by transforming real things to will.

612.

Besides, this equal stil'd Democracy Lets fall mens minds, and makes their manners base; Learning and all Arts of Civility; Which add both unto nature, and to place, It doth Ecclipse, as death to that estate; Wherein not worth, but idle wealth gives fate.

613.

Nay, where Religion, God, and humane Laws, No other use, or honor, can expect Then to serve idle Liberties applause, As painted toys, which multitudes affect; Who judging all things, while they nothing know, Lawless, and Godless are, and would live so.

614.

Therefore if any to protect this State, Alledge, Imperial Rome grew great by it; And Athens likewise far more fortunate, As raising Types up both of worth and wit; Such as no Monarchy can parallel, In the rare ways of greatnes doing well;

615.

Or if again, to make good this position, Any averr that Romes first Monarchy, For lack of courage, soon chang'd her condition Of Union, into multiplicity; Whence Germans over France, and Goths in Spain, In Africk Saracens, and Turks in Asia Raign.

616.

I answer first, that those subduing prides (Whereof the people boast) were to the hand Form'd, by the three preceding Monarch tides, And what succeeded (if exactly scan'd) But imitation was of their brave deeds, Who, but their own worth no example needs.

617.

For did not their Tarquinus, ere he fell, Conquer the Latine and the Sabine nation, Making their Martial discipline excel, And so increase their strength by reputation? Out of which active Legionary worth, That City brought her after Conquests forth.

618.

But be this as it may be, I deny Either the Empires growth or consummation To be the work of Romes Democracy; Since between her first Caesars Domination, And Tarquin, her Soveraignity was mixt, Of one, few, many, waving, never fixt.

619.

As Consuls, Senate, or the Peoples Might; The first a pow'r which Rome did conquer by, The Second set her publick Councils right, The last approve, increase or qualifie Pain, and Rewards of good or evil deeds; Two beams of Justice, weighing out good speed.

620.

Whence you may easily pregnant reasons draw, To attribute the Glory of old Rome Unto the Monarch part, which held in awe The conquer'd world; and not the peoples doome, Proportion from the great world to the small, Shewing, with many limbs, one head rules all.

621:

What but the peoples mutinous Conventions Under the factious Tribunes, scattered Romes publick patrimonie? and with dissentions Her wise opposing Senate threatned, By their Agrarian Laws, Engines of wrong, * 1.11 Dispersing laws which to the state belong?

622.

Besides, as who at home ill Husbands be, Seldome make dainty to stretch out their hand Into their neighbors harmless Treasury, So did it with these Bankrupt people stand; Who sent their armies out by force, & stealth, * 1.12 To bring them home the King of Cyprus wealth.

623.

Allur'd by no pretence of wrong, or right But only that he must not be their friend, Whose wealth was reckoned so indefinite; Not caring how they get or what they spend; But making good their ill by confidence, A worth of more use there, then Innocence.

624.

Lastly, where they had many times proclaim'd Against the Mamertines their just offence; Yet came they to their succor, and disclaim'd With Carthage their long liv'd intelligence; Whence the first Punick quarrel did proceed, * 1.13 And had the fates been just, with far worse speed

625.

Wherein the Senate Nobly did oppose This heady peoples incivility, As besides faith, in wisdom loath to loose The rich returns of that affinity: Publick respect, and shame wrought in the one, Who saw that ill deeds seldom pass alone.

626.

Whereas the People, which no notice take Of these small Minutes of humanity, But ways above these thin-lin'd duties make, Thinking they rule not, that restrained be; With ravening and irregular excess, Stain good and ill to serve their wantonness.

627.

Now for the Empires final overthrow, Falsly imputed to the Monarchy; Who doth not by the course of nature know, That periods in the growth of all States be Ordain'd? Which no Republick can exceed; For making each form self-diseases breed.

628.

Or if too abstract this reply appears; Forget not how the Monarchy preserv'd Rome for a thousand and seaven hundred years, Part of her Glory her first Kings deserv'd: * 1.14 The rest by Caesars in successive Raign, Till Mahomet the second made her wain. He took Constantinople Anno Dom. 1453.

629.

Where on the other side Democracy Did in few ages rise and fall again; There being but four hundred sixty three Years, between Caesars and Tarquinius Raign; In which time Rome corrupted her self so, As change she must or suffer overthrow.

630.

But that indeed which brake the Empires frame Was floating swarms, and mighty inundations Of rude Barbarians, which from Seythia came, To traffick vices with all civil Nations; Nor can that be peculiar stain to Rome, Which of all other Empires was the doom.

631.

Attyla, Alarick, Omar, Tamerlane Being in Mártial worth rais'd up as high, As he that most unto the Empire wan, And against whom old Romes Democracy Even in her pride must have made such retreat, As would have shew'd at home she was not great.

632.

Such as she did at Allia of old, When naked Gauls both took and burnt the Town Or Italy from Spartacus the bold; * 1.15 When by a slave their Eagles were thrown down, So that the Monarch fell by outward fate, Whereas the peoples own faults shak't their state.

633.

Nor do I doubt but that the Roman frame Of Monarchy might have outlasted all The Governments of whatsoever name, But that excess did make her old age fall Into a Gulf, whose two streams soon devour The Rights and Majesty of real Pow'r.

634.

The first was, their tumultuous election Of Caesars, which did many times make way To civil broils, disorder, and defection, Whence she became to forreiners a prey: This pow'r of choice making the soldiers know, Their head above had yet a head below.

635.

The second was their lack of Crown demesne, By which the Emperours still forced were In publick and self-Indigence to strain Laws, by mens voices; men by hope, and fear; Who saw their wealths and freedom both in one By this course of exactions overthrown.

636.

And yet, in this disease of Monarchs state, I dare avow their breed of home born spirits To have been active, worthy, fortunate Above Democracies in every merit, For instance, whom can that State parallel With Trajan in the pow'r of doing well? It was a proverb amongst them Felicior Augusto, melior Trajano.

637.

Who with Augustus in felicity? With Constantine in true Magnificence? With Marcus can in wisdom ballanc't be? Or with good Anthony in Innocence? Julian in Learning? Julius in Worth? That ever yet Democracy brought forth.

638.

For Tribunes be the Champions they can boast, An Hetoroclite Magistrate, devis'd Without Rule, to have all Rules by him lost, Religion scorn'd, Laws duty tyrannis'd, A fiery spark which lacking forrain stuff, At home finds Fuel to make blaze enough.

639.

So as if Chilo truly call'd those States The best, which most unto their Laws do give, And kept their Demagogues at humblest rates, Then this Conclusion ratified must live, Democracies are most unnatural, Where real things with humours rise and fall.

640.

Whence I conclude, that since Democracy In her craz'd moulds great Empires cannot cast, Of force, these frail confused policies, Which cannot breed states, can make no state last; But as the viper doth, must tear the womb Of Monarchy, whence her foundations come.

The excellency of Monarchy compared with Aristocracy and Democracy joyntly. SECT. XV.

641.

NOw, though I know our books are fill'd with praise Of good mens vertues, freedoms popular; Yet he that will not Audit words, but ways, And over-look the dreams of time with care, In smart succession, he shall cleerly find No long liv'd state hath been of either kind.

642.

For whatsoever stile these men affect Of Optimates, or of Democracy, Their courses basely practice, and effect A servile Oligarchal Tyranny; A swell in Laws as in establishment, Like ill mixt humours, never well content.

643.

So that such onely have escap'd mischance, As luckily, by publick opposition, To ballance Consuls, Tribunes did advance, Or by a more refined composition, Have rais'd (like Venice) some well bounded Duke Their self-grown Senators to overlook:

644.

So managing the whole in every part, As these vast bodies valetudinary, May, in the native Feavers of the heart, Yet some degrees of good complexion carry; And while they keep their forrain foes at rest, Win time thier own confusion to digest.

645.

Besides, if either of these States do choose Their Magistrates, or Officers by Lot, And chance instead of worth, and knowledge use; What strange confusions then beget they not? So that no wise man will himself commit, Much less wise State to be dispos'd by it.

646.

Again, if they by suffrages elect, Then, what scope that doth unto practice give; The old Comitia, and the new erect Conclave of Rome pregnant examples live; To shew worth there must be abandoned, Where real grounds are passion-governed.

647.

Nay more, let us consider if it be Easie at once of good men to find many; Since we with odds of birth and breeding see, Even among Kings, how rarely time yields any That out of Conscience, or for Countreys sake Will hazard, care, restrain or undertake?

648.

But grant such may be found, yet States thus peaz'd Must of necessity (as fortune-bound) Either by Princes have the ballance rais'd, Or loose to undertaking Princes ground: In which the thanks they offer to a Crown Is often thankless Mines, to pull it down,

649.

And foolishly; since union contains All native strengths of Soveraignity; As bearing over nature meekest rains; Whereby all other forms of Policy Must either freely yield to her subjection, Or else at least crave under it protection.

650.

Whence to conclude, since in this abstract view Of these estates, the multiplicity Proves apt to over-wrest, or loose their due As onely true friends to extremity; Can mankind under any Soveraign Hope to find rest, but in a Monarchs Raign?

651.

Out of which ground, the Poet, making Fates, Hath Registred Three thousand Deities, The least of whose powers govern'd many States, And yet acknowledg'd Joves supremacy, A work of supernatual succession, Deriv'd from God heads of the first impression.

652.

Again, who looks down from these Chrystal spheres, To view the Ocean where Jove's brother Raigns, Shall he not find the water Nereid's there In Office subaltern, not Soveraign? Yet us'd to stirre, or calm the Ocean's race, As Royalties of his three-forked Mace.

653.

Whence, if these lively Images prove true, It must be 'alike true, that the best times priz'd That old Monarchal form, before the new Confused Moulds, by error since devis'd: For else their Types of ruling providence, Absurdly, will seem far excell'd by sence.

654.

Let Man then weigh, whether this strange excess Follow the nature of each mortal frame As time-born, with her to grow more or less; And like her, never to remain the same? Or whether this relaxe or over-bent, Spring from the Subject or the Government?

655.

And he shall find the ground of change to be A wandering, and unmeasured affection Of Pow'r to bind, and People to be free, Not in the Laws, Church Rites, or their Connexion; But practice meerly to raise, or keep down Crowns by the people, people by the Crown.

656.

In which misprision, while each doth suppress, That true relation, by which States subsist, They first loose names, then make their natures less, Growing deform'd, by forming what they list: For they that still cast old foundations new, Make many shapes, but never any true.

657.

And as we do in humane bodies see, Where Reason Raigns in chief, not the affection, Order is great, not wanton liberty; Man to himself, and others a direction; Where if too much abstracted or let fall, The tares of passion there run over all.

658.

So when men fall away from Monarchy Whether it be to States of few or more, Change leads them neerer unto Anarchy By divers Minutes, then they were before; Since unity divided into many, Begets Confusion, never friend to any.

659.

For in each kind of humane government, Where Custome, Laws, or ancient Constitutions Serve as true scales, to weigh out pow'rs intent, Honour and Wealth there find no dimunitions, But where Will Raigns, and over-leaps those bounds. What can establish, but that which confounds?

660.

Therefore to end this point, if any one (According to our natures) fond os new, Into more Rulers would translate a Throne, Let him at home this Paradox find true; Or else yield, that unfit for publick states, Which in his private every creature hates.

661.

Thus have we view'd the spirit of Government, Shew'd both her ends, and errors in some kinds, And by comparing yet made excellent This brave Imperial Monarchy of minds, Not making Tyrants Gods to unmake Kings With flattering air for over-soaring wings.

662.

And though the ways of wit be infinite, Not to be cast in any Mould or Art, Like shadows, changing shape with every light, Ever and, never, still the same in part; Yet by this Model, wiser men may see, That there is choice even in the vanity.

663.

And forms establisht, which must be obey'd As levels for the world to guide her own Foundations against Anarchy well laid, Whose Being is but Beings overthrown; Where Thrones (as mortal shrines) with mortal fear Must be ador'd and worshipt every where.

664.

Therefore I thus conclude this fruitless dream, That if the body have imperfect features, Or swim (like AEsops wife) against the stream, Each age must adde to all the works of Creatures, And perfect things unperfectly begun, Or else in vain, sure, I have roul'd this Tun.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Duke of Alva.
• * 1.2

  These were the places of residence of the Caliphes.
• * 1.3

  Constan∣tinople. Cairo. Aleppo.
• * 1.4

  Queen Eliz.
• * 1.5

  Queen Eliz.
• * 1.6

  Livius lib. 2,
• * 1.7

  Velleius Patercu∣lus. lib. 2.
• * 1.8

  Charo. Timotheus. Iphicrates. Emil. Prob 9. in vita Ti∣mothei. Iustin. lib. 4.
• * 1.9

  Isocrates in nicocles.
• * 1.10

  Terentius Varro, Pau∣las Emilius. Livius.
• * 1.11

  Cic. de lege Agraria. contra Ru∣tilium.
• * 1.12

  Ptolomoeus, Florus lib. 3.
• * 1.13

  Polybius lib. 1.
• * 1.14

  245 years.
• * 1.15

  Livy. lib 5. Plutarch in vita Camilli.