Princeps rhetoricus or Pilomachia· ye combat of caps. Drawn forth into arguments, general and special. In usum Scholæ Masonensis : et in gratiam totius auditorii mercurialis.

The Symbolicall Properties.

1. A Mercuriall Mace Argent. Caduceus, with two Snakes, in∣terwinding, and plumed Argent. signifying the power of Serpentine eloquence. This is the Fexanima Pytho, insinuating perswasion.

2. A Mercuriall Bonnet, plumed Argent, Edged Or; typifing the gallant rationall Head-piece, a Princely Presence, and a free-borne Speaker, whose braines are laid with Gold, and his tongue tipt with Silver. Aurum Argentum{que} loquitur.

Againe, the Snakes have respect to the will, the Cap to the the Intellect, the wings to the fancy, and the Colours to the Passions.

3. A Scutchion or Mercuriall Sheild, which bore Gules, three Keyes, Or. on the dexter hand; but on the sinister, a Bend Azure charged with foure Stars of equall radii; over them Sol, under that a Cube, Triangle, and Circle, all Or. the Crest or Rose with wings Argent. quasi Rosa volans.

Observe farther, that the allusion was Mathematicall, and chiefly Astronomicall, from beginning to the end, as thus: The two designes are as the Artick and Antartick Poles, bearing the Axis of the maine worke. The five Strophae, Antistropta, or Acts, doe bear the number and office of the Zones; the seven chiefe Seniors

wander as the Planets through the Zodiack, the Planets proper stage; the twelve Sub-monitors, as the twelve Signes, fixt to the Zodiack, The intire number of Actors, the same with the Con∣stellations; some Southerne, some Northerne moving, all accor∣ding to their Longitude, latitudes, and altitudes, according to their place & magnitudes, in the upper & lower division of the School place. All in time and order of vicissitude, moving through the degrees of the Zodiack, till they have reacht to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the highest pitch of Schoole Honour, viz. Princeps Rhetoricus, the Sol scholae; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Mercuriall Moderator of the whole Regiment; for it is Sceptrum successivum, in ordine ad me∣ritum Ascensionis.

The Prologue two-fold:

• 1. The mock-Prologue.
• 2. And the Serious.

1. THe first layes the contrivance of the Anti-plot or counter∣designe: Vbi consulitur de inductione Pilei in Scenam & Curiam Principis Rhetorici. The Contrivets five, Misrule, Corister, Custos pileorum, Ostiarius, and Monitor Scholae.

2. The second gives the argument of the maine plot or fixt work in hand. Being two-fold.

• 1. In Greek Iambic, Ad Doctos.
• 2. Ad populum. In English.

The English Prologue.

All haile thrice faire Assembly. VVHat Orders, Laws, Rights, Constitutions, here Run yearly round in this Schoole Hemisphere: And what Our Elders, and Our Classes doe, Are this day tendred to your publique view.

Our Prince is King of Bees; whose well-mann'd throne, No peevish VVaspe can clime, nor lazie drone. Under whose VER GE our new Atlantis lies, And comes well-neere th'Utopian Paradise.

As for the scene that lies in Grecian-Rome, A piece new weaved ith Greek and Latian lome; Yet for your sakes (sweet Ladies) all along, The work's imbroder'd in our Mother Tongue.

Sirs, you are wise, accept what is not ill, Who are not wise, let them do what they will.