The natural history of Stafford-shire by Robert Plot ...

To the most Sacred Majestie OF JAMES the SECOND Upon occasion of D^r PLOTS presenting to HIM THE NATURAL HISTORY OF STAFFORD-SHIRE

DEscribe the Land, Israel's Commander said And the glad Artists strait the word obey'd, Here Jordan flows, and here Asphalte stands, See Beth'lem's fields, in which the skillfull hands Let fall the Chain, and silent stop their pace, Retain'd by 'th' mighty Genius of the place, Some boding glimpse of wonder they descry, Rejoice and tremble, but they know not why: You Sir are Israel's King and 'tis by You, That we enjoy A happy Canaan too; Not only land and sea attend your State, But all the Muses on Your triumphs wait, Our lives and fortunes by the lawes are due, And gratitude directs our pen's to You, Thus the great Owner of the Starrs and Skies Takes some small offering for a sacrifice;

These Lands of old did own the Mercian sway, And now rejoice Your Scepter to obey; Trenta, and Tama raise their awfull Brow Proud to become a present unto You, As Sacred groves approaching Gods perceive, And hush'd in silence do attendance give; So when just Fate conducts You to the throne, These Aged Stream's do thus the blessing owne.

Now JAMES'S East do's mighty beams disperse, A Genial warmth spreads thro' our Universe; We feel the God—, see how wing'd Vict'ries flie, And crou'd with laurells thro' the glitt'ring Skie; When on our banks old Bards did Chant his name, The list'ning waves danc'd to his dawne of Fame; The joyfull murmurs hastned to the deep, Where waiting Tryphons Neptunes court do keep; Here angry waves their heads do prostrate lay And lowly bow t'oth Master of the sea: Nigh Majesty do's blesse Thames elder Stream, Let us do something may be told to Him.

Thus spake the Aged Sires, and Nymphs prepare, In hast to execute the pleasing care; Winter its cold and garments lay's aside, And February takes up Aprils pride, Then Staffords Fields new youth and vigour gain And seem to date their birth from JAMES'S reigne, Aquarius hasts these wonders to descry, Produc'd ('tis said) by tears that flow from joy.

When great Augustus in his steddy hand, The Earth and Sea's and plenty did command, When Janus slept retir'd from civill rage, And time seem'd to return the golden age, When cares and fears and even Treche'ry fled And hid in darkness its dishonest head,

Described Provinces* 1.1 his Empire greet And throw their plenty at his glorious feet, The Naked Rhine and Nitred Tigris come, And crou'd to bow unto Victorious Rome; Parthia resigns her Spoils, the fruitfull Nile Presents his Palm's, and thirsty Crocodile; Octavian's triumphs do Your Temple's bless, And in Your Sunshine can our Muse be less? Reproachfull Rebell's vain attempts do show How much of Heaven's care belongs to You; 'Tis for Your sake Nature resignes her lawes And Warlike Muses dare assert your cause, Soft as their shades, and as retir'd as Night, They could in Arms, and Rebell's blood delight; So do's chast Pallas for her Helmet call And see's proud Giants by Joves thunder fall: But now in Albion's Feilds rich Laurells g••ow, Such as become Sir Your Victorious Brow, Your Learned Athens brings such gifts as these, And at her Altars thanks You for her Ease. Fair Isis and ye conscious Groves declare, Whose name from ev'ry tunefull Swain you hear; 'Tis JAMES the Second fill's each Echo's voice, And with his praise do's ev'ry shade rejoice, Each Science feels new warmth, her wand'ring eyes Beholds Apollo mount the Eastern skies; Our Author do's not give but just restore What Your great Genius had inspir'd before: Thus Pearls and Gold and all that men call great Doe owe their birth to the Suns ruling Heat. Nature, whose scorne do's common Mortals flie Is proud to be the object of Your Eye,

She decks herself, sets all her stores in view, That she may recommend herself to You; Thus Philips Son, when in his arms he bore A Conquer'd World and weeping wisht for more, Receives the Labours of the Stagarite, And Learning fills the Heroe's appetite: Tho' Sir Your Empire, so expanded lie That its vast bounds no setting Suns descry, Yet do's it not to this its greatness owe, 'Tis therefore great, because possess'd by You.

THO. LANE M. A. and Fellow of Mert. Coll.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aethicus in his Cosmography (which was transcrib'd by Orosius tells us the whole Empire was Survey'd and describ'd in the Reigne of Augustus, and gives the names of Those, who had the care of it, v. Voss. de Lat. Hist. l. 1. c. 13. & Casp. Barth. l. 14. c. 8.