html.skin-theme-clientpref-night @media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os }And now, this Royal Presence duely plac'd,
Wonder to see how this Appartment's grac'd;
Whose Globulous roofe, seems like a moving Sphaere,
Where Stars in Aspects shine, as Heaven was there.
Nor were the Walls, and Pillars, less bright fam'd,
By his great skill, of hardn'd Chrystal fram'd;
That none e'r malleable, had made before,
And which all shapes, of Creatures, figur'd bore.
Then entertains their Royal Eares, and sight,
With Bodies, wond'rous organ'd for delight;
While some, in Birdlike shapes, best Musick sing,
And thus about this Roofe, are seen to wing.
Next which, in various Postures, did appear
Gygantick figur'd-Men, and what's as rare,
The shapes of Pigmyes, Natures Dwarfish crew,
That Dialogue speak, and make strangè exits too.
A Crystal wall then severs, whence to sight
A Scene appeares, than Evenings Sky more bright.
Whose shining seates, the antient Royal Race
Of Brittish Kings, in their past glories grace:
Which, as this presence with due wonder saw,
A Cloud-like Curtain, did before it draw;
As oft, the setting-Suns bright face does wear,
Made by his Art, of some such matter here.
Then shapes of Heroes, represents to view,
The Queen from her late dreadful vision knew;
To be of that sterne Nations mighty Race,
Succeeding time, did Saxon Monarchs place.
Whose Visage look'd, as if compos'd they were,
Of Natures Roughest Elements for War;
Each in a Martial Cassock, clad of blew,
The Armes of Nobles blaze, or Princes shew.
While Warlike Hengist, with a brandish't Spear,
And furious Horsa, foremost do appear;
Those fatal Brothers, first trod Brittish shore,
To lead through Seas of blood, fierce Saxon power.
Next these, passe Scepter'd Kings, of this high line,
With Alfred, must in story ever shine;
For all such virtues, Subjects Reverence draw,
And gave this Isle, first English Name, and Law.
Who, no less fam'd in War, his mighty state,
The Conquer'd Trophies of fierce Danes do wait[errata 1];
Whose bloody onsets, this Isle long withstood,
Before they Raign'd, or mix'd, with Native blood.
And here Great Edmund, who vast Battels fought,
With Danish Knute, are to sole Combat brought;
As this day, Story enterpriz'd does fame,
Where Severne Banks are wash'd by his rough stream.
But pardon, Reader, if my Muse hence spare,
To sing these Nations, long divided War;
Or how from Blood, and Arms, their Kings did raign,
Which must thy toyles, and tears together gain.
While with this wondrous vision, I descend
To Royal Edward, Saxon Kings does end;
Nature Divinely Issue did deny,
Since few succeeding, match'd his Piety.
And briefly, from this Artists deeds relate,
How Norman Kings possest this mighty State,
Since their first William, Rul'd by Conquests claim,
And left its Throne, at once rough Laws, and Fame.
On whom attending here those Heroes stand,
First serv'd his Arms, and planted in this Land;
Whence so much of our Noble Blood, since streams,
And speaks the honor of their Acts, and Names.
Next to Great William, Rufus does appear.
Who dy'd his Successor, without an Heir;
While Henry younger, does usurp the Throne,
And Robert, to both elder, sadly shown:
His eyes put out, by that ambitious Fate,
Made Henry youngest[errata 2], seise his Royal state;
Who clouded thus, his hands to heaven does spread,
T'invoke their crimes, should thence be punished.
Nor did remain a Male Prince of his Line,
Leaving his Crown, in beaut'ous Maud to shine;
Whose glorious love, Plantagenet inthron'd,
Whom France, (at such dear cost of Arms,) renown'd.
Descending thence, their eyes were entertain'd,
With all, of that high Lineage, here since raign'd;
Of which, the first unhappy Prince, was John,
If evil Kings, from Subjects hate, are known.
And here with troubled looks, he seems to view,
Those first bold Charters, Englands Freedom shew;
Which to this day, supremest Law has stood,
But speaks, that Ages Crime, since got with blood.
Near whom the mighty Barons sternly wait,
Who made his Power, by Arms legitimate;
From which black Vail, too late Rebellion springs,
And Treason seems, but now, past Acts, of Kings.
His Son succeeding, Lion-like, next sought,
To rend that knotty toyl, forc'd Law had brought;
But finds his Subjects made too boldly free,
E'r to resign their ill-got Liberty.
Three Edwards then inthrone this Royal Race,
The first of which, both Peace and warre did grace;
Whose valour Impious Saracens did rue,
And hardy Scots, save his, ne'r Conquest knew.
But soon alass, in his luxurious Son,
Declin'd that glory, did his Armes renown;
Until his Grandson did revive his Fame,
And in France trophy'd, a like Edwards Name.
And had his mighty First-born next him reign'd,
What Empire might not Brittish Armes have gain'd:
Whose like not Greece, or Rome Produc'd in warre,
And had of all, been greatest Conquerer.
But he a Princely Son, less happy left,
In his youths flower, of Crown, and Life bereft;
When Lancasters bold Line possest his Throne,
And rais'd a Royal warre, so bloody known.
Of whom, Fifth Henry is most glorious seen,
Who conquer'd France, and its fair Heir made Queen;
Leaving that Realms possession to his Son,
Whose zeal to heaven, lost there, what he had won.
And here with heavenly looks, (as Angels shew,
That humane Figures represent to view;)
Beholds that cruel hand, and bloody stroke,
His Life too good for mortal Rule, had took.
Next whom, in dismal Images, are shown
Such Princes fell in warre, each Line to crown;
While Lancasters, the fatal Red Rose bear,
And Yorks the white, not guiltless, though right Heir.
Which Vision pass'd, a joyfull glorious sight,
Presents here objects, vary'd with delight.
Where Marriage Rites, each Royal Lineage joyn,
And Lancasters high Blood, with Yorks does shine.
In that fair Princess, fam'd fourth Edward left,
His young unhappy Males, of life bereft;
Whose tender Glories, their fierce Unckle seiz'd,
And from a false Protector, King was rais'd.
Thus, was Great Tendors mighty Reign here seen,
Espous'd a Soveraign, in Yorks Heiress Queen;
While Ages warre, to love, does Trophies yield,
Who crowns in this great Bride, His Bosworth Field,
No less in Peace, his Conduct sage appears,
Whence Kings, too oft indulge, their Thrones high cares;
Whose active Prudence swayes each Royal State,
That crave, his wise allowance to be Great:
Some he more near endears unto his Crown,
In his fair Princely Daughters-Matches, known.
Who court his Blood, to give their Crowns wise Kings.
And all Great Brittain since, one Scepter brings.
Next here's display'd his wondrous Treasures sight,
That speaks his Royal Thrift, and Monarchs might,
Though some this Avarice call, not Princely Care,
Whilst he too much, his Subjects griev'd, to spare.
From which high Juncture, that eight Henry springs,
Who had in one soul, many mighty Kings;
Though his great Copy, bears some marks of ill,
Since Law, he made less Powerful, than his will.
And here his several Queens, too sadly known,
His frailer Loves, advanc'd, unto his Throne;
In mourning Vails, this profound Bard does show,
Who from their Fates, is call'd Loves Tyrant too.
To whom succeeds a Son, (in years, though young,)
That reign'd small time, as his fierce Rule was long;
Wise before man, and as for men too good,
Dy'd Flower of Princes, in an early Bud.
Next whom, appears his elder Sisters Raign,
Whose zeal, our Stories more than Rule complain;
Which pious Crime her Subjects did deplore,
Since Faith her guilty made of cruel power;
Shewing that zeal, when it too furious grows,
Promotes not Faith, but 'gainst it raises Foes,
And, as her Fathers Consorts deaths, did leave
A Curse, his Lawless bed, must thence receive;
His great begotten, issueless were seen,
Ending his Lyneage, in a Virgin-Queen:
Though more in Soul, than Nature could convey,
Teaching Men Rule, and Women to obey:
And, had she not been guilty of that stroke,
Her fair allyanc'd blood, so spotless took;
Her virgin Robes, had been far brighter wore,
And she, the wonder dy'd, of Soveraign power;
While Heaven, that scarcely could her loss repair,
Preserv'd, for all great Brittain, her next heir;
That mighty James, who brought such peaceful days,
And had for wisdom, more than humane praise;
On whom, here Glorious Embassies attend,
Their Masters, with submissive Treaties send;
Returning all, with prudent wonder home,
As once the Wise, from Solomon did come.
While here the wary Spaniards Courtships, poure
Their Indian Mines, on his more happy shore;
That Saturnes Golden Age, his Raign did show,
And fled Astræa, seems to return now.
Thus to his royal Son descends his Throne,
Less great in Fortune, than in Virtue known,
In whom, all Graces so divinely met,
As Heaven took paines, his virtue to compleat.
Who meekness joyn'd, with Princely Majesty.
And each adorn'd, by matchless Piety;
That impious Rebels, his just Power withstood,
Confess'd him, (both as Man, and King) most Good.
While o'r his head, the shapes of Angels fly,
Merlinus wing'd, by his Arts mystery;
And next an Azur'd Vaile before him drew,
Hides his black Scene of Murder, from their view.
Which done, a troop of rough-arm'd men appear,
Their hands in Sacred Blood embrew'd, and war;
Whose visage look'd, as if that Hell had sent,
Rebels from thence, for some such curs'd intent.
Amongst whom their dire Chiefe, like Pluto's shown,
When his Friends pay black Duties to his Throne;
Whose eyes were seen, like sanguine Balls of Fire,
While blasts of Sulphur, his flam'd Nares transpire.
And next, his Lips dissolve, that impious breath,
Betray'd both King, and Subjects, to vile death;
While Rolls of Oathes, his mouth disgorges here,
That must Hells blackest Records, ever bear.
Not long, Merlinus, does present this sight,
But in a mist, does Image, stygian Night;
This horrid vision from their eyes conveys,
And soon does figure happy Royal dayes;
That in great Second Charles, this Isle restores,
Too sadly griev'd, by Tyrant Subjects Powers;
Who here returning, seem'd like wish'd for Spring,
Long suffer'd Winter, happily did bring.
On whom, such Triumphs, and vast Glories waite,
As late him wellcom'd, to his royal state;
For which, the good transcendent joyes express,
Assur'd in him, of all just happiness.
And here, to represent his Naval Power,
Ships seem to move, upon this wondrous Floore;
On which, the vanquish'd Belgian Vessels fly,
Yeilding the Seas, to his Sov'raignity.
Whence Brittish Ships, in happy Calmes now steere,
That Indian-Mines, in their rich bottomes bear;
With whatsoe'r to boundless Trade accrewes,
All which this Sage, Prophetickly foreshowes.
And, to consummate, with more wonder too,
Each royal vision, represented now;
Behold, great Vortiger, does figur'd, lead;
A beaut'ous Princess, must with him precede
These mighty Glories, whence in future springs,
Th' Illustrious Saxon blood, and Brittish Kings;
Who here did seem so wounding faire, and bright,
As even the Queen is Rivall'd by her sight:
Whose Rosie Cheeks, express a lovely fear,
Yet grants this object, may her own compare;
Confessing, Heaven does not impartial prove,
If such a Rival should injoy his Love.
While Albianus with amazement strook,
On this, (above all wonders seen,) does look;
Thinking, what its appearance should foreshow,
Or what's the Science, future things can know.
But Vortiger, transported more, to see
His Figure, lead this beaut'ous Imag'ry;
Since in his Breast, the Queens all-powerful beames,
Already kindled had a Lovers Flames.
Demands, a thousand wayes perplex'd in thought,
What strange effects, in Brittain, should be wrought;
Or if his Art, in remote causes saw
How unknown Love, must give his Soul a Law.
To whom, this mighty Bard, did thus reply,
Renowned Prince, in Providence, do lie
Such secrets, Natures high Appartments close,
Our search cannot discern, or wills oppose;
Though from this glorious Handmaid she does give,
The world a being, and all things, that live;
Whence such mutations, we observe in state,
And Princes, with a secret homage, waite.
While every Passion, of our Humane soul,
This sublime Inclination does controule;
Nor has Loves power (so much endeares the sence)
Other, then Charmes, of her bright influence.
But, as we thus, from Providence, are led,
We follow steps unknown, this guide does tread;
Nor can my deepest science, apprehend
The meanes, producing every admir'd end;
Though she sometimes, this obscure Vaile layes by,
Whence in her Face, we view her Prophesy,
That in each star, with eyes on us, does look,
And thus we oft may read, her future Book.
From which high Text, my Art (with humble dread)
Has in these Visions, a deep Comment read;
Nor such, did Spels, or Charmes, e'r like supply,
That spoke and mov'd, by Nerves of Geometry.
The Queen, and Princes, wond'ring at his Art,
That could such secrets Imag'd thus impart;
Which might even Archymedes here have taught,
Whose Geometrick Engins wonders wrought;
In state withdraw, from this stupendious Place,
No Royal Presence, e'r like this, did grace;
Giving Merlinus, highest Thanks, and Praise,
Who (like Heavens Act) had foreshown future dayes.