The First Booke
REcensui hoc Poëma, cui titulus est (A Collection and Illustration of Emblems Ancient and Moderne) in quo nihil reperio, quò minus cum utilitate imprimatur, ita tamen, ut si non intra septem menses proximè sequentes Typis mandetur, hæc licentia sit omninò irrita.
Ex ædibus Lambithanis
Iul. 2. 1634.
Gvil. Bray.
A
WRIT OF PREVENTION
Concerning the Avthors Dedication
of the foure following Bookes, to those
Royall, Princely, and Illustrious Personages,
whose Names are mentioned
in this Leafe.
I Have not often us’d, with Epigrames,
Or, with Inscriptions unto many Names,
To charge my Bookes: Nor, had I done it, now,
If I, to pay the Duties which I owe,
Had other meanes; Or, any better Wayes
To honour them, whose Vertue merits praise.
In ARCHITECT, it giveth good content,
(And passeth for a praisefull Ornament)
If, to adorne the FORE-FRONTS, Builders reare
The Statues of their Soveraigne-Princes, there;
And, trimme the Outsides, of the other Sqvares
With Portraitures of some Heroicke PEERES.
If, therefore, I (the more to beautifie
This Portion of my Mvses Gallerie)
Doe, here, presume to place, the NAMES of those
To whose Deserts, my Love remembrance owes,
I hope ’twill none offend. For, most, who see
Their worthy mention, in this Booke, to bee,
Will thinke them honor’d: And, perhaps, it may
(To their high praise) be found, another day,
That, in these Leaves their Names wil stand unrac’d,
When many fairer STRVCTVRFS, are defac’d.
In this Hope, I have placed on the Fore-Front (or before the First Booke of these Emblems) a Ioint-Inscription to the King and Qveenes most excellent Maiestie.
Upon the Right-Side-Front of this Building (or before the Second Booke) One Inscription to the most hopefull Prince, Charles, Prince of Wales; And, another to his deere Brother, Iames, Duke of Yorke, &c.
On the other Side-Front, (or before the Third Booke) One Inscription to the gratious Princesse, Frances Dutchesse-Dowager of Richmond and Lenox; And, another to her most noble Nephew, Iames Duke of Lenox, &c.
On the Fourth Front of our Square, (Or before the Fourth Booke) One Inscription to the right Honourable Philip Earle of Pembrooke and Montgomery, &c. And another to the right Honourable, Henry Earle of Holland, &c.
To the Majestie of Great
Britaine, France, and Ireland, the
Most Illustrious King,
CHARLES;
And his excellently beloved, the most
gratious Queene MARY.
SEv’n yeares are full expired, Royall Sir,
Since last I kneel’d, an offring to preferre
Before your feete; where, now, my selfe I throw
To pay once more, the Tributes which I owe.
As many yeares are past, most beauteous Qveene,
Since witnesses, mine eares and eyes, have beene
Of those Perfections; which the generall Fame
Hath sounded forth, in honour of your Name.
And, both your beaming-splendors (oh yee faire,
Thrice blessed, and most fitly-matched Paire)
Vpon each other, make such bright reflections;
And have so sweetly mingled your affections,
Your Praise, your Pow’re, your Vertues, and your Beautie:
That, (if preserving of my Soveraigne dutie,
This may be said) you doe appeare, to me,
Two Persons, in One Maiesty, to be;
To whom, there, appertaines (in veneration
Of your large Worth) the right of some Oblation
And, best, I thought, my Homage would be done,
If, thus, the tender were to Both-in-One.
Which, in this humble Gvift, my Love presents;
And, wisheth it may adde to your Contents.
Perhaps it shall: For, though I dare not shew
These Figures, as well meriting your view;
Nor boast, as if their Moralls couched ought,
By which your sacred Wisdomes may be taught:
Yet, I have humble Hopings, that, they might
Prove, some way, an occasion of delight;
Since, meane and common Objects, now and then,
Beget contentments in the greatest-men.
But, that before this Booke, I should propose
Your praisefull Names, there is (as I suppose)
A faire inducement: For, considering these
Are Emblems, whose intention is to please
And profit vulgar Iudgements (by the view,
Of what they ought to follow, or eschew.)
And, I well knowing, that your Maiesties
Set foorth before my Booke, in Emblem-wise,
Throughout your Lands, more Vertues might convay,
Than many Volumes, of these Emblems, may;
It seemed Petty-treason, to omit
This good occasion of endeavouring it.
For, (if your Maiesties, well heeded, were)
Yov, double-treble-foure-fold Emblems are;
Which, fully to illustrate, would require
The Wit I want; or, meanes to raise, that, higher
Which I have gain’d; (and, which, as yet, hath flowne
By no incouragements, but by her owne.)
Of all the Vertues Oeconomical,
Of Duties Moral and Politicall,
Your Lives are Patternes, and faire Emblems; whether
Considered apart, or both together.
Your Childhoods were bright Mirrours, which did show
What Duties, Children, to their Parents owe:
And, by the sequele, we now understand,
That, they who best obay’d, can best command.
The glorious Vertues of your Nvptiall-state,
Your Courtiers, find so hard to imitate,
That, they admire them, rather; and would sweare,
(Had others told, what, now they see and heare)
That, all the former Times, were not acquainted,
With such a Paire, when Kings and Queenes were Sainted.
The chastest Cupids, and the gamesom’st Graces,
Are alwaies mingled in your Deare-embraces.
The mutuall enterchanges of your Loves,
May teach affection to the Turtle-doves:
And, such as are, with goodly sights, delighted,
May see in You, all Excellence united.
You, Sir, who beare Ioves Thunders in your Fist,
And, (shake this Ilands Empire, when You list)
Did never in your Orbe, a Tempest move,
But, by the Beautious Mistresse of your Love
It might be calm’d. And, in your lofty Spheare,
Most lovely Qveene, Your Motions ever, were
So smoath, and, so direct; that, none can say,
They have withdrawne his Royall-heart away
From Iust Designes; Which, loudly speakes your Praise,
And, intimates much more, than, yet, it saies.
Yea, both Your Splendors doe so glorious growe,
And, You, each other have out-vyed so,
In these, and other Vertues; that, on You,
Should I conferre what praise, I thinke, is due,
My Lines, (which from that staine have, yet, beene cleare)
Would Flatt’ry seeme, unto an envious eare.
But, what needs Flatt’ry, where the Truth may teach
To praise, beyond immodest Flatt’ries reach?
Or, what needs he to feare a sland’rous-mouth,
Who seekes no meed, nor utters more than Truth?
Your Princely Vertues, what can better show,
Than Peace, and Plenty, which have thrived so,
Whilst You have raign’d that, yet, no people see,
A Richer, or more Peacefull time, than wee?
Your Civill Actions (to the publike eye)
Are faire examples of Moralitie,
So manifest; That, if he Truth did sing,
Who said, The World doth imitate the King;
My Muses dare, with boldnesse to presage,
A Chast, a Pious, and a Prosperous Age:
And, that, the stormes which, late, these Realmes deterr’d,
Shall all be quite removed, or deferr’d
Till you Ascend; And, future times have seene,
That, your Examples have not followed beene.
Thus, you are living Emblems, to this Nation:
Which being mark’d with heedefull speculation,
May serve, as well, to helpe us how to see
Our Happinesse, As, what our Duties be.
And, if I might unlocke all Mysteries,
Which doe declare, how in a foure-fold-wise,
Your Lives are usefull Emblems; I, perchance,
Should vexe blind Zeale, or anger Ignorance;
And, teach well-temper’d Spirits, how to see,
That, we, for Blessings, oft, Vnthankefull be.
For, as you, Both, Prime Children are of those
Two Sister-Churches, betwixt whom, yet, growes
Vnseemely strife; So, You, perhaps, may be
An Emblem, how those Mothers may agree.
And, not by your Example, onely, show,
How wrought it may be; but, effect it so.
Yea, peradventure, God, united You,
That, such a blessed Vnion might ensue:
And, that, Your living-lovingly, together;
Your Christian hopefullnesse, of one another;
Your milde forbearance, harsh attempts to proove;
Your mutuall-waiting, untill God shall move
By some calme-voice, or peacefull inspiration,
That Heart Which needeth better Information;
And, that, your Charities, might give a signe,
How, all the Daughters, of the Spovse Divine
Might reconciled be; And, shew, that, Swords,
Flames, Threats, and Furie, make no true Accords.
God grant a better Vnion may appeare:
Yet, wish I not the tollerating, here,
Of Politicke-Agreements; (further than
Our wholsome Lawes, and, Civill-vowes to man,
With Piety, approve) but, such, as may
Make up a blessed Concord, every way:
Might it be so; your Vertues, would become
A Glorious Blessing, to all Christendome:
Your Emblem should, by future Generations;
Be plac’d among the famous Constellations,
And, after-times (though, Mee, this Age despise)
Would thinke, these Verses, had beene Prophecies.
What ever may succeed, my Pray’rs and Powr’s
Are this way bent; with Hope, that You or Yours
Shall Helps (at least) become, that Breach to close,
Which, in the Seamles-Robe, yet, wider growes.
So Be It: And, let bright your Glories bee,
For ever, though You never shine on Mee.
Your Maiesties
most Loyall Subject,
Geo: Wither.