Augustus Britannicus a poem upon the conclusion of the peace of Europe, at Rijswick in Holland, upon the 20th of September, 1697 / by J. Phillips. Phillips, John, 1631-1706. 1697 Approx. 25 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A54757 Wing P2079 ESTC R1671 11876302 ocm 11876302 50263 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A54757) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 50263) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 505:6) Augustus Britannicus a poem upon the conclusion of the peace of Europe, at Rijswick in Holland, upon the 20th of September, 1697 / by J. Phillips. Phillips, John, 1631-1706. 12 p. Printed, and sold by E. Whitlock, London : 1697. Reproduction of original in British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Treaty of Ryswick (1697) 2002-09 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-10 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-11 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2002-11 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Augustus Britannicus : A POEM UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE Peace of Europe . At Rijswick in Holland , upon the 20th . of September , 1697. Arma Virumque cano — — et magnos de Pace Triumphos . By Mr. I. PHILLIPS . LONDON , Printed ; and Sold by E. Whitlock near Stationers-Hall , 1697. Augustus Britannicus : A POEM upon the Conclusion of the PEACE of Europe , &c. LONG had the Rage of War , with Sword and Fire , Laid wast the fertile Gardens of the Rhine ; And the same Flames , to Belgium no less dire , Not all those spacious Regions could confine . Too narrow Limits for th' insatiate Range Of proud Ambition , thirsting after Blood ; Eager of Rule , and still pursuing Change Of Slaughter , hungry Warfare's lawless Food . At the same time the Conflagration flew To th' utmost Borders of Imperial Sway ; And wide Danubius Streams now wider grew , By Battles swell'd into a Crimson Sea. With Most Mahometan , Most Christian joyns , And Friendship with Heaven's Foe is dearly bought ▪ If Heav'n , they cry'd , desert our bold Designs , Let Hell be mov'd , and Succour thence be sought . While thus the German Arms divided toil , Th' Invader fumes to see himself oppos'd ; The Lyons Strength assumes the Fox's Guile , And a swift Truce the Wounds of Europe close . But while secure the weary'd Princes lay Enfolded in the tender Arms of Peace , ( Pity their Fate , whom broken Oaths betray , And study'd Treasons by Surprise oppress ) They whom no Ties of Sacred Truth could hold , With rapid Force invade their peaceful Slumbers . Undreamt , unthought of , the swift Deluge rowl'd , O'respreading Regions with resistless Numbers . Quite through Batavia , like a lambent Wind , The speedy Hurricanes swept all before 'em ; Art in defence with Nature vainly joyn'd ; No Mounds could stop the Torrents that o'repower ' em . Batavia thus her daily Losses mourn'd ; Dispeopl'd by Despair , by Fear unmann'd ; You might have deem'd old Noah's Flood reurn'd , To see the Sea let in to save the Land. Heav'n oft permits such Chastisements as these ; The Cause Heav'n only knows , while we surmise : But when atton'd , the Showers of Vengeance cease , And prone to save , Heav'n th' Instrument supplies . From some hid Cause like this , the Change began ; Coelestial Pity on Batavia fell ; And the same Hand that scourg'd , points out the Man , Who only could their Mischiefs back repel . Then for Relief to Great NASSAV they bow'd , Whom Faction but a while before had scorn'd ; NASSAV , to whose Fam'd Ancestors they ow'd The Liberty their Commonwealth adorn'd . He took the Reins , and drove the Chariot steady , That with new Beams their drooping lives rechear'd ; Daring in Battle , and in Counsel ready , And by his Foes no less belov'd then fear'd . Prudence in Youth , with youthful Valour joyn'd , Stop'd the Career of Uncompassionate Spoil ; Their easie Conquests they as fast resign'd , Like Innundations , when they back recoil . Fame spread him Wondrous , e'er he had begun , And talk'd of things that he was born to doe , Which she proclaim'd as if already done , And big with Prophesie , her Trumpet blew . When first these Tydings reach'd Versailles Court , They soon foresaw the Face of War would change ; They now must drudge , who lately made a Sport Of yielding Danger , and unarm'd Revenge . NASSAV appears , to be as soon renown'd For early Contests in the Race of War ; Europe has now her Guarding Angel found , While He becomes her Blessing , She his Care. The wary Luxemburg was pos'd to shun The first Attack of his Couragious Heat ; Mons saw the Fox unearth'd , and tamely run To seek new Covert from entire Defeat . The greater Genius of the Great NASSAV Inspir'd his Warlike Bands where-e'er they fought ; His Conduct like the Hebrews Cloud they saw , And hasten'd to the Dangers which he fought . Just Heav'n ! how does thy mighty Power deride The Vain Results of Human Providence ! Vast were the Foes Designs , and Heav'n defy'd , Became the Scorn of daring Insolence . But deep Contrivance , what it least design'd , Did but Materials for his Trophies heap ; Versailles did but sow , by Fate made kind , The Harvest Britain's Hero was to reap . Long had the British Empire sadly born Four Ponderous Yoaks , unprosp'rous and unbless'd ; Her Martial Glory lost , and made the Scorn Of that Proud Realm which once her Arms possess'd . O'erwhelming was the last Tempestuous Rage , Upon her Liberties , Religion , Laws ; What Refuge then , but humbly to engage The Faith's Defender to defend her Cause ! 'T is only for an Iliad to make known In lofty Strains , the Wonders that he wrought , Lyons to Hares transform'd , th' Encounter shun , And from his dreaded Name for shelter sought . The Vaunting Host , that late in smoaky fight , On Hounslow-Plain took Towns , and Battles won , By unseen Danger quell'd , became a Sight For Mirth , to see an Army in a Swoon . The Chieftain's Fear had chill'd the Martial Mass ; In vain the Drumm and Trumpet rend the Sky ; While pale Affright appear'd in Iames's Face ; So sweet was Life to him who fear'd to die . It may be deem'd that Guilt of Evil's done , Beheld preceding NASSAV's warlike Train , Heav'n's Brandish'd Sword , that like the Saber shone , That guarded Eden from less Criminal Man. It was the least that Gratitude could do , To Crown the Author of the Bliss they crav'd ; For nothing but a Crown became his Brow ; Since none more fit to rule what he had sav'd . The Crown was Gold , but yet with Thorns beset , A Crown of painful Cares , but yet a Crown That new Occasions gave to mitigate The Toils of War with Wreaths of fresh Renown . A powerful Foe Hibernia then Possest , Lord of her Towns , and Master of the Field , Vainly misled , and slighting easie Rest , To Foreign Chains they tame Submission yield . With awkward Zeal , and false Religion mad , ( Oft times the dangerous Frenzy of the Mind ) They , their own Foes , their native Hearths betray'd , And to subdue themselves with Foreign Conquest joyn'd . Great Britain's Monarch could not brook the Hand of Rebel Fury wildly laying wast So fair a Portion of his wide Command , But streight to Vengeance makes undaunted hast . He did but Land , and march , and only saw , When pannick Terror seiz'd th' Insulting Foe : They fled , and left a Realm to take new Law From him they scorn'd to own an Hour ago . Thus Caesar , when the bold Pharnaces rang'd Bythinia's Plains with uncontroul'd surprise , But went and view'd , and Roman Loss reveng'd , Return'd a Wonder to the Gazèr's Eyes . Never did Prince say less , nor Prince do more ; Men look'd and listen'd , talk'd their Hopes and Fears ; Ne'er so much Silence , so much Noise before , Yet nothing comes to light , till all appears . This secret Conduct Heav'n's great Sov'reign taught , When first from Darkness beauteous Order shone ; The goodly Frame was to perfection brought , And Angels nothing saw till all was done . There was no need for him to seek for Fame ; Fame saw design'd Occasions court him round ; Occasions multiply'd to spread his Name Beyond what more then Fame could e'er resound . Not greater Labours did Alemena's Son In aid of Mankind boldly undergo : He pitying Greece by Monsters over-run , Those Monsters quell'd , and laid Oppression low . Such was the Task that our Alcides presst In aid of Christendom to undergo , Monsters the same , and the Design as vast , Those Monsters quell'd , to lay Oppression low . Nemaean Lyons , Erymanthian Boars , Lernaean Hydra's , Geryons Triple-headed Stymphalian Harpies , and more fell Centaurs , These were the Monsters Europe then invaded . For Man degenerate into Brute , no less Embosoms every Brutish Appetite ; Only what Brutes in various Forms possess , His Wits improve , and all in one unite . Yet could the Toil not fright our Hero's Mind , Nor all the Hazards he was sure to meet ; And still his Conduct all so well design'd , Never so slow , as when to danger fleet . He saw that more then Strength would be requir'd ; Nor did Alcides Strength alone prefer ; To Iove's Assistant , Prudence , he retir'd , And there consults the Dubious Fate of War. Many oppress'd , yet variously engag'd , And different Interests their Passions sway ; In Union only Wrong and Violence rag'd , And on the Innocent in Bloody Consort prey'd . Nothing but Concord and a warlike Chief This shatter'd Body could compactly joyn With Fear irresolute for their Relief , Not knowing whence their Safety to divine . So fast the Deluge still came rowling on As soon whole Regions fill'd with pale Dismay : They knew not what to seek , nor what to shun ; They moan'd their Harms , unwilling to obey . From this rude Chaos of unsteady Thoughts A Glorious League Great Britain's Monarch fram'd : He soon confirm'd their Minds , allay'd their Doubts And with new Life their drooping Souls inflam'd . It might be deem'd a Work the nearest wrought To that which all things into Order brought ; A League so Sacred , and so fast the Knot , Not to be loos'd , nor , like the Gordian , cut . A League like this , by Universal Greece Against th' insulting Persian Monarch made , Repell'd th' Invader back , a Sacrifice By his Ambition to his Shame betray'd . This League to Britain's Sovereign bow'd her Knees , And him the wronged Princes made their Head ; He gave their Motions Laws , and his Decrees Like the Amphyction Council's were obey'd . Resistance thus embolden'd , potent-grew ; Numbers met Numbers , while experienc'd War With artful Horrors did her Game pursue , And Banquets fresh each Day for Death prepare . The Air was forc'd , the fiery Element To mingle with the Flames of dismal Fight ; As if Officious Man would Heav'n prevent , And burn the World into its Primitive Night . For Man , who always had th' unhappy Fate Of most ingenious to destroy his Race , Scorns his pursuit should find a safe Retreat , And his industrious Arm not reach the Place . Yet all this while the Fields neglected lay , That with their timely Harvests wont to crown The longing Barns ; Affright drives all away ; Few left to sow ; few left to purchase what was sown . Those Fields now thicker sown with Human Bones , The Seed of Slaughter that gives no Return , The Neighbouring Cities wail , dispeopl'd Towns , By Nature bless'd , by cruel War forlorn . Widows and Orphans , Peasant , and the Lord , Temples Prophan'd , and Ravish'd Virgins , all Bemoan'd the Havocks of the wastful Sword ; Such was the Ravage menac'd Europe's Fall. Such were the Torrents which the League oppos'd , And Britain's Sovereign the Pious Chief , Who , Victim-like , a Sacred Life expos'd , While both Divine and Human begg'd Relief . The Contest so much the more Obstinate While pamper'd Honour , there , for Empire strove ; Here , timorous Zeal inflam'd their Martial Heat , And Fear of Chains did Fears of Death remove . All Men have Swords and Youth , and Wills prepar'd Their Darling Freedom to defend or die , Impugning haughty Violence , undeterr'd , That would impose unwilling Slavery . Nine Times the Sun his Annual Race had run , And in his tow'ring Solstice warm'd both Poles , And all the while the Bloody Game went on ; The Winner only Death , by more then common Tolls . In Steenkirk Fields a large Repast he met ; Where Fortune stopp'd the Havocks of his Sword , Who there had soon decided Europe's Fate , Had not foreseeing Doom on purpose err'd . Fame , big with wonder at the first Attacks , Bid Fortune stop , least more her VVings should tire : Fortune obey'd , and too unkindly slacks The farther Progress of the Victor's Fire . Old Luxemburgh , who had enough that Day , VVas glad to see the Lyon back retreat , And in his Bloody Trenches quiet lay , Admiring what he could not imitate . VVonders then these far greater Lansden saw , VVhere Skill and Courage , Art and Number fought ; Battles were now Examples , thence to draw New Patterns how young Captains should be taught . Old Luxemburg , for only him did Fame A Match for Britain's Hero still exalt , Dreamt only hot Pursuit ; but grew more tame , To see his daring Foe make steady Halt . Long the Dispute who Victory should controul , And Streams of Blood the Verdant Fields imbru'd , VVhile Slaughter strew'd thick Banquets for the Fowl That on the Alms of Battle wait for Food . And all the while Great Britain's Hero flew To every Part , where thickest Danger call'd ; Expos'd to Vulgar Fury , still in view ; But where dark Clouds of Smoak his Sacred Person vail'd . At length great Luxemburg grew Pale with Fear To see his shatter'd Troops in Flight pursu'd , And all his Lawrels won had wither'd here , Had fresh Inforcements not the Fight renew'd . Yet those fresh Succours did but serve to stop The Victor's Chace , and force him to recoil ; He left his Foe the Marks of vanish'd Hope , And kept the Glory of the former Foil . Honour and Gold have , both , the same hard Fate ; Both may be bought too dear , but Honour most , Since Victory purchas'd at too dear a Rate Is by the Vanquish'd won , but by the Victor lost . Namur must next advance our Hero's high Renown , Beyond what Agamemnon won by Ten Years Toil ; So long those Hero's fought to force one Town Not then subdu'd , till Fraud did Strength beguile . Namur , like Sion , deem'd Impregnable ; And if her Gates spoke Truth , ne'er to be won , As if secur'd by Doom of Oracle In the Palladium of a French Battoon . Here , had a nobler Theam for Homer been , VVhile Gods 'gainst Gods , and Hero's Hero's fought ; And if the far-fam'd Hector fought within The far more fam'd Achilles fought without . Continual Thunder rends the Sky , as when Assailing Giants against Iove rebell'd , And all the while , a more amazing Scene , Smoak Day made Night , and Flame o'er Night prevail'd . Phoebus beheld th' embolden'd Flames aspire , And how the distant Air in Sulphur burn'd ; What , is the World , he cry'd , again on Fire , And my unruly Chariot overturnd ? Th' Assaults , the Combats sung by Homer's Muse , Or what the Roman Prowess could renown , Three Years 'fore Salem's Walls disdaining Truce , Were here in Feats of dismal War out-done . At length , when the full Feast of Death was o're , And rude Attacks had mow'd down all within , The weak Remainder loud for Aid implore , And they saw Succour that was only seen . Fain would the Gallick Chief have sav'd the Town , And vow'd the Strength of France to signalize ; But all in vain ; the Strength of France look'd on , While lost Namur became the Victor's Prize . While thus the Sword rag'd on , and dubious War In bloody Triumph rode , the Gallick Heat Began to cool ; France could no longer bear Th' incessant Toil of Sisiphus's Fate . She found , that should she still prolong her Wars , She had an Overpow'ring Genius met ; For Kings have all , like Magnitudes of Stars , Or Ranks of Angels , more of Less and Great . 'T was therefore fruitless longer to contend With Britain's Genius , and her Wealth beside ; Consum'd within , her Treasures at an end , And only rich in Vaunts , and blust'ring Pride . She saw kind Nature idle , wanting Art ; Autumn forgot to bear , and Spring to bloom , While Strength and Youth must to the Camp depart , And toil Abroad to lay her wast at Home . Who but would prize so fair a Guest as Peace ? The fairest Maid that e're from Heav'n was sent ; Yet France contemn'd her , and abhorring Rest , From Europe chac'd the lovely Innocent . Only in Albion she found safe Retreat ; Her Prince caress'd the Darling of his Care , As she , to whom he vow'd his Martial Heat , And for whose sake alone he made just War. No wonder then , the slighted Maid took ill The Wrongs from Gallick Fury long sustain'd ; Mild as she is , she could not reconcile With those so long her Favours had disdain'd . But Pride , that 's always humble when brought low , By our Fam'd WILLIAM's Prowess sore distrest , Submissive grows , and France , now taught to bow , From injur'd Peace implores contemned Rest. By her despis'd , by WILLIAM's Cares engag'd , She knew that only he could Peace command ; He , that to fix her Throne fierce Wars had wag'd , Yet gave her safeguard in a Copious Land. But he who knew the Blessing he possest , To easie Offers scorn'd to prostiute The Sacred Honour of his Virgin Guest , And safely guarded the Hesperian Fruit. The wondring World , that heard the Boasts of France , VVho as her Alms the Peace of Europe vaunted , At the same time admir'd the vain Pretence Of giving others what her self she wanted . Her Numbers could not scare the Sacred League , Nor Victories only in Te Deums won , Peace would not be deluded by Intreague , Nor Laws receive from her who valu'd none . Nothing but Mediation fix'd on Honour's Faith , And Overtures by equal Reason sway'd , Could make the Generous Prince his Anger sheath , By just Redress of injur'd Peace allay'd . At length was found a Prince of high Renown , To Honour true , to Peace no less sincere ; And all applaud the Choice so kindly won To poise the Balance of this grand Affair . Had you th' Assembly seen at Rijswick met You there had seen a Council of the Gods , Such as in Iove's Apartment doom'd the Fate Of Priam's Ilium , and the Grecian Feuds . France , that Occasion by the Forelock held , Great Britain's Sov'reign hastens to attone ; It was no more then what her Fears compell'd , To court him first from whom her Fears begun . She owns Him Potent , High , and Most Serene , Forc'd to attest what well she knew before ; For only VVords could never make him mean VVho in his Crown still France's Lillies wore . Espoused Int'rest suffers harsh Divorce ; Though Friend and sworn Allye the Nuptials made ; Titus in vain for Syria's Queen implores , For still Superiour Law must be obey'd . The Potent , Most Serene , and the Most High Held awful Rule in his Majestick Hand ; And this , like some controuling Prodigy , Made France yield more , while others less demand . No longer France must bear the Name of Great , That first from War deriv'd affected Growth , But ne'er by Peace procur'd : He 's only fit To wear that Name , who keeps the Keys of both . Thus all agreed , Bless'd Peace the Concord seal'd , And lowly Grateful to the best of Kings , As once the Cherubims Gods Cov'nant vail'd Cover'd all Europe with her Silver Wings . Her Joy was such , that she would needs return And to Great WILLIAM once more pay her Vows ; Resolv'd in all her Glory to adorn The Triumphs of his Conquests o're her Foes . And then it was the Goddess thus begun ; Hail , Mighty Monarch , Wonder of the Earth ; From Hero's sprung , with all their Vertues joyn'd in One , As Heav'n had held a second Consult at your Birth . May I be long a Servant to your Throne , Bless'd in your Reign , like Saturn giving Law To Three fair Realms , and all the Sea your own , Where your fear'd Navies keep the turbulent World in Awe . Soft in your Sway , and willingly obey'd : May you be always all Mankinds desire ; To distant climes , so may your Wisdom spread , And many Sheba's your Renown admire . Counsel and Justice be your chief Supports ; Both Iove's Concomitants , and both Divine ; With them be safe from all the foul Efforts Of Treason brooding dangerous Design . Ne're may my Presence pamper idle Ease , But such as gives to Noble Arts repose ; Such as for which the toiling Ploughman prays , And Commerce sues ; whence our Abundance flows . And when at Nestor's Years you part from hence VVhere Happy Monarchs rule new Realms of Bliss , Be still our Angel , as you were our Prince , And favour in that VVorld , what you preserv'd in this . FINIS . ADVERTISEMENT . BY the same Author , In Memory of our Late Most Gracious Lady , Mary Queen of Great Britain , France , and Ireland . A Poem : Printed for Iohn Harris , at the Harrow in Little Britain .