DAVID'S 

HAINOUS SIN.  
HEARTY Repentance.  
HEAVY Punishment.    EXODUS 35. 23. 
And every man, with whom was found— Goats ●aire, and red skins of Rams, and Badgers skins, ●rought them. [to the building of the Tabernacle]  

Ad Zoilum.  
Thy Lays thou vtt'rest not, yet carpest mine,  
Carp mine no longer, or else utter thine.   
By THOMAS FULLER Master of Arts of Sidnye College in Cambridge.  
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Cotes, for john Bellamy, dwelling at the three Golden Lions in Cornhill. 1631.   

To the Honourable Mr. Edwar● Mr. William, and Mr. Christopher Montagu, Sons to the Right Honourable, Edward Lord Montagu, of Boughton.  

Fair Branches of a Stock as fair  
Each a son, and each an heir:  
Two joseph-like, from Sire so sage,  
Sprung in Autumn of his age;  
But a Benjamin the other,  
Gained with losing of his Mother.  
This fruit of some spare hours I spent  
To your Honours I present.   

A King I for my subject have,  
And Noble Patrons well may cra●●●  
Things tripartite are fit for three,  
With Youths, things youthful best 〈◊〉  
Take them therefore in good part,  
Of him that ever prayeth in heart,  
That as in height ye wax apace,  
Your Souls may higher grow 〈◊〉   

Whilst your Father (like the green  
Eagle in his Scutcheon seen,  
Which with bill his age doth cast)  
May longer still and longer last:  
To see your Virtues o'er increase  
Your Years, ere he departs in Peace.  
Thus I my Book, to make an end,  
To You: and you to God commend.   
Your Honours in all service Tho. Fuller.   

DAVID'S Heinous Sinne.  

1.  
HOw Zions' Psalmist grievously offended,  
How Israel's Harper did most foully slide,  
Yet how that Psalmist penitent amended,  
And how tha● Harper patient did abide  
Deserved chastisement, (so fitly styled,  
Which wrath inflicted not, but love most mild,  
Not for to hurt, but heal a wanton child.)   

2.  
How one by her own Brother was defiled;  
And how that Brother by a Brother slain;  
And how a Father, by his Son ex●led:  
And by a Subject, how a Sovereign:  
How Peace procured after Battles fierce,  
As Sol at length doth sullen clouds dispierce;  
My Muse intends the subject of her Verse.   

3.  
Great God of might, whose power most Sovereign,  
Depends of none, yet all of thee depend,  
Time cannot measure, neither place contain,  
Nor wit of man thy Being comprehend:  
For whilst I think on Three, I am confined  
To One, and when I One conceive in mind  
I am recalled to Three, in One combined.   

4.  
Thy help I crave, thy furtherance I ask,  
My head, my heart, my hand direct and guide,  
That whilst I undertake this weighty task,  
I from thy written lore start not aside:  
Alas, 'tis nothing Lord with thee to break  
The strong, 'tis nothing to support the weak,  
To make men dumb, to make an Infant speak.   

5  
EAch one begotten by immortal seed,  
Becomes the pitched field of two deadly foes,  
Spirit and Flesh, these never are agreed,  
With trucelesse war each other doth oppose;  
And though the Spirit oft the Flesh doth quell,  
It may subdue but can it not expel,  
So stoutly doth the jebusite rebel.   

6  
Now David when on Bathsheba loose eyes  
He fixed, his heavenly half did him dissuade;  
Turn, turn away thy sight from vanities,  
Exchange thy object, else thou wilt be made  
Unmindful of thy Soul, her corpse to mind,  
Made for to lose the truth, such toys to find,  
By looking long, made at the last, stark blind.   

7.  
What though her face, and body be most fair,  
Behold, the Sun her beauty doth surpass;  
His golden beams surmount her yellow hair,  
As far as purest Crystal, dyrtie glass:  
Her skin, as is the sky, not half so clear,  
Her curious urines, for colour come not near  
Those azure streaks, that in the Heavens appear,   

8.  
There let thy hungry sight her famine feed,  
Whereon it cannot surfeit with excess:  
Whilst tongue, heart, harp are tuned up with speed,  
The grand-contrivers glory to express:  
Framing with words, to raise his mighty name,  
That with a mighty word, did raise this frame,  
And by his providence preserves the same.   

9  
〈◊〉 let no lustful thoughts lodge in thy mind,  
●●fore that they be borne, they must be killed,  
Or else the man is cruel that is kind,  
To spare the foes, wherewith his Soul is spilled▪  
And if a wanton motion may request,  
Leave for to lodge a limb, th'encroaching guest,  
Will soon command room to receive the rest.   

10.  
Look towards the midday Sun, and thou shalt see,  
A little 
* The Tower of Eder, nigh Bethlen, 7. miles from Ier●sale●.  tower, o'er tops of hills to peep;  
That is the birth place of thy pedygree:  
Full oft there hast thou fed thy father's sheep,  
And kept his flocks upon the flowery plain.  
But now the Sheepe-hook of a country swain,  
Is turned the Sceptre of of a Sovereign.   

11  
God made thee great, oh do not him disgrace,  
And by his weighty Statutes lightly set,  
He honoured thee, oh do not him debase,  
He thee remembered, do not him forget:  
Why should fat 
* Deut. 32. 15.  jeshurun so wanton grow,  
As at his Master's head, his heels to throw?  
Master; that all his feeding did bestow.   

12  
Behold high Cedars in the valley set,  
They in thy eyes like little shrubbs do show,  
Whilst little shrubbs upon mount Olivet,  
Seem lofty Cedars; men whose states are low  
Their sins are not so obvious to sense,  
In Prince's persons of great eminence,  
A smaller fault doth seem● a great offence.   

13  
But grant, no man thy wickedness espies,  
Surely the Searcher of the reins doth mark  
Even infant luft, can figg-leaves blear his eyes?  
Or can thy shame be shrouded in the dark?  
Darkness shall then be turned into light,  
Yea Darkness, is no Darkness, in his sight,  
But seem the same to him, both day and night.   

14  
The Spirit had resolved more to speak,  
But her halfe-spoken words, the Flesh confounds,  
Nor wonder is it, she so used to break  
God's Laws, not passing for to pass their bound●,  
Against man's rules of manners should offend,  
Which now impatient longer to attend,  
Began before her Rival made an end.   

15.  
If ever Nature lavishly did throw  
Her gifts on one, which might have served more,  
Yet make them comely, if she e'er did show,  
The prime, and pri●e, and plenty of her store.  
Lo, there's the form wherein she hath expressed  
Her utmost power, and done the very best,  
Her masterpiece surpassing all the rest.   

16.  
〈◊〉 if ●hose careless tresses were attired?  
Sure then her face for comeliness tra● scends,  
What now seems lovely, then wo●ld be admired▪  
If Art might but begin, where Nature ends.  
Alas, ten thousand pities 'tis indeed,  
That Princes, on so common fare should feed,  
Whilst Common men, on princely meat exceed.   

17.  
Always the same doth glut the appetite,  
But pleased is our palate, with exchange,  
Variety of dishes doth delight,  
Then give thy loose affections leave to range:  
Forbidden things are best, and when we eat  
What we have slily gotten by deceit,  
Those morsels only make the dainty meat.   

18.  
But oh, reserve thyself, my maiden Muse,  
For a more modest subject, and forbear  
To tune such wanton toys, as may abuse,  
And give distaste unto a Virgin's ear:  
Such rotten reasons first from Hell did flow,  
And thither let the same in silence go,  
Best known of them, that did them never know.   

19  
Thus he that conquered men, and beast most cruel,  
(Whose greedy paws, with felon goods were found)  
Answered Goliah's challenge in a duel,  
And laid the Giant grovelling on the ground:  
He, that of Philistines, two hundred slew:  
No whit appalled at their grisly hue,  
Him one frail woman's beauty did subdue.   

20  
Man is a Ship, affections the Sail,  
The world the Sea, our sins the Rocks and Shelves,  
God is the Pilot, if he please to sail,  
And leave the steering of us, to ourselves,  
Against the ragged Rocks we run amain,  
Or else the winding Shelves do us detain,  
Till God the Palinure, returns again.   

21  
YEt Da●id bold to sin, did ●eare the shame,  
He shunned the sheath, that ran upon the knife,  
With a fine fetch, providing for his fame,  
●ee fetcheth home Vriah to his wife:  
So under his chaste love, to cloak his own  
Unlawful lust, to fault most careless grown,  
Most careful that his fault should not be known.   

22  
〈◊〉 in their plots, God doth befool the wise,  
〈◊〉 ways that none can trace, all must admire:  
〈◊〉 of his house that nigh Vriah lies,  
〈◊〉 David so came short of his desire:  
The man a nearer l●dging place did use,  
(Which made the King on further plots to muse)  
And sent home, home to go, did thus refuse.   

23.  
The pilgrim Ark doth so journey in a tent,  
In open fields, joab my Lord dothlye,  
And all the soldiers of his Regiment,  
Have Earth their beds, the Heaven their Canopy:  
Where bitter blasts of stormy winds are rife.  
Shall I go feast, drink, dally with my wife?  
Not, as I live, and by your Lordship's life.   

24.  
Then by his servants David did conspire,  
Vriahs' lust so dull, with wine to edg●:  
(Venus doth freeze, where Bacchus yields no fire)  
By their constraint, he condescends to pledge  
One common cup that was begun to all  
Captains encamped nigh to Rabath wall;  
O●e specially, unto the General.   

25  
Abishay next is drunk to, joabs' brother,  
And this cup, to a second paves the way,  
That orderly doth usher in another;  
Thus wine once walking, knows not where to stay▪  
Yea such a course methodical they take,  
In ordering of cups, the same did make  
Vriah quite, all order to forsake.   

26  
His false supporters soon begin to slip,  
And if his faltering tongue, doth chance to light  
On some long word, he speedily doth clip  
〈◊〉 train thereof; yea his deceitful sight,  
All objects paired doth present to him:  
As double faces, both obscure and dim▪  
Seem in a lying lookingglass to swim.   

27.  
My prayers for friends prosperity, and wealth,  
Shall ne'er be wanting, but if I refuse;  
To hurt myself, by drinking others health,  
Oh let ingenious natures me excuse:  
If men bad manners this esteem, than I  
Desire to be esteemed unmannerly,  
That to live well, will suffer wine to dye.   

28.  
Well did blind Homer see, for to express  
This vice, that spawns all other; when he feigns,  
Dame Circe, an enchanting Sorceress,  
Who●e cups, made many men forgo their brains▪  
Whilst with the witless Ass, one purely dotes,  
Others misshaped are, like lustful Goats,  
Or swil-ingrossing Swine, with greedy throats.   

29  
Though bad, yet better was Vriah left,  
Not quite a beast, though 〈◊〉 a man, disturbed  
In mind, but not distracted, nor bereft  
Of wit, though 〈◊〉, yet soberly h●e curbed  
His lust, being wise, though ignorant, to cross  
The King's designs, who now new thoughts doth toss,  
Finding his former project at a loss.   

30.  
The Night with mourning weeds, the world be●ladd,  
When restless David, for to mend his matter,  
Did make it worse; his na●ed sin was bad,  
More Monstrous being mas●t; they oft do scatter  
The chain, that of God's laws unloose a link:  
He swum before in sin, nigh to the briuke,  
But now he means in midst thereof to sink.   

31  
Then for a light, he speedily did call,  
(Thou Darkness with his project best agreed)  
For paper, pen, and ink, to write withal,  
Though sure a poniard, might have done the deed,  
Better if he in blood had dipped it,  
And on a sheet of paper what he writ,  
A winding sheet far better did befit.   

32  
This certs I know, as Sepian juice did sink  
Into his spongy paper, sabling o'er  
The same, with various-formed specks of ink,  
Which was so pure and lily-white before:  
So spots of sin the writer's soul did stain,  
Whose so ylie tincture did therein remain  
Till brinish tears had washed it out again.   

33  
Next day, when day was scarce an infant grown,  
Vriah, (that no mischief did mistrust,  
As none he did deserve, but by his own  
Did measure all men's dealings to be just)  
Bearing this letter, on his journey passed  
With speed, who needed not to make such haste  
Whose death, had he gone slow, did come too fast.   

34  
Thus crafty Masters, when they mind to beat  
A careless boy, to gather birch they send him;  
●he little lad, doth make the rod complete,  
●hinking his Master therefore will commend him:  
B●t busily employed, he little t●ough●,  
He made the net, wherein himself was caught  
And must be b●●ten, with the birch he brought.   

35.  
His journey came well to the welcome end,  
Safe to the 
* Rabath, 2 Sam. 12. & 27.  Town of Waters he attains,  
Town which to force, joab his force did bend,  
(Nought is so hard, but vincible by pains)  
Some with their heads did plot, some with 〈◊〉  
Did practise, yea as ready was the band  
To serve, as was the Captain to command.   

36.  
So busy Bees, some fly abroad at large,  
Of flowery Nectar for to fetch their fill,  
Some stay at home, for to receive their charge,  
And 〈◊〉 ●stily, the liquor do distil:  
Or bottle it in wax, whilst others strive,  
Like ●●urdy Marshal's, far away to drive  
The drowsy Drones, that harbour in the hive.   

37  
The strong-armed Archer, from his crooked Bow,  
Made a straight shaft, with dismal news to speed  
Into the town which ne'er returned to show,  
The sender, how his message did succeed:  
Yea heavy bodies, mounted were on high,  
Dull ston●s, to which Dame Nature did deny  
Feet for to go, Art made them wings to fly.   

38  
Whilst i● the town, one with his friend did talk,  
A sudden stroke did take his tongue away,  
Some had their legs arrested, as they walk,  
By Martial law, commanding them to stay:  
Here falls a massy beam, a mighty wall  
Comes tumbling there, and many men doth ma●le,  
Who were both slain, and buried by the fall.   

39  
Were there not used in the days of yore,  
Enough men-murdering Engines● But our age,  
Witty in wickedness, must make them more,  
By new found plots, men's malice to enrage:  
So that fire-spitting Canons, to the cost  
Of Christian blood, all valour have engrossed.  
Whose finding, makes that many a life is lost.   

40.  
Whilst thus the well appointed array sought,  
Winding in worm-like trenches near the wall,  
To humble the proud towers, Vriah brought  
The speaking paper to the General.  
Who when such language he therein did find,  
H●e thought himself, or else the king was blind,  
Himself in body, or the king in mind.   

41  
Then he the letter did peruse again,  
The words, the words of David could not be,  
And yet the hand, for Da●ids hand was plain,  
He thought it was, and thought it was not he:  
Each little line, he thoroughly did view,  
Till at the length, more credulous he grew,  
And what he thought was false, he found too tr●e.   

42  
Now joab let thy valour be displayed,  
Act not a midwife, to a deed unjust,  
●y fear or favour, be not overswayed,  
●o prove a Pander, to a Prince's lust;  
Return a humble answer back again,  
Let each word breath submission, to obtains  
By prayers, a conquest of thy Sovereign.   

43.  
Show how when God and countries good requires,  
Then substance, soul and body to engage,  
Is the ambition of thy best desires,  
Foes foreign to resist, to quell their rage,  
How willingly wouldst thou thyself despise,  
Count losing of thy goods, a gainful prize,  
Lavish thy blood, and thy life sacrifice?   

44  
But when God's lore, directly doth withstand,  
And where his laws, the contrary convince,  
We must not break the heavenly kings command,  
Whilst we do seek to please an earthly Prince:  
The burdens they impose on us to bear,  
Our duty is to suffer them; but where  
Kings bid, a●d God forbids, we must forbear.   

45  
Behold the man, whose valour o●ce surmounted  
In sacking Zions' mount, (mount not so high  
As men therein were haughty) and accounted,  
Of Worthies chief, doth most unworthily:  
He● that to sum the people of the land  
Withstood the King, now with the King doth stand  
Too buxom for to finish his command.   

36  
Next morn, when early Phoebus first arose,  
(Which then arose last in Vriah's sight)  
Him joab in the forfront did dispose,  
From whom, the rest recoiled in the fight:  
Thus of his friends, betrayed by subtle train,  
Assaulted of his foes, with might and main,  
He lost his life, not conquered, but ●laine.   

47  
His mangled body, they expose to scorn,  
And now each cravin coward dare defy him,  
Outstaring his pale visage, which before  
Were palsy-strook, with trembling to come nigh him▪  
Thus heartless hares, with purblind eyes do pee●●  
In the dead Lion's paws, yea dastard Deer,  
Over his breathless corpse dare domineer.    

David's hearty Repentance.  

1  
THE tongue of guiltless blood is never tied  
In the earth's month, & though the greedy ground  
Her gaping crannies quickly did provide,  
To drink the liquor of Vriah's wound,  
Yet it with moans, be scattered the skies,  
And the revoicing Echo, with replies,  
Did descant on the plain song of the cries.   

2  
Hereat the Lord, perceiving how the field,  
He sowed with grace, and compassed with an heap,  
Of many mercies, store of sins did yield,  
Where he expected store of thanks to reap,  
With flames of anger, furnace-like he burned  
For patience long despised, and lewdly spurned  
Is at the length to raging fury turned.   

3  
Then all the Creatures, mustered their train,  
From Angels unto worms, the biinde did see  
Their Lord disgraced, whose honour to maintain  
Things wanting life, most lively seem to be;  
Refusing all to serve Man, that refused:  
To serve his God, all striving to be used,  
To punish him, his maker ●hat a bused:   

4  
Please it your Highness, for to give me leave,  
I'll scorch the wretch to cinder●, said the Fire;  
Send me, said Air, him I'll of ●reath bereave;  
No, quoth the, earnest Water, I desire  
His soylie sins with del●ges to scour;  
Nay, let my Lord quoth Earth; employ my pow●●  
With yawning chaps, I will him quick devours   

5  
Soon with a word, the Lord appeased this strife,  
Enjoining silence, till he did unfold  
That precious volume, called The book of life,  
Which the the Printer, privileged of old,  
Containing those he freely did embrace,  
Nor ever would I wish an higher grace,  
Than in this Book to have the lowest place.   

6  
Within this Book, he sought for David's name,  
Which having found, he proffered to blot,  
(And David surely well deserved the same,  
That did his nature so with sin bespot,  
Though none are blotted out, but such as never  
Were written in, nothing Gods love can sever,  
Once written there, are written there for ever.)   

7  
Strait from his throne, the Prince of peace arose,  
And with embraces did his Father bind,  
Imprisoning his arms, he did so close,  
(As loving 〈◊〉 on an oak did wind,  
And with her curling flexures it betraile)  
His father glad, to find his force to fail,  
Struggled, as one not willing to prevail.   

8  
Thus then began the Spotless lamb to speak,  
(One wo●d of whom, would rend the sturdy rock;  
Make 〈◊〉- scorning Adamant to break,  
And unto 〈◊〉, persuade the senseless stock,  
Y●a God himself, that knows not to repent,  
Is made by his petitions, penitent,  
Hi●●●stice made, with Mercy to relent)   

9  
Why doth my Father's fury burn so fierce?  
●hall Persian laws unalterable stand?  
And shall my Lord decree, and then reverse,  
●nact, and then repeal, and countermand?  
Tender thy credit, gracious God, I crave,  
And kill not him, thou didst conclude to save,  
Can these hands blot, what these hands did engrave?   

10.  
Hath not thy wisdom, from eternity,  
Before the world's foundation first was laid,  
●ecree'd, the due time once expired, that I  
●hould Flesh become, and Man borne of a Maid?  
To live in poverty, and dye with pa●ne,  
That so thy Son, for sinners vilely slain,  
Might make vile Sinners b●e thy Sons again.   

11.  
Let me, oh let me, thy fierce wrath assuage,  
And for this sinner, beg a full discharge,  
What though he justly doth provoke thy rage?  
Thy justice I will satis●ie at large.  
If that the Lord of life must murdered be,  
Let 〈…〉, this murderer may go free,  
My Merits cast on him, his Sins on me.   

12.  
Thus speaking, from his fragrant clothes there went  
A pleasant breath, whose odour did excel,  
Myrrh●, Al●●s, and Cassia for scent,  
〈◊〉 all perfumed his Father with the smell,  
Whereat his smoothed face most sweetly smiled,  
And hugging in his arms, his dearest child,  
Returned these welcome words, with voice 〈◊〉 mild●   

13  
Who can so pleasing violence withstand?  
Thy craving, is the having a request,  
●uch mild entreaties, do my heart command,  
The 'mends is made, and pacified I rest:  
As far as Earth, from Heaven do distant lie,  
As Ea●t is parted from the Western sky,  
So far his sins, are severed from mine eye.   

14  
hereat the heavenly Choir, lift up their voice,  
Angels and Saints imparadised combine,  
Upon their golden Viols, to rejoice,  
●o raise the praise of the celestial Trine,  
All in their songs a sacred strife expressed,  
Which should sing better, and surpass the rest,  
All did surpass themselves, and sang the best.   

15.  
Then said the Fire, my fury I recant,  
Life-hatching warmth, I will ●or him provide:  
I● David's breathless lungs do chance to pant,  
Said Air, I'll fan them with a windy tide:  
With moisture, I'll said Water, quench his heat,  
And I his hunger, quoth the Earth, with meat,  
Of marrow, fatness, and the flower of Wheat.   

16  
Thus when a Lord, long buried in disgrace,  
A King ●o former favour doth restore,  
With all respect the Court doth him embrace,  
Fawning as fast, as they did flout before:  
Whose smiles, or frowns, are but the bare reflex  
Of the King's face, and like to this direction,  
Where he affects, they settle their affection.   

17  
Plain-dealing Natha●, presently was sent:  
Nathan, than whom, was none more skilled to launch  
〈◊〉 festered soul, and with a searching tent,  
〈◊〉 sound the sore; more cunning none to staunch  
A bleeding-hearted sinner, nor more kind,  
With swaddling clothes of comfort, for to bind  
Unjointed members, of a troubled mind.   

18  
〈◊〉 did not flow with wealth, which envye breeds,  
●●or yet was he with penury oppressed;  
●●ant is the cause, from which co●●●mpt proceeds:  
〈◊〉 means were in the mean, and that's the best.  
High hills are parched with h●●te, or hid with snow,  
And humble dales, soon drowned, that lie too low,  
Whilst happy grain, on hanging hills doth grow.   

19  
For sundry duties, he did days divide,  
Making exchange of work, his recreation,  
For prayer, he set the precious morn aside,  
The midday he bequeathed to meditation:  
Sweet sacred stories, he reserved for night▪  
To read of Moses meekness, Sampsons' might,  
These were his joy, these only his delight.   

20.  
But now dispensing with his daily task,  
To court he comes, and wisely did invent,  
Under a parable, his mind to mask,  
Seeming to me●ne nought less, than what he meant▪  
And Lapwing-like, round fluttering a while,  
With 〈…〉 preface and a witty wile,  
He made 〈◊〉 King himself for to beguile,   

21  
Thus he that thought all mortal men to cheat,  
And with false shows, his secret sins to shade,  
Was cozened by the innocent deceit,  
Of one plain Prophet, and directly made,  
As he a judge sat on the bench, to stand,  
At bar a prisoner, holding 
* Thou art the man.  up his hand,  

* The man that hath done this thing shall dye.  But first condemned by his own command.   

22  
Go● fond affectors of a flaunting strain,  
Whose sermons strike at sins with slenting blows,  
Give me the man that's powerful and plain,  
The Monster Vice, unmasked to expose:  
Such Preachers do the soul, and marrow part,  
And cause the guilty conscience to smart,  
Such please no itching ears, but pierce the heart.   

23.  
This made King David's marble mind to melt,  
And to the former temper to return,  
●hawing his frozen breast, when as he felt  
The lively sparks of grace therein to burn,  
Which under ashes cold, were choked before;  
And now he weeps, and wails, and sighs full sore,  
Though sure such sorrow, did his joy restore.   

24.  
So have I seen one slumbered in a swound,  
Whose sullen soul into his heart did hie,  
His pensive frien'ds, soon heave him from the ground▪  
And to his face life-water do apply:  
At length, a long-expected sigh doth strive  
To bring the welcome news, the man's alive,  
Whose soul at last, doth in each part arrive.   

25  
●hen to his Harp, he did himself betake,  
●His tongue-tied harp, long grown out of request,)  
●nd next to this his glory must awake,  
●he member he of all accounted best:  
Then with those hands, which he for grief did wring,  
He also lightly strikes the warbling string,  
And makes one voice serve both to sob and sing.   

26  
●hat heavenly voice to hear, I more desire,  
●han Syren's sweetest songs, than music made  
●y Philomele chief of the winged choir;  
Or him, whose Lays so pleasing, did persuade  
Stones for to lackey, when he went before,  
Or that brave harper, whom unto the shore,  
His hackney Dolphin safely did restore.    

David's Heavy Punishment.  

1  
MOst true it is, when Penitents by grace  
Acquitted are, the pardon of their sins,  
And punishments release, do ●oth embrace,  
Like to a pair of undivided twins,  
Parted they cannot be, they cleave so fast,  
Yet when the tempest of God's wrath is past,  
Still his afflicting hony-shower doth last.   

2  
But let the Schools, these thorny points dispute,  
Whose searching sight can naked truth descry,  
Skulking in Errors arms, and are acute,  
fine-fingered with distinctions to ●ntye  
knots more than Gordian, these men never missed  
The slender mark, like 
* ●●dges 20. 16.  those in whose left fist,  
There did so much dexterity consist.   

3  
Mean time, my Muse, come see how prettily  
The patient Infant doth itself behave,  
Infant, but newly borne, now near to 
* The death of King David's Child.  dye,  
That from the cradle, posted to the grave,  
See with what silent signs, and sighs full fain,  
Poor heart, it would express where lies the pain,  
Complaining, that it knows not to complain.   

4  
Stay cruel Death thy hand for pity hold,  
Against some aged grand-fire bend thy bow,  
That now hath full, twice forty winters told,  
Whose head is silvered o'er, with age's snow:  
Dash out this Babe, out of thy dismal bill,  
And in exchange, let him thy number fill,  
So may be life, his friends enjoy him still.   

5.  
Those hands to hurt another, never sought,  
Which cannot help themselves, they are so weak;  
His heart did never hatch a want on thought,  
His tongue did never lie, that cannot speak:  
By wrong and violence, he ne'er did wrest  
The goods, wherewith his Neighbour is possessed,  
Whose strength scarce serus to suck his nurse's breast   

6  
●ut ah, this Infant's gilded from him proceeds,  
T●at knew the least, when most he sought to know,  
Who was most naked, when clothed in his weeds,  
Best clothed then, when naked he did go:  
In vain the wit of wisest men doth strive,  
To cut off this entail, that doth derive  
Death unto all, when first they are alive.   

7  
As when a tender Rose begins to blow,  
Yet scarce unswadled is, some wanton maid  
Pleased with the smell, alured with the show,  
Will not reprieve it, till it hath displayed  
The folded leaves, but to her breast applie's  
Th'abortive bud, where coffined it lies  
Losing the blushing die, before it dies▪   

8  
So this babe's life, newly begun, did end  
Which sure received the substance, though not signed  
With grace's seal; God freely doth attend  
His ordinance, but will not be confined  
Thereto, when'ts not neglected, nor despised,  
They that want Water are by Fire baptised,  
Those sanctified, that ne'er were circumcised.   

9  
Sweet Babe, one Sabbath thou on earth didst see,  
But endless sabboth's, dost in heaven survive,  
Grant, Death of joyful hours deprived thee,  
Thou hadst seen years of sorrows, if alive:  
True, thou we●t borne a Prince, but now art crowned  
A ●ing by Death, sleep therefore in the ground  
Sweetly, until the Trumpet last shall sound.   

10  
By this child's death, King David did sustain  
One loss; but wh●re this misery did end,  
More miseries began: as in a chain,  
One link, doth on another link depend:  
His l●st, with lust, his slaying with a slaughter  
Must punished be: proportioned thereafter  
To Mother sin, is punishment the Daughter.   

11.  
AMnon advised by jonadab, a fit  
Of sickness feigns: Men wickedly inclined,  
Worse counsellors, (that with great store of wit  
Have dearth of grace) most easily may find;  
And Thamar's 
* The deflowering of Thamar.  hands, his meat must only make:  
Ah happy age, when Ladies learned to bake,  
And when Kings Daughters knew to knead a cake.   

12  
Rebecka was esteemed of comely hue,  
Yet not so ●ice ●er comeliness to keep,  
But that she wa●er for the cammells drew;  
Rachel was fair, ● et fed her father's sheep,  
But now for to supply Rebeck'as' place,  
Or doc as Rachel did, is counted base,  
Our dainty dames, would take it in disgrace.   

13  
But quickly did his ●ea●tly lust declare,  
That he, to eat her dainties, had no need,  
He for the cook, not for the cates did care,  
She was the dish, on whom he meant to feed:  
Oh how she prayed, & strove with might & main  
And then from striving, fell to prayers again,  
But prayers, and striving, both alike● in vain.   

14  
Thus a poor Lark imprisoned in the cage  
Of a Kites claws, most sweetly sings at large  
Her own Dirge whilst she seeks to calm his rage,  
And from her jailor, sue's for a discharge;  
Who passing for no music that surpassed,  
To feed his ●ares, whilst that his guts do fast,  
On her that prayed so long, doth prey at last.   

15  
Then with dust-powdreed hair she sore bewails,  
And punished on herself, her brother's sin,  
Parting her maiden livery with nails,  
That parted was with colours, and wherein  
White streaks, their owner's innocence did show;  
The bashful Red, her modesty; the row  
Of Sable, sorrowed for the wearers woe.   

16  
Comfort thyself more virtuous, than fair,  
More fair, than happy virgin, mourn with measure,  
Sins unconsented to, no souls impair,  
That must be done perchance with body's pleasure,  
Which with the grief of soul may be constrained  
The casket broke, the jewel still remained,  
Untouched, which in the casket was contained.   

17.  
IN his breast 
* The murdering of Amnon.  Absalon records this wrong:  
Out of our minds, good turns do quickly pass,  
But injuries there in remain too long,  
Those scrauled in dust, but these engraved in brass,  
One Sunset for our anger should suffice,  
Which in his wrath set oft, oft did arise,  
With yearly race, surrounding twice the skies.   

18.  
Now when his fruitful flocks, which long had wor●  
Their woollen coats, for to make others hot,  
Were now to forfeit them, and ●o be shorn,  
(Sure from the silly sheep, his devilish plot,  
Their owner never learnt) he finds a way,  
To work revenge, and called on that day,  
His brothers to a feast, which pro'vd a fray.   

19  
What Amnon drunk in wine, in blood he spilt,  
Which did the dainties mar▪ and meat defile,  
Cups▪ carpets, all with gory streaks were gilded,  
Seeming to blush, that cruelty so vile▪  
So foully savage, should the banquet stain:  
Thus he that being well, did sickness fain▪  
Not being sick, was on a sudden slain▪   

20  
The rest refused on the meat to feed,  
Whose bellies were so full with grief, and fear  
To feel, what they had seen; away they speed  
To ride: but Fame did fly, fame that doth wear  
An hundred listening ears, an hundred eyes,  
An hundred prating tongues, she daily plies,  
Tongues, that both tell the truth, and tattle lies▪   

21.  
She gets by going, and doth gather strength,  
As balls of snow, by rolling more do gain,  
She whispered first, but loudly blazed at length,  
All the King's Sons, all the King's sons are slain:  
The pensive Court, in doleful dumps did rue  
This dismal case, till they the matter knew,  
Would all bad news, like this, might prove untrue   

22.  
Go silly souls, that do so much admire,  
Court-curious incertainment, and fine fare,  
May you for me obtain what you desire,  
I for your fowls of Phasis do not care,  
If that such riots at your feasts be rife,  
And all your meat, so sourly sauced with strife▪  
That guests to pay the shot, must lose their life.   

23  
Happy those Swains, that in some shady bower,  
Making the grass th●i● cloth, the ground their board,  
Do feed on mellow fruit, or milks fine flower,  
Using no wine, but what their wells afford:  
At these did malice never bend her bow,  
Their state is shot f●●e, it is set so low,  
They overlook, that would them overthrow.   

24  
FAst unto Geshure, flies the fatricide,  
To shelter there himself, the sentence sore  
O● angry justice, fearing to abide,  
Oh happy turn had he returned no more,  
Who wont guise, kept in a country strange,  
Those that abroad, to foreign parts do range,  
Their climate, not conditions do exchange:   

25.  
Returned: at entrance of the Court he 
* Absalon's aspiring to the kingdom.  stands,  
If any suitors there he chanced to find,  
He steals their hearts, by taking of their hands,  
And sucked out their soul, with kisses kind:  
He of their name, cause, city cloth inquire,  
Proud men prove base, to compass their desire,  
They lowest crouch, that highest do aspire.   

26.  
Before such kisses come upon my face,  
Oh, let the deadly Scorpion me sting,  
Yea rather than such arms should me embrace,  
Let curling Snakes about my body cling:  
Than such fair words, I'd rather hear the fowl  
Untuned schreeching of the doleful Owl,  
Or hear the direful mountain Wolf to howl.   

27  
Some men affirm, that Absalon doth sound  
In the world's oldest tongue [of peace a father]  
Butler certs I know that such mistake their ground▪  
[Rebellious son] sure it importeth rather:  
And yet why so? sith since I call to mind,  
Than the Clementes none were more unkind,  
Then Innocent, more nocent none I find.   

28  
Then borrowing the plausible disguise  
Of holiness, he mas'kt his plot so evil,  
Under the good pretence of sacrifice,  
(A Saint dissembled is a double Devil.)  
But sure were these the vows, he went to pay▪  
His Sire, that harmless sheep he vowed to slay,  
Who o'er mount Olives weeping fled away.   

29.  
This makes me call my Saviour's grief to mind,  
Who on 
* Luk● 19 4●.  this mount, because the jews were grown  
So wicked, those that said they saw, so blind,  
Mourned for their sins, that mourned not for their own:  
Much did he weep for others that forbade,  
Others to weep for him, whose being sad  
Hath made his Saints, for ever since, full glad.   

30.  
Down comes the King to jordan: on the sand  
●f that the sailor's chance to ground the boat,  
● flood of tears they straightways did command,  
Whos● large accession, made the vessel float:  
And if a blast of wind, did chance to fail,  
So greivously the people did bewail,  
Their very sighs might serve to stuff the sail.   

31  
Thus was the King▪ in his own land exiled,  
His subjects were his host, and he their guest,  
Whose place was ill supplied by his child,  
(Unhappy Bird defiling his own nest)  
That took his father's wives, in open ●ight,  
Those that do want of grace the shun-shine bright,  
Extinguish oft dim Nature's candle light.   

32▪  
The blushing Sun, no sooner did behold  
●o beastly lust, but sought his face to shroud,  
And shrinking in his beams of burnished gold,  
Was glad to sculke within a sullen cloud:  
The shamefaced birds, with one wing fain to fly,  
Did hold their other fan before their eye,  
For fear they should such filthiness espy.   

33  
What needed he, to keep alive his name,  
Erect a pillar? Sure this damned deed,  
Makes us remember, and detest the same,  
That in the world's last doting age succeed:  
Yea when that Brass, that seemeth time to scorn,  
Shall be by all-devouring time outworn,  
His name they'se bear in mind that are not borne▪   

34▪  
But 
* Ac●itophel hanging himself.  he that gave this counsel, did not speed▪  
Who speeding home on witless ass amain,  
(Ass that for wit, his rider did exceed,)  
'Cause he his will at Court could not obtain,  
Did make his Will at home: the peevish el●e  
Amongst his household parts his cursed pelle,  
Careful of that, but careless of himself.   

35  
Oh sudden thought of thy mortality!  
Thou art not yet so through worn with age,  
None in thy face such Symptoms can espy,  
Which should so near approaching death praesage:  
Thy state is not distempered with heat,  
Thy working pulse doth moderately beat,  
All outward things seem whole, seem all complete.   

36  
But ghostly is thy grief: thou that by treason,  
Against thy Liege, so lately waste combined,  
Thy passions now rebel against thy Reason▪  
Reason, that is the Sovereign of thy mind,  
And seek for to disturb it from the throne:  
Strive, strive to set these civil broils at one,  
Order thyself, and let thy house alone.   

37  
A chain of hemp, he to his neck made fast,  
By tying of which knot, he did untie  
The knot of Soul and Body, and at last  
Stopping the passage of his breath, thereby  
A passage for his Soul, wide opened he:  
Thus traitors, rather than they should go free,  
Themselves the hangmen of themselves will be.   

38  
His friends, to balm his body spare no cost,  
With spices seeking to perfume a sink,  
For certs I know, their labour was but lost,  
His rotten memory, will ever stink,  
His soul thereby was nothing bettered,  
Because his corpse were bravely buried,  
Tombs please the living, profit not the dead.   

39  
How many worthy Martyrs vilely slain,  
Made meat for fowls, or for the fire made fuel,  
Though ground, they could not for a grave obtain,  
Were not less happy, but their foes more cruel,  
Unburied bodies made not them unblessed,  
Their better half, did find an heavenly rest,  
And doth enjoy, joys not to be expressed.   

40  
Leave we the Traitor thus, upon whose hearsse,  
My Muse shall not a precious ●eare misspend,  
Proceeding to bemoan in doleful verse,  
How 
* The battle betwixt Absalon and David's men.  two great bands, with cruel blows contend,  
Whole clouds of arrows, made the sky to lower,  
Dissolved at length, into a bloody shower,  
Till Steel killed many, wood did more devo●re.   

41  
Oh, let it not be published in the path▪  
That leads unto th' incestuous seed of Lot▪  
Tell not these tidings in the town of Gath,  
In Ascalon, see ye proclaim it not,  
Lest these rejoice at this calamity,  
Who count your fame, their greatest infamy,  
Your woeful jars, their welcome melody.   

42  
Had Rachel now revived, her sons to see,  
Their bloody hands, would make her heart to bleed,  
Each a Benoni unto her would be;  
Had Lea● lived to see herself agreed  
To fall out with herself, with tears most sure,  
She would have made her tender eyes past cure,  
Who ever won, she must the loss endure.   

43  
The conquest (which her verdict long suspended)  
Hovered aloft, not knowing where to light;  
But at the last, the lesser side befriended  
With best success; the other put to flight,  
More trusted a swift foot, than a strong fist,  
Most voices oft of Verity have missed,  
Nor in most men, doth Victory consist.   

44  
The graceless son was plunged in deep distress,  
For earth his weight, no longer would endure,  
The angry heavens denied all access,  
Unto a wretch so wicked, so impure:  
At last the heavens and earth with one consent,  
A middle place, unto the monster lent,  
Above the earth, beneath the firmament.   

45  
His skittish Mule, ran roving in the fields,  
And up high hills, down dales, o'er woods did prance,  
Seeming with neighing noise, and wanton heels,  
In token of great joy to sing and dance,  
That now her master, she should bear no more,  
(An heavy bulk, whose sins did weigh so sore)  
Now rid of him, that rid on her before.   

46  
Cry Absalon, cry Absalon amain,  
And let thy winged prayers, pierce the sky,  
Oh to the spring of pity, soon complain,  
That ne'er is dammed up, not drained dry,  
Thy fault confess, his favour 〈◊〉 implore,  
Much is thy misery, his mercy more,  
Thy want is great, but greater is his store.   

47  
Condemn thyself, and he shall thee acquitt,  
Do thou but pray, he'll pity thy estate,  
Confess thy debt, he will the same remit,  
It never was too soon, it's ne'er to late:  
Alas; long sinners scarce at last relent,  
He gives not all offenders to repent,  
That granteth pardon to all penitent.   

48  
Whilst thus his life suspended was on high,  
Bold-ventrous loab opened his heart,  
(Heart, where much treason lurked privily)  
And peir'ct his body with a triple dart:  
Then Crimson blades of grass, whereon he bleeds,  
Did straightways dye, and in their room succeeds  
A fruitful wilderness, of fruitless weeds.   

49.  
When David heard the Victory was gained,  
But his son lost (as jordan waxing rank,  
O'er flows the land, and scorns to be restrained,  
To have his Tide, tied in a narrow bank)  
Surges of sorrow in his heart did rise,  
And broke the watery sluices of his eyes,  
Who lightened thus himself, with heavy cries▪   

50  
My son, whose body had of grace the fill,  
My son, whose soul was so devoid of grace,  
Without my knowledge, and against my will,  
My son, in cause so bad, so strange a place:  
My son, my son, for which I most complain▪  
I fear in soul, as in the body slain,  
Would I might dye, that thou might'st live again▪   

51  
Now when this grief was swallowed, not digested,  
The subjects ●lock't, King David to restore,  
Who in an instant, love what they detested,  
Detest in th'instant▪ what they lo●'d before:  
People like weathercocks waved with the wind▪  
We constant, in unconstancy may find▪  
As time counts minutes, so they change their mind.   

52  
Amongst the rest, that came the King to meet,  
Lam●-●egd Mephibosheth, but loyal hearted,  
Was one, that never washed his clothes, or ●eete  
(Except with tears) since David first departed▪  
Feet, which by fall from nur●e● arms began  
To halt, with him a child▪ so fast she ran,  
That he could never go, when grown a man▪   

53.  
Not much unlike, if it give no distaste,  
That real truths. I do with trifles match,  
Whilst that my posting Muse, with headlong haste  
Doth strive her rural Lays for to dispatch,  
Halting Invention, for the want of heed,  
And lame unjointed lines from her proceed,  
And seldom things done speedily, do speed.   

54.  
But here an unexpected jar arose,  
Whilst people, for most part in Prince contended▪  
Which grew from bitter words to bloody blows,  
The King, quoth judah, of our Tribe descended,  
He of our flesh is flesh, bone of our bone:  
Nay, answered Israel, in the King we own  
Ten parts, a single share is yours alone.   

55  
Whilst sparks of discord thus began to smoke,  
To ●inde the bellowes, Sheba did conspire,  
(
* The son of Belial.  Sheba that proudly did disdain the yoke)  
And blowing of a trumpet, blew the fire:  
Then those that claimed ten, disdained all part  
In David, taught by his seducing art,  
They discontented to their tents depart▪   

56  
This Rebel, joab whilst to quell he strives,  
A nameless woman (in the book of life  
Her name is kept, that kept so many lives)  
Procured that he, who stirred up the strife,  
The body of the Commonwealth to rend  
From Prince the head, whereon it did depend,  
With head, from body rend, his life did end.   

57  
By his death many Citizens survived,  
The loss of Traitor's blood, did prove their gain,  
Soon ceased the flood of Discord, thence derived,  
When they the factious fountain did restrain.  
This war, a vile man with 
* What part have we in David, etc.  a word did raise,  
Unto his shame, which to her endless praise,  
A worthy Woman with a 
* His head shall be thrown, etc.  word alleys.   

58  
So in our land, a noble Queen arose,  
As we have heard our fathers oft relate,  
A Maid, yet Manly to confound her foes,  
A Maid and yet a Mother to the State:  
Which she weak, like to crumbling brick did find,  
Which strong, as lasting marble she resigned,  
Gold and God's worship, both by her refined.   

59  
She having flourished in great renown,  
In spite of power, and policy of Spain,  
Did change her earthly, for an heavenly crown,  
And ceased to rule o'er men, with God to reign:  
Forty and four Novembers fully passed,  
(Aye me that winged time should post so fast)  
To Christ her love, she wedded was at last.   

60  
This Sun thus set, there followed no Night  
In our Horizon, straight another Sun,  
Most happily continued the light,  
Which by the first was hopefully begun:  
And, what might most amaze all mortal eyes,  
Never before out of the Northern skies,  
Did men behold bright Phoebus to arise.   

61.  
Arts did increase his fame, he did increase  
The fame of Arts, and counting twice eleven  
Twelve months upon his throne, this Prince of peace,  
By falling to the Earth, did rise to Heaven:  
Then down our chee● stears hot & cold did flow,  
Those for the Sire deceased, expre'st our woe,  
Those joy, for his succeeding Son did show.   

62.  
Live gracious Liege, whose Virtues do surmount  
All flattery, and Envy them admires,  
C●nter of grace and greatness, liukko Cou●t,  
Till that thy kingdom with the world expires:  
We subjects wish thee worst, that love thee best,  
Who here long to enjoy thee, ●oe request,  
That late thou mayst enjoy an heavenly rest.   

63  
And thou young Prince, hope of the future age,  
Succeed to Father's Virtues, Name, and Crown,  
A new Star did thy Saviour's birth praesage,  
His death, the Sun eclipsed did renown:  
But both of these conjoined to adorn  
Thy welcome birth, the Sun with ag● so worn,  
Did seem half dead, and a young star was borne.   

64▪  
But what dost thou, my venturous Muse, praesume  
So far above thy dwarf-like strength to strain?  
Such soaring soone will melt thy waxen plume,  
Let those heroic sparks, whose learned brain,  
Doth merit chapletts of victorious bays,  
Make Kings the subjects of their lofty lays,  
Thy worthless praising doth their worth dispraise   

65  
Strike sail, and to thy matter draw more near,  
And draw thy matter nearer to an end▪  
Though nought praiseworthy in thy verse appear,  
Yet strive that shortness may the same commend:  
Return to see, where joah homeward goes,  
To see his Friends, that had subdued his foes;  
His soldiers, and himself there to repose.   

66  
Thus when two adverse winds, with strong command,  
Summon the Sea, the waves that both do feel,  
Dare follow neither, but in doubt do stand,  
Whilst that the ships with water drunk do reel  
With men, for grief of drowning, drowned in grief,  
Until at length, a Calm brings them relief,  
And stills the storm, that had so long been brief.   

67  
Oh that I might but live to see the day,  
Day, that I more desire, than hope to see)  
When all these bloody discords done away,  
Our Princes, in like manner might agree:  
When all the world, might smile in perfect peace,  
And these long-lasting broils, at length might cease  
Broils, which (alas) do daily more increase.   

68  
●he netherlands, with endless wars are tossed,  
●ike in success, to their unconstant tide,  
●osing their gettings, gaining what they lost.  
denmark both sword, and Ba●tick seas divide:  
More blood, than juice of grape nigh Rhine is shed;  
And Brunswick Land will not be comforted,  
But cries, My Duke, alas, my Duke is dead.   

69  
The wars in France, now laid aside, not ended,  
Are only skinned over with a scar,  
Yea haughty Alps, that to the clouds ascended,  
Are over-climbed with a bloody War:  
And Maro's birth place Mantua, is more  
Made famous now for Mars, and battle sore,  
Than for his Muse, it famed was before.   

70  
Sweden to stop th'imperial flood provides,  
(May his good cause, be crowned with like success,  
And they, that now please none, to please both sides  
May they themselves, his trusty friends express.)  
But Turks the Cobweb of their Truce, each howry  
Do break, they wait a time, but want no power  
Nor will, warr-wearied Christians to devour.   

71  
But let the cunning Chemic, whose exact  
skill, caused Light from darkness to proceed,  
Out of disorder order can extract,  
Make in his due time all these jars agreed,  
Whose greivances may be bemoaned by men,  
By God alone redressed; and till then  
● hay more befitt my Prayers than my Pen.   
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
FINIS.