A Chain of Pearl. OR A Memorial of the peerless Graces, and Heroic Virtues of Queen Elizabeth, of Glorious Memory.  
Composed by the Noble Lady, Diana Primrose.  Dat ROSA mell apibus, quâ sugit ARANEA virus. 
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Pain, and are to be sold by Philip Waterhouse, at his shop at the sign of St. Pauls-head in Canning-street near London-stone. 1630.   

TO ALL NOBLE LADIES, and GENTLEWOMEN.  
TO You the Honour of our Noble Sex,  
I send this CHAIN, with all my best Respects:  
Which if you please to wear, for her sweet sake,  
For whom I did this slender POEM make.  
You shall erect a Trophy to her Name,  
And crown yourselves with neverfading Fame.  
Devoted to your Virtues, DIANA P.   

TO THE EXCELLENT LADY, the Composer of this Worke.  

SHine forth (Diana) dart thy Golden Rays,  
On Her blessed Life and Reign, whose Noble Praise  
Deserves a Quill plucked from an Angel's wing,  
And none to write it but a Crowned King.  
She, She it was, that gave us Golden Days,  
And did the English Name to Heaven raise:   

Blessed be her Name! blessed be her Memory!  
That England crowned with such Felicity.   

And Thou, the Primrose of the Muses nine,  
(In whose sweet Verse ELIZA'S Fame doth shine,  
Like some resplendent Star in frosty night)  
Hast made thy Native Splendour far more bright;  
Since all thy PEARLS are peerles-orient,  
And to thyself a precious Ornament.   

This is my censure of thy ROYAL CHAIN  
Which a far better Censure well may claim.   DOROTHY BERRY.  

THE INDUCTION.  

AS Golden Phoebus with his radiant face  
Enthroned in his Triumphant Chair of State,  
The twinkling Stars and Asterisms doth chafe  
With his Imperial Sceptre, and doth hate   

All Consorts in his Starry Monarchy,  
As prejudicial to his Sovereignty.   

So Great ELIZA, England's brightest Sun,  
The World's Renown and everlasting Lamp,  
Admits not here the least Comparison;  
Whose Glories, do the Greatest Prince's damp.   

That ever Sceptre swayed or Crown did wear,  
Within the Verge of either Hemisphere.   

Thou English Goddess, Empress of our Sex,  
O Thou whose Name still reigns in all our hearts,  
To whom are due, our ever-vowd Respects!  
How shall I blazon thy most Royal parts?   

Which in all Parts did so divinely shine,  
As they deserve Apollo's Quili (not mine.)   

Yet, since the GOD'S accept the humble Vows  
Of Mortals; deign (O Thou Star-crowned Queen)  
T' accept these ill-composed Pearly-Rowes:  
Wherein, thy Glory chieflty shall be seen:   

For by these Lines so black and impolite,  
Thy Swanlike Lustre shall appear more white.   
Thy Imperial Majesty's eternal Votary, DIANA.   

A CHAIN OF PEARL, OR A Memorial of Q. Elizabeth.  

The first Pearl. RELIGION.  
THE goodliest Pearl in fair Eliza's Chain;  
Is true Religion, which did chief gain  
A Royal Lustre to the rest, and tied  
The Hearts of ALL to her when Mary died.  
And though She found the Realm infected much  
With Superstition, and Abuses, such  
As (in all humane judgement) could not be  
Reformed without domestic Mutiny,  
And great Hostility from Spain and France;  
Yet SHE undaunted, bravely did advance  
Christ's Glorious Ensign, maugre all the Fears  
Or Dangers which appeared: and for ten years  
SHE swayed the Sceptre with a Lady's hand,  
Not urging any Romist in the Land,  
By sharp Edicts the Temple to frequent,  
Or to partake the holy Sacrament.  
But factious Romanists not thus content,  
Their Agents to their holy Fathersent,  
Desiring him, by solemn Bull, proclaim  
ELIZABETH an Heretic, and name  
Some other Sovereign, which might erect  
Their masking Mass, and hence forthwith eject  
The Evangelicall Profession,  
Which flourished under her Protection.  
The Pope to this Petition condescends,  
And soon his Leaden Bull to England sends,  
Which by one FELTON, on the Bishop's Gate  
Of London was affixed; But the STATE  
For that high Treason punished him with death,  
That would dethrone his Queen, ELIZABETH.  
Yet was this Ball of Wildfire working still,  
In many Romanists which had a will,  
The present State and Government to change;  
That they in all Idolatry might range.  
And hence it came that Great Northumberland,  
Associate with Earl of Westmoreland,  
And many more, their Banners did display  
In open Field; hoping to win the Day.  
Against these Rebels, Noble SUSSEX went;  
And soon their bloody Purpose did prevent.  
Westmoreland fled, Northumberland did die,  
For that soul Crime, and deep disloyalty;  
Having engaged Thousands in that Cause.  
After which time, the QUEEN made stricter Laws.  
Against Recusants; and with Lion's heart,  
She banged the Pope, and took the Gospels' part.  
The Pope perceiving that his Bull was baited  
In such rude sort, and all his hopes defeated:  
Cries out to Spain for help; who takes occasion  
Thereby t'attempt the Conquest of this Nation.  
But such Sage Counsellors ELIZA had;  
As, though both Spain 
* In ultimam rabiem fureremque conversi.  and Rome were almost mad  
For grief and anger, yet they still did fail,  
And against England never could prevail.   

The second Pearl. CHASTITY.  

THE next fair Pearl that comes in order here,  
Is Chastity, wherein SHE had no peer.  
Mongst all the Noble Princesses which then  
In Europe were the Royal Anadem.  
And though for Beauty SHE an Angel was,  
And all our Sex did there in fare surpass;  
Yet did her pure unspotted Chastity  
Her heavenly Beauty rarely beautify.  
How many Kings and Princes did aspire,  
To win her Love? In whom that Vestal Fire  
Still flaming, never would She condescend  
To Hymen's Rihtes, though much She did commend,  
That brave French MONSIEUR who did hope to carry  
The Golden fleece, and fair ELIZA marry.  
Yea Spanish PHILIP, Husband to her Sister,  
Was her first Suitor, and the first that missed her:  
And though he promised that the Pope by Bull  
Should licence it, SHE held it but a Gull  
For how can Pope 
* Yet his Canonists say; Benè dispensal Dominus Papa contra Apostolum Extrae. de Renunc. Ca post translationem.  with Gods own Law dispense?  
Was it not time such Popes to cudgel hence?  
Thus Her impregnable Virginity,  
Throughout the World Her Fame did dignify.   

And this may be a Document to all,  
The Pearl of Chastity not to let fall:  
Into the filthy dirt of foul Desires,  
Which Satan kindles with his Hellbred fires:  
For whether it be termed Virginal  
In Virgins, or in Wives styled Conjugal,  
Or vidual in Widows, God respects  
All equally, and all a like affects.   

And here I may not silent overpasse  
That Noble Lady of the Court, which was  
Solicited by TAXIS that great DON,  
Ambassador for Spain (when SHE was gone)  
Who to obtain his will, 
Primo jacobi.  gave her a Chain  
Of most rare Orient Pearl, hoping to gain  
That Worthy Lady to his Lust; 
Related by thehonotable Kt. and Baronet, SIR Richard Hounghton of Houghton Tower.  But She  
That well perceived his Spanish Policy,  
His fair Chain kept, but his foul Offer scorned,  
That sought (thereby) her Husband to have horned:  
TAXIS repulse, sent to Her for his Chain,  
But (as a Trophy) She did it retain;   

Which Noble Precedent may all excite,  
To keep this Pearl, which is so Orient bright.    

The third Pearl. PRUDENCE.  

HOW prudent was her Government appeared  
By her wise Counsels, by the which SHE steered,  
In the most dangerous Times that ever were,  
Since King or Queen did Crown in England wear.  
Her choice of Famous Councillors did show,  
That She did all the Rules of Prudence know:  
For though her Wit and Spirit were divine;  
Counsels (She knew) were best, where more combine:  
That for Experience and deep Policy  
Are well approved; whose Fidelity  
Retains them in the bonds of Loyal Love,  
And no great Pensions from their Prince can move.  
Thus ruled SHE prudently with all her power,  
With Argus' Eyes foreseeing every hour  
All dangers imminent, lest any harms  
Should us befall by Spanish Arts or Arms:   

This Gift in her was much more eminent,  
In that it is so rarely incident  
To our weak Sex: And as a precious stone,  
Deep set in Gold, shines fairer, then alone,  
Or set in Lead; so did all Grace's shine  
In Her more gloriously, because Divine:  
For Kings are Gods, and Queens are Goddesses  
On Earth, whose facred Virtues best expresses  
Their true Divinity: wherein, if WE  
Them imitate, 'tis our Felicity.  
This Pearl of Prudence then, We all should prise  
Most highly, for it doth indeed comprise  
All Moral Virtues, which are resident  
In that blessed soul, where this is precedent.    

The fourth Pearl. TEMPERANCE.  

THE Golden Bridle of Bellerephon  
Is Temperance, by which our Passion,  
And Appetite we conquer and subdue  
To Reason's Regiment: else may we rue  
Our yielding to men's Syren-blandishments,  
Which are attended with so foul Events.   

This Pearl in HER was so conspicuous,  
As that the 
* Edward  King Her Brother still did use,  
To style HER His sweet Sister Temperance;  
By which Her much admired Selfe-governance,  
Her Passions still SHE checked, and still SHE made  
The World astonished, that so undismayed  
SHE did with equal Tenor still proceed  
In one fair course, not shaken as a reed:  

* Semper eadem.  But built upon the Rock of Temperance:  
Not dazed with fear, not mazed with any Chance;  
Not with vain Hope (as with an empty Spoon)  
Fed or allured to cast beyond the Moon:  
Not with rash Anger to precipitate,  
Not fond to love, nor too too prone to hate:  
Not charmed with Parasites, or Siren's Songs,  
Whose hearts are poisoned, though their sugared Tongues  
Swear, vow, and promise all Fidelity,  
When they are brewing deepest Villainy.  
Not led to vain or too profuse Expense,  
Pretending thereby State Magnificence:  
Not spending on these momentany pleasures  
Her precious Time: but deeming her best Treasures  
Her Subject's Love, 
Omnibus incutiens bland●● per pectorae amorem.  which SHE so well preserved,  
By sweet and mild Deameanor, as it served  
To guard Her surer, than an Army Royal;  
So true their Loves were to Her, and so Loyal:  
O Golden Age! O blessed and happy Years!  
O Music sweeter than that of the Spheres!  
When Prince and people mutually agree  
In sacred Concord, and sweet Symphony!    

The fift Pearl CLEMENCY.  
HER Royal Clemency comes next in view,  
The Virtue which in HER did most renew  
The Image of Her Maker, who in that  
Exceeds himself, and doth commiserate  
His very Rebels, lending them the light  
Of Sun and Moon, and all those Diamonds bright.  

* monstrae, teterrima monstra.  So did ELIZA cast Her Golden Rays  
Of Clemency, on those which many ways  
Transgressed Her Laws, and sought to undermine  
The Church and State, and did with Spain combine.  
And though by Rigour of the Law She might  
Not wronging them, have taken all Her right  
Yet Her Innate and princely Clemency  
Moved Her to pardon their Delinquency,  
Which sought Her Gracious Mercy, and repent  
Their Misdemeanours, and their Crimes lamented.  
So doth the the Kingly Lion with his foe,  
Which once prostrate, he scorns to work his woe.  
So did this Virtue's sacred Auri flame,  
Immortalize our Great ELIZA'S Name.   

The sixth Pearl; JUSTICE.  
HER justice next appears, which did support  
Her Crown, and was her Kingdom's strongest Fort.  
For should not Laws be executed well,  
And Malefactors curbed, a very Hell  
Of all Confusion and disorder would  
Among all States ensue. Hereto unfold  
The exemplary Penalties of those,  
Which to the Realm were known, and mortal Foes:  
And as some putrid members pared away,  
Lest their transcendent Villainy should sway  
Others to like Disloyalty; would ask  
A larger Volume, and would be a Task  
Unfit for Feminine hands, which rather love  
To write of pleasing subjects, then approve  
The most deserved slaughtering of any;  
Which justly cannot argue Tyranny.  
For though the Pope have lately sent from Rome,  
Strange Books and pictures painting out the Doom  
Of his pretended Martyrs: as that they  
Were baited in Bears skins, and made a prey  
To wild Beasts, and had Boötes with boiling Lead  
Drawn on their Legs, and Horns nailed to their head;  
Yet all our British world knows these are fables,  
Chimaeras, Phantasms, Dreams, and very Babbles  
For Fools to play with: and right Goblin-Sprights,  
Wherewith our Nurses oft their Babes affrights.  
His Holiness these Martyrdoms may add  
To the Golden Legend; for they are as mad,  
That first invented them, as 
* Vappa Voraginosa.  he that writ  
That branelesse Book: and yet some credit it.  
For Cruelty and fond Credulity,  
Are the main Pillars of Rome's Hierarchy.   

The seventh Pearl. FORTITUDE.  
THIS goodly Pearl, is that rare Fortitude,  
Wherewith this Sacred Princess was endued.  
Witness Her brave undaunted Look, when Parry  
Was fully bend SHE should by him miscarry:  
The Wretch confessed, that Her Great Majesty  
With strange amazement did him terrify.  
So Heavenly-Gracefull, and so full of Awe,  
Was that Majestic Queen, which when some saw,  
They thought an Angel did appear: SHE shone  
So bright, as None else could Her Paragon.  
But that which doth beyond all Admiration  
Illustrate Her, and in Her, this whole Nation;  
Is that Heroic March of Her's and Speech  
At Tilbury, where She did All beseech  
Bravely to fight for England, telling them  
That what their Fortune was, should Hers be then.  
And that with full Resolve She thither came,  
Ready to win, or quite to lose the Game.  
Which words delivered in most Princely sort,  
Did animate the Army, and report  
To all the World Her Magnanimity,  
Whose haughty Courage nought could terrify.  
Well did She show, Great Henry was Her Sire,  
Whom Europe did for Valour most admire,  
'Mongst all the Warlike Princes which were then  
Enthronised with Regal Diadem.   

The Eight Pearl. SCIENCE.  
AMong the Virtue's Intellectual,  
The Van is lead by that we Science call;  
A Pearl more precious than th' Egyptian Queen,  
Quaffed off to Anthony; of more Esteem  
Then Indian Gold, or most resplendent Gems,  
Which ravish us with their translucent Beams.  
How many Arts and Sciences did deck  
This HEROINA? Who still had at beck  
The Muses and the Graces, when that She  
Gave Audience in State and Majesty:  
Then did the Goddess Eloquence inspire  
Her Royal Breast: Apollo with his Lyre,  
ne'er made such Music; On her Sacred Lips  
Angels enthroned, most Heavenly Manna sips.  
Then might you see her Nectar-flowing Vein  
Surround the Hearers; in which sugared Stream,  
SHE able was to drown a World of men,  
And drowned, with Sweetness to revive again.  
Alasco, the Ambassador Polonian,  
Who perorated like a mere Slavonian,  
And in rude rambling Rhetoric did roll,  
SHE did with Attic Eloquence control  
Her Speeches to our Academians,  
Well showed She knew among Athenians,  
How to deliver such well-tuned Words,  
As with such Places punctually accords.  
But with what Oratory-ravishments,  
Did She imparadise Her Parliaments?  
Her last most Princely Speech doth verify,  
How highly She did England dignify.  
Her Loyal Commons how did She embrace,  
And entertain with a most Royal Grace?   

The ninth Pearl; PATIENCE.  
NOW come we Her rare Patience to display;  
Which, as with purest Gold, did pave her way  
To England's Crown; for when her Sister ruled,  
She was with many great Afflictions schooled:  
Yet all the while Her Mot, was Tanquam Ovis,  
Nor could her Enemies prove ought amiss  
In Her, although they thirsted for her blood,  
Reputing it once shed, their Sovereign good.  
Sometime, in Prison this sweere Saint was penned,  
Then hastily away She thence was sent  
To Places more remote, and all her Friends  
Debarred access; and none but such attends,  
As ready were with poison, or with knife,  
To Sacrifice this Sacred Princess life,  
At bloody Bonner's beck, or Gardiner's nod;  
Had they not been pre●ented by that GOD,  
Who did Susanna from the Elders free,  
And at the last, gave her, her Liberty.  
Thus by her patiented bearing of the Cross,  
She reaped greatest Gain from greatest Loss,  
(For he that looseth his blessed Liberty,  
Hath found a very Hell of misery:)  
By many Crosses thus She got the Crown;  
To England's Glory, and her great Renown.   

The tenth Pearl. BOUNTY.  

AS Rose and Lillie challenge chiefest place,  
For milk-white Lustre, and for Purple Grace:  
So England's Rose and Lily, had no Peer,  
For Princely Bounty shining .  
This made her Fame with Golden Wings to fly  
About the World, above the Starry Sky.  
Witness France, Portugal, Virginia,  
Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Belgia;  
Whose Provinces and Princes found her Aid  
On all Occasions; which sore dismayed  
Spain's King whose European Monarchy,  
Can never thrive during her Sovereignty;  
So did She bear him with her Distaff, so  
By 
* Elisabethae fuit Terrae Regina Marisquè. Primo jacobi.  Sea and Land She him did overthrow;  
Yea, so that Tyrant on his knees She brought  
That of brave England Peace he * begged, and thought  
Himself most happy, that by begging so  
Preserved all Spain from Beggary and Woe.   

Here all amazed my Muse sets up her rest,  
Adoring HER was so Divinely blessed.   
At nos horrifico cinefactam TE propè Busto,  
Insatiabiliter deslebimus, aeternumque.   
FINIS.