ANGLIA Rediviva: OR, ENGLAND Revived. AN Heroic Poem.  
London, Anno M. D.C.L.VIII.   

To his Highness OLIVER Lord Protector, etc.  
My Lord,  
ALL I can hope, when your Highness reads this Piece, is only your Pardon for my writing it: which I did upon a double impulsion; the Excellency of your Person, and the forcible inclination of mine own Genius, to Honour, Admire, and Celebrate all that is Excellent.  
If things happen as I have Imagined them, I am both Poet and Prophet too: If not, I am a Poet only, who has more liberty than the Historographer, and his likelihood (most commonly) is more worth than tother's Truth.  
Mean time (my Lord) 'tis my ambition, not yours; you have glory enough in refusing the Crown, and it should be ours in urging you to the accepting it, which all should do, who understand the public Interest: for those who do not, I should be glad to teach them this verity, that (things standing as they do) no Faggot with its band broke, would sooner fall in pieces; Nor Edifice without foundation, sooner fall to ruin and destruction, than we should, were you a way, (which God defend:) 'tis the hearty prayer (my Lord) of one, who has no particular Interest of his own, being so wholly unknown unto your Highness as it were superfluous for me to subscribe myself by any other name, than only  
Your Highness' most faithful Honourer and Admirer.   

Canto 1.  
The Argument.  

By Themis in full Parliament's declared  
The Kingdom's state, and want of King, which heard,  
All opinat with general Consent  
For King again, and Kingly Government.   

NOw the great Body of the State to frame  
From several parts, its several Members came,  
Just as the Sultan's Engineers, Canons make  
In several pieces, they asunder take  
Till Warlike execution's to be done,  
When all the pieces are conjoined in one.  
And now the Members all inbodyed, straight  
Assume again, their oft assumed debate,  
The State o'th'Kingdom rightly understood,  
Which most conduced unto their present good,  
Which most their future dangers to prevent,  
Or popular, or Kingly government.  
Much for the first by popular spirited men  
Contested was, and much for th' last again  
By such, who though they were not Kings, at least  
Had Kingly spirits reigning in their breast.  
Nor could it be determined more than when  
Now Eurus blows now Aquilon again,  
To whither part th' impulsed waves in fine  
Equally 'twixt both suspended should incline.  
Until at last (a) Themis the sage arose,  
Themis the just, they had for Speaker chose,  
Than whom a sager, nor a juster man  
Athens nor Rome ne'er bred, and thus began:  
When ' th' politic Body's sick which (as you know)  
Has as the Natural, its sickness too,  
(Faint languish, and strong Disterp'raturs,  
Cold Lethargies, and burning Calenturs)  
It fits the Statists, as Physicians care,  
Well to examine what the Causes are,  
What the effects, what every circumstance  
May th' cure retard, or malady advance,  
As with their utmost diligence t' explore,  
Its state of health, and Regiment before,  
That so (those known) they better might apply  
To every Ill convenient remedy.  
For ours, what most perturbed us has of late  
Are some disquiet humours in the State  
Occasioned by unskilfulness of (b) some  
More skilled in stirring, than in purging them.  
Of consequence so dangerous, as just  
As th' Hedgehog of its prickly brood, at first  
Might be delivered with little pain  
Till too indulgent to its ease, whilst fain  
It would escape, by shrinking up its womb  
At last it does so intolerable become,  
Without huge torment it canst delivered be  
Without huge jeopardy of life. So we  
So long deferred have the cures of them  
They almost are incurable become  
By ' indulging them we gaining nothing else  
But ruin and destruction of ourselves.  
As for the rest, who is't that does not see  
Our former state of health was Monarchy?  
As that, which did maintain that state again  
In vigorous health, was Kingly Regimen;  
Nor may we ought expect but crassy health  
Whilst we remain in state of Commonwealth,  
More than our bodies but continual pain  
Till its disjointed Joints be set again.  
There being a certain Innate quiet in things,  
Which once disturbed, as great disquiet brings:  
So th' Mariner's needle by some tampering hand  
Turned from its North, mark how't does wavering stand  
In restless agitation and pain  
Till it return unto its North again.  
Vice-nature Custom rendering all things light  
And easy t' us. With it there is no weight,  
No pain: without it, ease, repose there's none,  
But all is trouble, pain, vexation,  
All is impediment, let, and hindrance,  
There is no clog but in-accustumance.  
This if we know, there's hope of remedy,  
If not, more dangerous is our malady,  
Since those sicks healths are most despaired of still  
Imagine they are well, when they are ill.  
For but compare our Country's former state  
And welfare, with 'tis condition of late;  
At home its plenty, and its opulence,  
Abroad its reputation, when (c) France  
With none than us more feared war, and Spain  
With none than us more wished peace again,  
When we in all the Christian worlds affairs,  
Were absolute Arbiters of peace and wars,  
And all, not passion-blind shall see themselves  
Happier in Kingdoms than in Commonwealths.  
But some perchance will say, t'had nothing don  
Or too much rather Kings had overthrown,  
If now we should decree (to their disgrace)  
T' advance a new some others to their place,  
As if't had been against the lawful use  
Of Kingly government, and not th' abuse  
they'd tan up arms and so much blood had shed,  
Which mighty workat last accomplished  
What rests there, but th'abuse away being tan  
The lawful use of Kings should still remain?  
So when we bend t'one ways a rod or wand,  
That t'other ways did too much bended stand,  
'Tis to redress, and straighten it again,  
Not that it crooked so, should still remain.  
(d) For Parliaments which some cry up again,  
Rare helps of Government, whilst Kings did reign  
As formerly with Members all complete,  
But not as now, all maimed and mutilat,  
We as of fire and water well may say  
That they command ill, though they well obey.  
Nor is it just the odium they have cast  
On names of latter Kings, should longer last  
Than Love and Reverence weare obliged to bear  
To names of former Kings who reigned here.  
(e) Edgar as far extending our command  
By Sea, as our third Edward did by Land,  
Or our fifth Henry, glories of their name  
And ours, and England's everlasting Fame.  
As for the People's, Angel, Liberty  
And Friend, Oppression and Tyranny  
They err, suppose this found with Kings alone  
Proudly and sternly seated on their Throne,  
'Bout which a barbarous crew of Lectors stands  
With visages as bloody as their hands  
Violently keeping all like slaves in awe  
With nothing but their wills and lusts for law.  
You will find as well with th' popularity  
Who proudly mincing King's authority  
Either as rigid, fell, and cruel are  
As ever yet Sicilian Tyrants were  
Or else (o'th' contrary) remissive grown,  
Each seeks their private good, the public none.  
So whither Kings, Liberty's Banks restrain  
Or these or ' flow them, still the harm's the same;  
And to the State alike pernicious 'tis  
Where all is lawful, or where nothing is,  
Only of every domination,  
Whether of many, or of one alone,  
(Of King or People) this we may conclude,  
The nobler Lord, the nobler Servitude.  
For Liberty, which some, unskilled to make  
Their right distinctions, for licence take,  
As there no difference were between the thing  
They freedom call, and Shrovetide ryotting;  
'Tis true, 'mongst mortals it was found at first,  
Whilst nothing they desired but what was just,  
Whilst virtue only kept their minds in awe,  
And every one was to himself a Law.  
Till Lawless grown, and Vice their minds possessed  
Expelling Virtue and Justice from their breast,  
From Cities, Courts, and Villages it fled,  
Man's habitation quite abandoned,  
Making to desert wilderness repair,  
And ever since has lived an Hermit there,  
Choosing (so great aversion 'thas from men)  
Rather to live amongst wild Beasts than them.  
Only there still remains a bastard one  
Begot 'twixt Power and Moderation,  
That Fantosm or Fools-Paradise ' i'th' air  
With vain endeavour some seek here, some there  
When all is sought at last you'll find alone  
In well obeying, just dominion.  
Where one, or more must govern; if one, he  
Is then the King, what ere his Title be,  
If more,  got by alteration  
But only this, ' thave many Kings for one:  
Lesle care for doing well, whilst each one has  
So many to participate the praise,  
Nor ill, whilst they so many have again  
Participating the reproach and shame.  
Let levelling Spirits then, go equal all  
At home, and we'll allow them, so withal  
They can aswell equal and levelly too  
Our Neighbours all abroad, which till they do  
They for our honours should provide but ill  
To lessen us, and leave them greater still.  
For Times are changed, and Commonwealths no more  
In such high reputation, as before  
When Roman Citizens to Kings gave Law,  
And Commonwealths their Kingdoms kept in awe.  
Now petty Provinces may cantonize  
And call their Weaknesses, their Liberties,  
Whilst mighty Kingdoms common notion  
Is many Provinces conjoined in one.  
If then the Kingdom you'd again restore  
Unto the royalties it possessed before,  
The public to their honour and their wealths,  
The private to their freedom, and themselves,  
Nobility its splendour, Law its course,  
Justice its awe, Authority its force;  
Make us a Kingdom, give us Kings again,  
May date from this day their first year of reign,  
As we our first of happiness, happy alone  
May choose our King, and be enforced to none.  
By suture times so shall you equailed be  
To those first founded have our Monarchy.  
Since 'tis as great a work, and greater too  
To raise from ruins, as to build a new.  
So all things settled as they were before  
None e'er shall seek for innovation more,  
Nor e'er shall count more reformation fit,  
For rightly ordering or ourselves, or it;  
So shall our foes, and those to them adhear  
No longer hope, and we no longer fear;  
So wars, dissensions, factions, all shall cease,  
And we enjoy an everlasting peace;  
So Heaven shall bless you, and men look upon  
Your work (in fine) as work of Heaven alone,  
And all shall bless and praise you, (as 'tis fit)  
As Heaven's sole justruments in doing it.  
At this unanimously all arose  
(Just as in Forests when Favonius blows  
With gentle breath, and all one ways inclines  
The heads and murmurs of the lofty pines)  
Inclining all with gentle murmuring  
To Themis vote, for Kingdom, and for King.  
But as when this great Fabric began,  
God first did make the world, & then made man:  
So they enough of business did suppose  
For first day's work, the Kingdom to have chose,  
Leaving to an other day their choice of King,  
As we t' an other Canto for to sing.   
FINIS CANTO 1.   

ANNOTATIONS Upon the first CANTO.  
(a) WIth good reason Themis or Justice is introduced, voting for the postliminary Restitution (as I maysay) of ENGLAND to its former Royalties again, and state of Kingdom, which immemorable Time before it had been possessed of, without disputing whether Monarchy or Democraty be the better form of Government, it being best for every one to continue in the state they have always been, and Justice's part to give to every one their own.  
(b.) The Bishops chief, who when they perceived Sectaries grown dangerous, forbade them the public Pulpit, without prohibiting them their private conventicles: by which means those peccant humours droven inwards apostumed, and wext afterwards more dangerous.  
(c) France more feared war with us, than with any other Nation, experiencing always by their losses, that they always lost by it; And Spain was so desirous of peace with us, as it became an ordinary Proverb with them Pace co l' Ingleterra e con toto il mondo guerra, not caring so they had peace with us, though they had war with all the World besides. For our arbitration of the Christian worlds affairs, we need look up no further than to the times of King Henry the 8th. and in no other Author than every Chronicle.  
(d) The Parliament of England is neither an imperious Master, (as in some Countries are their Assemblies of States) nor an abject Vassal (as are the Parliaments in other Countries) but only in nature of an humble Friend, to propose unto the Sovereign Majesty what they imagine most expedient for the Kingdoms good and theirs. Nor is the Sovereign power more bounded and limited by them, than is the Ocean by its shore, preserving it only from effusion and dissipation, and not so much bounding and limiting it, as not leaving it altogether boundless and limitless, there being certain things which seem onerous and burdensome (as the wheels of Chariots, wings of Birds, and such like) which on the contrary more lighten and alleviat the load. The Sovereign Magistrate then in England can do all things without Parliament, but only ruin the Kingdom and himself, a restriction no more derogating from his Sovereign power, than it does from Alm. God's, the not being able to sin and do amiss, which on the contrary is one of his most Godlike attributes. And all this be spoken by the way for the better information of some, who count nothing great but what is excessive, and imagine how to reign courteously as they do in England, is only to reign at others courtesies.  
(e) Edgar of whom thus Daniel writes, Edgar re-edified and set forth a Fleet, consisting as some writ of 1600 sail, others a far greater number, which he divided and placed in four parts of the Realm, making his progress yearly with part of this mighty Navy round about the Isle.  
Touching Edward the 3d. and Henry the 5th. none I suppose is so much a Stranger to our Country's Histories, as not to have read of the Battles of Cressy, Poitiers, and Agincourt, where he took the French King Prisoner, and conquered France.  
(f) Of their furious and fanatical deportments, I need only mention the Anabaptists at Munster, under title of the Spirit tyrannising and perpetrating such horrible Actions, and acting such bloody Tragedies, as no Spirit but that of the Devil could e'er suggest, and just such an other Commonwealth we should have in England, if your fift Monarchy-men, and such like Rabble of other Sectaries might obtain but their desires.   

Canto 2.  
The Argument.  

All generally Oliver for King do choose,  
He modestly the Kingdom does refuse,  
Until in forced, his Shoulders he bows down  
To th' Royal Robes, and Head unto the Crown.   

NOw morn appeared, and yet you could not say  
By th' doubtful light, whether 'twere night or day  
As black and white do both in mixture meet,  
And different sexes i'th' Hermophodite:  
And now as soon as twilight they discerned,  
All haste to th' House, both curious and concerned:  
These Votes to give, and those their Votes to hear,  
Still greater part in all Assemblies were,  
As in our theatres, the Spectators are,  
Than Actors always numerouser far:  
All certain of their choice, or if there were  
Any o'th' choice were yet uncertain there:  
Themis with ponderous Reasons thus inclines  
The balances of their suspended minds.  
Since all (I know) come with prepared breast,  
To choose for King, the fittest and the best,  
And easy is that choice, that has some one  
More eminent than the rest to fix upon;  
Most easy will be ours, have such an one  
Proposed to day to our Election:  
So Eminently worthy, 'bove the rest,  
So absolutely, fittest and the best:  
Where he pretends to th' first, he scarcely has  
Any may but pretend to th' second place:  
One at all parts of body and of mind,  
We well may call the unique of his kind:  
One, that who doubts where he deservs the crown,  
But stand with him in competition;  
And they shall soon unto their shames confess,  
If he deserve it not, themselves much less:  
If they, than he much more; so every one  
Must needs conclude him worthiest alone.  
Oliver I mean, our great Protector, who  
Is both our Glory and our wonder too;  
How one man's valour could alone suffice,  
T' have gained so many mighty Victories;  
Or one man's wisdom could suffice alone,  
So many mighty Affairs to have undergone.  
Whose modesty perchance I might offend,  
Whilst thus his valour and wisdom I commend:  
But he's so friend to modesty I know,  
He's greater friend to Truth; which being so  
I'll boldly add for Royal dignity;  
Never was any worthier than He;  
Never was any worthier th' esteem  
Of being made for th'Crown, & th'Crown for him;  
Whom Heaven instructs with every Kingly part,  
The Serpent's prudence, and the Lion's heart,  
Guarding us from our own and others harms,  
By's prudent Counsels, and victorious Arms.  
The eagle's providence and piercing eye,  
All practices against the State to espy,  
And so divine a faculty again  
When once espied, for preventing them:  
'tis Heaven elects that man for King, not we  
Pointing as 'twere with th' finger this is he:  
To which so clear election of Heaven,  
Long since we all our suffrages have given:  
(a) If who protects us, in effect's the same  
With King, by giving him Protectors name:  
Who put i'th' scale with others to compare,  
he'll hoist them all like feathers into air;  
For Kingly parts, we may oppose alone,  
To all the Kings, that e'er possessed the Throne:  
As his famed temperance and clemency,  
(b) To his libidinousnesse and cruelty, 
Hen. 8.   
Of either vice, 'twas truly said, he ne'er  
Man in his wrath, woman in's lust did spare:  
And his admired frugality again 
Rich. 2.   
To th' prodigal waste, and riotousness of him:  
Who for a feast, or Revels short delight  
The Treasury of the Land exhausted quite;  
Not to compare his judgement and his wit  
With his, who for a wanton Favourite 
Edw. 2.   
Engaged so far, in fierce and bloody strife,  
Cost him at last his kingdom and his life.  
(c) Here one just like a Child, or Baby goes  
Wrapped up in Purple as in Swathing ,  
Never in council, never in field appears,  
Till dying a child at last of fourscore years,  
This finally unto all-judging Heaven  
Of's long-short life, is all th'account is given,  
He eat, and slept, and died, the Sapless Tree  
Is not more stock, is not less King than he;  
Whilst ours like an Intelligence in his sphere  
Or orb, doth every thing, is every where,  
Actuates, puts life in business, commands,  
In council, is all head, in Act all hands,  
Perpetual fast, perpetual vigil keeps;  
And when affairs exact, scarce eats or sleeps.  
(d) Another yet more shame to kingly state,  
Becomes by niceness so effeminate;  
Like Nero Castrated we well may call  
Half man, half woman, and whole monster all;  
For getting so themselves by flattering them  
They think theyare Gods whilst they are scarcely men  
We well the pest of humane kind may call,  
theyare so puffed up, and so do swell on all:  
Whilst ours (with masculine virtue) pride does take;  
(e) Only great states, of little on's to make,  
So civil, courteous, debonair to all  
We him delight of humane kind may call,  
One neither froward with his honour's weight  
Proud of their store, nor giddy with their height,  
Giving the praise of all he has (in sum)  
Only to heaven from whom all honours come.  
And lastly whilst another you shall find  
So weak of spirit, impotent of mind,  
As giving's passion every thing it craves  
HE unkings his Reason, and himself enslaves,  
Living like Lions in their dens at home,  
Fearful to all when they abroad do come  
Ours hear, not Lord but (f) Father we may call,  
In private studies the obliging all  
In public, like the cheerful sun appears  
To all men's comforts, but to no man's fears,  
Bravely commanding o'rs his passions so  
When he bids stay, they stay; when go, they go,  
And all in such subjection does bring  
Where Kings are slaves, he there does reign a king,  
Then let us choose him king, weare sure can tell  
By well obeying, to command as well;  
And who (with all) weare sure will as he does  
Command more strictly o'er himself than us.  
At this like Instruments tuned unison  
Each cord resounding at the found of one,  
To be the first, each one did make such haste  
To second him, scarce any one was last,  
Nor ever was there louder consort known  
Nor more concordant voices joined in one  
When who had seen glad England that had been  
In mourning long, just like some widowed Queen:  
Finding herself unable all alone  
To weyld the sceptre, and support the Throne;  
Had chose some princely husband well she knew  
Can weyld the one, support the other too;  
Might frame the Image of a joy too great  
For man's expression, or for man's conceit.  
But see the force of modesty, can stay  
Kingdoms in full speed like some Remora:  
Whilst he Importuned was by every one  
With force and prayers to accept the crown  
Prouf'gainst those importunities of theirs;  
HE opposes force to force, and prayers to prayers;  
Knowing so well the ponderous weight o'th'crown  
He would not stoupfort tho'twas thrown him down  
What others would have dived the deepest maine  
And climbed air's highest Region to obtain;  
Saying to is silent thoughts, he'd nothing done  
Or coming, should he now be overcome:  
And he should lose in this one Victory o'er  
Himself, all th' victories he had gained before:  
No, no, (quoth he) it shall ne'er be said that I  
Ambitious was of Sovereignty:  
Nor shall the People ever say again,  
That I had Conquered for myself, not them;  
For me, I'm ready, when their dangers ask  
To put my Armour on, and heavy Cask,  
The Royal Ornaments and Crown (said he)  
Let who's list take, who's list put on for me;  
Resolved to live and die with this Renown,  
'tis gloriouser to win, than wear the Crown.  
Let those with glittering things so pleased be,  
They even are pleased with glittering misery,  
Be taken with't, for me, I think it heavens will  
For such as those to gild the bitter Pill;  
And bait the Inward hook, with outward sweet,  
None else would be so fond to swallow it;  
Such is the happiness of uncrowned heads,  
They find soft rest even in the hardest beds:  
While such is their unhappiness wear the crown,  
They hardly rest even in their beds of down.  
Nor did he this now out of sluggishness,  
Like some love honour, but more love their case,  
Contented still the greatest part to share  
Oth' Kingdom's troubles and the kingdoms care;  
Whilst freely he resigned to others, all  
By falser Titles, they Illustrious call.  
So the Libidinous may refuse a Wife  
For incommodities of marriage life;  
But when that incommodities are none.  
But they refuse for Continence alone,  
From all the Rags of Interest, stripped and free.  
Their single life than shows most gloriously.  
But be't our vice or virtue to become  
More vehement by opposition,  
Or modesty, to merit adds a grace  
Makes it appear twice worthier than it was;  
Or Honour has our shadows property,  
To fly who follows, follow those who fly;  
This his refusal rendered them but more  
Eager to press him than they were before;  
Counting him now doubly for honour fit  
Both for deserving and refusing it.  
When seeing all refusal was in vain  
To those, wear full resolved to obtain,  
Forced, his unwilling shoulders he bowed down,  
To th' Royal Robes, and head unto the Crown;  
Especially since so great consentment showed  
The voice o'th' People was the voice of God;  
From whom then, by their hands delivered him,  
He did accept the Royal Diadem:  
At which the numerous multitude aloud,  
With voices heaven, as they the earth did crowd,  
Made th' middle vault with acclamations ring  
In joyfully proclaiming him their King:  
Whilst one more eloquent amongst the rest  
In's one voice thus, the voice of all expressed.  
Even such a person, such a mind as thine  
Brave Hero Emperors had in ancient time;  
When choosing men for Empire only sit,  
The bravest mind and Person carried it;  
Till by a Tenor worse than Gavelkinde,  
They Empire gave to th' body, not the mind,  
Kings in cold blood, their Active heat quite gone,  
Becoming such chill passive things alone,  
No wonder they and th' Throne together fall  
" Where men do nothing, Titles can't do all.  
But pity (alas!) rather than envy those,  
For others virtues, not their own are chose;  
'tis Fortune to be Kings as others be,  
But only virtue to be one like thee.  
And who now doubts whe're he be King or no  
The people generally have proclaimed so?  
Or who so selly is, to doubt again,  
Where he or not legitimatly reign;  
The Laws confirm, together with th' applause  
Of the whole Kingdom, that confirms those laws.   
FINIS CANTO 2.   

ANNOTATIONS on the Second CANTO.  
(a) OF Sovereign Titles, some are Military some Civil; that of Imperator, or Emperor, (as Dux or Duke) most properly taking its denomination from the wars; the one signifying one who has Sovereign Command over the Army, the other one who leads an Army, though since promiscuously used, and appropriated to Civil government as military conquerors appropriated to to themselves the Country's Conquered. That of Rex or King most properly signifies a Pacifique Ruler or Governor, whose Office being chief to Defendand Protect the People. King and Protector are but Titles convertible (in this sense) and signify but one and the same thing; though in England the papular ear, be more accustomed to the sound of t'one than t'other, and their minds to a more awful reverence of the name.  
(b) Henry the 8. is reported in despairing manner at his death to have said (to one who put him in mind of God's mercies) How can he have mercy on me, who never spared man in my wrath, nor woman in my lust? A fearful example to all such as he, if it be true, as like enough it is, considering the libidinousnesse and cruelty of his life.  
Richard the 2. Is famous in History for his magnificence even to profusion and prodigality, which proved his ruin in the end; for what Princes spend prodigally one ways, they injuriously extort of the People the other; of which whilst they complained (who are always most insolent over necessitous Princes) that quarrel begun, was never ended but by his untimely end.  
There is nothing in our Chronicles more notorious than Edward the 2s. immoderate favour to Peirce Gaveston, and the Spencers, which cost them all their lives at last. The too great favour of weak Princes not able to defend them from the hatred of the people, and envy of the Nobility, proving always fatal to their Favourites in the end, if not unto themselves (as it did to this unfortunate Prince) the counterblow of the blow given the Favourite, most commonly lighting upon them at last.  
(c) Such a shadow of a King was Arideus, Alexander's umbratile successor, according to Plutarch and others.  
(d) There are but too many examples of such Princes, taught so long by their Flatterers to remember their Authorities as they forget themselves: even to suffer themselves like Herod to be cried up for gods, whilst the poor miserable man (like a painted Sepulchre) all glorious without, was all consumed within with worms and vermin.  
(e) Alluding to that saying of Themistocles, who requested to touch I know not what Instrument of music (a quality then much in vouge and fashion amongst the nobler and better sort) answered; He could not Fiddle, but he could make a great City of a little one.  
(f) So they style Titus Vespasian, and deservedly, it being his usual motto, that none should ever departed a Prince's presence disconsolate and sad, whence he never denied them any boon they asked; and if perchance he remembered at night that none that day had asked him any, he was accustomed to say, in sighing to those about him, that He had lost a day; counting his life more by giving than by living, and living more for others than for himself.  
(g) Pater patriae, or father of their Country was a title more ambitioned by the ancients, then that of King or Emperor, it speaking somewhat more of gentleness than t'other; and consequently more of lastingness, for nihil violentum diu, nothing violent can last.   

Canto 3.  
The Argument.  

In passing forth to's cornation  
His Triumphs, Trophies, in first Arch are shown.  
His Battles, victories gained every where,  
All speaking him a mighty conqueror.   

ANd now that day more gloriously shone,  
Made gloriouser by's Coronation:  
When Envy pale companion of night  
And darkness, dazzled with so great a light,  
To caverns subterren Inhabited  
By guilt, and mischief, all astonished fled,  
Where it absorping its own venume lay,  
With grief and anguish, quite consumed away.  
Mean time the coronation pomp set on  
Assisted by the joys of every one:  
Old men in blessing time, they'd lived to see  
The joyful day of that solemnity;  
Children and Babes rejoicing they were come  
In time to see it from their mother's womb;  
The streets they passed all paved with feet, the air  
All canopyed with heads, (assembled there,)  
And windors glazed with eyes; whilst Oliver  
Did all in gallant Equipage appear;  
His noble courser prancing as he rod,  
As it were proud, and glorious of its load:  
Nor long he'd rid,  he espied (a far)  
(High raised) the first Triumphant arch of war  
By four fair (a) dorick pillars was sustained,  
As many large compartments contained,  
The several monuments of his victories  
To take the curious, and the wondering eyes.  
Above, and all about, disposed are  
In various bordurs, Instruments of war,  
Drums, trumpets, Clarions; as wars utensils.  
Swords, picks, & guns, in sheaus, & by themselves;  
Neither the Idumenian Palms did want,  
Branching from Crowns, for greater ornament;  
Than to afford the sculpters art more scope,  
The Front was highly raised, and on the top  
In a fair Nich, England triumphant sat,  
Victory o'er head, each side for greater State,  
Two Sister Kingdoms ranked beneath her stood;  
She could have used like Captives if she would:  
As in a schedule there annexed was said,  
Oliver for England these had conquered.  
A wood of Laurel then environed her,  
As planted by the hand o'th' Conqueror:  
And in that wood dispersed all about,  
Trophies of several Battles he had fought,  
Which striving to express at every part,  
The sculpter had exhausted all his Art.  
The bases of its pillars did contain,  
The several Towns and Fortresses he'd tan;  
The razed so figured as they seemed to lie,  
Now level with the ground, once stood so high:  
Others as they their sieges, scares did bear,  
Seemed as their Rampards all demolished wear.  
Twixt them, the two compartments below,  
As many of his famed exploits did show;  
His Irish first, where 'gainst his activeness,  
Nothing availed its bogs and fastnesses:  
Nor do their swiftness more advantage them,  
Than 'twould against (b) Atlante's self, 'gainst him.  
Nothing so Envious but he overruns,  
Nothing so Arduous but he overcoms;  
Grieved that Resistance he not found enough  
To put his noble valour more to proof;  
For victory, just like ware too cheaply prized  
By th' victor is conte●ed and despised:  
So here the Irish at so cheap a rate,  
Did sell their Lives, their Liberties and State:  
He well might say, he (c) came, saw, overcome,  
So soon they fled, so soon was Ireland won.  
Poor land its fall by rising deer bought,  
Whilst inauspiciously it freedom sought:  
Now must thy kerns forsake their native land,  
And forced by their Conquerors command;  
In foreign Countries banished and exiled,  
Add stile of Vagabond, to that of wild.  
Now may they answer, as the hebrews did,  
When they to far captivity wear led,  
And urged to their suspended Harps to sing  
" Songs ill become our plaints and sorrowing;  
" Those won our Harp, far better it becomes,  
‛ Than us (alas!) to sing triumphant songs.  
Then passing unto Britain again,  
To seek more victories o'er the watery main:  
(The porch betwixt, all waved as the sea;  
Here vessels sail, and there the dolphin's play)  
Returned, he finds new matter for his sword  
To work on, brought by th' Hamiltonian Lord,  
Who both to's own, and to his Countries cost  
Invaded England with a numerous host;  
Who whilst in number only they conside  
With nothing of the soldier beside:  
Lay so disordered, and so scatteringly  
They afforded us too cheap a Victory,  
And at so vile a rate did sell themselves,  
They seemed the victor's sport and nothing else.  
So when a flock of  heartless sheep:  
O'er which the Shepherd careless guard does keep,  
I'th' pasture straggling goes, some Lion comes,  
And in a moment all the flock o'er runs:  
Here one is slain, another there does fall:  
His sport or pray, till h'as destroyed them all.  
Unquiet and ambitious Hamilton,  
Dear didst thou pay for thy Ambition,  
Dear for disquiet, fomented by thee,  
Both in Religion and in Monarchy.  
Now, all the harm in Scotland thou hast bred  
In England justly falls upon thy head:  
Heaven so ordaining, things wherein w' offend  
Should ever prove our punishments i'th' end.  
But since 'tis fit some Epitaph thou have,  
This be the Epitaph written on thy grave  
By Ignis fatuus of State, misled,  
Who near did rest alive, rests now he's dead:  
And he who grieved his head did want a Crown,  
To such ambitious height his mind was grown,  
By one day's chance of war, so low did fall,  
He wanted both a Crown, and Head and all.  
Dunbar is next in prospective appears,  
Than which no fight more numerous trophies bears  
Unto the Conquering side; than which no field  
More wreaths of Laurel, did to th'conqueror yield  
(Though gained from those, were neither Laureate,  
In Arts nor Arms, Religion nor State.)  
Here (in effect) their ruin first began,  
Was finished after, just as th' battering Ram,  
When once the walls and lofty Towers it shakes,  
And for the soldier breach and entrance makes,  
Upon the Town, they pell mell on do fall,  
And in a moment pill and sack it all.  
So in the next fatal Wosterian fight,  
That ruin here began, was finished quite;  
Victory no less did tother victory Crown,  
Than taking th' fort, does taking of the Town.  
Here those were overthrown, who did in vade  
Scotland to England's tributary made  
Here all its glory's lost, and in this field  
St. Andrews, to St. George's cross does yield,  
The Royal Scottish Lion's, almost ta'en,  
And his Engraile converted to a chain;  
Here th'Scotch Nobility all are overcome,  
Routed and slain, and here was Scotland won.  
Go now and boast you never Conquered were  
Nor ever taught the servile yoke to bear:  
Oliver in this one Action has done more  
Than Rome, or England e'er could do before,  
Outdoing Caesar's by his conquering you,  
And all our Edward's and our Henry's too.  
Nor grieve for't, for by him 'tis a degree  
Next unto Conquering, conquered to be,  
As to be civilised, is no servitude,  
But Liberty, for the Barbarous and rude:  
So 'tis for you abuse your Liberty  
Far better now to serve than to be free.  
For now no more (an Art ye know too well)  
You shall against your King, nor Church rebel.  
Who disobedience learn to Monarchy,  
By disobedience unto Hierarchy.  
Now shall your Castles all unrased stand  
More razed by yours, than by your conquerors hand.  
Now all your broils and deadly feud shall cease,  
And you be taught by War, to live in Peace.  
Nor ought ye of our Justice to complain,  
Who thus repay the war you lent, again,  
It was no free, but mercenary war,  
You Covenanted to be paid, and so you are.  
Next this in midst of all the Arch appeared  
Oliver's Equestrian statue highly reared,  
In complete Armour mounted on his steed,  
Joy to his friends, terror to's foes did breed,  
Above his head suspended every Crown  
As ever yet won Conqueror renown,  
(e) Castrensick, Murick, and above them all  
That far more glorious one, they Civic call.  
While saving one of's own, he more did prize,  
Than killing thousands of his Enemies.  
So careful was he of them, as he would  
Scarce leave to Fortune, power to spill their blood,  
Their Arms so strong, Death's darts could hardly pierce,  
This made them so courageous & fierce,  
For nothing can a Soldier's heart dismay,  
When fear of death, and danger is away.  
How much does England owe him for this care?  
Who strove to make it an unbloodyed War,  
Whilst others cared not so they Conquered  
How much of English blood they spilt and shed.  
An other score, she owes him for no less  
Was his perpetual care and wachfulness  
For th' Sun ne'er risen, but he was up before  
The countenance of the Enemy to explore,  
Their marches; and advantages to find  
Of joining battle; when the battle joined  
Never was greater resolution shown  
(Caesar's was Caesar's but his own's his own)  
With such celerity following (f) Victory  
Such vigour, such Impetuosity,  
Maugre her wings, even from the Enemy's host,  
he'd fetch her back to's own, when she was lost,  
Like Thunder, or a threatening Ruin just  
Falling o'th'foe, and crushing them to dust.  
Now after having given you hint of these,  
We might conduct him to the Arch of peace,  
There to repose his wearied Limbs at last  
After so many Toils and Labours past,  
But that 'mongst all the rest of's Triumphs, was  
By th'skilful Artist left one vacant space  
There to insert an other victory,  
Over a far more puissant Enemy;  
Over a far more pertinacious one  
Than all the rest whom he had overcome,  
The Envy of his high Felicity,  
Honours, and Dignities, an Enemy,  
Even Hercules after all his Labours past  
Had much ado to overcome at last.  
Such yet's his modesty in bearing 'em,  
That too (no doubt) at last he'll overcome;  
As what so ever other Enemies,  
Shall dare against him in Rebellion rise.   
FINIS CANTO 3.   

ANNOTATIONS on the Third CANTO.  
(a) TO say nothing of the Tuscan (or basis of all the rest) there are three orders of Pillars, the Doric, Jonick and Corinthian, which (besides their proportions) are chief distinguished by their Acanthes or Coronements, the Crown of the Doric more massive plain, and therefore attributed by the Ancients to more masculine uses, as building the Temples of their gods: The Corinthian more flowery and flourishing; and therefore accounted more feminine, and chief employed in the Temples of their goddesses; observing which decorum or distribution, I make the Arch of War sustained by Doric Pillars, as afterwards that of Peace by Corinthian.  
(b) Atlanta was feigned so swift and light of foot, as she would run o'er heads of standing Corn, without ere laying, or depressing them.  
(c) Alluding to the motto of Caesar's Victory over Pharnaces King of Pontus, Veni, vidi, vici, whose incredible Celerity and Felicity in Conquering, his Highness in all his Expeditions (as in all his other Military virtues) seems to equalise.  
(d) The boast of Galgacus a Scottish General, recorded by Tacitus (in the life of Julius Agricula) in these words; We the flower of the British Nobility, and therefore seated the farthest in, never beheld the Coast of Countries in servitude, etc. the whole Oration being richly worth the reading, and observing.  
(e) The Romans answerable to their several merits, rewarded their Soldiers with several military Crowns; The Castrensick (otherwise the Valaris) was bestowed on them who had expugned the Enemy's Camp, the beams or Radii of which Crown, were several pales or palisads affixed to the Wreath or Circle, as the battlements of walls were to the Murick Crown, bestowed on those who had first scaled the walls of any Town or place: And both these were of gold; but the Civic Crown, (the reward of him, who had saved the life of any Citizen, or Soldier) was the honourablest of all, though composed only of Oaken leaves, they wisely setting the price of their rewards, more in the honour, than the richness of the Crown.  
(f) Victory that is figured wavering and hover betwixt the two Armies, in the beginning and prosecution of the fight, is always taken down, and brought to the Lure as it were, of that Army which in the end has its force entire: And blind Fortune (the Mistrice that predominates most in War) is ever mastered by him at length who has his eyes most about him; this his Highness wisely considering, did always keep a Reserve of Army entire, for the last, the supremest point of skill in a General, as 'tis in a Gamester not to set all his rest at one stake: a Merchant not to venture all his wealth in one bottom, and a Prince not to hazard all his Fortune in one Enterprise: And by this admirable Providence of his, his Highness won all his battles, or recovered them when they were lost; as well those in which he commanded in chief, as those under others commands, by his Auspice were obtained.   

Canto 4.  
The Argument.  

The next Triumphant Arch, does represent  
The Excellency of Peaceful Government,  
And Oliver as accomplished declares  
I'th' Arts of Peace, as in the Arts of wars.   

AS War does end in Peace, so now they are  
Arrived to th'Arch of Peace, from that of War;  
Which Oliver no sooner came unto,  
(O th' 
* The Ensign of Peace.  Olive has both name and Omen too,)  
But that magnanimous fever in his breast,  
Whose ardent heat, no more would let him rest  
Beholding's own, than could Themistocles,  
Beholding Trophies of Meltiades,  
Began to quit his bossom, and relent,  
At sight of what, next Arch did represent.  
So when the wind's allayed that raised so high  
The Ocean's troubled billows, presently  
A gentle Calm does serenat its breast,  
As when the peaceful Haltion builds her nest.  
The scene all changed then, and with the scene  
The minds and dispositions of men;  
The Arch of War, now disappeared quite,  
And only that of Peace, appeared in sight;  
Of gentle Peace, that every breast inspires  
With cheerful thoughts, and pleasantest desires,  
Its fabric fair Corinthian pillars rear,  
The bordurs all with Flowers crowned were;  
A hundred festons, hundred fruitages,  
Depending from its Cornice, and freeze;  
The Niches filled with Curious Imagery,  
All representing the felicity  
Of Peaceful days, Peace in the midst does sit  
With Olives crowned, and Oliver over it  
Enthroned in state; her right hand does adorn  
Her sister Plenty, with her fruitful horn;  
Her left Content, and smiling Cheerfulness,  
Inseparable companions of Peace;  
(a) Whilst sullen and repining Discontent  
Offended still with present Government,  
Rumour, and popular murmur to boot,  
Oliver nobly tramples under foot,  
As knowing ne'er brave Action was done  
By those who feared, or apprehended 'em.  
So having well resolved what to do,  
As resolutely going through with't too,  
He his conspicuous courses still holds on,  
Just as at midnight, the Celestial Moon,  
Her constant motion ne'er does intermit,  
For all the midnight dogs that bark at it.  
Who out do all detraction can do,  
Far worse than Calumny, or Envy too;  
For Calumny adds some ill unto our name,  
Detraction takes away some good from Fame,  
Envy with heavy weight, hangs on the feet  
Of Worth, to weigh it down as low as it;  
But discontent 's a far more Rabid beast,  
A far more venomous Serpent than the rest,  
And does not only bark, but rend, tear, by't,  
Hisses and stings, blasts and empoisons quite.  
This Monster then, he underfoot does tread  
As Hercules the barking Cerberus did,  
In noble posture setting of his foot  
Wholly to quell it, on its barking throat.  
By him was Order, and Equity, the one  
And t'other main supporters of his Throne;  
Who every thing, by War disordered was,  
Compose and apt unto their proper place;  
And persons too, compose and order so,  
Each one his proper rank and place does know;  
So in the general Confusion  
Of things, when this great Machine first begun,  
The Universal Genius, did sit  
On the rude Chaos, so composing it  
The whole, owed all its Ornament, and Grace,  
To th' apting every part, to 's proper place:  
Nobility than he does again restore  
Unto its state, and dignity before,  
And to the Honour, and the Reverence too,  
That to its state and dignity is due.  
Purging the drossy, polishing the rude,  
New fashoning the Roughhewn multitude,  
From all Estates banishing abuse, for what  
Corruption is in natural Bodies, that  
Abuses are in manners, nor can we  
From t'one and totherother totally be free,  
Though 'tis the Princes, as Physicians care  
To endeavour purging them, where e'er they are.  
Then since both King, and Subject it becomes  
To know their several relations;  
(Like Masters, and like Fathers those to sway,  
Like Servants, and like Children these obey.)  
A mystic Janus that supports the Throne,  
In form of Fear and Love conjoined in one,  
Declares how kingly, Throne ne'er stood secure  
Where t' one and tother was unmixed and pure,  
For fear alone brings hatred, and that hate  
Brings sudden ruin to a Prince's state,  
And Love's too high and too Etherial,  
In low ignoble bossoms ere to fall,  
As vulgar bossoms too ignobly low,  
So high, and so Etherial fire to know,  
Their Love's i'th' Belly and the Eyes, so they  
For sports 
* Pane & Circense  and bread a Nero would obey,  
And on the least Capriccio again  
Rebel 'gainst Trajan, or the best of men:  
Others, by other ways then; Kings, alone  
Grow popular by Admiration.  
Since th' people them ne'er hate, where they Admire,  
He to this admiration does aspire,  
By tempering so the reins o'th' Government,  
They might be both obedient, and content,  
With entire servitude could nor agree,  
Nor capable were of entire Liberty.  
So th' excellent Rider gently doth force  
The stuborn neck of the unruly Horse,  
The bit sometimes and curb employing too,  
When gentle hand, and snaffle will not do;  
(b) For nothing's more untractable and rude,  
(They're furies up) than the wild multitude,  
As nothing is more tractable and tame,  
Their furies once allayed, than they again;  
All in extremes, as those who never know  
Reason, nor ground for any thing they do:  
Now as Tempestuous as the Sea instorme,  
And now again (the Tempest ceased) as calm,  
To rule which, is so difficult a work  
A God's employed in't with his triple fork;  
Mean while to steer the bark of Government,  
No Poet God enough could ere invent:  
So difficult a task have they who sit  
At helm of State, to Rule and Govern it.  
Especially in peace, they find it far  
More hard to Rule, and govern, than in war,  
Where common danger makes them all agree,  
Ill humour's purged on the Enemy.  
Of discontent, or murmur, not a breath,  
To disobey, or mutin, present death;  
Here, they fall fowl on friends, humorous with ease  
Are discontented out of wantonness,  
Murmur, and mutin, against those who sway,  
Counting it gallantry to disobey.  
Peace then's a machine of more subtle frame,  
Though War do bear the more Robustous name.  
This Oliver knowing, (ignorant of nought,  
But what's not worth his knowledge & his thought)  
The outward building framed, does straight begin  
To bend his care to furnishing it within,  
And more by example, than by precept rules  
(For Princes always are the noblest Schools)  
Teaching them moral virtues first, and then  
Their duties towards God, as towards Men,  
Reducing their devotions from the mien,  
Or outward face, unto the heart within;  
The minds, and Consciences of every one,  
True channel where devotion should run.  
To show Concatination then of things  
How Kings are linked to Gods, Subjects to Kings,  
Down from above a golden chain does fall,  
In mutual links, binds and combines them all,  
And he's no longer part of th' universe  
Who does subtract himself from this commerce.  
So stones once laid, the Mason strait does come  
And with his Cement so conjoineth 'em,  
None from the rank they're placed in does swarve,  
But every one to's proper use does serve.  
Last, to declare how every power below,  
To highest heaven does all Allegiance owe,  
Midst golden beams came streaming from a cloud  
(As it some bright divinity did shroud)  
A hand extended forth, a Crown does bear,  
Sent (as it were) from Heaven to Oliver,  
By me Kings Reign, fair written over head,  
By which Inscription's clearly signified,  
How Crowns not by the people's power are given,  
Nor by our own, but only sent from Heaven;  
And heaven it is that does transfer them still,  
By only right of its supremest will;  
As clearly in our British one is seen,  
Observe how oftened has transferred been,  
Unto the Romans from the Britain's, then  
Unto the Saxons from the Romans, when  
T'had straight another turn to th'warlike Dane,  
In divers Battles won and lost again,  
Until at last the Norman Conquerors,  
Conquers them all, and makes all England theirs.  
Just as when many for the prize do run,  
Amongst the brave Concurrants, here some one  
The others quite outstrips, another then  
As far the foremost does devance again,  
Until at last the most successful makes  
The Garland his, and claimeth all the stakes.  
So goes the world, whilst in your private cause,  
men's differences decided are by Laws;  
But th'public, by the sword, who has most might  
(c) To Empires always has the greatest right,  
So muched't imports, great Monarches, if they will  
Conserve their Kingdoms, to go armed still;  
And as in Kingdoms, and in Monarchies,  
So 'tis in Royal Lines, and Families,  
Their Capets line, does Charlemagne exclude,  
Plantaginets here in Tuders does conclude,  
This family to that family does pass,  
One race succeeds unto another race,  
One house is lost in t'other, and in fine  
One Line's extinguished by another Line.  
So 'tis O Heaven! O justest Heaven so 'tis,  
In thy divine, Adorable decrees,  
None may grow proud when they exalted are,  
And none when theyare depressed again, despair,  
Heaven so at pleasure changing state of things,  
It Kings of Subjects makes, Subjects of Kings.  
That each one this important Truth might know;  
All change and alter in this world below,  
Who change and alteration do not love,  
Must leave this world, and go to that above.   
FINIS CANTO 4.   

ANNOTATIONS on the Fourth CANTO.  
(a) FOr discontented persons, thereare, have been, & ever will be such, in all new Governments; neither is the sovereign Magistrate to expect other Fortune in Governing it, than God himself in Governing the World, who can never please every one, men's minds and dispositions are so opposite and divers; one would have fair weather, another rain; one this another that, none thinking himself happy, great, nor rich enough; only (as one said facetiously) every one imagines himself sufficient and wise enough, though in that they are the most deceived of all: and this indeed is the main cause of all their discontents, whilst (for want of judgement) they weigh things without their counterpoise; look on effects without their causes: know not the ways which self preservation obliges States to take; are never contented with their present condition: besides a natural envy most men bear, to all advanced in dignity above themselves: when did we but judiciously consider things, and look upon them with unpartial eyes, we should perceive ourselves at present like men waded through many dangers, and even arrived to the brink of safety; when to offer to return again, what were it but to plung and engulf ourselves into new dangers, and be always beginning, and never make an end? Or if we consider the Body of the Kingdom, in good convalency from its former sickness, we should easily perceive their ingratitude to the Physician; who should rather blame him for that they had not recovered their former health, than thank him for recovering them from their late Malady. I need make no application of this unto his Highness' Person, who certainly preserves us daily from as great or greater dangers than those we have already past; and has so far advanced us on the way of health, as we might easily be well, if we would but commit our cures to him, and not permit such Empirics and Mountebanks to tamper with us, who propound ways altogether destructive to it, and us.  
(b) Some aptly compare the vulgar to the Sea, than which nothing is more calm and quiet (when unmoved) nothing (when moved once) more unquiet and turbulent; they assign therefore no less than a God to govern it, with his trident, or triple Sceptre, of force, gentleness, and knowledge how to temper them. And as Neptune (in Virgil) reprehends Aeolus ' for stirring them up unto commotion; so Princes are always to be jealous of popular persons; especially such as from the Pulpit preach the People up to such a height of Rebellion, as even to wrest the trident out of their hands, and involve all in tumult and confusion. All Books therefore teaching them any thing but obedience to the Magistrate, (which includes that to God) are to be prohibited them; their reading, even the best (of late) having occasioned more harm than good, (the corruption of the best being always the worst of things) through their corrupt and preposterous interpreting and understanding them. Others, no less aptly compare the Vulgar to a Horse, which well managed is most ruly and serviceable, but ill, the most unrulely and unserviceable beast of all. The Prince therefore is to suffer none to manage them besides himself, which when he does (through weakness, or ignorance) those whom he employs in it, are rather Princes than himself; of whom finally we may say, that those who could run away, and cast their Rider, when they were ridden only with a Snaffle and gentle hand, should be rid hereafter with a Bit and Curb (by my consent) but there is great difference to be observed, betwixt people's natures and disposition; some as Tiberius said, of the Romans', seeming only born for servitude, others (such as the English) neither patiented of entire Servitude, nor capable of entire Liberty: All in general (for the shame of mankind; I grieve to say it) being of the lowest sort of men, and nighest unto the Beast: Hating and envying all wiser and better than themselves, the less judgement they have, the apt to judge every one; their common trade being to speak ill of all, and cell others same's, at price of their own reputations, like savages staring and offended with every one that is not of their own heard and crew; doing nothing well but follow, and never leading but they do ill: of so ignoble natures, they are only to be ruled by fear, incapable of so noble a passion as Love: Whence those who when they are up, whole Armies cannot lay, One Constable with his staff can awe, when they are down; No matter for their grumbling them, who always do things unwillingly, but do them as well as if they did them willingly, when they must needs: nor are these by birth, but manners to be distinguished from the better sort; your Nobles themselves not being exempted from them, when once they degenerate and do ignoble things.  
(c) This being so, let whose list admire Cato's unseasonable constancy, struggling so long against Authority, till he was plucked out of the public Assembly by violent hands, and laid violent hands on himself for final remedy: Or, Cicero's as unseasonable eloquence, who talked so long against the Conquering side, till he was proscribed, and lost his head at last. I hold him far the wiser man, who thanked God, he was made of Willow, and not of Oak, that could yield and bend in storms, whilst t'other got nothing by its resistance, but only to shatter its branches and break itself: and if any think them worthy reprehension, who are always contented and pleased with the present: certainly they are more reprehensible, who are always discontented and displeased with it; foolishly losing the present (the only moment they have to live in here) with vainly dreaming of the past, or future (not part of their lives at all.)