depiction of headless man standing atop three figures   

CORPUS sine CAPITE visibili, An Enigmatical EMBLEM; OR, A MODEL Of these distempered Times.  
BEING An apparent BODY, well proportioned, upright and straight, but yet without any visible HEAD, in this Our most Unhappy Mereridian of LONDON.  
Lately conceived in a Dredine or Slumber.  
And now, Delineated, penned and produced, to the open view of the WORLD.  
By I. M. Student of Exon. in Oxon.  
This Corporate CITY seems to want a HEAD:  
And that's the Cause all trading grown so dead.  
LONDON, Printed by Luke Norton, in the Year, 1642.   

 depiction of headless man standing atop three figures   

THE DESCRIPTION AND explanation of the precedent EMBLEM.  
With some few Digressions not impertinent unto the Matter intended.  
READER, This Emblem here before thine eyes,  
May seem a Wonder full of Quiddities,  
And if it should appear so, at first view,  
Yet think it not so strange, as it is true:  
'Tis in a Christian manner meant and penned,  
Containing nothing good men to offend,  
However at some things Thou mayst admire,  
Thy Love and gentle Censure I desire:  
And if thou wouldst know more, observe it well,  
The meaning in plain Terms I'll briefly tell.  
The DIADEM encompassed with a Wreath,  
Doth show the Crown is safe though Mars doth breathe  
Such furious, bitter blustering blasts abroad  
As if an ARMY were in every Road;  
In every Way each City Town and Village,  
Ready to Murder Plunder spoil and Pillage.  
The SCEPTRE seen within the Laureate Band,  
Shows that the Regal Power most firm doth stand.  
The ANGELS that on either side support,  
Do show that GOD is our Defence and Fort;  
He guards the CROWN and SCEPTRE with his Wing,  
Though (for the present) we can see no KING:  
His Grace (though strangely led, and like to fall,  
Dwells yet i'th' hearts of his good Subjects all.  
And though remote a while he doth remain,  
he'll in good time (I hope) return again.  
The LORD (I trust) will so illuminate  
Our SOVEREIGN'S Eyes, that he may see the state  
And sad Condition coming on us all,  
Threatening as well His Ruin as Our Fall.  
The little Sentence in the Wreath set down,  
Shows Patience is a jewel, Virtue's CROWN,  
And our long patience waiting for our KING,  
May prove a Comfort, though it seems a Sting,  
For in His absence he the more may try  
His flatterring Foes, with all their Treachery:  
And more he sees them troublous to the State,  
The more their Projects he'll detest and hate.  
The Body well composed and well bend,  
Portends a Wise Religious PARLIAMENT,  
Wherein both Houses are so joined together,  
They startle at no Storm's, They fear no Wether;  
Come Life come Death, the full resolved are  
To maintain true Religion, that's their Care;  
Likewise the Rights of KING and PARLIAMENT;  
Good Ancient Laws to hold is their Intent;  
They would make sure the Subject's Liberty,  
And with his Freedom his Propriety;  
This is their Aim, that Prince and People all  
May live and love, rise up but never fall,  
By Strife or Discord into vile contempt;  
They would have all Contentions quite exempt:  
And they desire for Truth's sake which they loved  
All jealousies and Fears may be removed:  
That no misprisions, nor strange misconstructions  
Should be produced to work our sad destructions.  
This double BODY so upright is placed,  
That 'tis not apt to swerve, nor be disgraced;  
There's no deceit invelop'd in the breast  
Where Equity and justice sweetly rest.  
The POPE whereon this Body seems to tread,  
Shows ROME'S Religion here is almost dead;  
The Crosier staff and Beads do plainly point  
Idolatry to be thrust out of joint;  
Rome's Rags and rusty Relics all must fly  
Here's no permission now for POPERY.  
The Wretch profane, and vile Incendiary,  
The Rebels all may now no longer tarry;  
God's Enemies begin their doleful Song,  
They must pack hence, they have been here too long:  
Truth treads on those that strives to domineer  
The POPE, the REBEL, and the CAVALIER.  
The little Motto coming from the Pope  
Shows whilst he breathes he hath a Devilish hope,  
To mount his Triple head again; but see  
He is so trampled down it cannot be;  
And his Adherents have been quelled of late  
By Pillaging their Arms their Coin and Plate.  
The Sentence o'er the Pope describeth plain  
We should shun superstition which is vain;  
Nay worse than vain, for those that live therein  
Press down their Souls with ponderous loads of Sin,  
Into the very Pit of horrid Hell,  
Where all the wicked shall for ever dwell.  
The Sacred Book wherein lies God's Command,  
Implies both Houses for the Truth do stand;  
And by its lying open, you may spy  
It is not clasped to the LAITY:  
It is a Well, where all may quench their thirst,  
Where all should drink, but none until they burst,  
As many do, who are so full o'th' Spirit  
They dare Preach any thing, whoever hear it,  
Nonsense or Blasphemy, no matter what;  
Some are brave Fellows if they can but chat  
And babble much in these our purer Days,  
Wherein Mechanics show Divines new ways.  
The Ploughman when into a Cart he climbs  
Exceeds the learned Doctors of our Times,  
The Turner. Cooper, and the Souter may,  
(For aught we know) preach twice on every day:  
Nay more, they can with their old working Tools  
Prove all the Ancient Fathers to be Fools;  
Austin profound, Bernard and Chrisostome,  
They'll quickly make into subjection come;  
Grave Nazianzen, Ambrose, Gregory,  
They will confute and that Extemporie,  
If any man of common sense or wit  
Would give but credit to each Fool in's Fit.  
The Sentence which upon the Book is written  
Saith GOD'S Word still shall last, though Envy-bitten,  
The other Latin Sentence doth unfold  
That we our true Religion fast should hold.  
The Sword that's drawn, denoteth in some sense,  
A love to Peace; yet Posture of Defence;  
One of the Mottoes there prescribeth plain,  
No Man but by his own Default is slain:  
Th'other avers, If GOD be on our side,  
We need not care for Papal power or pride;  
If great JEHOVAH do but take our parts,  
What earthly Potentate can wound our hearts?  
When David was but young, of growth but small,  
He slew Goliath that was great and tall.  
The Purse and flaming Heart do both express  
The Coin and Plate that's brought with cheerfulness,  
To maintain Arms with State, with hand and heart,  
If War must be 'gainst the malignant part.  
The words Thesaurus populi do show,  
These bounteous presents from the people flow:  
The Rich, the Poor, the Widow with her Miite;  
All bring in what they can in open sight;  
That all the world may notice take and see,  
Their gifts come from them with alacrity.  
From high to low, from aged unto youth,  
All good men know 'tis to support the truth;  
Yea such a Truth; that were't extinct and gone,  
Our wretched souls are utterly undone:  
But we do yet enjoy't, let's hold our own,  
Let's stand up for the Gospel and the Crown:  
God's Word is on our side, and he I hope  
Will make us able to confound the Pope.  
Thus fare have I unfolded what is meant  
By this dark Emblem of our Parliament:  
The Reasons also I have signifi'de  
Of all the Adjuncts to be seen beside.  
But Oh, the chief where I should first begun,  
Invisible doth seem, the less is done;  
Things do not go so forward as they might,  
If one that's wanting daily were in sight.  
This Head not seen into your minds may bring  
The grievous absence of our gracious King.  
That Cloud which will not let us see our Sun,  
Hath been the cause of all our woes begun;  
Of all our troubles, and of Ireland's sorrows,  
Whose every day grief of the next still borrows.  
Lord look upon them in their great distress,  
Send them a speedy and a quick redress;  
And grant good God (oh hear our fervent prayers)  
That our case here may ne'er be like to theirs.  
And gracious God (if so it be thy will)  
Keep not our discontented Sovereign still  
From out our sight; that misty Cloud remove,  
Stream down on him and us thy Rays of love.  
Lord take away those fears and jealousies,  
Which have been cause our sad miseries:  
Let King and Parliament be all as one  
Let all mistake be forgot and gone,  
Let CHARLES come to us Lord, and with him bring  
A branch of Olive as a peaceful King,  
Let judah come and sit in his own Throne  
Let Subjects all enjoy and know their own,  
Let peace and plenty dwell amongst us here  
That we no homebred nor out-foes may fear,  
Let King and People be no more affrighted  
But let them all in love be reunited,  
Then may we all rejoice, until which time  
I have small list to write in Prose or Rhyme.  
The end of the Explanation of the precedent EMBLEM.   

The distinction betwixt Peace and War, with the Author's propitious Wish.  
WHen Adam with his fairest Eve was placed,  
In Eden, than the world with peace was graced,  
But when the subtle Serpent did begin,  
To bring in hatred, than began our Sin,  
He taught our Parent's disobedience first:  
He drew them on till we were all accursed:  
They both excluded were from Paradise,  
And we were made Coheirs of their Vice.  
Then Cain his only Brother Abel slew:  
When he should ne'er have more for aught he knew:  
Contention, strife and malice do not care,  
Whom first they kill, nor Friends nor Foes they'll spare:  
Mars and Bellona still are hathed in blood,  
And very seldom have done any good:  
But heavenly Peace is held the thing of things,  
The chiefest Darling of the King of Kings:  
Peace was King JAMES his choice, God grant that he,  
To CHARLES his Son a Precedent may be:  
And grant, O Lord, (if it be thy blessed will)  
That we may have true peace and keep it still.   

An Emphatical Dream.  

WHen glorious Phoebus had run out his Course,  
Whirling his Chariot from the East to th' West,  
And Cynthia bright had took a kind remorse,  
Of Mortals, lighting them unto their rest;  
I laid me down my heart full sore oppressed:  
And long I had not been upon my Bed,  
But many Whimsies came into my Head.   

My wearied Eyes would feign have had some sleep,  
My vexed Cogitations longed for Peace,  
My troubled Fancy such a quoil did keep;  
As if my Cares begun would never cease;  
My Soul each minute prayed for her release:  
All sublunary things, seen, heard, or read,  
In my Conceit seemed then to want a Head.   

At length I fell into a DREAM or Slumber,  
You must conceive I was perplexed much,  
My Thoughts disturbed so then, I now can't number;  
Yet part thereof, I briefly here will touch,  
If in few Lines one may great Matters couch:  
What e'er I saw, seemed then without a Head,  
Which was the cause the World is grown so dead.   

Me thought I was transported from the Vale  
Of dark Obscurity, where long I'd lived;  
Industry put her curious Works to sale;  
Her dainty Pieces wittily contrived,  
All showed, few bought; so few or none there thrived:  
And still me thought all things did want a Head,  
And that's the cause the World is grown so dead.   

Thousands of Objects came before mine eyes,  
All in good earnest nothing in derision,  
Horror mine intellectuals did surprise;  
Amazement seized my senses of each Vision;  
All things distracted seemed with division:  
Bad News both fare and near was hourly spread,  
Which is the cause the World is grown so dead.   

Me thought I saw whole Houses, Families,  
All full of sorrow, paler than the Moon,  
Some wrung their hands, and some with watery eyes,  
Cried out no Take! We are all undone;  
No moneys to be had 'twixt Sun and Sun:  
All Trades (but for Militia) now are fled,  
Which is the cause the World is grown so dead.   

Me thought I saw each Village, and each Town  
All in an uproar struggling for the best,  
Some standing for, and some against the Crown,  
Tumults from North to South, from East to West,  
All Volunteers of either side, none pressed:  
This Land hath long been sick, now pained i'th' Head,  
Which is the cause her trading grown so dead.   

Me thoughts I saw each County, Shire, and City,  
Weltering in blood, or wearied with turmoils,  
Brave houses plundered, which to see was pity,  
And Cavaliers even glutted with rich Spoils,  
No place quite free from these outrageous broils:  
Rumours of Wars through every Coast were spread,  
Which is the cause the World is grown so dead.   

Me thought I saw full many a Corporation,  
Without a Magistrate, a Mayor, or Guide,  
Whereat a near approaching Desolation,  
Threatened their ruin, to pluck down their pride,  
Grave Senators I saw much vilifide:  
Upon Authority each Boy would tread,  
Whence now 'tis come, the World is grown so dead.   

Me thought I saw a Kingdom all in Arms,  
And (which is strange) divided in itself,  
Guns shooting off, Drums beating up Alarms,  
The Rich most ready to produce their Pelf;  
And some that had but two Spoons on their shelf:  
But all that while oppressed with care and dread,  
Which is the cause the World is grown so dead.   

Me thought I saw both Universities,  
Distracted quashed, and strucken with amaze,  
Religion minced with Diversities  
Of strange opinions, makes the vulgar gaze,  
At Academians and their shame t' emblaze:  
Scholars are scoffed and scorned, Schools want their Head,  
The Arts may sleep, for Learning now is dead.   

Me thought I saw the several Inns of Court,  
Look red for anger of a long Vacation:  
Places of Justice had but small resort,  
No Clients, but a few for recreation,  
'Cause Lawyers smeled so of Equivocation:  
Their Judges fail, Courts want their chiefest Head,  
Which is the cause our Laws do seem so dead.   

Me thought I saw a Diocesan CHURCH,  
A stately PALACE, and a Bishopric,  
All stand forlorn, the Deans and Chapters lurch,  
The Metropolitan touched to the quick,  
The Surrogates and Proctors all were sick:  
Their headstrong Humours have brought low their Head,  
Which is the cause their Calling is so dead.   

Me thought I saw a second Heaven on Earth,  
A Parliament of noble Peers and Commons,  
All which according to their States and Birth,  
Came and attended at their several Summons,  
Such Men, for Wisdom never were the Romans:  
They cheerfully begun first with their Head,  
But now he's gone, their joyful Hopes are dead.   

Me thought they had a world of discontent,  
Fears, Doubts and jealousies did oft arise,  
Between the absent King, and 's Parliament,  
The grounds few knew, though they were ne'er so wise,  
Unhappy those good Council do despise:  
This great Assembly wanting thus their Head,  
May judge his absence makes the World so dead.   

Nevertheless, me thought they did proceed,  
With such alacrity and cheerfulness,  
As if they'd felt poor Ireland's wounds to bleed,  
And sympathized in Our great Distress,  
've done their best our griefs all to redress:  
But o their King, their Sovereign and their Head,  
His absence makes their living hopes half dead.   

Me thought I saw huge Regiments of men,  
Striving their Sovereign daily to subvert,  
With sugared Words, and with deceitful Pen,  
With Vaunts, and Brags, and with alluring Art.  
've captivated, and seduced his Heart:  
By these our King hath strongly been misled,  
Which is the cause the World is grown so dead.   

Papists, and others Popishly affected,  
Monopolists, Projectors, Cavaliers,  
Such of the CLERGY as are dis-affected  
Unto the King and State, increase our fears;  
Bankrupts, and Rascals hourly send us jeers:  
Our present Troubles fare and near are spread,  
Which is the cause the World is grown so dead.   

These are the Shavers that have bred these Wars,  
These have our King from's Parliament divided,  
These have occasioned all our Strifes and jars,  
By these GOD'S Children daily are derided,  
Good Remedies (I hope) will be provided:  
But now such heavy News of Wars is spread,  
That all the World, all Trades, all Things are dead.   

The King (seduced) needs must be disturbed,  
The Subject and the Kingdom are distracted,  
The Cavaliers may suddenly be curbed,  
Good Statutes may be acted, and transacted,  
Their Plots confounded that have long compacted:  
Then will Our Hopes with Happiness be fed,  
Mean while I grieve to see the World thus dead.   

These were my Dreams, or this my DREAM at least,  
Which much perplexed my trembling Thoughts with fear,  
At length I waked, and found my DREAM no jest,  
As by these Times may very well appear,  
Let's therefore pray to GOD Our Father dear:  
That every Thing may have its proper Head,  
And then all Trades will cease to be so dead.   

God bless Our King, his Royal Consort bless,  
Lord teach them both to know and keep thy Word,  
Bless all their Offspring, shield them from distress,  
Thine holy Spirit unto them afford,  
And keep us all from Famine, Plague, and Sword:  
And if thou please to be our General Head,  
We then shall live for aye, and ne'er be dead.   

Bless likewise Lord our hopeful Parliament,  
Bless both the Houses, Peers, and Commons all;  
Give them their full desire, their hearts content,  
That Truth may raised be, and Falsehood fall;  
And prosper their Designs both great and small:  
Grant them the sweet fruition of their Head,  
That these our Times may be no more so dead.   

Bless also Lord, brave Essex that great Earl,  
Bless his Lieutenants, Captains, and Commanders,  
Bless all his Soldiers, give us Peace (that Pearl,)  
Reduce all such as err, each one that wanders  
In any bypaths, keep us all from slanders:  
For his sake that his blood for us hath shed,  
And grant our Faith and Hope may ne'er be dead.   

And grant that our thrice noble Earl may bring  
The joyful Ensigns of Triumph, and Honour,  
That we may see the Person of our King,  
That Peace may be displayed in every Banner;  
As for the Whore of Babel out upon her:  
Let Unity throughout great Britain spread,  
And then all Trades will be no more so dead.   
FJNJS.