TO The Most High and Mighty MONARCH, Charles the II.  
By the Grace of GOD,  
King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland,  
Defender of the Faith:  
THOMAS Peck of the Inner Temple, Esq Wisheth an Affluence of both Temporal and Eternal FELICITY;  
And most humbly Devoteth this heroic Poem,  
In Honour of His majesty's Establishment in the Throne of His ancestors.  
LONDON:  
Printed by James Cottrel. MDCLX.   

Ad celsis. Majestatem Regis Britanniae, EPIGRAMMA.  
CArole Pellaeus juvenis tibi porrigat Herbam:  
Ne jactet Trabeas Roma superba feras.  
Auxit Thyrsigeri rixosa Triphaea Tyranni  
AEmathius: Mersa est sic sua Fama cado.  
Caesar (Terrarum Dominus) fere vicit inermes;  
Nudos Majores; Terra Britanna tuos.  
Carolus Angligenas validos patiendo subegit:  
Angligenas rabidos; Ille ferendo fugat.   

AN heroic Poem.  
AM I entranced; or is it Plato's year;  
For all things in their pristine shapes appear?  
Time turns his Annals to that very Page,  
Wherein is Chronicled the Golden Age.  
Divine Astraea, who was long since sent  
By depraved Nature, into Banishment;  
(Seeing her Elder Sister Mercy kneel  
To Supreme Jove, that He the Wounds would heal,  
Which England owes to an Intestine Broil;  
Where, seduced Zeal, gave Loyalty the Foil:)  
Leapt from the Clouds, and did the blessed News bring,  
That, True Contrition should obtain a KING.  
The stranger justice, sent Post from the sky;  
Penia, and her renegadoes fly.  
Detested Poverty avoids those Lands,  
Where justice, over Interest commands.  
But as harsh Notes, make their Associates sweet;  
Our Thoughts may by a sad Reflection meet  
With those fierce Tempests, which did fall upon  
The Cedars of our British Libanon.  
A greater Wonder scarce saluteth Ears,  
Then that of Men to diet with the Bears,  
In unfrequented Groinland; till the Sun,  
Did from the Goat, unto the Creafish run.  
Come hither, Stoic, and thou shalt confess  
It Torture, for to trace a Wilderness  
Of twenty years' Confusion; when the Laws  
Were formed in cutler's Shops; and the GOOD CAUSE  
Wanted a Catechresis to make out  
Her epithet: Though conversant about  
The good Estates of Heroes; whom no frown,  
Could force, or King, or Conscience to disown.  
The Pope was cursed for arrogating; We  
To Peter's gave Infallibility.  
Who was the first Evangelist promulged  
No Tribute due to Caesar. And indulged  
Was Bradshaw, that remorseless Parricide;  
Who Pilate in bloodguiltiness out-vied:  
Fear nursed his Crime; but our Jew did cry,  
Not out of Dread, but Malice, crucify.  
Let not Alexis, and Menalcas tell,  
Black-moondays Eclipse scorns a Parallel: 
1652. Mar. 29.   
The fourth part of a Digit then was Light;  
But on Black-Tuesday, was Black-Tuesday Night 
1648. Ian. 30.   
Our Sun put on a Mask; no friendly Star  
(But that which shined Ten Springs before the War,  
In the daytime;) gave leave to look for Hope:  
Intrat Tyrannus; Freedom was the scope  
The Vulgar leveled at, and a Free State:  
Permit them but the Name, the Thing they'll bate.  
The many-headed Rabble was the Moon,  
Eclipsed our Sun; and made a glorious Noon,  
Cover its white skin with a Midnight veil:  
For the old Serpent, was the dragon's Tail;  
And a pretended Parliament, the Head:  
Hic sita est: Great Britain here lies dead.  
So Rancour, in a Regal tragedy:  
Summed up the Total of man's misery.  
And thorny Satyrs, can no further tax  
Than this: Their King felt the Rebellious Ax.  
For when the fatal Arrow strikes the Hart,  
In vain do Rascal Deer, complain of smart.  
It was lost labour for poor Cavaliers  
To exclaim, Billows, washed o'er head and ears;  
Suppose they escaped drowning, 'twas enough:  
If not praiseworthy, to insulting Buff.  
For if the Laws do Anarchy resist,  
An half-blind cobbler may act what he list.  
But newly-weaned Experience, verifies,  
When Aesop's Fox free-quartered the old Flies,  
That he was prudent. Doubtless some have found,  
Ship-money, and an hundred thousand pound  
Per mensem for to differ. Who were nice  
To give Necessity; served Avarice.  
Stupendious Rome, split not upon the Rocks  
Of a Free State; till Sol the AEquinox  
Four hundred Ninety times had kissed: But Fate  
Lop'd off in Three years the Decemvirate.  
And the State remained spurious; until she  
Chose Julius Caesar PATER PATRIAE  
Who brought her sceptre beyond the extent  
Of Latium; and the Gauls large continent.  
Augustus by adoption was his Heir;  
Who rather seemed to build, than to repair  
The world's chief City. Thus doth monarchy,  
Empires enlarge, and Cities beautify.  
What if the Monster Nero would destroy  
Mount Palatine:, to Act the flames of Troy?  
And to make sure he should begin the List  
Of Tyrants; turned wretched Anatomist?  
Yet still the Rule is valid. Romans now  
To an Usurpers Sword their Necks did bow.  
Celestial Justice, aptly punished thus  
The Treason, to their Prince Britannicus;  
The Legal Heir. Suffer proud Rome to burn:  
A murdered KING, deserves A sumptuous Urn.  
A Bargain then; fanatic Sophister!  
You shall quote NERO: I'll vouch OLIVER.  
How Rampant were the English lions, when  
Third Edward, and his Son seemed more than Men?  
Arithmetic the Number can't comprise  
Of French Gallants, who had their Elegies,  
Penned by the Grey Goose Wing; when strained yew  
Made charging Horses, and their Riders rue.  
By scarcity, Fifth Henry did enhance  
The gentry's value, in lamenting France.  
And our forefathers, under the command  
Of Coeur' de lion, snatched the Holy Land  
From the provoking Turk. A Virgin Queen  
Was too athletic, for the Spanish spleen,  
To hurt with Melancholy fumes. Her Drake,  
Was Draco Volans; and did undertake  
To conquer the Invincible Half Moon:  
Whose Face put on a Scarlet Hue, as soon  
As the Fire-Ship approached; which made some swear  
That Purgatories place was found: for there  
Was Flames; Howlings; and to augment the Pain,  
They thought t'Enslave; but wore themselves the Chain.  
Thus the Realm flourished under Regal Power:  
Yet Edward did contrive the fatal Hour,  
Of his weak Father. And Henry, when Prince,  
Was branded with such Crimes, as might evince  
Defect of Morals. And her Sister Scot,  
Cast on Elisa, an Eternal Blot.  
But not one Blemish could a Mortal find,  
In our Late KING; That Darling of mankind:  
A sober ethnic is compelled to think,  
Curtius deserving, when he closed the chink,  
Threatening his country's ruin: Though to save  
The Multitude, He found an hasty Grave.  
How much are truly Pious bound to prize  
His Memory, who for Religion, dies?  
Who chooseth rather to become a Prey;  
Then freeborn Subjects Liberty betray?  
CHARLES shall be Sainted: who hath overcome  
Envy's Armado, by a Martyrdom.  
But as inspired Socrates had Health,  
When an Infection reaped the Commonwealth  
Of Athens; 'cause his stomach was so clean,  
It did not know what crudities might mean:  
So select souls, in Europe's greatest Isle,  
Would not admit Rebellion to defile  
Or Words, or Actions; being not oppressed  
In mind with Prejudice, or Interest.  
Some despicable Youngsters did combine,  
With the notorious Villain Catiline,  
To kill their common Mother: But the chief  
Of Orators, persuaded quick Relief.  
The Optimates, and such Magistrates,  
As could vaunt Images, show fair Estates;  
Guarded the public: And themselves thereby,  
From loss of Fortune; gain of Infamy.  
In the Engagements of late time, though some  
Good eyes, were cheated with the Medium  
Of candied Remonstrance; (whilst men be,  
'Tis possible they trip on Frailty)  
Yet no legitimate Nobility,  
Or who had Badges of Gentility,  
bordered with virtue, Mantled with Pretence;  
Cordial, and upright; ever could dispense  
With dutiful Allegiance: Or did rend  
The ermine Robes, for a base private end.  
Whom error misled, are turned Proselytes;  
And a desire that's National, invites  
Secular heretics, for to comply;  
Not to draw stakes; but in sincerity.  
Is it not time to quit an headstrong Rage;  
When our Convulsions have attained full Age?  
And have not we Years of Discretion? See  
Discrepant Factions, in a Third agree;  
In CHARLES the GREAT; or Second of that Name:  
And the Third MONARCH, married TWEED to THAME.  
nature's musicians in the Air, employ  
Their slender Throats, as echoes to man's joy.  
Flora, in the King's Colours takes delight:  
And wears a Tulip, PURPLE; GREEN; and WHITE.  
The Halcyon never used to appease  
Tempestuous Seas, till setting Pleiades  
Ushered the Winter; Now she brings fair days;  
And Neptune Tethys treats, with Masques and plays.  
The scaly Regiments all Muster there,  
Except the Meermaid; hindered by a fear  
Of meeting Princely Dolphins; who would carp,  
At their supporting of the Cross and Harp:  
And justly might with rigidness reprove,  
Prompted by Honour, and Arion's Love;  
Whose Instrument was struck with jollity;  
When England's Face resembled Niobe.  
Doth the profound Philosopher desire,  
To see the pure, and unconsuming Fire,  
Which neighbours on the Moon; let him mount high  
His eyes, when London's bonfires roost the sky,  
And what is voiced invisible he'll see;  
And quarrel at the airs Triplicity  
Of Regions; since the Fire is next to Earth:  
Thoughts of this kind have scarcely achieved Birth,  
But the monks powder▪ thunders; lightens; now,  
The Middle doth disseise the Fire; and Low.  
Thus in amazement, arguing from hence,  
An unbelieving sceptic doth commence.  
FIRE, AIR, EARTH, WATER, in a Chorus sing  
An Io Paean: Or, GOD SAVE THE KING.  
Ships are our Forts. Our Pilot's not to learn  
(And that without a Trope) to hold the Stern.  
Three Languages made any heretofore,  
A Prodigy: Our Gracious Lord speaks more.  
But in a strict sense, Words no more comprise  
Of worth, than parrots prating signifies;  
Or File of ciphers, which are nothing all;  
Unless a Figure make Numerical.  
The Nations Patron, hath pleased to confer  
The honour of a Privy counsellor,  
On History: That bosom-friend of time;  
And Calculation, fit for every Clime.  
This shows, King Codrus gave his life to buy  
Athens, a controverted Victory.  
If Caesars justly managed Axe, and rods;  
Caesar's lived Happy: were at death made Gods.  
Because the blood of Innocents was spilled;  
Domitian was broke on the Wheel of Guilt.  
In sport Lysander's Thirty bloodhounds kill:  
No Laws are cruel; if compared to WILL.  
What Factions root up Kingdoms, she relates:  
What Lapses, depose mighty Potentates.  
A Ruler without History is blind.  
Self-love, will be industrious not to find  
A Parasites deceptions; or do Right,  
Unless a Bribe bespeaks a favourite.  
I purposely omit the Title just:  
Not to judge that, is bottomless distrust.  
All ethics is an Inmate to the Man,  
Whom study dubs complete Historian.  
His Active valour was at WORCESTER shown:  
His Passive to the Universe is known.  
But as an Eagle, credits common Fowl;  
And brittle Bodies, have an high-born Soul;  
So may we in Renowned CHARLES behold  
A radiant jewel, in recited Gold.  
RELIGION adorns virtue: Kingdoms Three,  
Require in grace's AEquipollency.  
When Subjects failed; His Faith relied upon  
The Holy, Holy, TETRAGRAMMATON.  
The Verdict of twelve gloomy years, attest  
Hope the Consort, of his courageous Breast.  
And who inquires after his CHARITY,  
Cannot deride CORVINUS MEMORY.  
Did he FORGIVE? As if it were a Task,  
Too scratching for an Enemy to ask;  
MERCY was proffered; which did circumvent  
An unsophisticated PARLIAMENT,  
By a devout Prolepsis. For which Fame  
An Obelisk shall build to his Great Name.  
Add to these, CONSTANCY; A splendid gem,  
That darts its Lustre through the Diadem.  
The Romish Church, (though she held out her arms)  
Could not entice Him, by the potent charms  
Of profuse Promises; and did in vade  
His Resolves, with the Loyola Brigade.  
A Ship at Anchor, the sea's Wrath outbraves:  
Slighting the fury of rebounding Waves.  
Or as a Faithful Garrison, counts trash  
Smooth Agitations of th' Assailants Cash.  
What if the Blockers up, (when GOLD shall fail)  
Showers down Bravadoes in revengeful Hail?  
His two-edged Machination proves in vain:  
Here a Good Cause, undaunted Hands maintain.  
So our faith's Standard-Bearer, stood His Ground:  
When GIFTS, when SOPHISTRY, begirt him round.  
A Black stone streaked with White, (which Authors call  
Agathos) frees from all Terrestrial  
Dangers, and Discontents; and it exempts  
From Loss, and Detriment in all Attempts.  
The Black stone is Affliction; the white veins,  
Are Souls, she scours from Unrepented stains.  
This is the Shield repulsing Mortal Sins,  
And gross Imprudence; who so wears her, wins  
ALL PALMS. The Earth, as knowing how to use:  
And Heaven itself; by watching lest he lose.  
This strict Lycaeum, CHARLES did educate:  
Who is in Tribulation GRADUATE.  
And Scholars know, twelve years' Non-Regency  
Will make a DOCTOR of DIVINITY:  
Kind Providence hath blessed us with a King:  
Whose Aristotle, was his Suffering.  
Fancy a wealthy Mariners return  
From sunburnt India, whose watery Urn,  
Rumour had long since formed; view how his Wife  
Starts at the surprise of a dubious Life:  
And hardly reconciling HOPE, and FEARS;  
She wafts him to her LIPS, in joyous TEAES.  
Great Sir! your espoused Kingdom, feared the Crown  
Should fall into Distractions Gulf, and drown;  
When Pikes, and bandeliers, were the sole Helm:  
And many thousand Centaurs, steered the Realm.  
But when you came within few Leagues of PORT;  
Her Prayers went your Harbingers to Court.  
And in proportion to that solemn rate:  
The Heliconian Nymphs, Congratulate.  
Nor shall stout MONCK; seek his Arrears of Praise;  
Let Gratitude, cut down a Grove of Bayes,  
To Crown his Head: who without Angry word,  
Did braver Exploits than ACHILLES sword.  
Grass covers not the top of Royal Mines:  
Nor should Words Fly-blow exquisite designs.  
Counsel (like Essence) expects stopping well:  
Or bid Adieu to the perfuming smell.  
Moist APRIL shall attend on florid MAY.  
Whose EIGHT, thy Worth installed St George's day.  
And since from allied SCOTLAND you came forth,  
The PROVERB'S outlawed: Good comes from the North.  
Lift up thy Head, old Worcester! and confess  
horror the Epilogue of Wickedness.  
Though thou wert blasted with a jealous eye:  
A Plaudit now attends thy LOYALTY.  
For dutiful endeavours, unto this  
May be subjoined the famed Metropolis.  
Whose DAGGER to the backsword rendering place;  
Great want of TRADING gave REPENTANCE space.  
It was full time to beg a REGAL TOUCH:  
When this king's-evil did afflict so much.  
Have ye not seen an Infant, Fat and Fair;  
Whilst to his mother's Milk he might repair:  
Commit him to a stepdame's cruel care,  
His Cheeks grow hollow; and his jawbones bare.  
In a good Mood, she may allow him Meat:  
But Tears shall moisten what the poor Child eat.  
To hide her shame, she will afford fine clothes:  
Lest Prints of Stripes, and Pinches show, she loathes.  
Hunger, and Thirst, nay Blows, can't satiate:  
Unless his Father be induced to Hate.  
CHARLES with maternal Care, kept LONDON plump:  
But O the Claws, of the Novercal RUMP.  
Know thy felicity; be fixed at length:  
RELAPSES conquer half consumed Strength.  
That ever thou apostatised, is Strange:  
Since the word Royal, comes before Exchange.  
'Tis Perseverance only can advance:  
The Crown, the Crown's, thy Cap of Maintenance.  
Rouse Understanding! Manacle my sense;  
Demonstrate how a swift Intelligence,  
Acteth his distinct Orb: with what Tube shall  
I gaze upon an Immaterial?  
But let not curiosity, be bold  
To disturb Spirits; since it may behold  
Sublimer Objects: And will then prefer  
For wise Intelligences, WEST MINSTER.  
In that most grave Assembly, every Man  
Is to his Sphere, An Angel Guardian:  
Our Balsam dropped not from the Major Part;  
Three hundred Members, had a single Heart.  
The Commons vote; Assent flies from the Lords:  
Time was not spent in niceties of Words.  
Sixty the Golden Number, hence shall be:  
Your Speaker, Fame; your Rolls, eternity.  
THE KING ENJOYS HIS OWN; sing Civil State!  
And let the clergy say; MAGNIFICAT.  
FINIS.