THE SAD CONDITION OF A Distracted kingdom. Expressed, IN A FABLE OF PHILO, THE JEW. Exempla credntur. Quae socci superant risum, luctumque Cothurni. Claudian. LONDON, Printed by B. A. 1645. TO THE RIGHT honourable ALGERNON Earl of Northumberland, PHILIP Earl of Pembroke, and Montgomerie. Right Honourable, THE author of this Fable, in his own Age, and in succeeding times, was ever by the ripest wits esteemed learned, eloquent, and ingenious. I am confident your Honours impartial judgements will censure my expressions upon Philoes' invention ingenuous and harmless; these are the issue of some spare hours in these miserable times, exposed to the world under your honour's protection; unto whom the Author professeth himself a Most humble servant, A. RIVERS. To the right Honourable Algernon Percy, Earl of Northumberland, &c. MY LORD, SO many glorious titles crown Your Noble stem, as easily they put down Great Rome's Aemilians, Scipio's, Fabio's, whose One single Tribe adventured to oppose Themselves their city's Wall: and with their blood, Preserve Rome from the innumerous Multitude Of Veia●s, How oft have our ancestors Seen, and extolled like Piety of Yours? How many Victories have the PERCIES got? What Trophies reared of the subdued SCOT? How many of your martial lineage are In fame's BOOK, written Thunderbolts of war. Who with heroic Actions add new Grace, To Charlemain's Martellus, Pippin's race, From whom you are discendants; and we know How much GRADIVUS and the muses owe To your progenitors: and dare rehearse Our better vows and SERVICES in verse. Be Greatest Fabius, be great ALGERNON, And emulate your PERCIES CRESCENT MOON Shower down your influence: make our clouded night By your wise counsels, than the day more bright. Your honour's humble Servant, A, RIVERS, The Fable of PHILO the JEW, Amplified. TAE ARGUMENT. PHILO the most learned and eloquent amongst the Jews, recites a very pleasant and witty story: Namely, Phi. lib. de Plantations Noemi. that God after he had with singular art and wisdom created the universe, commanded the Angels to tell him what they thought of the Work and workmanship: And that one of those blessed Spirits with much freedom answered, that in his judgement there wanted (as a compliment to so exquisite an opifice) a strong Voice very audible and penetrating, which without intermission passing from one corner of the Earth to the other, should be the continual Trumpet of God's praise, and preach even to the most ignorant his supreme wisdom, and ineffable skill in the production of the very least and most contemptible Creatures. This ingenious Fable of Philo is the Argument, and gave occasion to the following Treatise. And though there are those (and not unlearned) who judge it too much to savour of the Pedagogue, when Authors are quoted, yet we think, we shall give authority to our lines, if we express the grounds of our invention, and from whence we fetch, and to what direct our Allusions. WHo gave himself existence, Gen. 1. gave us all The being that we have, ordered this Ball We trample with a word, and without sweat Gave essence, and existence to the great And lesser Creatures, and required no more Materials pre-existent, than a poor Nothing, and thence with an all potent hand First made, then perfected Fire, air, Sea, Land. Nor is the work by pattern, but he takes Himself, and of his work th' Idea makes. When did God make those intellective peers Guardians of Mankind, The Greek Doctors hold the Angels to have been created before the world: the Latin D. with the World; which opinion is more probable, though the other is not er●onious. D. Th. 1. p. q. 61. art. 3. Guiders of the Spheres? Let's reckon every imaginary Age Before they undertook the Pupillage Of Adam's Orphans, or shall we agree As parcels of large nature's machine, he Gave them Coevall being. How e'er we'll join In this, the workmanship was most divine. Did he suit Heaven with a more glorious Robe Then is the garment of our Earthly Globe? Is the stuff other then of things below? Or an extracted Quintessence? be't so Or what it will, we are sure with singular Art God finished, and polished every part. And viewing all as in a maze he stood And with much Complacence pronounced all's Good. When Babel's frantic Architects intend Their Tower should as heaven's palaces ascend, Gen. 6. God goes i'th' sacred Triads company To view what this presumptuous work should be, And disallowing their transcendent Pride, He stays the work, and workmen doth divide. So many Ages past, attended by His glorious Courtiers, he Commands them eye, And curiously observe the world's vast frame; Then tell him what was wanting in the same. For he had heard (although he let it pass) How Momus had desired a looking glass Should in the breast of man be placed, to show What were his inward thoughts, that all might know Whose ends were crooked, whose pretensions right, Discern the just man from the Hypocrite. A fond request, and contrary to that, Which when man formed was God levelled at. For he created Men with liberty In will, and action, and if all should see What are the deep designs at which they aim, Both action, and invention, would be lame. As Moses from Mount Nebo viewed the soil Of Fertile Chanaan, Deut. 34. which by warlike toil The Tribes must gain, and with their weapons meet Those Regions, which must make their warfare sweet. So in a Moment helped with glories light, These Angels have presented to their sight The Universe, the Heavens, the Earth, the Seas, And whatsoever is contained in these. In Heaven they see an immense Amplitude, And spacious Tabernacles for the Good (Who imitating Angels, and by Grace Vanquish the ill with good shall have a place) The many orbs are objects of their sight, The fixed and wandering Tapers of the Night, we'll not believe, but they both see, Cornelius a lapide, in Gonesin. and know What distance is twixt Heaven and us below. Should I tell you, that some huge millstone hurled From th' highest Heaven to th' centre of the world Would ask twice threescore years 'fore it descend, To the said Centre and his journey end. And we'll allow for every hour, the while It is in motion, at least forty mile. Then guess what distance is twixt Heaven and us, By the swift motion of this ponderous Descendant. Spoke I so, you'll laugh and say How know you this? or who hath rid the way? How many are the stages? with the Sun Who took post horse, and through the zodiac run? The Angels know this truth; yet in less time Than one short hour, a soul that's pure can climb To th' top of the Empyrean Heavens; such force And expedition hath a virtuous course Of life. Our Angels with amazement viewed The flaming Sun, still burning, ne'er renewed; Who by the lending of his glorious light Or the withholding, measures day and night. 'Tis strange so vast a Body every day And every night, should travail so much way, As from the East to West, and then return To make another journey the next morn. We daily see't and therefore make it light, Because it is so daily in our sight. Whose hand but the almighty's can sustain Those Magazines of Snow, Pererius in Dan▪ esteems this out of the greatest miracles in nature. of Hail, of Rain Ith' airy Regions, that they not descend At once, and with a deluge make an end Of all. Who firmes the Earth, and with just lines The East, the West, the South, the North designs? On what substantial B●ses does it stand? Or is it propped only by God's right hand? Who wrought and put on the main Seas their shrowds And like some newborn babe wrapped 'em in Clouds For swaddling clouts? Job. 38. who a confining bar Could set upon 'em, bid 'em pass so far And pass no further? Thus the ocean's bounds Circling not swallowing the embraced grounds, Are a new wonder. Then amidst the waves They hear how that unwieldy Monster raves The whale: and laugh at his complaints, because They are injurious to the wholesome laws Of God, and nature. Let us hear his song Then vindicate God's providence from wrong. Is not the whole circumference of the main The Baltic Sea, the Seas of France and Spain, The waves that glide by India, Africa, Sufficient space for him to feed, and play And chase the ork. Myriads of miles at least Are thought a prison by this Monstrous Beast, And Nature is injurious that hath put Him in a goal, and in a dungeon shut. Are Londoners in prison 'cause the Line Limits their gadding, and the● Outworks confine Their pleasant walks; the Ocean that surrounds Our Island, washing all our English grounds Speaks England but a goal. Man's noble mind Within this house composed of clay confined, Although it can i'th' twinkling of an eye On wings of swift imagination fly Through the universe, transcend the sky And comment even on God's immensity; Yet is a Captive and close prisoner, (Our mixed Elements the gaolers are) And only death can grant a full discharge, And with his warrant the thralled soul enlarge▪ But wherefore will Leviathan complain Who for his rendezvous hath all the main And hundreth Seas? Because he cannot go Into the Straits of Archipelago. There the wise God of nature doth provide, Where ships continually and Navies ride, Many Charihdaes, Scylla's dangerous rocks Facing that Isle, where fed the fleecy flocks Of Polypheme. That for the general good And his own safety, no Atlantic flood Should bear this Monster: but where billows break At great Alcides' Pillars, there they speak A Non plus ultra to the whale. For if He enter should the Levant Sea, no Skif, No vessel could be safe: nor he himself; But every rock, and every shallow shelf Would menace death, and danger: to prevent Which inconveniences, wise nature meant, He should be barred those Deeps, his duller eye Not able Rocks and dangerous Syrts to spy; Which would his too unwieldy body tear Piecemeal, and he must every minute fear Present destruction. Should he be pursued By covetous man (and certainly he wou'de) What rills of brinish water can he throw, Into the air, able to overthrow The largest ship, and with his massy tail, More spread than some huge Carrike under sail, Or'ewhelme and drown all vessels. To save these Mischiefs, he ne'er shall wallow in those Seas. Now judge who is the Prisoner, who has cause To grudge, and challenge Gods▪ and Natures laws. So frantic Man like Absalon takes joy In that, Reg. 2. 18. which shall his happiness destroy. The shrub envies the Cedar, and the oak, When that stands firm, these feel the thundering stroke Of angry Heaven. Poor men although despised Are safe, when oft the Rich are sacrificed. we'd sail in plenty, but our puffed up sails Are driven as well by rough as prosperous gales; Those promise shipwreck more than these aport, The Cottage hath less danger than the Court. Was it not Villers Mothers Adage, she Until a Courtier ne'er knew misery. And Straffords Father did advise his son, To run that race his Ancestors had run. Had he obeyed his prudent sire, and lead A private life, no Troops had seen his head Chopped off, and the inconstant Multitude First thirsting, then triumphing in his blood. This Canterbury, conscious of his parts, How greedily, and with what wily arts Got he to be a statesman; with what sweat And study did he labour to be great? But whereto serves his Grace, his dignities, But to make more deplorde the Precipice? Yet all like frantic Icarus will fly Aloft, although they perish in the sky. And Phaeton will beg to guide the sun A day, although before that day be done He rue his rash attempt. Such things are sweet That are prohibited, or else not meet. God means to give us bread not stinging scorpions, When he rains on us blessings or afflictions. But we divert his purpose, and misuse His providence, The Duke of Alva observed to be erected, and magnanimous in adversity; Insolent and insulting in prosperity. not knowing how to use What he intends for blessings. Many are Like D' Alva's Duke oppressed better far Then in prosperity. But we will run The wild goose chase until we are undone. If in adversity say God's unjust; If in prosperity, follow what lust, Spleen, avarice, and ambition dictate, look On lately glorious London. 'Tis a book Worth the perusal: nay let's trace about The circuit of the kingdom, and find out What devil, what Enyo sowed these tares Amongst us, and engendered all these wars, That have destroyed out British Isle, and rent The kingdom, twixt the King and Parliament. Who says who's faulty? He or they? The King A God on Earth, Psal. a consecrated thing Cannot transgress, and being the only source Whence justice, and our Laws derive their fotce Must needs be pure. Exod. They Jethro's Elders are, England's supremest Senate, whom the care Of the whole kingdom chose, to cure the sick Condition of the Body politic. And 'twere a fin t'imagine these should err Their own, before the●● public good prefer. How then rise all these tumults, these sad jars The clamour of the Drum, intestine wars? What is the Origen? where springs the cause Of all these plagues we suffer, 'gainst the laws Of reason, dictating that every State Preserve itself, not set wide ope a gate To its own destruction, and as Trojans did (Cheated by perjured Sinon) fondly bid Their foes, nay hail themselves the fatal Steed Stuffed with Ulysses, Pyrrhw, Diomed, Who issuing forth shall Dardan's Town destroy, With flames consume the lofty Towers of Troy. Speak better Muses, what wronged deity Hath brought on England so much misery? Who has inflamed our English bloods to sheathe Their swords in English breasts, and to make Death Ride in such triumph; where our English are The sad attendants of his dusky Car. When the Assyrians shall be punished, Reg. 7. God Fetches no hostile forces from abroad, But scares the soldiers with a panic fright, And makes Assyrians with Assyrians fight: They on themselves their spleen and malice spend, Brother kills brother, friend his dearest friend. Nor can they brag of Conquest, as no blade But their own swords this bloody slaughter made. We drink the Dutch down, and our whoring's more Then the hot Spaniards, more hard to the poor Than Jews we are; blaspheming, swearing, play, Our profanation of the Sabborn day; Cheating our Neighbour: and we have so many Religions with us, that we scarce have any. These sins which glibly we as water drink Have filled the cup of vengeance to the brink, Iob. 15. 16. Which God kept still, Ps. 7. 4. and would not give command It should be poured upon Sea and Land By his revenging Ministers, but would So order justice that Egyptians should Punish Egyptians: Apoc. 7. hear the prophet's tale How the deluding ruin did prevail In wicked Joram's rain, Isai. 19 and be bold, To say Names, Reg. 3. 32. changed, of us the story told. Heaven's Gates were opened, and a Parliament Proclaimed concerning England: thither went The Cherubin, and Seraphin, the peers Whose constant care it is to volve the spheres. Angels, Archangels, Principalities, The Thrones, Powers, virtues, Dominations, these Make the grand Senate, and the written Records; There's no Lower House, but all of them are Lords. The Pursuivants, Informers, gaolers wait, And are attendants; when the kingdom's State At Westminster Assembles, to peach those, They vote the commonweals, and peace's foes. To take 'em to their stricter custody, When 'tis thought fit by the grave Committee. So the black fiends to their creator's Grace, Ingrateful, though they forfeited their place In Heaven, yet when like consultations are, Approach the sacred Court, but stand off far, From glory's throne; and answer questions made Touching the lives of men with whom they trade: For did not Satan fully speak his sense, When God demanded of jobs innocence? Job. 1. The Synod sat, and the Assembly filled, (Though Heaven is always full) Jehovah willed One of the Cherubs to relate the Cause Of their Convokement. After some short pause A volume is produced, which begins, And ends with the relation of our sins. And every page was blotted, every line, With faults of Peter, Paul, John, James, thine, mine, And all were true; should they have been denied, The devils would them all have justified. There was alleged we drink the Dutch down, whore More than the Spaniard, not relieve the poor; All our dissemblings, and hypocrisies, Thefts, cheating, swearing, cursing, blasphemies; How we Religion out the kingdom fright, When for opinions, and our sects we fight. Corruptions in the practice of our laws; How many injust Verdicts? and the Cause By bribes, or favour thrives. A letter can Corrupt a judge, undo an honest man. The Tribe of Levi stand before the Bar, But as their Acts i'th' high Commission are Examined; some good Angels undertake Next Parliament should with them order take. Th' indictment being at last fully read out, The Court was silent, and all looked about; No Advocate stood up, and if there had Been some defendant, our Cause was so bad, No rhetoric could avail, God does demand How he shall chastise this transgressing Land, The Angels being all mercy would not speak; When a rude multitude of devils break Into the Conclave, and their ready aid Offering, advise some foreign foe invade The Land, as had the Danes, and Saxons done, And Bastard William the whole kingdom won▪ But others judge too slow this punishment, Therefore think best a pestilence should be sent Pestilence▪ And in a moment many thousands kill, And hell with souls, the grave with bodies fill. A meaguer Elve, whose thin jaws downwards fall, His teeth appear, Famine. his cheeks no flesh at all But skin and bones, like some anatomy You see in Chirurgeons Hall, requests that he May be chief actor in this business, and He would bring Egypt's famine on the Land. And this might seem their fitter punishment; Whom wealth and plenty had made insolent. 'Midst these debates from the abyss of hell (Where constant horror and confusion dwell) A fury came; who flying through the air, With smoke and flashes, and with thunder, tore Huge Rocks asunder; blasted the green corn, Gave death to blossoms, killed the fruit new born. The ruddy tincture from the Roses fled, The purple violet hung down his head; The Heliotrope enamoured of the Sun Fearing his love was lost, the world undone▪ Dreading now only an eternal shade, Plucked in his glorious colours and decayed. Nature's vast frame forgets the pristine state, And all her creatures turn retrogradate. So have I seen the boisterous blasts conspire With angry heaven, and the Aetherean fire By furious whirlwinds and tempestuous weather, To damage the whole universe together, And as the Monster mounted on his way Towards Heaven, the Sun forgetting it was day Unable, or afraid t' endure the fight Puts out his glorious Taper, and made night. The Fiend arrived at the Olympian Gates Craved audience, and admittance of the States. Our sins gave easy entrance, (only sin Can make the devil ground on mortals win) Admitted, backward from his threatning front, He twirled the Serpent that hung dangling on't. And with a hideous roar uttered these words: " You Citizens of Zion, and blessed Lords " Constant possessors of that Grace and room, " Which we have lost by heaven's severest doom, " You much deliberate; and of your Consults, " What other benefit, but delay results? " Have you resolved that the British Land " Merits chastisement? Does your pleasure stand, " It shall be punished? Leave the manner how " And means to me; only do you allow. " Nor sword, nor plague, nor famine, but all these " By my invention shall bring miseries " More then enough upon this Isle; I ask " Commission: grant it; then be it my task " To act the Minister of Vengeance. Ways " I have innumerable: since Adam's days " I have couversed with his offspring: can " Tell Arts, how to inveigle foolish Man, " Make him trrnsgresse the precepts of his God; " Violate all laws, then whip him with a Rod " Sharper than Scorpions: bound up by himself▪ The Court amazed at what the Stygian El●e Had boasted, bid him tell the manner how he'll act it: they would his designs allow. Nor should he doubt of their most firm assent It should be voted in the Parliament. Hell and the Devils capred at these words, And with a hushing murmur thanked the Lords. The Fiend erected with such ample jeave, Unfolds how he would his inventions weave. " I'll straight about the Isle my progress make " And with me for my fit associates take " Suspicion, Anger, Hatred, Discontent, " murmur, dislike at present Government; " Envy and Rancour, fears and jealousies, " Open detractions, more close calumnies, " Conspiracy, Rebellion always quaking " For fear to be surprised: Treason still waking " To do a mischief. Griping penury " Dogging at the heels of prodigality. " Ambitious hopes to raise what is decayed, " And what Peace cannot purchase, by the blade. " These I'll disperse through the whole kingdom, and " Make Sons against their Fathers, brother's band " Against their Brothers, when good Abel slain " Fell down, Gen. 4▪ I at the elbow stood of Cain. " Such industries I have, I can set strife " twixt friend and dearest friend; man and his wife. " The Nobles, Commons, gentry, I'll inflame " With such dire furies, that the very name " Of Peace shall be detested. Death and blood " To Nobles, Gentry, and the multitude " Shall be most dear: with violence they shall break " open Janus' Temple, and the Drum shall speak " In every Village war, the rural swain " Shall leave his tillage, shepherds leave the plain: " The Prentice shall forget what do you lack? " And joy to March with iron on his back, " The murrain on his head. And to advance, " The common cause, with Gun, with sword, with lance; " The Citizen weary of rest, lay down " The Robe of Peace, his graceful livery gown; " Exchange security for doubtful wars, " And deem it honour to return with scars " From the unnatural conflict; women shall, " Animate their husbands by the sword to fall: " Wives, widows, Virgins, freely give their gold, " And with their jewels bloody strifes uphold. " Though by the war no other good they reap, " Then to make widows, wives, and Virgins cheap, " Men easily numbered; widows shall be rife, " And no great business then to get a wife. " Midst these combustions turmoils, the Glebe Land, " Shall unmanured and untilled stand. " The plough shall be neglected, and the corn " By th'horse hoof trampled, fade before full born " 'Tis fit for sickle. Graziers sell away " Their beasts, lest kept they prove the soldiers pray▪ " Than want and griping penury shall kill " The wretches that survive, and churchyards fill " With starved corpse; what war and famine leave, " Contagious pestilence shall of life bereave. " So war, plague, famine, in a league shall join " To serve you, and perform what I design. The glorious Senate of the starry Hall Voted allowance, and confirmed all The Fiend demanded. So the sacred Court Dissolves, and every Burges does resort To his happy mansion; all the furies play, And hell triumphing keeps a holy day. For when their rival man suffers annoy They have some slight, but momentary joy. The Parliament thus ended, now begins Our misery, and we may thank our sins, Or rather curse 'em, that have brought these woes On England, made ourselves domestic foes Unto ourselves. No fights with France and Spain, Though we successive warfare with those twain Have lately waged, issued so large a flood, As these uncivil broils of English blood. One only Sidney slain, i'th' Belgck fights, But numbers numberless of Lords and Knights Have perished in these Conflicts. Let us look With gushing eyes on Linsey, Daubeny, Brook, Northampton, Denbigh, Greenvill, Grandison, Should we count all, when would the list be done. Nor can the conqueror true trophies raise, As mournful cypress not triumphant bays Become the victor, whose felicity Is purchased, with his country's misery. Great Rome abhorred any triumphant Car Should grace successes of a civil war; Where so much blood, as might whole Regions get Pollutes the Chariot, and the consul's seat. Have we no doubts of Holland, France, and Spain? Are the Irish quiet? No hopes to regain The electoral rights? Or will we not? That we So prodigal in mutual murders be? Our England is a shambles; ourselves keep The Butchershop: and are ourselves the sheep. And when at last we almost all are slain, Who'l keep us safe from Holland France and Spain? But we'll leave England weltering in its blood, Permit Leviathan in the Ocean flood. To range, and following our main intent, Lift up our eyes to'th spangled firmament; Where we shall see the Angels, who surveyd By God's command the fabric which he made; Having past Heaven, the air, the Sea, the Land At fight of the Ant, in admiration stand. Are there not other objects to delight, The angel's contemplation? Does the sight Of fierce Martichora deter their view? Dare they not eye him as he does pursue Both Man and Beast? This horrid Monster made By our Step mother, Nature to invade And murder Mortals; seems a subject more Worthy their admiration then the poor Emmet. Ex Phile. 〈…〉 aliis. ●●ich. 〈…〉 sacra & humana. what in his little compound can In them breed wonder, when't doth not in Man? But whose more curious pen had yet the power Rightly to character the Martichore His formidable shape, strength that exceeds The greatest lions parched afric breeds. Body proportioned like that royal Beast That awes the forest, monarch of the rest. The head, and face (O strange) just like the head And face of Man, the skin a Tinto red. Two slambewes for the eyes, the eye lids flush Of bristled hair resembles Moses' bush Still burning, Exod. 3 not consuming: ears nor long, Nor short, tied with a crisped thong Are still erect. His mouth stands opened wide, Three rows of Teeth, like combs on either side▪ Insinuate a new Hell, that every hour Consume, yet always covet to devour, Then in his brushie tail the wondrous strength, In magnitude a Cubit, three in length: With which as some stored Magazine well armed He enters battle, and with fury warmed Assails the Huntsmen, who pursue him; and Disdaining to be chased▪ makes a stand And as the Porcupine or Ostrich throws, His piercing darts amongst his thickest foes. So Roman Legions the swift Parthians dread When as pursued, retreating they make head Against their following foes, and dare assail With winged shafts flying as storms of hail 'Midst the condensed Brigades. In such guise The enraged Monster, with much fury eyes Where he shall shoot, then with innumerous store Of forked javelins, his pursuers gore. The tail, his Quiver, and his Bow, which he Can manage with such rare dexterity This way, that way, backwards and forwards bend, On every side his dangerous arrows send, That no side is secure; more, he will take His very nails, and of them weapons make. Then the bird swifter he, swifter than wind, Who ever chased him but was left behind? Miles nor dimensions, cannot hinder him, Come to broad Rivers he'll leap o'er, not swim. If any Creature would the Angels move To wonder, here would be a theme above The silly Ant. Fond mortal so speak I, But they are better furnished to descry The artifice of the best maker's hand, And at his workmanship amazed stand. They see the Causes joined with the effects, We see the Creatures, and make them the Text▪ Of some short wonder, but not mount so high As to the Cause, one only deity. Who only could in his all-knowing mind (The true Idea that shows every kind Of Creatures) first their Natures represent Unto himself, then being omnipotent Existence give, store them with qualities Which pass the ignorant, amaze the wise. This, this eternal Mover had a will In the small Ant to show his infinite skill. And it shall be our better Muses charge To speak the angel's wonderment at large. And think the subject well deserves our rhymes When th' Oracles of Learning, and their times Bazil? and Jerome (what a pair of men) On the like theme employed their sacred pen. 'Tis certain there's some more extensive Art I'th' fabric of the World, then of a Part. Yet as much skill to make a Gnat or fly, As to create the ninefold Hierarchy. Why so? Cannot an Actor merit praise I'th' idiot's part, as well as he that plays The haughty Monarch, and at every strain Expresses Pompey, or great Tamerlane. According to the bulk we value not The Artists skill, but truly estimate Him perfect in his opifice, when he Makes his expressions just as they should be. And our great Artist in the silly Ant, Hath shown more skill than in the Elephant. Here's a vast body able to contain And act all functions which he should ordain. But in the Pismire how can every sense Be so complete, and have their Residence? So fit for action, mark the graceful eyes, The taste, the smell, the feeling, nimble thighs Always in motion. Where the Mussicles? For spleen, gall, liver, where receptacles? Yet sure all these are there: the wits the arts Contained, and practised in those slender parts May seem a prodigy. What virtues crown The Ants, with which they easily put down Most of our Mortals▪ Prudence, Fortitude, Religion, scarce known of the multitude, Observed exactly in their Common weal Where all are daily labourers, none feel, Or know what's want. Worthy to have for sons, The great Achilles frugal Myrmidons. Lycurgus gloried that he formed a State In Sparta where no loitering runagate Was to be hired to go on Errands; were Our Land so fortunate, we should not fear In travel to be made the Felons prey, At home to have our goods purloined away. Now idleness hath filled full every goal, Made hard necessity so far prevail That the every must supply what labour ought; And late repentance at the gallows bought, Be dearly rated. These combustions have Planted a Nursery to make fat the Grave, The Gibbets groan, undo a flourishing Land; whilst high ways echo with the thieves word, stand▪ For what can be expected of such men Bred up to spoil and rapine in the Den Of Cacus? loosely dissipating what By plundering, their, and pillaging was got. But when the clamour of the Drum shall cease, And England be made happy with a Peace The selfsame riotous and licentious course Begun, must be maintained with a worse. Had not as Rome, Polib. lib. 1. At large relates the remarkable passages of the Mercenary war. And out of him Sir Walter Raleigh in his history of the World. proud Carthage as great powers▪ As large command at Sea, as lofty Towers; As populous a city, walls as strong? In which presuming; they made war so long With mighty Rome, in Sicily and Spain, And as their loss was equal, so their gain. Yet when the wars are done and leagues are made, By mercenaries, Carthage is betrayed; And their own soldier's ruin Carthage more Than all the wars they ever waged before. As ceasing Hippo, Tunis, Utica, Soliciting disgusted Africa; They siege the city, and the world had seen Carthage in flames, had not Hamilcar been. Will not the cashirde soldiers imitate Th●se stipendiaries, and undo our State? Will not new Spendi and new Mathos rise, And for Remattos make a sacrifice Of glorious London? and our civil jars Conclude at last as theirs with social wars? Men bred in ease, accustomed to spoil Will make a booty of their native soil. And conscious of the mischiefs they have done (With Spendius from his Roman Master run) Fearing the penal laws and justice's course, Secure their wicked acts by acting worse. No such republic 'mongst the Pismires is, But every one taught what belongs to his Duty, performs it cheerfully, and spares No honest toil, but with much labour cares To feed the following winter. In one day We consume all, the next look out for prey And so we get a booty, never look How 'tis obtained, whether by hook or crook. They hoard up corn, but not as Farmers do And covetous curmudgeons, that undo The poor and country, to bring out again, And dearly sell it in a dearth of grain. But as good soldiers our industrious Ants Are provident, and skilful, what sad wants Follow a winter siege, oppress a town Beleaguered, in the spring go up, and down In Summer, and in autumn, bring in grain And plenteous Ammunition, to maintain Their Forts and selves besieged by rain, hail, snows, Continual Frosts, (the Emmets yearly foes) To prevent which, they always careful are And keep themselves in a defensive war. Nor do these little creatures always toil, That would their bodies and continuance spoil; But have some seasons in their commonwealth Ordered by nature, to preserve their health; Wherein they celebrate their wakes, hold fares And sequestrated from domestic cares, Receive each other with much charity, Offer their vows to hospitality▪ (A Deity conserving friendship) and Did we their speech and Commerce understand, Their friendly colloquies, kind salutations, Free entertainment, harmless recreations; we'd judge there's more true happiness, true mirth In those Meandred caverns of the Earth, Amongst these little Chits, then in the Feasts Of mighty Potentates, where royal Guests Are entertained with all magnificence; And much contention to please every sense. Mark Antony, Lucullus, and Apicius; Never as these made banquets so delicious. Yet all the Kates which in one meal they eat, Mounts only to some twenty corns of wheat. Fresh River water filled in some Nutshell Shall quench their thirst, and please 'em wondrous well: No healths, but hearty draughts walk round about, For they by rules of nature have found out, Much drinking hurts the health, empties the purse: The deadly bane of wisdom; madness, nurse, The fruitful Mother of fantastic fits, Broacher of quarrels, deluge of best wits. Therefore our Ants who much respect their gain, Love Peace, are Witty, still preserve their brain. How else could they keep Marts, labour, have health? How in such Peace conserve their commonwealth? Their Kerimas expired they retire And rest themselves, till Titan's cheerful fire Shall warm the world. Then hating nothing more Than sloth, in thickest Cohorts they explore The adjacent Regions, and bring forage home: Some laden are with wheat, with barley some, And in the way how courteously they meet, And their dear friends coming full loaden greet? Congratulate their labours, civilly, Decline the path, gently let them pass by? When as a coachman and a Car-man chance To meet together, both strive to advance Though one ride empty, th' other full, and all The streets are cumbered as these Carters brawl. Nay swords sometimes are drawn, and clubs and staves; And Constables are fetched to part the knaves, The coached Madamoisels affrighted cry, And skipping out take for their sanctuary The nearest shop. Our Ants are better taught, And empty yield the way to such who fraught, With Ammunition travail. The pert Elves Venture on burdens bigger than themselves, And master 'em as forwards, backwards they Heave at the burden, and try every way; Nay when the single strength of one or two Helps not, they prove what multitudes can do Flocking together in condensed bands, And easily convey through many hands Their wished load. So have I seen in Spain By many Ants, a well-grown lizard slain; And hurried to their holes. There's not more sport In Paris Garden, when they set a sort Of mastiff Dogs upon a single bear, And bear and Dog shall one another tear, Tug, weary, bite, than when these shall assail The lizard; seize on sides, back, head and tail, Here, there stop him, as if he were in nets, And when with violent force from them he gets, The gathered multitude trip up his heels, Yet still he strives; but as a Drunkard reels Stopped by so many, nor can he get far, So vigilant the Interlopers are▪ Here he falls, there he rises, makes a stand, (And stand he must) whilst they with their black band Assault on all sides, and the eager hounds Following the chase, inflict many slight wounds Which multiplied, prove fatal: he must yield At last, who 'gainst a Myriad fights a field. Was it Achilles, or his Myrmidons, That slew the first and best of Priam's sons? 'Tis certain Hector was the better Knight, But what one man, can with a thousand fight? Pharaoh is plagued with multitude of flies, And Caesar pricked with many bodkins dies. The battle done, and having got the day They busied are how to dispose the prey▪ The slaughtered corpse for winter must provide, Therefore with skill their Stations they divide. Heave at the carcase here, there, everywhere; And by degrees to their dark caverns bear. So stones of ponderous weight we often see Carried with art, and like dexterity, To repair Paul's. And if the putrified Corpse shall annoy their Garners not well dried, With the same skill they bring it forth again Expose to the air, to heat, to cold, to rain, Until at last 'tis seasoned and made good, Then carry it back to make their winter food. Of which they are so careful, that no weather, Shall hinder them their winter crop to gather. And shame our soldiers that go out to plunder, And having got a petty booty, under Some tavern, or poor Alehouse roof devour Their naughtily gotten prey in one short hour. Emmets no more than men immortal are But sometimes die, yet with more pious care Then many men, they shall be buried, And obsequies performed to the dead. Unless you see Sir Richard and the Knave His clerk; the Sexton that shall dig the grave, Keep your dead bodies, of them mummy make: No needy souls will churlish Charon take For passengers into his leaking boat, That are not able to defray their groat. How many virtues in our Emmets shine? What providence, what piety? what divine Religion? how much charity to men? As they dig Treasures out the Minerals, then Hide them in holes with much solicitude, Not avaricious but for mankind's good▪ For know amongst the Northern Indians are A race of Ants more great, more fit for war Then these with us, yet qualified as these With the same graces, the same industries. These as laborious as the others spare No Summer travail, Caufin. but with serious care Fill Granaries with corn, and in the spring And autumn daily Ammunition bring Against the winter, nor then will they rest, But digging i'th' earth's bowels, where the best Silver and gold lie hid, take out the Ore, And in their Cells the precious metals store. Calepin. And knowing how much damage gold do●s man, Hoard up, Verb. sormic▪ and hide with all the care they can That strong supporter of uncivil ●arres Treasons reward, that sinews of the wars; That implement of pride and lawless pleasures Ambitions nurse, suckled by golden treasures What made great Walstein aim to be a King, But golden Rivers and a silver spring: The fomenters and hatchers of all evil, Albert. Walstone Duke of Freid land. Ferdinand. the ●conds general, making a prey of both Imperials and the enemy, in a short time heaped up infinite Treasures. The best deserving vassals of the devil. As Caesar's general, Villages and towns He plundered; Nobles, Citizens, and clowns, And got such sums that nothing could content His swelling spirits, but regal government. What has man got by all the Indian pelf, But many talents to undo himself. Our England, Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Dane, Polak, German, had sufficient gain Before we understood what Inguts were But when we had full Carracks of them, there Stepped in ambition, and deep policy Aims at an Europian monarchy Encouraged and supported, by that plate That comes from Peru, Philip of Macedon was w●n● to say an ass loaden with gold, would enter any City. a most easy gate To enter kingdoms (did not Philip's ass At any time through any City pass) Where the sword could not? then the world combines And strong against the house of Austria joins. Why was the Spaniard rich? why did he bring The gold from India to undo his King? 'Twas Charles the fifths wise word, wars had not been So long in Europe, had not Christians seen So much of Spanish gold: monarchs defray Out their own stock, Philip 2. Philip 4. Rebellious soldiers pay As Philip did, and Philip's son hath lost The Netherlanders, yet was at the cost To lose 'em. And sad war shall never cease Either by Conquest or a happy Peace, So long as King and States find any coin To maintain war. The chieftains shall combine On either side: here they shall lose, gain there; This year the States shall win, the King next year. The paymasters defraud the Captains, they Cheat with false musters them; and of their pay The soldiers, All the Mines of potash, Cannot content the avarice of these three. Else how should they maintain themselves? how keep Their wenches, go so gallant, play, drink deep? Mean while the Nobles, Peasants, Citizens Fast and do penance for the soldier's sins. But now a mighty inundation comes Upon the Hesperean monarch,' as his sums Exhausted, every smaller Bird resumes His proper feathers from the Austrian plumes. The Pythagorean scholars dare divine And Monarchies, and commonweals consign To some fixed space, which ended they decay, And in their Empires others bear the sway. Revolve the Chronicles, six vultures flow On either side of Romulus, to show Rome should six hundreth years like some new Moon Be still augmenting, and those ages run; Six hundreth years Rome daily should go down, Until at last she lost the imperial crown. Let us come nearer. Meronius Race Shall rule two hundreth thirty eight years' space, Than Pepin, and his Martialists shall come, And enthronized accomplish the same sum. Which made complete, nor past, they are cast down; And Capet, Valois, Bourbon wear the Crown? Are times expired, are the moments run? Must the Hesperean Monarchy be done, Must other Nations in his Empire come, Give laws to more than half our Christendom? Great Richelieu that Cardinal of France, Vindex revolting from Nero is observed to roll the first stone, which thrust Nero out the Empire. Tacitus. With Spain's destruction striving to advance The French affairs, as Vindex rolls a stone Likely to justle Caesar out his Throne. This haughty Prelate like the ivy grows About the Mother Queen, and overthrows The Tree which gave him strength. (So many rise By those of whom they make a sacrifice) (We daily see so much) preferred by her To th' King, and sworn a Privy counsellor: As Hannibal, vows an eternal hate Against the Spaniard, and chief Potentate Of Germany. Can such souls that should be The Thrones of Love, Temples of lenity Conceive such fires? can churchmen who should breathe The Oracles of Peace, speak blood and death? And make our world a new Calvaria; filled With skulls of Gentry, and Plebeians killed. Nay one great monarch to supply a room, The King of Swedeland. Vouchsafes amongst the rest to have his tomb▪ Say (Mary) why hast thou this firebrand hurled Amongst us to consume the wretched World? Mary Medises Queen of France, the raiser of Cardinal Richelieu, and by him made forsake the kingdom. Blood was shed fast enough. Why didst thou go, And fetch a fury from the depths below; To make the world a shambles? But thy sins Are well rewarded, as he first begins With thy confusion: makes thee a runagate, 〈◊〉 in this kingdom, and that State. So Agrippine will have her Nero reign, Though as he sways his Mother shall be slain. Imperial Cities are solicited, The Princes, the electors, and the Swede, jews and Adolph in strong leagues shall join To share Beme, Austria, Francony, and Rhine. The couquering Swede shall think't a point of State Not to surrender the Palatinate: (Although he had engaged his royal word, Such small fidelity attends the sword.) What pen can write how many plagues invade Afflicted Germany? Fire, Famine, Blade, And pestilence. Ride forty leagues, and you Shall scarce a Village or a Cottage view. I'th' way lie many famished corpse, that are The bleeding Test● of an inhuman war. England reflect and fear 'twill be thy fate To be as Germany so unfortunate, unless the sager counsels of our King And Parliament a mediation bring; And make our Albion happy. Why should we (The same blood, Language, Land) so cruel be Unto our selves▪ at last when all is done, The son shall grieve his Father is undone: The Father that his son is slain; the Mother Abhor her son because he killed his Brother▪ Saturity of Bread, long ease, much pelf, Makes wanton England fight against itself. What France and Spain could not, abundant store Of gold, has made us miserable poor. Therefore our Indian Ants in love to man Treasure up gold, and with what art they can Keep't from us, that the ready impliments Of strife removed, we buy not penitence At too dear rates. Yet all their industry, Cannot prevent their neighbour's treachery. For when Sol mounted high on Le●'s back, Or pressing Virgo through the zodiac Shall drive his steeds▪ and with his scorching fire, Cause the laborious Emmets to retire Unto their Cells: the false inhabitants Of Darda steal the treasure of our Ants Hid in remoter magazines, but they Knowing by th' sent the thieves have made a prey Of their concealed wealth, like eager hounds Pursue the flying Felons, and with wounds Recover the lost booty, then return (Their gold amongst them, in much Triumph borne.) The Conclusion. WHen the Angels had the ample world surveyd, And here and there in much amazement stayed, " They all agreeing one sole deity Could of so rare a work the workman be▪ " One added 'twere a Luciferian pride " what's wanting, what's superfluous to decide; " Since he made all whose wisdom best could see, " What, and how fashioned, things he made, should be. " Yet since we have a freedom to unfold " Our sense, had I been counsellor I would " Have had a voice, more audible and higher " Then of that Trump, which when a general fire " Consumes the world, shall summon souls to come " To judgement; and receive their latest doom. " This every day and hour should walk the round " O'th' spacious Globe, and to the creatures sound " The praise of their creator; with what art " He made the world, and polished every part. " How Heaven and Earth at his appointment stand, " Supported with a finger of his hand. " How he the watery Meteors, snows, hails, reins " I'th' airy Regions, with a word sustains; " Gives limits to the swelling Ocean: Iob. then " Extol his works amongst the sons of men. " His ordered providence, supremer love, " Even to his enemies: as from above, " He sent his only son to pay the price " Of Adam's debt, and be a sacrifice " For man's transgression; with his precious blood " Purchased for sinful man, Beatitude. " So shall the learned and unlearned know, " Whence, why, and how the streams of graces flow, " And wakened by this voice, their spirits raise, " And be the Organs of their maker's praise▪ " Having spoke thus a Seraphin replies, " If this were granted, I would then advise " The warlike Drum eternally should cease, " And the world gently luled asleep by Peace. " The noise of war being like the noise of hell, " (Where constant horror and confusion dwell.) Iob. 7. " Where echo Drums, and Guns, and Trumpets sound; " Th' harmonious strains of Piety are drowned. " We all love man, let's at Jehovah's Throne " Petition, he'd all differences atone. " And Kings and commonweals to union bring, " That all may jointly Allelujahs sing " In Heaven; where are no jars, no wars, no strife, " But full fruition of a blessed life. Errata. PAge 9 line 16. for deluding ruin, read deluding spirit. Ibid. for Joram's reign, read Joram's ruin. FINIS.