Votum Perenne. A POEM TO THE KING ON NEW-YEARS-DAY.  
BY THOMAS SHADWELL, Esq; Poet laureate, and Historiographer Royal.  
LONDON, Printed for Samuel Crouch, at the Corner of Pope's-Head-Alley, over against the Royal-Exchange, 1692.   

Votum Perenne.  
A POEM to the KING on New-Years-Day.  

NOW Janus in his Office does appear,  
To close the Last, and to unfold this Year;  
His dreadful Temple now wide open stands,  
And Europe is oppressed by Warring Bands.  
For You Sir, 'tis reserved to quell the Foes,  
And only You those Fatal Doors can close.  
Illustrious Monarch! on this Solemn Day  
The Humble Tribute of our Hearts we pay.  
Big with our Vows and prayers, that Heaven would bless  
Your Person and your Arms with such Success,  
That every Day your Glory may increase.  
And never may Sinister Fate oppose,  
Till you have raised your Friends, and humbled all your Foes.   

No Nation is like ours securely blessed,  
While all the World is plagued, we are at Rest.  
This more than Goshen is, the Power Divine  
Has made Two Suns in our Horizon shine:  
A Prince who bravely can abroad o'ercome,  
While his Fair Queen can wisely Reign at Home.   

Our last Three Years so marvelous have been,  
Th' Almighty power to Atheists must be seen:  
Since the vast Scene was shifted with such ease,  
Calm was the Land, and Quiet were the Seas,  
And all along th' Invasion it was Peace.  
The Sun thus gently gives the Morning Birth,  
And with its Fruitful Beams invades the Earth.  
The Neighbouring Isle was not so wise as we,  
That could not taste the Sweets of Liberty,  
But the Event of Bloody War would see.   

You of all Princes like, and need Praise least,  
Yet must it in your Story be expressed:  
Excuse your Poet who your Praise must writ,  
If as Historian he your Deeds recite.  
Who can but with poetic Heat be warmed  
By your great Wonders at the Boin performed?  
Whose Spirit Kindled up the Fainting War  
Into a flamme, which spread out wide and far.  
None e're so wisely lead, so bravely Fought:  
By You thus fired, by your Example taught,  
Your Leaders since vast Miracles have wrought:  
Which with Amazement the French Generals filled  
Though bold in Arms, and much in Conduct skilled:  
Not Art, nor Nature could their Men Secure  
Against such Daring Souls as would no Bounds endure.  
inspired by Your great Cause and Mighty Name,  
They thought no Price too dear to pay for famed.  
No Difficulty could your Arms oppose,  
No Hold was strong enough to Guard your Foes,  
Not Forts, not Towns, nor Camps more strong than those;  
Not Treacherous Bogs, nor Rapid Floods could serve,  
No Hills, no straightness, Rebels could preserve:  
But every where before your Troops they fall,  
So well they Copied out their Great Original.  
What Triumphs had another Scene adorned,  
But the Grand Lewis had too well been warned;  
And those who felt what you before had done,  
Ingloriously the proffered Combat shun;  
And in their Coverts closed, the Beasts of Prey  
stirred not, till the Great Nimrod was away.  
A Foe t'his Face, they never ' dare Attack,  
But soon grow Furious, if he turns his Back.   

Nor durst their Boasting and Vain-glorious Fleet  
Your Gallant well appointed Navy meet.  
Your Person cannot in each Place appear,  
Where your own Ensigns fly, your virtue's there.  
Though every Night the Sun his Beams withdraws,  
His Influence yet by Night does huge Productions cause.   

But lo, the busy and inquiring Muse,  
Did Fates Mysterious Volumes late peruse;  
Those Hidden Rolls which to the World give Law,  
Where she the Rise, and Fall of Empires saw;  
She in a Vision whispered to my Ear,  
That a more Wondrous Scene would yet appear,  
And this should be the most Important Year;  
That my Great Master was by Fate designed  
To Quiet the Disturber of Mankind.  
And Sir, the Happy Time's approaching now,  
When his to your Superior Fate must bow:  
Who shall Invade him in his Tenderest part,  
And bend or break his too Imperious Heart:  
His Violence and Rapine bring to nought,  
Which have through Europe such Destruction wrought.  
You Sir, shall make those dire Convulsions cease  
And give the Shaken World a firm and glorious Peace.   

Almighty Power make this Prediction true,  
And with Success in all things prosper You;  
Heaven from th'Abundance of its precious Store,  
Such Blessings on your Royal Temples pour,  
Till you can ask, and that can give no more.   
So preys Your Majesties most Dutiful Servant, and most Loyal Subject, Tho. Shadwell.   

ADVERTISEMENT.  
THE Ingenious and Diverting Letters of the Lady— Travels into Spain; Describing the Devotions, Nunneries, Humours, Customs, Laws, Militia, Trade, Diet and Recreations of that People. intermixed with great Variety of Modern Adventures, and Surprising Accidents: Being the Truest and Best Remarks Extant on that Court and Country. First and Second Part, Printed for Samuel Crouch.