r> ' i f'/' ■' / u 'f' >■■ • I // "V U^-t t , ^v 4'*'^ ,V.,' .| '■■' '• •;•; V-/ ,JV. -5,\ , /* .. . -,, ''.; o i O' ' irt'r* ■ #: Digitized by the Internet Archive ' in 2017 with funding from Getty Research Institute r- . https://archive.org/details/partheneiasacraoOOhawk H n AP ©ENOX Bjr John Coujlurltr Al.D'C-XXXJJI^ ut fome Eioksor Other , m prayfe of our S a c r e d P a r t h e n e . ftanllh! Eye as wel as the Vndcr- Itandmg for his greater deliglit , thou flialr p^aufe a v, hile to leade him to behold, as in a Tanc- ftiie, me Symbol turned into an i mil, me, pioully copored;where fortheclearervnderftandinnthe-of the Ohre shal be indicatinely expreifed f„"a ^ Blade for the purpofe.Then shalt thou make him fo downe a while, to ponder, confide,- , and conteplace fome things befides , conducing to the furthc^ dif. cuucric 4 The Plat^porme* coiierie of the hidden myfterie , contained in the Symbol itfelf ^ to the honour of our Sack ed Fart u e k e s , as certain Speculations or Theories ther- OB. And after ah shalt then inuite him to Apoftro- phize with the Paragon P^rthenes herfelf , vn^ der the Symbol fo handled , being the vtmoll fc . pe, and ful fruition of the whole ; and fo conclude the peece with fome boone or fuite , correfpondent to the prefent occafionjin euerie one.And this method would 1 haue thee keepe in ah Now then^being thus admonishedji licence , and freely giue thee leaue,to leade thy Keader £r£c into her ptiuate Garden ( for Frinces, you muft know , and great Ladies too , be- fides their publick , haue home priuate Garden of , their owne ) where, though enclofed , yet with the Vvdngs of Contemplation, may he fecretly view , re- f eci,reuievv, fiiruey,delight,contemiplate,and enioy the hidden and fublime perfedions therin,andlaftly obtaine , no doubt , anie reafonable fuite at the hands of the Sacred P a r t. a e n e s ill refped thereof 5 lor his reward. THE THE I. SYMBOL. THE GARDE No THE DEVISE, THE CHARACTER- >He Garden is a goodlie Amphi- . theater of /flowers , vpoii whofe leaues, delicions beauties ftand , as on a flage, to be ga^ed on ^ • and to play their ^parts , not to fee fo much , as to be feen; and like Wantons to allure with their looks, or en- chant with their w'brdSjithe ciuets and perfumes they weare about thenii It is euen the ppidc of Nature, her beft array, which flie puts on , to entertaine the Spring withal. It is the rich Magazin or Burfc of the beft perfumes or Roman walli : A poefie of more b worth 6 Partheneia SacraJ worthjthen a bal of pomander, to make one grateful where he comes ; the one being fweetly fweet/fhe other importimeiy* It is aMonopolie of al the plea- fares and delights that are on earth , amaifed togea- th^r , to make a dearth therof els-where , and to fet what price they lift vpon them : It is the precious. Cabinet of flowriegems , or gems of flowers: The 111 op of Simples in their element , delighting rather! toliue delicious in themfelues at home, where they! are bred, then changing their conditions, to become reftoratiues to others j or to dye to their beau- ties , to fatisfy the couetous humour of euerie Apothecarie , to enrich himfelf with their ipoyles. It is-the Pallace of flora's pomps , where is th0 ward-robe of her richeft mantles , powdred with ftarres of flowers, and al embroadredwith flowrie ftones.It is the laughter and fmile ofNaturerHer lap- ful of flowers, and the Garland fne is crowned with in triumphs.lt is aParadiceofpleafures,whofe open walks are T arr^/es,the Clofe , the Galleries, the Ar- bours, the Pauillions, the flowrie Bancks,the eafle andfoftCouches.Itis,inaword, a world of fweets, that liue in a faire Communitie togeather , where is no enuie of another's happines , or contempt of others pouertie*, while euerie flower is contented with its owne eftate ; nor would the Dazie wifli to be aRofe,nor yet the Rofe contemnes the meaneft flower. THE The Garden. THE MORALS. 7 S A C E R P R I N C I P I. T is a Maxime in al Arts >. Ther€ is n$ ruk wirhsHt exception. And San-duaries, we know, in algood ChriftianCom-. mon-wealths haue been euer allowed o£. Who is he fo rude, that dares lay hands vpon the veflels marked with the Prince's Armes ?Or whoprefiimes todifannui or cancel his Priuie or Broad Seals? The Prince’s clofet is ihut to al , but to the Prince himfelf. His Signet is a Key, that opens al the poftetns of his Court* There is no Prince , who , behdes his common treafure , hath not apriuat casket ofhis owne.When the world was drowned , there was an Ark , that fafely floted on the Mayne jnor al the Catarads of Heauen,were able to ouerwhelme it. The lewes indeed had their Citties of Refuge , and the King of lewes no leffe his fandifyed Cittie* Ir was a great emultm to violate the immunities of thofe j What think you then of his priuat Cittie ? Hath he a Cittie for him- felf,andnot a Garden priuatetohimfelfPDoubtles he hath. Hehaththenapriuate Garden ofhis owne, and keeps the keys himfelf. Long Hue the Prince then,to enioy his Garden j and curfed be he,. that fiial ^ . but with the mouth or hart feeme to violate the facred clofures of his Garden, Pr i n c i p i SAC£R» THE 8 I^ARTHENEIA S A C R A* THE ESSAY, wii not take vpon me total al ; fof* fo of a Garden of flowers , fnould I make a Labyrinth of difcourfe , and fliould neuer be able to get forth* Caft but your eyes a little on thofe goodlie Allies, as fowed al ouer with fands of gold, drawne-forth fo {freight by a line. Thofe Crof-bowes there ( be not affray ed of them ) thiey are but Crof-bowes made of Bayes ; and the HarquebuflerSjWrought inRofmarie,{li00t but flow- ers, and dart forth musk. Thofe Beads likewife, hor- rible there and dreadful to fee to , are but in ieaff ; al that menace they make,is but a fhew only. Al thofe armed Men with greenifli weapons,and thofe Beafls al clad in skins of green, are but of Prim, Ifop,and Tyme , al hearbs very apt to hiftorify withal. I wil quite pafle oner thoie little Groues , Thickets , and Arbours, and fpeake nothing of thofe Pety-canons there and Quiriders , chanting their Complines in- the Euening, and Nodurnes in the Night , mingling their prettieMottets,v, hich Nature learnes themjCf tlieir owne accord. Nor wii I heer fpeake a word of thofe Water-works, Conduits,andAquaduds,which yet might you heare to make a gentle miurmur throughout , affording an apt Bafe for the birds to defcant on. I half me to the Flowers only mofl: pro- per to our G ARDEN heer. Behold, I pray, thofe feiifhes, al enameled with R o s e s of fo manie forts; thefe heer apparrelled with the white of Innocencie*, thofe there with a fcarlet tindure ; one wel-nigh withered ernbalmes the ayre with its perfume , and makes a fliew with its golden threads , and al its treafure ; that oth^r is yet in its folds , and dares XiQt TheCarden. ^ not hazard To much a$ to peepe forth ; this hecr purs forth the bud, and now half-open fmiles withal, and fhewes forth a glimps of its purple, through a cliff of the green Cafe , wherein it is^which the theeui/h birds would foone come to fteale away , were it not for the Qarrifon of thornes, that femes for a Corps- de-guard to that Queene of flowers.Behold there thq Lillies of ten forts ; fomeyet hidden in their green cups; others halfbprne; and the reft newly difclo- fed. What think you ? are they not exceeding faire> You would fay , they were of v/hite Satin , ftreaked without, and al embroadered within with gold; you canhardly tel, whether they be milk condenfed into, leaues , or figured fnow , or filuer flower-de-lis’d,or ^ftarre almusked.Tliofe yellow ones , would you not verily think them to be golden bels ? and that red one , a little purfe of crimfon-fatin ? and thofe others , fome goodlie veffels of Emeralds , or the like ? But marke a whfte ; fee you not thofe beds ftrewed with a thoufand Violets ? fome yellow , fome purple, fome white, fome fpeckled, and fome party- couloured, fomeCarnafliioii , and feme changeable* Behold thofe faire and beautiful Tulips there ; thofe rich Amaranths , cerulean Hiacinths , Panfies , the gemme's of the goodlie Iri s ; the fcarlet Gillo- flower , the Pinks , the Mary golds , and a thoufand otherflpwers. O what aParadice of flowers is this! What a Heauen of muskie ftarres, or Celeftial Earth al ftarred with flowers^empear led with gemmes and precious ftones 1 A landofpromife, fulofmilk and honie ! Behold , I fay, the Rose , dedicated (they fay) to that little elf CupU ; whofe threads are as golden hayres ; whofe thornes infteed of arrowes; whofe fire , a flafii of lufter ; and whofe leaues arc wings ; few caji tou^h it , vyithout touch of louc B iij vuto. JQ Partreneia Sacra.’ vnto It; and. it cofts them deare , who meddle with it* The Lillie hangs the head downe; for modeftie^ I fuppofe ; though it can not blufh, for bauing nothing to bliifh at; her flower being al fo white and without fpot. They fay, She was borne of the milk of howfoeuer fhe is called the Royal flower , the Rofeif Juno. Note there the humilitie of the Violet, how like to the ftrawbcrrie flie keeps by the ground, hiding^what flie can,her beautie in her leaues ,but is difcouered whether {he wil or no ; partly by the fiafhes of her Irdler , breaking forth vnawares bemeene the leaues , not fo referued as they ought; and partly with the odour £he can not choofe but fend forth. The Tulip is a fingular ornament to this Garden;looke and obferue it wel. How were it po/E^ ble 5 one would think , fo thin a leaf , bred and nou- rished in the fame ayre , and proceeding from the fameftem , fihould be golden in thebottome ^ violet without, faffron within , bordered onthe edge with fine gold , and the prickle of the point blew as a goodlier Saphir ? and a hundred others of feueral fafiuons^as if they had ftriuen to dreife themfelues to put the eyes into paine ,not knowing where to be- llow themfelues. There againe , may you note ano- therjnotvnliketoaColiunbinjVery gracious to fee to , enameled with drops of gold , and a thoufand other the like varieties ;fo as of neceflitiewe muft needs confelTe, that G o d h very admirahU in his fince on fopoore a thing, as a flender ftalk, grow fiich a number of excellent varieties. And now I ad- dreffe liiyfelf to Thee , the Soueraigne and Mjifikal Garden itfelf,the Paragon of Gardens. THE II The Garde n. THE DISCOVRSE. Speakenot heer of the Couent-^Gar den ythc garden of the Temple, nov that of the chBRFVSA RVBORE. Tisa c6monSaying:T/?f honeJlBrtde^ groome,anii the bashful Bride. I' or: fo w h ein Rebecca firft was brought to the youthiiil ifaac , as aSpoufe , flie put her fcarfor veile before liereyes.So Rachel did, and manie others. Luentia the Chaft chofc rather to wallow in her bloud, then to furuiue her lhame,wheiin {lie bluilied iridecd,but y ct without caiife 5 for yet ftil flie remay nes in al mens mouths, the Chaft, Lucretia, The hart and cheeks hauc their intelligences togeather,anid the pureft blOud is meflenger betweene them. The hart is put into a fright ; the obfequioiis bloud comes-in anon , and asks:Whatayleyou,Sir? Goe,get you vp,and mount . to the turret of the cheeks, my onlie friend , and cal for help;the bV>ud obeyes,and makes the blufli,that rayfeth fuch alarmes, in tender Virgins moft efpe- cially. What feares the Virgin , when fheblufiies fo? The wrack of her honourjyou wil fay .How foPIsHo- nour in the Bodie, or the Mind? If in the Mind, the Mind is a Citadel impregnable , not fubied to vio- lence, nor to be betrayed , but by itfelf. Then blufh not. Virgin, for the matter ; thy hold is fure enough, and thou in fafetie, if thou wilt thyfelf.But this of al other Vertucs, neuer is fafe and fecure enough ; this of al others feares the verie fhadowes themfelues, and trembles like an Afpin-leaf at the leaft motions. No^^ lookes llie pale like averieclowt ; and now through modeftie,the colour mouts into her cheeks, and there fets-vp his ruddie ftandard , as if the Fort >yere hisjtil f^re againepreuay ling, plucks it downe And ^eiitew. zb P A R T H E N E I A S A C R A.” ‘And thefe were the viciflitiides our Sacred ViRcm had 5 when her glorious Patanimph difcouered his Embaffage to her in her fecret clofet, prefenting her a lhadow only , feeming oppofite to her chad: Vowj Vv Herat She trembled in his iight^C asto PERrv- §A RVBORI THE ESSAY: ^E hold beer the Princeffe of flowers , the fjPearl of Rofes , with al its varieties : the IDamas/iRcfe ^ the Mus^-Rofe : The Rf And then ponder, how the Angels flood ama^ed,feing fo our Mjfikal Rofe tranfplanted from Hicrito , into the Beaumlte ? 4 udice 5 or afcending rather fo flouriihing from the Defirt , when there was like queftioning amongfl them,at her glotious Afft4mft'm,^sking:\Vh» itwasylhdt afcendedflQTi^mgVif'ithd^ Conflder then the Rq[e , while it growes in the Garden, and flourifheth , as it were aliue, how it cheeres and glads the eyes of al with its glorious prefence; and how^after it is cropt from its ftemme alfOj Vi^hich is the death of the faid Kofi, what an odour it hath with it, euen after it hath been perfe- cuted with Are in the fournace of the Stil, as welin the water ^as in the cake;and then thiiik^what amir- rour and pattern offanditie Our Ladle was,during her abode heer in the garden of the World; and how Hie multiplied her fauourstp man-kind, efpecially after Hie was tranflated thence , and had been proued and exercifed with infinit tribulations, leaning an vn- {peakable qdour behind , of miracles and graces; witnes the innumerable Votes that hang on her Te- ples and Chapels throughout the world. Ponder laftly, that of Rofes are made , fometimes Eleduaries/ometimes Gyles, fometimes Playfters, andConferues very foueraigne and medicinal for manie T H 1 R o s e; i? maniedifeafes, namely foure:for firft>the nofe forti- fyes the ftomack, and comforts the hartifecondly,it Itops the flux ofthe venter ; thirdly, it clarify es the eyes ; andfinally, heales the head-ach. So our Mj/fitcal Hofe comforts the hart,in affording it the Charitie of God*, reftraines the flux of finnes, through the Fearc of Goo, which fhegiues to efehew finnes withaljcla- rifyes the eye of the vnderftanding , by imparting to it the knowledge of Diuine things*, and cures the head,which is hope, being the helmet of health , when flie ray feth our tepid hope, to defire Celeftial things^and therefore fayth; I am the mother offajre dUe^ion , offeare^ ^jknay^ledge^ and of hoik hofe. THE APOSTROPHE. Thef.U Ecel^i4 lomr of flowers , O Rofe of rofes , O flower of rofes.O Kok of flow :'rs I Shore ullo^uit mevp with fiowd:s, becaufe I lan^ guilli for loue of thy lone lEsvs,ff?« ofthee^b Rofe, little in thy wcmb.greater in thine 4rmes,& then fayrefl (faljWhen opened throughly and difflayed on the Croffe, By that precious bud of ihmyi befeech thee, and the sheading of his mofl precious bloua, thou wmldfl change my thorns into rofes *, and prefent me, as a Rofe offweetodourSyto thy Sonne , and not as thorns foifml of the f re of his indignation.O grant me this,! befeech thet^and beer doe I prefent thee, in honour of thee, the My ftical RQfe,4»ft thj Sonnc,rly foueraigne Bud, the Uymne thatfgllowes ; SalueCnRiSTi facra Parens, Flos de fpina, fpina carens , Flos , Spinati gloria. Nos fpinetum, nos peccati Spin^ fumus cruentati^ Sed tu fpinae nefeia. THE. THE III. SYMBOL. THE' LILLIE. T HE DE VISE. H E Lillie is the Scepter of the chall i DM«rf;whofe Flower-deluce,the crowne; and ftemme , the handle ; which Ihe chaftly wealds amidft the Nimphs of flowers.lt is a Siluer-Bel, without found to the eatc ^ but ful of fweets to the brim ; and where it can not draw the eares, the eyes it wil ; and inebriats the curious with its oiier-fweets. It is a Box of Ciuets , which opens to the Zephirs , and pro- digally powers forth its fpices to the flanders round- about, though tiiey come not very nigh it, Morait feemes ! T H E L I t L 1 eJ 29 feemes hath no other Purfe, then this of candid faf- fron^without firings to fliut it vp j fo prodigal flic is of her fweets which flie wel knovv^es can neuer al be disburfed.Who had not feen a uthe heertofore, eipe- cially the Flower-deluce,the Prince of Lillies, would ftart (no doubt ) as with the fight of a Garden- Comete , and cal in his friends perhaps to gaze on a Blazing Starre or Garden-Miracle. It is the enfigiie France y eben vying with the Brittisb or Lamafirian iV^hiter Rofe^if not fo happie for her Vnion with the Red,the Enfigne of Peace , yet in this more happie, that file neuer was diuided, to haue need of fuch a , Vnion, as euer ftanding of herfelf. It is a Qiuuer of amourous fliafts,with golden heads,which fome cal hammers rather , againfi lufi,to blunt the thorns of lewd Concupifcence. A verie Purfelin cup, reple- niflied within , with the rarities of Nature , enough to fiupify and aftonilh the curious in the fearch of fecrets.It is befides a precious Pot of the pureft Ala- blafier , filled with the inualuable Spicknard of Arabia ; for fent and odour , as it were,fellow vnto that , the blefled Magdalen powred on her Maiftcr’s head ; and ifyou wil not beleeueme , approach but to the veflel itfelf , and you fhal feel it ftreight. T o fay no more, no fnow is found to be more white then it,norgiues a greater flafli of lightning in the eyes then it,that fweetly dazels and not duls the fight. 3© Paslthineja Sacra; j the morals. I Niveo CANPORE NITESCEN j ! Hey are truly chaft , whofe mind and bodie neuer yet admitted ftay ne in the , virgin-wax of their pure integritie , in either part. Chaft is fhe held to be,a^ fo is truly , that vowes her chaftitie, and keepes the fame,howbeit once ftayned perhaps^ [ at leaft with impurities of mind, and waflied againe with the Lauer made of the pureft Blcud of the im-. maculate Lamb , she feemes indeed to follow the ; Lamb, wherefoeuer he goes. The Turtle-Widowes’ are accomptcd chaft , and fo they are, that hauing loft their virginal integritie, are re-borne anew,as it | were , both in mind and bodie , with a chafter pur^ i ofe,neuer more to choofe another earthlie Mate,or | urtle-Doue, to follow and confort withal y but in-* i fteed of fuch,make choice to linck therafelues from thence-forth to a heauenlie Sfoufe ; and who, trow you, but the Spoufe of Sfoufes ? and that for euer. The VejUl- Virgms were efteemed fuch by al their Zimins, though they had but abodilie integritie, and no mo- re,while the mind perhaps was fecretly a Proftitute to al impurities. And if there was anie of them , as fome there might be , who kept both the one and other fort of purities indeed , yet were they not vowed perpetually to be fuch y and fo were chaft, though they foined not with that fnowie chaftitie; which , if it be , were , and euer (hal be fo , is not yet the per fe becaufe u e ?ARTHENEiA SaCRA^ are bid to fee and taft, how fweet oar Lord isi Of which Cant.t. oyntmenrit is fayd in the Canticles ; The odour of {him eptmentSyU hejond al Lpices, Beiides^rhe Lilhe hath the root and ftem,{ix-fquare or corner- wife .So the root of Charme in this Paragon, hath fix points with it : thefirft,aloue of GOd aboue ai things ; thefecond^wherewith fhe loued herOwne foule j conferuing the fame in al fanditie s the third, wherewith fhe loued her bodie, keeping it entirely for the Diuinitie j the fourth ^ wherewith fiie loued herdomefticks and familiars , inftruding them inal vertue ; the fift, wherewith (lie loued her friends , in GoDjTIielaft, wherewith fhelouedher enemies^fot God* And to conclude, as the Bed-chambers of Kings arc adorned with Lillies , that they may reft more deli- cioufly among them t fo the Vsrgin^not the Chambet Only of aKiNGjbut of God alfOj was dreffed-vpand befet al with Ltllies round-about ; according to thatt Canty. Tty yeomb as a heap of corn hedged- in with Lillie S'^t'or fhe was ai encompaffcd with Lillies : aboue , being enclofed with the Lillie of eminent Charitie \henezth, with the Lillie of iptofundHutmlitte *, inwardlyjwith the Lillie of internal outwardly, with the Lillie of Virgmitie* on the right hand , with the Lillie of Temperance fm pro- fpcritie^onthe left, with the Lillie of Patience, in aduer- litie ; before , withthe Lillie of Prouidence, in future things ; behind , with the Lillie of Gratitude, for paffed benefits. And fince fhe was fo enuironed and enclo- fed with Lillies of al fides,the Church fings of her : As the daj/es of the Spring , doe the flowers of the rofes enuiron her Cam, 1. ^ound. Among which of Rofes and Lillies , the Beloued, that is C h r i s t , is feeding ; Mj beUued to me, and J to bim^w ho feeds among the Lilbcs. THE * wmia A-iiiie , itizj d filucr Cuf, The facred Virgin humblj offers yp, Herconftamjedfdfi^ lovplte Hart (the foot. Which al fupports } is li^ this floive/s root. Theftemme, her right Intention ; the bole (The flower itfelf) is her chaft JpotleJfe Soule. The yellow h^obbeSyWhich fprowting forth are feeti^ i^fddiantLont^which guild* s her Cup within^ in lieu ofliquides , is a fragrdnt fent: Her vertues odours , which she doth prefenu Her Sonne accepts al , that she offers vp, God, Part of htr inheritance , & Cup, Tie THE S6 PARTHINEIA SacRA. The Qotem- ftation» THE THEORIES. Ontemplatefirftjhow al thorns con- ceaue but thorns* For what fhould thorns conceaue but meerly thorns? Corrupt mothers bring forth into the world butmen^which meerly are but men and finners. But the Vtrgin^ i Mother conceaued the Holie of Holies, she now a itllie | conceaued^and afterwards produced the true Lillie of : the valiiesj^L Lillie ofVirginitie^the Lillie of Maieftie: | through whofe candour is darknes expelled j with | whofe odour, are ray fed the deadjwith whofe touch, | are the leaprous cleanfed , and al the infirme and ' difeafed cured. And therefore how much this Lillie of ours , is to be exalted aboue al the other Daugh- ters, iudge you,and ponder it wel. Confiderthen,that though there were manie other Virgins befides',confpicuons and eminent for fandi- tie , yet were as thorns , for that they had fome ble- tnifi) in them *, fince , howbeit they were pure in themfelues , y.et the fames of finne was not extin- guiflied in them ; who w^ere indeed as thorns to others , that haue been touched and incited with conciipifcence towards them. Wheras the Virgin^* Mother was wholy priuiledged from alguilt,in whom was that femes altogeather extingu!iiied,and was ac- complifliedwdthfo intenfe a Chaftitie , that with her ineftimable Virginal puritie,Hie fo penetrated the harts of the beholders,as fhe could not be coue- ted of anie jbut for the time rather extinguillied al lull of concupifcerice in them. O beautie of Vir- ginitie and Humilitie,wherewith the Sonne of Goo was fo allured and rauilhed! Ponder T H 1 L I L L I E, :?7 Ponder laftly , that as the LiWe hath a moft effica- cious vertiie againft leaprofie, vlcers, and the holic- £re 5 as alfo againft the ftinging of ferpents : So the hlejfed Virgin being conceauedas a Lillk , was endued with fuch vertue of the Diuine grace, that neither the leaprofie of Original finne, the fire of concupifcencc, nor the biting of the old Serpent , could anie wayes hurt her, THE APOSTROPHE, Lillie of Lillies , and next the Lillie (thj dearcft Sonne) the furejt ofal Lillies, Alas!mofij)uteafd The tnjmacuUtY ir gin y shall alwayes Hue i» the Jlaueru Cellot^uie and femitude ofihis impure flesh of mine ? A nd shal I euer be troubled and vexed with thefe vnchafi cogitations ^ and impure apprehenfmSyWbkh fo macerate mj vnwiUwg foalefohy thou eleuated and ray fed aboue al pare creatures , mo ft bleffed • Virgin, I fajiBleffcdwithal bencdi^ionlhow longfAlaslhow shal 1 fujiame the bodie of this death, this impure thiflle of the bodie yWith its thorns f Alas , wkn shal J be detiuered ^nd rid $i]erof? D THE t H E violet is truly the Kermiteffe of Hov^ers, £fi'c<5Hng woods and forefts, where , in a lowlie humilitie mixt with fohcitude, llie leads a life delicious in herfelfj though not fofpecious to the eye , becaufe obfcure. She is a great companion to thePniiirofe , and they little lefTe then fworne fi- lters*, with whom, when llie is difpofed , fiie wil recreate herfelf wdiole nights and dayes;and you fiial likely neuer find them farre afunder. When they are foil! companie in the wood togeather , where T H E V I o L E T. ;9 file is bred and borne , they make an excellent ena- mel of blew and yelow; but being by herfelf alone, as in her celle,fhe is a right Amethylli.Had lum been in queft , to feeke her Bird j as ftrayed in the woods, file would eahly haue thought thefe purple Vidcts had been her Argoc's eyes, as fiiattered lieere and there, and dropt downe from her Peacocks trayne ; and fo wel might hope to haue found her Bird againc,as Deerearetracedby their footings She is euen the Wanton among leaues , that playes the Bo-peep with fuch , as flie is merrie and bold with al ; whom when you think you haue caught ^ and haue now al- ready in your handj (lie flips and leaues you mockt, while you haue but her fcarf only , and not her fclh She is the Anehoreifejfending forth a fragrant odour of her fadlitie,wherefneis not feen^ which file would hide ful faine ^ but can not*She is the Herald of the Spring, wearing the Azure-coat of Armes ^ and pro- claiming fweetly in her manner to the fpecratours the new arriuall ofthe wel-come gueft. She is the Or haftie prefent of F/om , to the whole Naj- ture. Where if the Rofe and Lillie, be the Queene andLadie of Flowers ^ llie wil be their lovvlie hand^ mayd^ their feet , and yet happely ( fot worth) be adiiancedto lodge in the fay red bo fo- mes,as foo as they, as being the onlie Faire affetfting obfeuritie and to lye hid^which other Beauties hate jfo much; The M otto. 40 Partheneia Sacra, THE MORALS. Hvmi serpens e xtol l or h onore. Irginitie indeed is a fpecious and glo- rious thing 5 and hath fomewhat ofthe Angel with it : but yet nothing fo hap- pie as Humilitie is , which hath in truth j lomew hat els w ithal , as it were Diuine. 1 Virginitie and pi ritie inuited the Word to take vp | his lodging in the Virghhil vpomb ; but Humilitie was j it, that ftrook-vp the bargain between the Imma- | culat and the Diuine Guefi. A.nd hence arofe | thefoiirceof alher aduancements. The Angels are pure indeed ,but lower then their nature is , they ! can not ftoop j fince Luciftr himfelf euen after his fal ' •retained his nature ftil , whichhe could not forgo: i thrice happie they, had they not afpired higher then | they were indeed. But the Eternai Wcra could ftoop fo low, and really did, to be leife then Angels. If F«- ntie then be a glorious , fpecious , and Angelical thing^EJumiliuc is avertue more then Angelical, as | being Diuiiie. The Angels would faine haue rifen higher , but could not ; they tryed their wings , and wkhth&t Icarus ( that d^s:ing youth) hadafnameful fal.Biit the pureft of al Virgins in contemplation of the Eternal Word,readie to iloop fo low , wheras fhe Vv'as to be truly the OjHen of Angels , ftiles beer herfelf : thelowlie handwajd of our Lord-, when creeping on the j ground as low as might be , fhe came to be exalted i to the bigheil dignitie next her Sonne, in human na- turejandmightworthily fay ; Hymi serpens extol- lOR H ONORE, THE The Violet. 41 THE ESSAY. Ne would tfiink, the Authour of Nature The had made choice of the Violet, to couch his enamel, and to make the delicatncs of his pencil fiiine therin, and the faireft coii- lours of the world , to border the mantle oftheSpjring withal .There are fome purple, but with the fineft purple j fome as fnow , faihioned into litle flowers , like curdled milk , and blazoned as with Argent \ q , 2 \\ qs ^ 2 \. fowen thick with little odoriferous ffarres : Others are of Ore muskeg » or of Violets meta- morphofedinto moft fweet gold,cut into bloffomes. There are fome dec kt with a hundred and a hundred leaues neatly fitted togeather , and al as grafted into one ftemme, which caftiiig themfelues into a round and folding within one another through a fweet ceconomie,agree to frame and compofe a very dayn- tie and delicious Violet , as faire as f vveet , mingling, with a gentle confufion,athourand coulours, which fimpathize exceeding wel,and glad the eye. Behold the Violet of March and April *, May and lune haue theirs a-part,beingof a changeable coulour,haaingthe top and edge ofpurple , white in the midft , and guilded beneath in the bottome. What a mariielous enamel to fee the argent , the purple , theOj^, and^i;^«?'f ofthe leaues,whichfoaderound-about,al coming forth of a litle green tuft, from a litle fprig,with a Bring, that femes as a pipe for Nature to diftil her musks , that breathe from thence. The leaues are fome what round in their peering forth, and iagged ; and then after extend they in length,and fpread themfelues. Their great vertue comes from a litle fire wel tem- pered in them ^ and a fweet heat, which is the predo- minant 42. 'Pa’rtheneia Sacra, minant qualitie of their complexion , and makes them fweetly bitter. To renew their forces againe, when they arc decay ing,they fteep them in vinagre; and it is incredible , the vertues thefe little flowers hauej for they mollify hardnes,alay heats^and extin- guifti infatuations: the iuyce foftens the venter, dif= f pates and euacuats choler/weetens the afperitie of the lights, alayes the fire that burns the breaft •, with infinit other things,mofl foueraigne for vfe, THE DISCOVRSE. The E H o L D ViOW the r'toUt , Vv^hlch after the Sjirwe/, ^ Rofe (the Queene of flowers) and the ^ itllie ( the honour of gardens ) I fhould ^ M think might follow wel in Our Udjes Gar-- an excellet Type or Symbol of her. It is a flower wel knowne toal , familiar and dome- ftical with alNations.For w here haue you aGarden, that hath not ftore of them?yea the woods togeather v/ith the Primrofe feeme to be as ftrewed with them as tapiflryes j they are fo diapred a.l-ouer with thofe flowers. Andoiir glorious Virgin is aseafie and familiar to approach vnto , as it. The honour of this Violet , is in the Spring *, or rather is the Vwut^ the honour of the Spring. Becaufe the hoarie & hor- rid Winter now paffed oner, and the rigid frofrs and filowes diflblued, the pleafant feafon of the Spring returning, the Earth feemes to put forth the Violet^ as the frimitiO'S of flowers , togeather with the Primrofe her infeparable companion, to welcome it vv^ith ; a haftie prefent indeed , but yet a rare one. The Spring of Grace fo appearing, and opening the breaft , after fo tedious a Winter ouerpaft, of horrid Sinne and froEeivIafidelitiepOur Marie the Vickt, or the T H E V I O I E T. 45 or the VioUt-MAYk rather , is put forth , as aioyful prefenr to glad the time withal. This flower I find now to affedt the hils and mountains , though there want no flore and plentie of them in the plaines and vallies alfo*, and, as gardi- ners vfetofay, it loues to be tranfplanted to and fro. And fo our Viokt heer was no lefle tranfplanted in her Vifttatton , when fiie Rtftng vp. , vpenr ha^iLy Into the munulns. For loe, this V'tokt fprung at firft and grew in the vallies, to wit, of herfelf ; but v; as then trans- ferred and remoued into the mountain of Perfec- tion , to the mountain of Glorie , mountain of Fame , Honour, and Exaltation : but yet was admi- rably planted in the valley of Humiiitie. A flrange thing truly , andmorethen a Garden-miracle , that om Violet fhould ftilreniaine in the valley, and yet be placed on a Mountain! yea the higher flie was exalted on the Mountain , the better fhe was rooted . in the Valley : both on the fame Mountain, and in the fame Valley, at one and the felf-faaie time. Now , Philofopher , tel me, what w^ould you more? can not the fame thing be in two places at once ? It may, Marie on the Hil of exaltation , and the felt-fame Mar IE in the Valley of demiuion , ful- . filling therin the precept of the Wife-man : How viucb greater thouart^do thou bumble thjfdfw al, EceUf And now fee , I pray , the hafle the Violet makes aboue alfiovvers, to entertaine the Spring; and then to behold our Vtolet made to clime the'^ mountaines , would make you wonder , to fee her in fuch hafte. For who would not admire to fee a tender Virgin, great with child, to fiy from the valley, oner hils and dales , through thick and thin, to the mountain-tops ? But yet wonder not. 4^ Partheneia Sacra.’ not , while we day ly fee great engins moued , and that moft fwifrly too , by force of fire : God w o«r Dzut. 4 - confmtt'tng fire.This fire then theF^r^m carried in her bo- foiTie; She is ftirred and excited with the blaft of the HoUe-GhoiljVnto offices of pietie.The firebreaks forth;what maniel then,ifit carries fothe engine of the bodie with it?I fay, what niaruel,whilethe Spirit of God, whofeSymbolis Fire, carries her fo fail through publick places,to (him the afped of men(fb contrarie to the inclination ofVirginal modeftie)ta hide herfelf in the houfe of her Cofen? The Violet^ as the Rofe alfo,being planted neer the leek,or gar.lick,becomes more fragrant in odour; fo as the vngrateful fent of the one , giues a fweeter fauour vnto the other; and therefore the Gardiner plants it neer Vnto them,to haue it fend forth a grea- ter odour. Now the Virgin^Motber being in herfelf a moft odoriferous Violet aboue al other Violets and rofes ofthe world,breathed from herfelf the fweeteft odour of al vertues. The odour of her garments "vaere as the edour of the fulf eld. B ut in her houfe at 2^a:^rethy which fignifyes Tkwerie , this Violet fhined leffe,and,as a Vio^ let ^ lay hid within her leaues. Wherefore it feemed good to the expert Gardiner y her heauenlie Spoufe ia her womb, to transferre this Violet with his Spirit in- to the mountains of ludea y being places al fet with garlick and leeks,as I may terme it ; Where Zacbark SLndBU:^betb hx {heading of teares fortheRedem- iption of the proper effed of thofe hearbs; which - ' She through her coming wiped away , and further gaue forth a greater odour offanditie,then eaer;for Ioe,ffie filled the whole houfe with the odour of her Vertues. IHE THE P O E S I E: Beauenthe^umble Angels Gov beheld; 7 he A nd on the earth^vptth A ngels par ale I'd, 7at What think you the,is it ought els, then a litle water? Qh,do no think fo of it ; for if fay true,that the Vim takes the qualitie of the thing it lights on, that which to you feemes to be a water only , is Sugar in theHeedsof Madera , Hypocras in the vine , Manna in the fruits. Musk in the flowers , Medicines in the Simples, Amber in thePoplers, the verie milk of the breafts of Nature, wherewith she nourifneththeVni- tiers. The it is which falling on our gardens, empearU T H E D E A wj empearls them with a thoufand muskie gemmes: Heer it makes the Rofejthere theHowerdelucejheer the Tulips , there the violets ^and a hundred thou- fand flowers befides.Tt is the couers the rofe with fcarlet, that clothes the lillie with innocc- cie,the violets with pur pie, which embroders the xnarygold with gold , and enriches al the flowers with gold, (ilk,and pearls , that metamorphofles it- feU’,heere into flowers,there into leaues,and then to fruits in fundrie forts, it is euen the Protheus and C/;4- tndeon of creatures , clothing itfelf with the liuerie of althe rareft things ; heer fearlet, there milk , heer |he emerald, the carbuncle, gold,filuer, and the THE PISCOVRSE. Vt now come we to the myftical Dem Th* indeed, the Incomparable ladte & Qjuene of al the Meteors of this Region of ours, or of the other,thei£thereal orCeleftial. Who if fhe were not the Dixv? itfelf, fue was the PUice al fteept in Deaw^ and confcquently may w’el be held for lhxvo ^ for flie is fayd to be fui Gme, which is a kind of The is properly engendred in the fpaces and regions of tne Ayrc, tempered with heat and cold. Three Regions there are:TheHeauens,the Worlcl,andHel. This otairof Grace , was not engendred in the vpper Region , that is , in Heauen ; nor w as the work of the Imarhat’o/i of Christ effeflually wrought therin , becaufe he af- fiimed not the Angelical nature : Hi * t Per % the i4«^d5jNor beneath , that is, in Hcl : becaufe he re- deemed not Diuels , or fpared the,or fliewed mcrcic to them: GodfardmednettheAfJ^cbJfnmfi^ 5 But it was engen- Partheneia Sacra^ ^ngendred in the midft , that is , the Jncarnatm was wrought in this middle Re^?o».becaufetherinthe Diume hjpofiajh affLunpted human nature to itfelf, God fim his Sonne made cfawoman. Now was this Deavomg or Incar-- nation ,made,as I fayd^of hot 6e-cold.For Godyouchfa.- fed to become Man^ for two refpeds^that is,out of a- bundace of charitie^ofthe one fide, hich was excef. ' iiue heat, and out of a general miferie of ours,vv hich was a kind of benumrning cold.From this heatther- fore , to wit, from this Charitie of God , and from this cold, the general miferie of mankind , was wrought rotation or Oea-wing ,tb2X is, th^ In carnation of the Sonne of God ; with this onlie difference , that there,was a temperate heat and cold togeather, but- M^hes,t ^ > with a great excefl'e , through Ins too much charitie, vplurewith he loued vs , and a great frigiditie of languoiir in vs,or a laiiguifhing frigiditie ; Becaufe d haue declined, and are become vnpro jit able, '5, Moreouer,this rotation or Deaw we fpeake of,was made in our Virgin-earth , who being watered with Celeftial DUw, brings forth the Ka^r&mjiowerr , that fayth of himfelfrl^w the flower of the field, Againe : Let flowthj fpeech /% Be aw, and asdihofs ypon the gras. Tq which the Church alluding fayth : Let him de fiend ihta f/eei4. the Virgins womb like Deaw them. This earth therefore fo moy fined and watered with Deaw , produced the Lillie of Varadice. I the Deaw oflfratl budding Uke the Lillie,, This Ifrael is interpreted a man fiing God , and beer fignifyes our incomparable Ladie, who was truly Mafeulinin al her adlions, beholding, as it were , the Diuine E{rence,through Contemplariun, I wil now then mariiel no more , that God leaning al other creatures , fliould take complacencie as he doth to be the Vather of I)€^we.<,the Scriptures faying: Uh Who begat the drops of deaw } and who is the father of ravne? Yoii T H E P E A v\rj 6% You would fay, he meat that there is nothing, which better reprefentstheDiumegeneratio oftheSonne, which is begotten of the Father by way of Vnder- ftanding; from whence as from a fruitful clow'd, diftils the Diuiiie Di;aw of the Word: Let mj ward flow like deaw. But for the Intarnatton itfblf, it feemes to be iuft the verie fame. For the Sun of the Dtuiniiu therin Vnited to the little poore vapour of our mortalitie hath fertilizd this beautiful Varadne of theCbmch, the Deaw watering the fame^which fel from the Fine Wounds of I E s V s j that deawie clowd fufpended in the ay re, and hanging on the tree ofthe CrolTe, Hence it is , that God makes fo great accompt of this Dedtvp^ for when he would make a feaPe for his people , in the wildernes , he did it by meanes ofthe DeaW y which was then conuerted into Manna ^ and Manna \ir:t\x2i\\y intoal meats. And if God would make him a chamber al ofgold,or a cabinet for hini- felfjfurely he would choofc the Dca-VQ to be his houfe: VJho purs the clowds his bovrer &c, God makes as exad: ^fteeme of a Ample drop of Deaw , as ofal the world hc{idcs,Befire thee (fay th Salmon) U the whole world as a drop ofmornmg-deaw- You wonder now at a final mat- teti but I wil tel you yet a thing more ftrange, which is, that Alice the Sonne GoDofalitle graine ofrnu- ftard fayes : T he kjngdome of heauen is like to a graine of mu'- fiard-feed drc, me thinks,! might fay as wel : The ktng^ dome ef heauen islikj to a drop of Deaw .* For the Sauiour of the world, who is the graine of muA:ard-feed,is likc- wife this fame rich drop of Deaw- For as the Sonne of God in outward apparance was,as it were , no bodic, nor feemed to make anie Aiew , yet when the Sun of the Diuinine once began to appearein him , he Ihewcd bimfelfto be the vertueof Paradice , euen fo a little drop of Deaw falling from the heauens,for example, on the pARYllEKEiA SaCRaI onftietiowerdeluce , would feeme perharps to yoUl but a little round point of watcr,and a meer graine of Criftal, but ifthe Sun dobutfhine vponitj Ah! what a miracle of beautie it is? while of the one fide it wil looke like an Orient-peatl ^ and being tlitnd fome other way ^becomes a glowing Carbunele,then a Sa- phir^and after anEmeraidjand foan Amethift, andal enclofedinatiothingjOr alitle glaffeofal the greateft beauties of the world , that feeme to be engraued therin j fo manie drops, fo manie Orient^-pearls ^ fo inanie drops of Mmna , wherewith the Heauens feeme to nourifli theearth^andto enrich Nature, as being the Symbol of the Graces ^ wherewith G o doth water and fertilize our foulesi For what fhould that of Gedeon fgnifyjbut theGraceof graces^the admirable grace of the J«r4r- nAtion oi Chriji to be wrought in the conception of the Diiline Word ^ in the virginal womb or fleece of the faid Gedeon^ which was replenifhed with the Dear^ of the Holie-Ghoft ^ in liew of the verie De^yo j that is , where defcended the fulnes of the iMuinitie , fiie being worthily called and compared to a fleece^ fince fhe hath cloathed the true Lamb of God with her flesh,wbo tah^s awaj the fin Hi of the world ? O Virgin wor-» thie of al grace! How art thou graced indeed,and fa- uoured aboue al the Daughters of lerufaleml fince thy headjiEsvs CjHRi s t , camefotothee/iilofD^^w* and repofes in thy chaft bower? THE T B E D 8 A w; ^7 THE EMBLEM E.; THE P O E S I e; Of li^ d duskle clowde^ which Sol exhales^ Norltkfdgloomiemiji, thatshrowdes the vales: Butfrm the Earth, Siiiine of luftice duvf \ A furtr vapour, which diJfoh*d the Deaw^ Viftillingfrom the Limherkjfthe sl;j.es, Ourdrte & barren ’Earth doth fertili:^. The barren womb erft was ac(urfi',but sbe^ Though Virgin , was afaire & fruitful tree', VJomen bring forthwith fainefttl throbs & throwes^y She was a Mothety but not one of thofe. Mongft women bleft, drawne by heauens radiant beamesl Twist tlawi & mift) fun Pcaw fwist both estreames. THE The Taufi^ 61 Partheneia SaCRAj THE THEORIES* Onfider firfl, that zs'Eue our firft Paretit and Mother of vsaljwas not created immediatly of earth , as Adam was, but taken from his rib ( it being a priiii- only due to A dam, fo to be framed of virgin-earth) andw^as therefore called ching her extrai^ion as it v/ere a Viro : So our fecond ^ue , our Spiritual and Celeidial Mother , adopting vs> & engeiidrnig vs as children , thro ugh the Deawes of Celeifial graces procured vs from heaueii , was not made of virgimextradlion herfelf , that is , was not framed of the Diiiine or Angelical nature, as a Deaw exhaled from the virgin-element of waters , but of the pure human nature, as drawn from the mixt, bit- ter, and brackidi \vaues of the Sea ^ by that great Ar- chirr^of heauen, the Sun of luflke,gh\ing her the name of Maria , to wit, a man amarttudmis , as it were, fetcht from the Ocean of bitternes of human kind. And now with her graces and fauours, as Deawes fal- ling from lieauen, perpetually doth nothing, but Eiowre downe vpon her children and Deuo tes. ^Confider then ^ how oiir Ladie became as a marine Coucha, orOyfterofthe Sea, which opens itfelf to receaue the beauenlk Deaw into her Lap , that fo the precious Gemme might be engeiidredin it, which when it hath receauedonce,it clofeth vp againe,not to loofe fo precious a dcpofttum , til it be fairely deli- uered , and brought forth in time prefixed. Eueii fo our incomparable Ladis, the precious veflel of fo heauenlie andDiuine a D(?aw,hauing once conceaued the fiinie within her virginal Womb, retires herfelf into her 2^ eth ^ to xumimte on the myfeerie fiie had TheDeaw. 69 had within her, vntil necellitie drew her to Bethhcm and the time prefixed of the deliiierie of her vy as come ; for then as purely as fhe receaued it,fhe gaue it vp moif perfed and compleat ^ and made thcrof a rich prefent to the world. Ponder laftly , how the Deaw being a nicer extrat^ from the Seas , exhaled by the vertiie of the Sunnie Tayes,which when he can hold no Ionger,lets it fal ro cofort and refrefh al fubkmarie things, and drawing it againe viito Iiimfelf^lets it fal againe for the fame end-,and fo vvil do , to the end of the world , for the comfort and folace of man-kind. So the hiunanitie of our Saumr Chn{l , as a waterie Deaw, being extrac- ted from the wirgiii (cim^tro mart) and through theSunnierayes ofthe Diuinitie affumptcd vp to heauen in the glonons A fcenfion^ through loue not able to fray any longer, defcends againe in the blef- fed Sacramenr , to recreate and refrefh vs Mortals , & fo as often as we defire , is readie to vifit vs with his fupercekflial and diuine Deaw , and thus til the con- fumrnation of the world. THE APOSTROPHE. O Thou great Ladle , Mother of grace and mercie, who in a jhirnge and maruelous manmr hafi been replcni- shed with the Deaw" 0/ grace w a foueraigne diigrec \ I bi (ici h *' thee, mtenede for me^tbai 1 majikjwtfe be leplefiiJjeu c>' filed will) grace, ftruour , loue, and the uiubie delights of thj Sckine, whom thou reccamdji from heauen as tbi Deaw j.UUn into thy rhgm-Up, And this I beg O bUjfed virgin-Mother , through the Virginal milk^^ wherewith thoufedji that little great God in perfon *, and by the teares of toy tlm ibeadf joy the dearc i w- hraces oj ft great Sonne of thi^es by al the fvutr.ifes of his oiutiifUe ,whHh made thy bltjjtd fsule to liqmjy with :oj,0 Ladte^ O vngin-Mvthcr^ O my f 'xea Aduomte , to thee do 1 curre to impectate rk fe grates for me, at his hamis^v:ho fitting on thy Up,atid btwgmg at thy breaft>^ can deny thee noihing. F THE THE VII. SYMBOL. THE B E THE DEVISE. THE CHARACTER. He is that great little Architeft of houfes made of wax , as of playfter of P4r75,al ciment,and no ftone , while you find not a flone or rub in al his works. ^ He is a great Enginer in that mould, working his fubtle mines til he be al in a fwear, which in truth is no more then amoifturehehath with him through his fo much padling , and medling with deawes. It is a world to fee, what mines and countermines they wil make araongft them ,to fup- plant one another^whervponmanie fuits of law arifc between T H E B E E yi between them. For you muft kiiow,they haue a no- table gouerment , and a wife and politick reafon of State with them, which though it may feeme to par- take of al,yet is in truth apiire Monatcaal rule , and furely the beft. As the haue their Duke or Doaguejthey haue their King, enthroned doubtles and inuefted with a more abfolute authoritie then he, and yet not apt to Bide or degenerate toTyrarue, as fome would imagine. And if the Venmaju haue theit Senat and Magnificoes , they haue the fame. The King for fword of iuBice^ hath his fting j which he weares for terrour rather then vfe <, whofe bell armes is a certain fweet and fereiie Maieftie with him, whichmakes him loued rather thenfeared if , not feared for loue : yet were anie fo refradarie as not to loue fo fweet a Maieftie , he could tel, ho w to bend the brow% He is then the great Didatoiir aboue al , and tr ue Auguftus C^far of that great Common wealth of littl^HomanSiThc Bet of al others makes his vintage in the Spring, becaiife his chiefeft luruefl is in thefugreddeawes , thatfal vpoii the tender blot fomes, at that time, wherof part they tuiine vp in pi- pes , for the pLirpofe , to brew their meade with , a- gainft the wdneer*, and churning the reft as handfom- ly as they may , they make it into a kind of butter, we cal honie, which they crock and barrel vp for greateft marchandife. They are but Pigmies ,in refped of the Giants amongft them^whom for their thundri ng voice , they cal himble-bees^ Nor can you know the reft by their voices only ^ while the leaft wil Carrie as great a horn about him , as thebiggeft of them. They arc notable husbands abroad , and good hufwiues at home j for fo they are both ^ or neither , as hanieg no fex amongft them; which if they haue , they are Mayds , or Bachelours F ij eucrie Partheneia Sacra^ euericone , becaufe they haue no marriages with them, as lining very chaftly togeather likefo mame Angeis, the morals. Operosa et sedvla, About and Induftrie are Brother &5 Sifter, dwelling ill the fame houfel He is ftrorig and robuftuous witl| ftioulders ; She as quick ancl nimble of the other fide. It is incre.r dible,what thefe two are able to da| j when they ioyne togeather*, they wil work wondersi inoue mountains, and runne through ftitch with e ^ uerie thing. indeed not built on 4 day , but ye if wfith labour and induftrie in fhort time oecame th''*i; Metropolis of the whole world. Whata work wa : that , which the infamous Inienduric^to eternize hi, name, ruined in a moment, which Labour and Inau,* ftrie had reared-vp from the verie foundation to thj I roofe ? The great Maufoleas, Amiphitheaters , Piraju mids (and whatnot?) haue albeen built andfinilhei| by them.lf Labour once fayle, Induftrie anon rouzel him vp : and then wil they roundly fal to their wor,,;5 as frcfh as euer. Where foeuer they meet , he is th;5 Bodie , and flie the Soulcj and as the Bodie and Soul|J cannot be diuided without ruineofthe perfon, fi.i Labour without Induftrie is no bodie, and wil prejf fcntly come to nought. The Grace the Hol'te-GhoJ^ wlierefoeuer it is, is Induftrie itfelf , and knowes n dclayes;itisas gun-powder fet on fire,whichcarrie,if the bullet,though of lead,more fwift then an arrovv|l ivhere it goes. The tender ot Codhz 1 T H 1 B E E. 7^ tbispowder ofinduftrie in her, when conceauing with fire, through the match of Fiat , die flew fo nimbly ouer hils and dales to her Cofen tit:^bcth , the fuhie^ofchamey wherin truly fhe fhcwed herfclf Ope ROSA et sedvla. THE ESSAY. He Bee is the greateft Politick in the worldjthc gouerment of their litle com^ mo-wealth is moft admirable.The King ^**^‘''* is he thathath thebeftprefece with him, N &a Royal lookejal his fubieds obey him with fubmiflion & reuerence , not doing anie thing againft their oath of alleageaiice. The King himfelf is armed with Maieftie and beautie;if he haue a Ring, he neuer makes vfe of it, in the whole manage of his eftate. He carry es nothing but honie in his coinandsi one would not beleeue the great feueritie and cour- tefie there isamongft them , lining in communitic, with good intelligences abroad , al goes with them with weight and meafiire , without errour or mifta- kings. In the winter they keep wholy within, not knowing otherwife how to defend themfelues from the force of the weather and violence of the winds, & hold their little affemblies, in fome place depured for that ejffed , and keep correfpondencies one with another, but for the drones and idle bees, they banilh them quite from their common-wealth. They com- mit not themfelues to the diferet ion of the weather abroad , vntil fuch time as the beanes begin to blowe, and from that time they wil loofe no day from labour. They frame the wax from the iiiice which they fuck from flowers , hearbs , and trees; and for honie they deriue it alfo from trees & gom- F 3 mic ,4 Parthensia Sacra. iTiic recj^s , hsuing a glue Rtid vifcous lickour oti the. They wil make their wax likewife of euerie herb and fiower;faiie only, they neuer light on a dead or withe-, redone. Their fling is faftned in their bcllie ; and when they flick itfo,as they cannot draw it forth againe without leaning the inflrument behind , they dy of if.and if the fling remaine but half, they line as caflrat, and become as droans , not being able to ga- ther either honie or wax, THE DISCOVRSE, Tie Hey. H e mellifluous in his bookj ojVtr^msS^ythithQBee feeds of the deaw, engenders not at al , and frames the honie. Which three properties peculiarly and fingularly appertaine to Virgins > but moft expreily and fubli- mely of al to the Sacred Virgin herfelf , the O^en of ^/V-* ^/rtf.For as al other creatures line of the earth or wa- ter, as birds, beails, and fi flies, fome few excepted,to wit, the Camafleonofthe ayre,and the Salamander ofthe fire; the Bee , as a choicer creature , more cu- rious then the reft, feeds no v/orfe then ofthe deaw, that falles fromKcauen; and wheras al other creatu- res (not bred ofputrefaclion) are fubiedtto libidi- .nous heat in their kinds , the Bee is free therof , and multiplies by a way more chaft; and where other creatures are wholy maintained at their Maifter's charge , and fome wil eate you more then their bo- dies are worth, or their labour comes to, the Bee ma- Jees its owneprouiftonof itfelf, and leaues his owner rich with the bootie and fpoyle they make cf the flowers ofthe held , without anie coll: or charge of the Maifterj fo induftrious they are,to the great con- ^ fulioii T H E B E. 75 ^iifionofmen. luft foourWi^, not taken with the t)ayts and allurements of this world , for fpiritual life , lined not but of the heauenliedeaw of Diuine grace 5 being capable of no other heat , then of the chaft and amourous fire of Diuine Louemot concea- uing Fruit, but by an admirable, my ft er ions, and mi- raculous way , through the work ofthe HoLie-GhoJi ^ remaining a Virgin before , in, and after her Child- birth j and laftly framed without anie coft or merits ©fours, thatHonieof honies, that Honie^comb difiilling, which carries the honie in his lips. The honie indeed is engendred in the ayre through the fauour and influence of certain ftarres ; as' in the Canicular dayes, we may note betimes in the mor- ning , the leaues to be charged andfugred with it. Such as go forth at that time , before day , fhal find themfelues to be moiftned therewith, w'hich the Bees fuck from the leaues and flowers, and tunne-vpin their little ftomaks , to difcharge againe , and to make itperfed honie in alpoints,forthe vfe of men. So our incomparable Virgin receauing this Deaw ^or honie of the Eternal Word, as it came from Heauen, into her Virginal womb , fo wrought it in her ^a.s being deliuered therof, it prouedahoniemoft apt for the vfe of man the true Bread of Life indeed. Moft happi-e Bee 1 and a thoufand times moft blelfed Honie! Where it is to be noted , that Bees are exceedingly delighted with thefe things: firft,with faired ferene weather^for then thofe deawes more plentifully fal& are moredeliciousrand of the contrariein the ray nie & more boyfterous weather they are wholy hindered from their vintage,as it were , or gathering thofe fu- gred deawes. Secondly , they are pleafed much with sibundance of flowers •> from whence they gather their Partheneia Sacra; their purefthonie •, for though the deawes falvpotl the leaues , and they gather it no doubt from them alfo , yet is it not fo delicious and pure •, for the na- ture of deawes participats much of the places they light on , which makes the m farremore Udie and induftrious on the flower^ then on the leaues.Third- ly 5 they are wonne with a fweet found. For Arijlatlc hyth , they are exceedingly allured with the harmo- nic of mufick and fweet founds;whichweordinarily pradtife now adayes, to ftay them with , when they are in a great confult to take their flight and be gone; forthen with the ftriking of a pan ordy infteed of other muflck are they brought to fettle themfelues neer home •, fo Muflcal they are. And laftly, they ioy greatly infweet wine , as we find by experience and day lie pradife^ as often as they begin to fwarme , & are now on the wing and point to trauei into forrea piirts. A1 thefe things the BkjfedVirgmwas exceedingly afieded to , ana had them al , as it were , within herj as fir ft a ferenitie in the internal confcience , where appeared no clowd in the ayre of her Mind , and where tiie pacifi-cal fat peacefully indeed as in his luorie Throne. Altbeglotieofthe Kwgs UMighxcr, VPasirhHy -vpithin her. Then had fne the flowers of al Vertues and Graces within kf , to wit , the diner- fities of ai vertues, the iiihes of (haftnic , the blufli and moi, e jh t o(th^ 7 c/fi ^ the. hope of the VwUt , the ihxirtck and Diuine loue of the Heliotropiori , and the like. Her foule was a of al flowers , and no ieffethena Paradife , wl ich bad the Archangel as Paranin -ph Sc G iiard ian therof , with the tw’O-edged fword of FIu- inilitie and the chaft Feare of God. O delicious Pa- radife , and more then terreftrial, euen when fhe was dv\ elling on tlie 5^th J Thirdly flie was aftcjfends thee ItkewifeJeareVnnQcSo. ofVirgm-foules, THE THE VIII. SYMBOL, THE HEAVENS. THE D E V I S E. ^ He Heauens are the glorious Pallace of the l^f Cr^4f0«r of al things; the purple Canopie of the Earth, powdrcd oner and befetwith filuer-oes ; or rather an Azure Vault enameld al with diamants,that fparclc le where they are. And for that there is aloft aboue this feeling, they make a pauiment likewife for the Intelligences and Angelical Spirits ,ftrewed,as become fuch inha- bitants, with ftarrcs.lt is a Court, where thofe blclfcd Spirits, as Penfioners, ftand continually alTifting in tiie King's prefence, vvith the fauour to behold him face t. Partheneia Sacra; to face in his greateft glorie , while the Starres as Pages attend in thofe fpaciousHals & lower roomes. If al togeather, fiiould make vpthebodie of an Ar- mie ranged and marflialled in the field , the Spirits themfelues would make the Caualrie,and the Infan- teriethe Starres, Michael General ofthe one , and Thoebus of the other; where eiien as the Foot , that are as the Corps of the whole Batallions , make a ftand; fo reniaine the whole multitude of Starres al Rxt in the Firmament , while the Planets , which are as the Collonels ofthe reft , with the fpeedie Courfersof their proper Orbs , fly vp and down to marflial the legions , and to keepethe Companies in their due fquadrons. If they fhoot, their fiiafts and darts, they fend, are but their influences they powre on mor- tals and terrene things , good and bad ; fome fvveet, of loue ; as thofe which Venus fhoots from her Regi- ment, headed with gold ; fome with fteel, as thofe of Marsy and his troups ; and fome againe , as more ma- lignant, dipt invenomc, as thofe of and the CanicuUrs, As the Earth hath beafts, the Eeauens haue their Lion and Beare , the great and lefle. Where the Sea hath fifh , the Heauens haue theirs , and waters enough, aswelaboue as vnder the Firmament. As the Ayre hath birds , the Heauens haue Angels , as birds of Paradife. And if the vpper Region of the Elements be of fire , theSeraphins are al of amou- rous fires ofDiuine lone , and the higheft order of the bleffed Spirits. THE The Heavens; T H E M O R A L S, XDaPACITATIS IMMENSiE. Hat great Galleaffeor Argofeyof Koe clapt vnder hatches the Epitome of the worlds which yet virtually contained that vaft volume or tome of the greater World. TheTro^4« horfe held a whole Ambufcado in his bellie of warlick Grecians in com- pleat armour. TeathcEyeof man,though defa^oit reach no farther then the Hemifphere only,yet of it- felf is able to extend to the ful immenfitieof the tfhole Sphear,were it placed as Center therof. But that were to make the the vifible Obied of ' the Eye only :I wil then go further .The Hart of man as it is , how litle foeucr, if it be wel purged,is able to walke through the heauenlie vaults , both abouc and beneath j I meane, contemplate theStarres and Spirits themfelues , with the immenfe capacitie of that waft dwelling of theirs. But what were al this but ameer extenfionand perluftration of the mind only , wholy occupy ed in meafuring Intelledual Obieds ? It is the Local continencie , I meane , as the kernel is contained in the ftiel,andthe like. I fay that great Amphitheater of Pom^ej was but a nut- ftiel, as it were , of fo manie fonnes of men, compa- red with the Globe of theEarth , and the earth with theZodiack of the Sun,and the Sun againe being pa- raleld wdth God himfelf. It is G od only who truly beholds alObieds,bothIntellcdual and Vi(i- ble^and truly containes them al, being prcfent to al, comprehends al , is Al in Al. And yet this great Al, whom the ofHeaum cannot c6taine,hatl\ 84 Partheneia Sacra. the Virgin-Womb of the immaculate Mother of God conceaned and held in her lap , as the Churih lings; an therefore is fayd to be , and that moft rightly, ana worthily too jCapacitatis imm£nsa£. THE ESSAY. He with their circuit , cloathe and mantle al the world, & with the fweetnes of their influences ourilb the fame , anddiftilalifeinto it. They are the Houfe of God ; the floare and paui- ment of Paradife ; the Garden of the Angels , al befet with ftarres infteed of flowers , with an eter- nal Spring; the Temple of the Diuinitie ; and the azured Vault of the Vniuers. The number of the Meauens hath not alwayes been agreed vpon ; for one while they beleeued , there was but one onlie, wher- in the ftarres did fweetlyglideheer and there, and glance along, as in a liquid criftal floud . Sometimes haue they allowed of eight , by reafon of fo mauie diuers Motions and Agitations very different in them ; then nine ; then ten > and then eleuen ; and if perhaps fome new GultUu$ fhould deuife and frame vs other fpedacles or opticonsto fee with, we are in danger to find out yet fome new Starres and Eeiiutns neuer dreamed of before. This round Machine makes its circular reuolutions through an vnfpea- kablefwiftnes. Butthatisa meertale , which tels, to bufie mens braynes with , to fay , the Starres and Heaunis yeald a found or delicious melodic through their motion and ftirring vp and uowne; whereas truly the fweet Aiding and Auiflling of the Be mens ^ the accords fo difcordaut of contrarie mo- tions , thofe fweet coniundtions and diuorces of Starres T H E H E A V E*N s7 8^ Starres , is it truly which is called , the fweet harmo- nic of the Heaums, They would likewife make vs beleeue , the Heauens were al cngraued oner , becaufe the Zcffi;i4(^iscompored and diftmguiflied into tweluc Figures of Beafcs , therin curias with achifel; and the whole Figure and face of Heauen were as fully ftockt with beafts , earned and fafliionedfo to beautify the Heauem;^nd therefore wil fome haue Cdum to take its denomination from c^Utmiy as much to fay, as urued and engrmU •, But ineffed:,are nothing els but certain aflemblies and congregations of Starres togeather, which the fantafies of men hath fafhioncd in Figures and Conftcllations; which being fo taken , refemhic fome kinds of beafts,but in truth haue fo fmal refein- blance with them, as that which they cal a Bcare, might as wel be rearmed an Ape *, and Neceflitie makes vs to accept it for good coy ne, and God him- felf with lob makes vfe of fuch manner of fpeach , in naming them Oj io«,the HjadeSy and the like.This great Bowie of the Heauens ^ roules and turncs about an Axeltree, fixt in a certain place, and fiyes with the winged fwiftnes it hath *, the Angel giucs it the whirlc about, and makes it tame round according to the Diuineprouidence, crowning the world with its vaulted Arch enameled al with ftarres. THE DISCOVRSE. H V s are the exprcHed in them- j and now let vs feeke another 1^1 thefc ancients neuer dreamed of. One Authouf diuides the Heauens intotsxt. feauen parts ^ the A'ttean , Atherton^ ohm^ , f Un , Vme , Vtrmamental , Watene , and f mfjrcal. But wc ivil content ourfelues with thefc three only , rhe G HjiureAffp ^6 Partheneia Sacra; Sjclerean > the Crifidtn , and Imppeal, And for the we fnal find our Qj^ene of to be fo the Qmmc therof, as she is a Syclerean or Stanie Heauen herfelf , if we regard but the ornaments she is decked with^as fo \ nianie llarres. For as that Beauen is adorned with jvarietieofStarresjfoi/;^ withdiuerfitieof alVertiies. Thebeautie ofBeaue,to wit, of Marie,is the celcfiialglo^ me ef the Starres , that iSjthe glorious varietie of al Ver- tues.For as for the ornaments of this Beaueny it is fayd in the Jpocalyps: she had a crowne of twelue flanes vpon her head, Now in this niiber of Tmlue is a double nuber of SiXy which is the number ofPerfedfion, and fignifyes the Sa'm^SyZS wel thofe which are inglorie & Celeftial Paradife,as thofe,whoareasyetontheirway thither; who al honour,crowne,and adore this hleffed Virgin ^zs their Qmene and Ladic. For as the Beamn with its pro- per Orb and certain reuolutions , carries al the mo- iling ftarres along with it, fo she induceth al the Saints^ to ioyneininterceflionwith her. The Crifidlme Beauen she is, being a Beauen as compo- fed of the waters abouethe heauens'^which is hardned, as it were, & maderolid,like Crifiah^ the matter being nothing els but waters hardned and contdenfed , as fomethink,notmuch vnliketo the cruft of Criftal, whichis rolid,lucid,and moft pure: And fo the waters of oiir Ladte were roUd,that is,her Vertues w^cre con- iirmed;and Iucid,thatis,tranfparent,becaufe through them fibe might contemplate and behold the glorie of God; accora ing to that : But we with face reuealedy shat Jpeculate the glorie of G o d. The forme of this CrifiaUina Beauen AS Spheral and round , which is truly the mofk Capacious, thePerfedi:eft,and Faireft of alfigures;&: fo is she mo£lCapacioris,as becomes the habitatio of God , according asthe Church deliuers;W/;o theBeaues eould not confainCyhaJl thou held in tbyWomh; thePerfcdlefi:,' jiudi4 bccavife endued with al vertues: in ugrace^ofthway The H fe a V e n s. 557 Faire,becaufe ftained with no biot,nor tuer touched with anieblemifli , fo much as Venial: Thou art wholj fair e^tnyfnendyaud there is no blemish m thee, Cani, she is the Empyreal Heauen^which is the habitation of the Saints, and a Heauen al of light,of an infinit capa- citie,andimmefe fublimitie. The blefled Virgin then is refembled to this Heauen : Firft, for her vnlpeakablc C/^nri^jbecaufe she is now wholy radiant and refplcn-j dent in Geleftial glorie , hauing beneath , the Mcone vnder her feet,ancl on her head, a erowneof Starres, & for the reft clothed with the Simne. Secondly, for her great capactoufresy for as there can be thought no place ofgreater capacities then the Empyreal He Aueti^{o can no creature be found of greater chantie^ then Mane, For she had an ample Womb , which was able to receaue GoD-^Sbe had an ample Vnderftanding, Vv'hich had the knowledge of al Diuine things ; an- ample Atfeft she had, for her fingiilar compaiEon on the miferies of al the afflid:ed,Thifdly,for her highnes and fublimiticjfor as fiV^/mnsthe higheft of albodieSjfois she highet farre then al Spiritual creatures, as wel Angelical as Reafonable. Thy magnificence is ray fed j that is, the Virgin Marie , to whom God hath fliewed very great things, yea aboue althe Heauens , as wel Material as Rational, becaufe appointed Qiitene oner al 6Vt.7/fr,and tlierefore fayesofher felf : Wfco hath -wrought great matters fer me, who is potent, and holie is h is name. Which things S.Epiphanm con{iderlng,in his Scrinfi of the Frayfesof r«yL4^ir,breakesforth intothefe wordsi ^ O tmpolluted\Momb , hauing the circle of the heauens tvifhinijui. thee , which bare the mompreherfible GoD mojl truly compre^ Marhf heded in theefo Wob more ample,then Heauen, fireight- md notOoD within thcslo Womb^whuh art euen vene Heaue indeed , cenfifiwgoffeuaen Circles^ and art more capacious fane %hm tketH alio fhm ht^h and wider, then are the feauen G iji yk'aueiu! 88 Partkeneia SacraJ Heauens 1 OV^omb , winch art euen the eight Heauen Ufelf^ more large then the feauen of the firmament. So he. And S, ChrifoL Chrjfologtcs thus : O mijj blcjftd ,whowas greater then Hea- Serais, ucn, fironger then the Earth, wider then the World! For God, whomthe world could net containe , She held alone land bare him,that hearts the world-, yea bare him, who begat ha, and nur- fed the nourisher of al lining things. But yet hear e wh at S Botrau. Bonauenture fayth heerof : Thou iherejae ( fayth he) mofi infpcc, jjnmenfe Marie, art more capacious then Beauen, fince whom the Heauens could not hold , thou haft held in thy lapjthouart more capacious then the World: for whom the whole w orld could not hold , hath been enclofed within thy bowels, being made Man. But efpecially indeed is the blefted Virgin faydto be the Bmpjreal Heauen , becaufe' as that famebeingthc proper place of Beatitude , where G o d cleerly ma- nifefts himfelf to the Ele{red,face to face:fo the Wob of the blefted Mother of God, was the firft of al wherin God in a permameht manner communicated to the foule of chriji 0ur Lord , the cleare and blefted vifion of himfelf ftiice certain it is , that from the beginning of his Conception,he was truly a compre- henfounandyet in his \vay,andatriie viatour. Which no doubt is a {ingular prayfe of the Virginal womb; that, where the wombs of other women are meerly the fnops of Original finiie,as hmented( And Tfal.so conceaued mt in jinnes) which makes one vnwor- thieof thevifto of G o d : the V ir gin sY^ oh of al others fbould be a place for the blefted Vifton , and the only firft fhop of Beatitude. So as wel might the Woman ©f the Gbojpd cry out ; Bltjfed h the Womb, that bare thee. THE H E Bhjfed Virgin, euen from her, h, Heauenwif/;oMf 4 clowd,o Wuere fixed Scarres did shme^eacb in I The Tauje, AS )be mcreaf d hj mertrs more in graces TU ful oF grace (^s is witb fiarres the sl{^j) Gabriel falutes. Then more to glorify TbU Hcmcriy from bis, the Suiine of Iiiftice cawCy Light of the world, witb bis eternal flame, Lo, how the Afjgelsfrom tb* Empyreal Jpberc Admire this Heauen on earth , that shines fo dcarfy Contefling with their glorious Orbcahue^ And with the Scrap bins in burning loue, Empyreal Heauen ! Tor in her abode Thefiiftblefi Soule^ that bad the fight of Go dJ G iij THE Heavens. E MB L E ME. $0 Parthbkeia Sacra* THE THEORIES. Onteniplate fir ft , that as the Heaucfis in their The motions commit no errour, bccaufe they are Comem- alwayes obedient to the Intelligences or mor anon, uing Angels that moiie and guide them : fo likewifc BlejfidVhgin could Aide into no errour of finne,be- pnnj3:ually obferue4 the Holie-Gboji , her Mo- tpiir and proper Iutelligence,as it were , in al thingsj; TV'hile being mouedwithriichmotios, 5k was carry ed te c op through ferpent loue , as being the wheel of pOD, wherpf E:^chkl fpeaks ( -was tarrjcdvphere- Jpirtt 'went j for the fpirit of life was in the wheels) now in praying for ys to her Sonne,novv di- t^ting the Angels themfelues vnto our ininifterie, ^nd then exhorting the bleffed Spirits to pray for vs. BelioLd cjf what agilitie and motion this Heauen is! Cofider then,, that euen as fro heauen, and Its lights, w^yreceaue al the chiefeft benefits of Nature , efpe- cially the growth and profperitie of plants , without vVhich nothing would fucceed or come to anie thing; fo from this glorious Virgin-Mother we likely receaue the moft notable fauours & guifts we haue fro God. For as the Heauen \ {fits th^ earth, affording its light by day & nightjby meanesofthe two great torches, Sun and Moon , and millions of leffer lights , which with their influeces befides doe frudlify the fam!e,and with their fweet fhowers in amaner inebriate it, and code it againCjwhen need requires, with dryer clowds,yea enrich it alfojwith gold, filuer, and precious ftonesTo our incomparable Ladk vifits and illuftrats the w hole vniuerfalchmh with her admirable examples, and with the guifts of the Holie^Ghrft inebriats the fame, Rores it abundantly with good works ,and enriches Tfal. it v/ith an infinit treafure of al vertuesrand therefore is it fayd;Tk« hafiyifited the earth. Ponder laftly, hbw among al things which haue anie ftuff, inatter,or dime nfion in them of length,breadth. The Heavens. 9^ or thicknes 5 there is no incorruptible thing to be thought on , but only the beauensf for al mixt things, whatfoeuer they be, corrupt at laft,anci the Elements we fee continually corrupt jfaue only the Ccleftial bodie 3 which is wholy incorruptible of its ov;nc na- ture:So in like maner, whenas al the Childre of Adam, begot according to Nature,are lyable,and obnoxio4s to the corruption of Original finne j andal women loofein coceauingjtheintegriticofthebodiejyetthjs lieaueti of through efpecial grace prerogatiijc ofher 5 e^««f , was made incorruptible, according to cither part, of foule and bodie:Ofthefoulc truly, be- caufe thecotagion and corruption of Original fince touched not her fo much as a momet only, 2 : of bodie alfojbecaufe though indeed she were a true & natural Mothers,and coceaued her some moft truly indeed, yet knew ihi? no corruption at al, obferuing and keeping perpetually, the Virginitie of mind and bodie. How worthily therefore,isj/i^ compared to Ikauen for tins fo ftrangeand admirable incorruptibilitie in hei} THE APOSTROPHE. Great Miratle of the Tvorld, or little Viorld of mtradcs ; ;;of i^^Queene fo much of He^ucii alone ^ as theHcimn of tJu King of thee , Queeiie ^ Mi ftris of the Heauens ; thou ^ only maifier-peecc of the Almigbtie hand; O Diuhe Throne , not fecotid vnto ante ; Thou liuwg Ark o/ Alliance ; and the llder Sifter of al creaturesTr^ho veajl a Mother and a Virgin a Virfiu^ a Mother, al in one; a May den a t^urfe,a Kurfe c^ycta May- den, the Mother and the l^urfe of God and M2n,dVhgin and a May d for eiier. By virgin-fnu’t of thine, the ajlo- nishment of Angels ^vohich fornhaitiloully thou broughtft into the world , after thou badji fo long afforded him thy pncUus Womb, as agratful and deltcwtts Taradifc o/Heauen: Grant, we htfecch thee , by that shower of grace in Him, whuh fel myfteriousHcaucn, that we way cone at Ifttv thatHeuiQno fhis glorie , which he Imh^unhafcii for vs with his more then frecmsBloud. pi THE IX. SYMBOL. the iris. THE DEVISE, THE H E irU is the radiant and refulgent B w of Heauen, that fiioots but wonders to aftonifli the world with. It is the Thtara^ or fayreftdreiTe of Nature, her finning Carkanet enchaced with the richeft iewels.lt is the Triumphal Arch of the heauenlie N«- >we«i,fet-vpintriumphasaTrophey of Beautie, to allure the eyes of al , to ftare and gaze vpon it. The JFrotbm of the Seas could neuer tak e fo manie fhapes vpon him, as the iris diuerfifyes its coulours.And for tkoCamelmofthcayrCy fliedoiibtles vfed no other pattern The Iris; pattern then it , to coppie forth the great varietie of coulours fhe ariumesThisProdigie of Nature , liucs in and by the Ayre, but hath its whole fubfiftence in the Eye only. Open the eyes,and there it is;bat fiiut them vp, and it wifvanilh. It is indeed the faire and goodlie mirrour of the heauenlie Intelligences them- felueSjwhich they wil gaze on,as their leafure femes them,and breake at their pleafure, if they like it nor, to make them new perhaps to pleafe them better. If the Angels would lay afide their wings , and goe a- footjl doe not think,they could haue a better wpy to defeend by,and afeend againe^then by this Caufway, paued al withiewels heer andthere^and where not,al ftrewed with tapiftriesj theTurkie ones are nothing like ; nor thofe of Barbarie come neere them ; while thofe the mothjes wileate , and time deftroy their coulours , and they fade ; but thefe , wil laft til al be quite vvoriie out. They feeme al as made by the fame hand-, they are fo likedooke what you haue to day, the ’fame you haue to morrow. And iiirely no other Ar- / cizan then he that made you this, can make you fuch another. They fay , it is a nothing in itfelf; which if it be , it is a prettie Nothing , that fo with nothing fliould make the heauens fo beautiful , nay more , fo rieh,andal with nothing. THE rh Hotto,' 94 Partheneia Sacra, THE MORALS, Pacis fero signa fvtvrae," HE Scythian Tatnherlan^ the terrour of the Hou- fe ofomw^«5,hadin his warres, three Enfi- gnes : the red,the black, and white; which he vied to aduance vpon occafions ; wherof the white cfpecially fignifyed Peace & a reconciliation offered j which ifrefufed,thered,& then the black fucceeded. C4j?oyandP(?//«xintheHeauens,are held to befweet, propitious , andpacificalStarres. The Halcton in time of a tempeftuous ftorme at Sea appearing on the decks , is a comfortable, and littleleffe then a certain figne of a calme and quiet Sea , wherat Mariners wil cheer vp , as no fuch thing had euer hapned. The Spring immediatly foil owes the bitter and fliarp Winter; thefignesare the buds appearing then , in the tender and green twigs. When the Lyon is i n his chiefefr rage,and when he roars moil dreadfully of al, and for anger beats himfelf with his tayle in meer defpite, let come but a tender Virgin , by, the while, and appeare in his fight , his courage wil fayle him, & he be a Lamb ina Lion's skin. The lio« of roa- red then , when the Lord of Hoap ^to extirpate human kind, fo let go theCatarads of heauen, todrownethe world , with a total deluge of waters coiiering the earth ; when lo , the white hag was fpred in the Kea- uens, in forme ofan Jris , reprefenting the pure and immaculate Virgm of Virpns , wddeh made the Lion to let fal his creaft , and to enter into a league with al mankind , to drowne it no more ; and therefore our Ladie herfclf was a true iru, and may rightly be called, and truly isjthat Pacis fero signa fvtvrae. the; The Iris; 95 THE ESSAY. H E his or 'Kmehoy^ is that goodlie mir- The rour, wherin the humane fpirit fees very eafily its owne ignorance , and wherin thepoore Philofopher becomes Banck- 'i out , who in fo manieyeares can know no more of this Bow , then this , that he knovves no- thing to the purpofe,&: that it is a Nolime tangere\ fince as manie as haue mufed thervpon,haue but broken their braines about it to their owne confufion.For of the one {id(e , there is nothing of lefle being , in the whole pourtrait of Nature , being framed ofa good- lie Nothing 5 diuerfifyed apd diaperd with falfe coii- loursjdreffed-vp with a feigned beautie , the matter nothing , its durance a moment. It is a Bovp without an arrow , abridge without a Bails , a Crefeent not encreafing, aphantafine of coulours *, a Nothing,that would faine fnew to be fomewhat. And yet is this, rich Nothing a miracle of beautie , among the faireff things of the world^which being compared thervnto, areeuenas nothing. Would you haiic riches? The whole Bow is nothing els then the carkanet of Nature, enameled with al the precious Jewels ilie hath j fome are Pearks , others hauethe fparcle ofthe Diamanr, the flames ofthe Carbuncle,thetwincle of theSaphir; I fliould fay rather it is the maifter-peece , wherin Nature had embrodered al herrareft ifones , and pla- ced the richeftpeece of her treafures, which fnc can feuer at her pleafure: It is theCollar ofher Order, her chaine ofpcarles,and the fairefl: of al her Cabinet, wherewith fne decks herfelf ,to plcafe her S/?3://?,thc Good Godivvhat a goodlie Nothing is this, if it The Smuey. Cen, ^6 PARTHENEIA SACRAr if it be no more , that carryes fuch beautie and riches with it?It is faid, that greatHigh way of milke,which appeares in the heauens , was the way of the Gods, whe they went vnto theCofiftorie o^Jupitevybut it is a fableiwhereas I fliould think, that were there any or- dinary way for the Angels to defcend down vnto the earth by , or for men to mount vp to heauen , there could be no fayrer the this Bridge alway es tapiftry cd, and paued with fo bewtifulftones. THE DISCO VRSE. OD himfeif takes fuch complacencie in the Rainebow , that when he is in the higheft point of his iuft choler,if he caft but his eye thervpon , he is fuddenly appeafed. enmjf Bow , and yoil fcmembef &c : faythhe. And no maruel furely •, lince the Bow, he regards fo much , is the Symbol heer of his deereft Mother, the Incomparable Virgm, Let vs fee then, how this heaueniie Bow deciphers the Queen ofHeamn^ this mirrour of Nature , and the afto- nifliment of man-kind. The Generation and extrad: of anie thing difeouers it moft. This Iris then or Raynebow , is caufed by the reflexion of the Sunnie beames , vpon a lucid clowd , concaue and waterifli. Clowdes are engendred of the marine vapours or exhalation of the feas , where the vapoural parts of the Ocean are attraded by the vertue of the Sun-, which conglomerated togeather, engender a clowd, when the brackiflines of the Sea-water is turned to fweetnes. And fo was our Ladie a true clowd , fince in her were found thefe marine vapours , that is , incre- dible tribulations, bitter and brackifli ofthemfeliies, though to her made fvveet , through the force and vertue T H E I R 1 S. 97 Vertueof Diuine Loue.The Sunnic beamcs therefore, that is , the grace of Ggid being a ray, as it were, of the Di^ineE^^ence , refleding onthepureft Virgin.^ . lucid clowd, concaue and waterifii , produced the Iris or Raimbo'W in the Hierarchic of the Church , as in the firmament of the Heauens •, and therefore called the Iris or CeUfiial Bow , a figne of the Reconciliation ofGoD withal mankind. She was concaue through humilitie , and therefore very apt to receaiie the rayes of the Sume ofJuftke , the influence of Diuine graces *, as flic was waterifli no leffe through conipaf- ?ion and pietie, becaufe her hart was a Spring , and her eyes as continual-ftanding pooles of teares. A bow commonly hath a firing , is bent with an arrow in it , and hath the horns conuerted towards vs , as menacing the Foes. Our Bhjfed Virgin is a Btiv indeed , but withoutthe firing of feueritic , becaufe mofliufl ; and without menaces and feare, becaufe mofl fweet *, and hath two horns withal,to wit,Grace and Mercie, which she holdeth towards vs *, while grace she affordeth to the iufl , and mercie to finners, and k therefore called the Mgiher of Grace , and Mother of Merck. Aboue al, the Rape^owhzth its proper fubfiflencc in coulour, which it feemes to borrow (as Bede fzyvhj ofthefoure Elements. For , ofthefireitcontrad-sa ruddie coulour j from the water a Cerulean j from the ay re , the coulour of the Hyacinth •, and from the earth , the green it hath : al which feeme fpiritually to be found in our Celepai Bow , the Incomparable Xadk', for red she was, being wholy inflamed w-ith the fire of Diuine loue , which she tooke from the Diuine fire , God being our confuniing fire : a fire indeed , that burns and confumes others , but not her ^ becaufe al- though ^ bnsh , aa4 too, yet imetnbttfitble. ! 9^ P^RtHINEIA S'ACRA, She might borrow.! that coulour likewife from felt dead ^nyim , as hi lay on \m lap, being taken from the Croffe , al bathed with his precious Blond, which mixed with hir faire complexion ^ might , el appeared like to flames , in our Ir». She had the Cerulean , which is the coulout of the Sea , becaufe she is properly the Starre of the sea, and hath therefore a great correfpondencie with that li- quid Element j and through meer compa/Tion , was become , as it were, al liquid j according to tha: of the Pfalmift : Mj hart is become as diffolued or Uquifjedwdx-y as wel for the abundance of teares she was wont to fhed i as the puritie of her mind, which made them fo limpid and cleare* ; She had thirdly the coulour of the Hyacinth-, which sfee tooke , as from the ayre *, fince al her conuerfatiori was in the ayre, as it were,ab{lra6ted from the earthy 'or terrene cogitations, she was wholy as the Bird of Taradtfe , which hath no feet to touch the earth with^ & from the time that her Sonne afeended to heauen, from the mount 01iuet,riieJcould do nothing but caft vp her eyes thither-wards, and fo powerfully perhaps contraded that coulour , through the vehemencie of her attention , and application to that obied , til her jfumptionhaply , when ifec left it by the way in her Bow, to remay ne for euer, as a figne of her puritie. But now to conclude with the green , which tookc from the earth , what might it be , but a conti- nual Spring of al Graces and Vert ues, which ^fe^prac- tifed on earth? Looke into a garden , in that feafon of the Spring and whatfoeuer your eyes can behold truly delicious therc,in the greennes of the plots and arbours , both open and clofe, and in the green-fword allies and bancks 5 your vnderftanding flial be able to paralel and find-out her vertuous conuerCition on fartk T H B I R I 5; earth. For ifyouconfiderfc^f green walks , they were al as ftreight, as garden -walks; for ftreight were the paths of/?^r whole life. If on the arbours , you ihal find her continually in her clofet *, her plots were no- thing els, but how to become more gratful to her Sonne, her Spoufe, her Lord; and thofe alwayes new & cuer green ; fo as in the garden ofher mind , was a per- petual Spring to be feen of al vertues, while she liued amongftvs: no mar uel then , thegreen was fo dear yntoher , to be put intol;^r ^ I THE his Sonne tf/oTV the Crojfe , as on a clovode a Bo we, W hm vapours from the earth exhaled art ft, The Mother likjmft fees "with mourning eyes Her Some al blacK.& hlevo^paU;wany & redy Green with a crowne ofthornesfixt on his head, Al whkh refleEi,^ by reflexion die The Mother,h^e^Raine-boww theskje. To herformenie when the Sinner fues^ The Sonne his Mother as a Raine-bow view&fi That pLeadesfor mercie , to her Sonne appeales, 'Who Jignes the Fafden^ and hit Y^oundi are Seales. too Parthene I a S acr a» THE EMBLEMS. I ! THE T H £ I R I $. 10| THE THEORIES. Ontemplate iirft , that if Nature be TU ^ able to frame fo rare apeece of work- manfiiip as the Kajne> bow *, and that no wit of man can truly comprehend tlie reafo of its forme and figure,wifh the admirable diueiTitie of coulours'in it, fo as among her other works moft choice and rare^ the fame is accounted a cheef miracle in Nature, in the vifibleHeauens': limagin the while, Vv^hat God himfclf is able to doe in his works of Grace, being diipofed , as it were, to vye with Nature in framing an Iris likewife,in this Heauen of Heaues,to aftOniHi not Mortals only, but the Angels -and blefled Spirits themfelucs, better able to iudge’of the diuerfitie of coulours in her , to wit , the myfteries and graces^ wherew ith he hath adorned her. Confider then,thatas the Rajfne^hoW odt-Mf Is no more then ameer Meteor in the ayre^ifit be fo niut tv hofe whole iufter it takes from the-Sun , afid va- nifheh as foone as he is either in a clowd ^ or hath his afped feme other w^ay , fince it is wholy of him, and fo of him, as without him it is nothing : So omTilco* parable , whatfoeiier shewzs of herfcif, fhc efteemed as nothing, notfo much as a Meteor, asir were, in the Celeftial Hierarchie of Heauen, attribu^ ting al to the Sun of Glom refleding his fayes fo powerfully vpon hereto make her appeare fo glorious as she doth , the moft refulgent j^uw , or Carkaner of Heauen , the delight of the Angels, and the gracious figne of Reconciliation to Mortals with her onlie the Sun of lujlice , whofe she is w holy , and euer was. Ponder laftly ^ how as rhrej* Monarchic by turnes with Tit^ her brother, with this happines aboue him, that his goiierment oner fomc of his prouinces is found too hot & intolerable , & held as tyranousjbut hers more bemgrie& fvveetouer al.Shc is fo gbod, as fiie feems to (pend her whole demcanes vpon thepoore &r indiget^And as fneis charitable to aljflie is eue prodigally profufe of the treafure of her iufliicces on her neereft kin about herjcfpeciall v rui::s Hi; ' her 104 pARtKENEIA SaCRA^ herSifter , more necefHtous then ftands with her- gentle breaft^to fee her injand therefore as made for her alone , foe feemes to apply herfelf to her only* And to the end foe may ftil haue to giue , foe is ftil borrowing from her elder Brother new and frefoer lights/rom the rich Magafinofhis greater fplen- d-ourjwherof foe fpends fo faft^as foe is often forced to breake and become Bankerout , and as often by her Brother fet aflote againe , with a new ftock , as brisk as euer. She holdes befides very faire corref. pondences and good intelligence with the Seas , and thofe fo good , as neuer fayle without fomeprodigie or other. They vfe to taxe her of inconftancie ; but they doe her wrong ; for She is conftant ftil^in that inconftancie ofhers,they charge her withjhow then inconftant? The fpots they note her for , foew but how good a glaffereprefentatiue ftie is, that fo figures fomethiiig, which they cal a Man, which I fcannot heer.She is faire and beautiful, & yealds to none but to the Sun , and that for reuerece,andgoodrefpe(fts. She is a great rifer in the night, which foe doth to good purpofe,ftil obliging the whole world through manie faiiours. She is indeed the precious Diamant of the reft of Starres,cut round of the larger ftze, andfometimes Crefcent-wife , as fiie ispleafed to communicate herfelf, & take away the veyle before her face. THE' T H i Moo N E. The morals. 105 Benigna et facilis. He Children of Ifrael indeed , though they acknowledged God forthe Authourand Creatour ofal thingsjet not to bedazeld with his glorie , were ftil calling vpon Mojfes to fpeake to them, and not the Lord. The Kings of chwaareneuerfeen to their Subieds , but nego- tiate their Royal affaires by the triiftie hands of their Eunucks about them ; and they difpenfe his fauours heer and there according to his mind. By them giues he audience to Embaffadours j and by their hands,receaues theprefents, fuits, and requefts of al *, and giues difpatches by them : and fo his Sub- ieds doe more fvveetly taft his benignities and fa- uours , and feeme more freely to communicate with him.The Vnderftanding or Reafon hath the common Senfe for chief difpenferefTe , and the Executiue powers for minifters 5 while al things are not done immediatly by himfelf. Tjberhis had scutnus as It were his right hand. He that wouldhauea faiiouratthc hands of Alexander , would ^pp\y himfelFflrcightto his deereft E^hefiicn^ and he was fure tohaue his fuir. Yea the great S, Veter himfelf, how great foeuer in his Maifter*s fauour , would ftil be pulling of 5. lohn by the fleeue , to put forth his doubts and his requefts to his Maifter for him. And the great Ajfuenis had his gracious and benigne ihfcr al v\ ayes by his fide •, who did nothing but communi- ' cate the Prince's fauours to his people with a pious and prudent hand.This wastheFir^t»?--^for/ 7 origlit,to our great Ajfumtf indeed therefore is she hecr moft truly and aptly ftiled: Benign A et facilis. H iij THE PaRTH'ENIIA Sac!^a^ lOi^ THE ESSAY. S He Moon of al others,is a Planet the neereft to the earth, and moft familiar with it. It is the Sun of the night ; her courfe and decourfe neuerfayles jher glaffe is deer according as ihe lookes on the Sun • andfometimes do we fee but a certain liftjas it were, and Crefcenc of Sillier ; fometimes it waxeth againe , and makes a demieO or half circle, & then growes it to be wholy orbicular and round;her Argent is alwayes dimmed, with fome fhadowes and certain obfcurities , that feeme tofafhion a face with them. She (iipplyesche defaults of the Sun, and often fhines in fellowfliip with him 5 and mingles her rajes with his , eiien at midday-., The fimplicitk ofPainters heerin is difco* uered^ in that ordinarily painting her in companie with the Sun , they make her horns , to looke to the Sun-wards j wherein truly are they quite miftaken; for the back is it , which is turndto the Sun^ and not the horns j for Ihe hath no claritie in her , but that which (lie borrowes of the Sun, prefentinghimin lieu therof , her mirrour and glaffe to looke vpom She is the Sifter of the Sun > and., as I fayd before, the Sun of the nights , which pearceth the thicknes of their darkneSjWith her ftluer rayesjfomewhat moyft, and fweetly cofortingthe tedioufnes of them, being otherwife gloomie and dark of themfelues, A Starre ilie is, that Hues but of Iqane , and hath the vifage ah wayes vpon change:Sheis theMiftrisoftheSea,the Queen ofthe Night,the Mother of Deawes,the fweet Nurfeof theEarth,the Guide ofMariners,the GlaiTe of the Sun , the Companion of his trauels,the Guar- w denote and fignify The 9> to VS, but the glorious Queem of Heauen^Vov ^ I she is al fdre as tbeUoone : She is , as the Mcone, ^ fulm her dajes: and aperfet5l: Moone , becaufe ^ ^ Her Throne as the Sun \n mj fight a perfect Mccncfcr euer. She is a Meow therefore,yea farre more beautiful then the Moon euer was, or euer like to be. For as the Mocn indeed hath her light borrowed , very gracious to behold, but none of her owne , being meerly a light reuerberated fro the Sun : So the Virgin truly,though her light be borrowed , and none of her owne , as fimply hers , yet hersit is indeed, though borrowed of her Sonne,the Sun 0} lufiice^^s daughter ofthe King. For al theglvne of the King's daugh ter is 'ixuthin her dec: not outwardly only in the voice of people , alwayes doubtful, euer vneertain , for the moft part vndefer- ued,and of little fiibfifteiice and pcrmanencie, but intrinfecallyinfoer moft certain, meritorious , and for euer. Befides , the Moon hath her light often ecclipfed, and loofeth vvholy her light for a time; but io8 Parthenei’a Sacra^ but theblefTed Virgin, though she Teemed to be eccHp^ fed,through the vehemencie of her Torrow, when she faw her Sonne To Tiiadowed by a clowd , in the time ofhisPalHon.yetfor her coftancie of fayth i/je could not beecclipfedfo, as to defpaire ofhisRefurredio, ceafe vntothe end of the world .Wtl might the Apofiles fayleat that time, butM^neneuer. Moreouer as the Moon is variable and fubied; to changes , in the light it affords to Mortals ( an argument accounted Mccl,xu weaknes of brayne,vv^hile thefoale , as the Wife-mm fayth, jj changed as theMoone ) let vs fee , Vv^hat chages 8 c mutabilitiestheyare. One is ofthe mind, which is often moued through diuers affediosjanother in the bodie, which is fubied to manifold alteration and corruption I an other of fortune, becaufe temporal things are alwayes a flowing or ebbing , a flux or reflux , the Ioffe of guilt and offence which is in fin-, ners,who alwayes are Aiding from vice to vice. But our hath althefe changes and mutabilities vn- der her feet , fince the Moon indeed is placed vnder her feet y while she alwayes retained the conftancie of her mind , and Vow of Yirginitie ; she put on the glorie of Immortalitie on her bodie;^l7e trampled al terrene and temporal things vnder foot •, and laftly through a Angular prerogatiue was euer priuiledged from Anne. Furthermore , the Moon hath her light al fpeck- led ouer with little fpots i but our blefl'ed Ladie had no blemifli or fpot at al , either in her thoughts, becaufe alwayes pure and immaculate^ or in her bo- Cans, 4. die,becaufe Angelical. Thou art wholjfajre, mj friend, and there is no fpot in thee, I fay, miofl: fayre in cogita- tions,affedions,and intentions; andfpotles in al.Oh beautiful xVl6>o»,tranfcending anie heauenlie Planet or Starre in the Firmament , as farre in dignitie and ex- cellencie,as fo heauenlie a and Qjucne o^Hcauens can The Moone^ io^ can furpaffe her Rational, Senfible , or Infcnfiblc fubiedsl The Moon is fometimes wholy obfcure , fometimes wholy lucid andbright, and fometimes partly ob- fcure,and partly refplendent-,w her in it refembles the Virgin right.For the Moon^ as S.Augufim fayth, is obfeu- red either when it is vnder a clowd,or when ccclip- fed, or whenrenewed,as in the new Moon :So theblef. fcdri/^w in this world, was thrice or three manner of wayes obfcured.Firft,through her exceffiuc huini- litie , which was a kind of obfcure clovvd ,that ouer- fliadowed her brightnes or fplendour in the eyes of the world. Blacky I am but beautiful^ as if ilie had fayd: - I am outwardly black through humilitie,but in- wardly beautiful in grace and maieftie. Secondly, through acerbitie and bitternesofforrow; and this in thePa/Iion of her Sonne , as I fayd aboue , where Ihe fuffered an ecclips in the vehemecie of her greef. The San , that is to fay , Chtifi , shal be turned into darJ^ies through death j and the Moon , to wit, the blejfcd Virgin, into bbud , that is , into dolour J\.nd thirdly , through tcel i. corporal death ; for then became Ihe obfcure in a fort,when her foule departed fro her precious bodie lb obfeured, as it were to become anew Aloowr againe inher Ajjumftm , and then indeed 4 moji ferfed' for euer. Secondly this Moon of ours, was wholy lucid, in her Ajfumftton, becaufe llic was glorified in foule and bodie, and receaued there her double Stole-, and like- wife fiiines vponvs, with her infinit fauours and graces , which W;edayly fends vs. For then indeed as theivicow is wholy bright and lucid, when she fliines in the beginning, midft,and to the end of the niglit ; by which night is tribulation both fignified and vfiial ly vnderftood : And as feme Saints there are , who help the jio Par THE ME I A Sacra'; the affliftedjin the beginning of the night as it wercj others, who fuffer men to fal into tribulation , and to be tempted 5 in the beginning and middle, but help -and fuccour them at the end: the bleifed Vtrgm fliines with her fauours vpon the diftrelTed , as wel in the begimiingjin affording couragc;and in the midle, in giuing perfeuerance *, as in the end, in placing the ^rowne on their heads .This is flie,when others fayle, who ncuer fayles;whom other Smtsiot finnes iuftly forfake,{lie neuer leaues j and while others feeme to fubtrad their fuffrages, flip alwayes helps. Thirdly, this Moon was partly lucid and partly ob- fcurcjand this truly in the Pallion of her Sonne, where both flie was obfeured, and yet gaue light j obfeure, through intefe forrow,yet lucid by moft lirmeFayth. For as whe the Sun is ecclipfed,the Uoon being oppo- fed between vs & the Siin,appeares wholy obfeure: fo when the of fuffer edecclips at his death, the bleffed Virgin became wholy dark , that is , quite ouercafl: and ful of forrow , And yet notwithftan- ding she fliined euen then likewife , becaufe she kept the light of Fay th vnextinguiflied in her.Hf r hght sb.il not he extinguished in the night. S urely two Heaues there are , w^hich yet neuer loft their light , nor euer arc like to doe : to wit, Chrtji for one , who neither with death did forgoc the light of his Diuinitie , but his T)citie was both with his bodiein theSepuicher,and with his foulein Limbus: and his Mother the other, who neuer loft the light of grace and fayth within her. THE T H E M O O N e: tii ¥ fi-- if He tmpeffc of the SeayLsxonzlnght, Drawes Ukeaload-fiotie hj attracftuc might the Oceans jheames, whkh hauing forward rHune Calks- hachjigaine^ to end where they begunne. The Prince ofdarknes had ecclipfedEiics hght, -And Mortals , clowdedin Cjmmerian nighty "SN ere backwards drawne bjEnc^ as is the Maine; 'Twos only Marie drew to GoDagaine: O chaft Piana , with thy flitter beames, jlux & reflux ( as in the Oceans flreames) thou canfl caufe.O draw ! and draw me fo^ T bat J in vice may ebbe , in Vejtue flow-. The Taafe, TIIE Partheneia Sacra; iii THE THEORIES. ^rhe Ontemplatefirfl:, that ifthcMoow being faHon, fo faire , beautiful , and perfed , be fo ^ accounted of Mortals j and for the ma- nifold influences and fauours , which file continually imparts to creatures, be held in fo great veneration , as to fliare in their opinion with the Sun himfelf , in the gouerment of the world, whom thePaynim Gentilitieholdsto be a God, and her Brother, and flie his Sifter , notwith- Handing fhe hath yet fo manie blemifii es,defed:s,and fpots appearing in her , who can except againfl: the Churches deuotion, in fo magnifying our ladte, who is truly fo faire,beautiful,&: perfedindeed , without any the leafl blemifli , or fpot in her j & fo beneficial withal , as to communicate her graces vnto vs in a far higher nature, and thofe in ameafure foimmenfe? Or who can tax vs,for ftiling her the Q^en ofheauen^. who is not only the Sifier , the h knd , the Doue , and beautiful Spoufe o!l the Sun of kjike , but euen his mofl: immaculate Mother , the fountain of al her preroga- titles befides-,when efpecially we afford her no more honour, then may worthily be due to ameer crea- ture? Confider then , that as in the opinion of fuch as hold the itioow encrealing to haue her horns direded towards the rifingof the Sun; but decreafing, or beinginthe waynCjtohaue the horns pointing to the fetting of the Sun : So our heauenlie , Angelical, and fpiritual Moon , the Incomparable Virgm-Motber^ had certain addrefles and preparations, of humilitie and Virginitie, v/herewith fiiedifpofed herfelf,to embrace her Sun in her armes, in th§ morning of his birth The M 0 o n e'. ttj birth^as he lay in the Crib; And at his fetting againc, that is, at his Paffion ^regarded him with two other horns as it wercj to w it, with the forrow flie had for his death,of the one {ide‘,and the ioy , flie receaucd of the other, for the Redemption of the world. Ponder laftly , how though the while it is iuft ouer the earth, and the Suntie in oppofitio thervnto, in aright diameter beneath the fame , isfliadowed, obfcured,or ecclipfed:Yet our rayftical M9one^ when Chnft^ our true Sun indeed, defcended and abid in hel, which is vndcr the earth, and our Moon remayning there oner it , loft not the light of Fay th , of his pre- fent Refurredion •, for that the fiiadow of the earth, that is , the infidelitie of terrene things , could not afcendvnto her, whereby thedarknes of Infidelitie comprehended her not, THE APOSTROPHE, g lmfrep of the "world y Ladie of the Vnniefs , Q^en of Angelsf^mdwg in the Moon , and crowned with rfc* Starres in Ueamn by God Almightie •, rnojl wife^ Collo. maftgoodt oh tegardm, I befeech thee^fiom the top efthe heauens with thy [acred influences from thence *, and haue fktie Vfon me moftmiferable wr itched fimter in al points. Pr f- fent , O facred Virgin-Mother , al my pouerues to Go al my perilsyal my miferies and necefittes, to thy Sonne, for fo wil he take pittie on me , and open hh hamlyAnd afford me Iris $enedi^io9i , through thy gracious inter ceff on. This grants I . bjfeech thee^ moft radiant andrejplendtnt Moone, whotlnneff in heauen, and shal for d eternities THE 114 YMBOL. T A R R E. THE CHARACTER* He Sums are the glittering laps ofHea- uen/et vp as fo manie lights,in the clofe or vpper feeling of the ample Theater of the world. They areas fparckling Diamants ftrewed in the Firmament, to | ehtertaine the World with^as a goodlie maifter-pie- • j ce of the great CREAiovs.They are thefiluer Oes^af powdredheer and there, or fpangles fprinckled ouer the purple Mantle or night-gowne of the heauenst the feed ofpearle, fowne in the fpacious fields of , the Heauens , tp bring forth light, Haue you feen a Ratelie . T H s S r A R 'R «: 11 fiatelie Mask in Court , al fet round , and taken vp with a world of beautiful Ladies, to behold the fports and reuels there ? Imagin the Stanes then , as fitting in the Firmafnet,to behold feme fpedaclc on Earth, with no other light then their owne beauties. ^ If that great Pan they fpeakeof,were that man fitting in the Cabin of the Moove^ the Stands would be his Sheep and lambs , feeding inthofc ample dowucs of heauen •, which not appearing by day ( their proper night) you muft fuppofe to be lockt-vp in their folds for feare ofthofeBeares and Lions in the Welkin. As Cinthia in the Heaues is euen the very fame that Diana is in the woods and foreft:s,the Stands by cofcqucnce are her Nimphs, who encompas her about, and dace the in her prefence,v\^hiIefo they feeme in twinckling to dance and foot-it in the fame place. They are extremely giuen to mortification , and to a ftrange annihilation of themfelues j that being fo great as they are , they appeare to be fo litle in the eyes of men ; yea manie of them , are fo pafiionatly addided toit,as they appeare not at al. They affed , equalities amongfl: them and be anie of them ncuer fo greatjthey wil fiiew to be no greater then the reft.. Their greater height and eminencie in degrees fwelles them not a whit or puffs them vp , but dimi- niibeth their creafts,and abates them ratlicr. Inline, they are a happieCommon-wealthjdeuoyd ofenuie or ambition ; where w^el may you heare of coniunc-. tions of Houfes, but no iarres and difeords amongft: them^tliateuer I could heare of. THE tl6 PARTHENEIA SacRA^ the m o r a l s. In ITINERE PHARVS^ (Hen Tbefeus was puzled and entangled I in Minos Labyrinth, he found the twift fof Ariadne todeliuer himtKence. The little Bird with the red breaft , which for his great familiaritie with men they cal a Robin, if he meet anie one in the woods to goe aftray^and to wander he knowes not whither, out of his way, of common charitie wil take vpon him, to guide him, at leaft out of the wood,if he wil but follow him , as fome think. This am I fare of,it is a comfortable andfweet companio, infuchacafe Jt is the manner in al countries likely, in doubtful waycs eipecially , where they feeme to croffe one another,to fet vp Pillars with hands,direc^ ting and pointing this way or that way > and you wil not beleeue , w^at comfort it affords to wearic Pil- grims, v^^hofe euerie ftep out of their right way , is a greeuouscorrafiuetothem. The Kings had a Starre^ as companion in their pilgrimagCjtothe Crib. And thePaftours of the Church , are as fo manie Starree^ to leade their Sheep, and to guide their fubieds in the pilgrimages of their owne faluation. When the hauens are crooked and perilous to paffe to and fro, thepublick care of common fafeties,in the night efpecially , prouides fome burning torch or other, vpon fome turret-top, to admoniili the Marriners, where they are,and fayrly to guide and dired them into the wifhed port. This fame prouifion hath the Wifedome likewife of the great Creatovr found out , to ccpifott mi direft vs ^ uq kffe ^ in the open §eas^ The Star r'e; ii^ S^as , expoCng a certain Stam among the reft , as a fure and infallible Pharus : But more truly and abun- dantly farre, in ordaining the Incomparable Virgin Matte , his bleffed Mother , to be our Starrc in the dan- gerous and tempeftuous Sea of the world;and therc- loreis heer vei7 truly fayd in the Moffo ; In itinere P«ARVSt THE ESSAY* E Starres ^ as fowne vp and downs the 7'^ Heauens , are the thicker and maftiuc 'parts of Heauen, certain Buttons of Cry- ftal as it were,which feme as a grace and entertainment to Heauen.By thefe finer channels, Nature diftills her influences vpen vs, and infenfibly diftributes fauours. They are the eyes of Nature, which without ceafe ferue vs as a Court-of- guard for watchfulnesjthe lewels of Nature, where- with ordinarily ftie dreffes herfelf. Sometimes they fend forth their fire & raycs*,fometimes they ecclipfe their beautie , and ftrip themfelues of al refulgence. There are fome ^ who can pundually tel you, the courfe and trauails of the Starres , their afpeds , their encounters, and their fruits*, the marriages anddi- iiorcesof the Planets , their defeds and ecclipfcs, their rifings, their fettings, their afeedants, their con- iim dions,and the whole oeconomie of the Heauens, Forthe fwiftnes of their motions,it is athiiig almoft incredible, v/hat they write, that one starre in the Ar- mament , fiiouid goe looooo, Italian miles in a mi- nute of an how’cr ; fo as neither the flight of a bird, nor force of an arrow, nor the furious ihot ofaCarn^ nor anie thing of the world, can approach or come tteere the imagiiivibie f,*/iftnes of thefe starr^s , buc I jet ti8 Partheneia Sagra, yet moft true. Befides al this , there is no Sf^m,tha- hath not a particular vertue with it,though vnt knownetovs. The clowdedSf^rrcs caufe infallibly rayne-, others, froft ; foine, fnow; others (head abun- dant deawes •, fome fow their hayle •, others open the mouth and gates of the winds j others fold the world inclowdsjothersfenddownemiftie fogs;and others contribute to the produdion and generation of Mi- nerals y and when the Sun and the Canicular Starre are in coniundion , and match togeather , the world burnes with outrageous heats. It is a dreadful thing, to confiderthe greatnes of thefe Starns^ their diftace in the Heauens,and the inexplicable fwiftnes of their coLirfes and reuolutions.Y oufiial haue a stam which fliewesnobiggerthenacrowue, that is a 115. times greater then the earth.Goodnesof GonlWho would imagin this beautie , to fee fuch a Boule of Criftal al of fire, to caft downe here beneath a thoufand bene- didions on the earth,by meanes of its rayes,and the fweetnes of its influences? The Suruey, THE DISCOVRSE. H V s farre then of Stmes in general^ which being thus decyphered , may feeme,as fo manie glorious Suns,inthe Firmament of the Heauens , but are in- deed as the Common-people of that Celeflial Citie andKingdome, compared with the Sim himfelf , fitting in the midfl: of Planets , as the KingofHeaucn,towhom althereft of Stmes make vp a Court •, among whom, as a choice He^er , is one efpecially feleded by that great Affuerus of Starres^ to call: his mofl: amorous glances and fayreft influence vpon. This happie and aufpicious Stam is knownc and called by diuers names, according to the offices (he t H fe S t A R RE* 7i() fhe difchairges in the great Ajfuerus his houfe. For firft is flie ftikd by the name of Venfis, not as the GoddefTe of Louc, which the Poets feigne,but for that file difpo-* fes them to loue,whom flie 1 wayes^and cxercifes her* vertues on.Secondly, ftieis called the Morning- st ami becaufe fhe lli ewes and declares the Morning now ac hand,and cuen begins the fame herfelf with her bur- ning torch 5 to glad the world withal ^ who then be- gins to fhakeoff fleepe ^ and difperfe the miftieva- pours^which fo long had fhadowed & clowded ouef theGemell starres or Eyes of the Microcofmes oF men. Thirdly they cal her jL«o/er,in that her light ex- ceeds fo much the Other Starres fo as wel flie may b and the Virgins , the Orient Pearls and Diamonds, Poder laftly,thac as this St am is moued moft fwiftly by the motion of its Superiour , to wit, of the vpper firmament or chief Moiier,bccaiife it dayly carries it about the world jbut moues moft flowly of its o wne motion, for that they fay it moues but one degree in a hundred yeares.So the bleffed Virgin , our delicious Starre , moued neuer of her proper motion , but through the motion of her Superiour , to wit , the Molie-Ghofi for as much as moued by the Holie^Gbofi made fhe avow of Chaftitie, and kept her virginitie inuiolable , and that perpetual ; moued by the Hclie^ Ghofl^ihc gaue her affent to the Conception of the Sonne of GoDinaninftantjbeingmouedtogoe to feruehet prefently fne climbd the mountains j being moued ( fo great with child, and neer her time ) to goe to Bethlem^ fhe went her wayes, and laftly moued to returne againe, immediatly fhe returned. Behold how file moued not of herfelf, but meerly of the Ho/^^-G^o^,which was within her, and guided and di- rededher inal things : for other motion in moral ad:ions had fte none. THE TjHE Mooke; Ilj THE apostrophe; *^hi O GUrlomStmc\OMotherofmerck\Tve haue heard^thou CoUq^ artful ofgrac€\and grace is it which we haue need of, o V**** ful of grace ! o radiant Starr el we , who are rhj humble sup^ f Hants ,prefent our felues before th) Sonne y great Xing of iCraelyWithfacksloth on our backslashes on the heady and cords sdrout ourneckjyConfefmg our offences in thj fight , that bj thy weanesywemay ok aine pardon of them.Lookjowardthe North beer ofouraffii^ioy O Starre of the Sea, thou art our cofide^ice-, , interpofe thyfelf, between thy Sonne and thy feruants; that of the one fide thou mayftappeafe his wrath ^and of the other can* cel our finnesy that through the heat of thy rayes , O Diuine StarrCythe frigiditie of ourfoulemay be warmed agame , that by thy ajpe^y the heat of the Holie-Ghoft may viuify rs, o grant the famcymofi Orient and bright Starre of Heautn, THE THE XII. SYMBOL. THE OLIVE, T H E D E V I S E. THE CHARACTER: E ollue, rhe Fig, and Vine,are the three [Tnwwwiri, that might wel haue fhared the Monarchic of trees between them ; as hauing the voy ces of al the Tribunes on their parts. BiittheO/i«^efpecially refii- fed the fcepter , as greater in itfelf,then the flafli and lufter of Purple and Diadem could make it. It is the true Agathocles, contented with his Pallets in an ear- then dijfh. It is euenthe meek and innocent Done of trees 5 as the Done is the Oliue of birds,hauing fuch lympathk andfaire correfpondencies with them. It The O r 1 V e; fi7 was once the gladfome mirth and ioyful folace of hart i was then, and is ftil the Enfigne of peace and mercie. It is the Herald of Armes , that pafTeth freely to and fro , amid the holbards and fquaarons of pikes , and cryes but out : hold your han is, and al is whift. It decks the browes of Poets, equal with lawrel , fince Apollo md Mtmrua were as brother and lifter , and deare to each other. It works the fame effeds ,that Mufick doth to reuiue the Spirits after a dearth , like aliuelie Galyard , after a doleful and fad Pauen, And for the Gyle , the blond of the Oliuey it is the quinteflence and creame therof. It is the fat or butter of the garden , and foyls the Dayrie , as more wholfome , and agreable with our firft nature. If the VinebetheDearlingofi^rfcc/nt/,- the Olm is fo to , that being the Cellar of the pne , and this ^e Apothecaries fliop of the other. The Gyle is fp^coy and delicate , fo referued and re- colled:ediiritfelf,as it opens nodoores to admit anie ftrangerinto its houfe. It isfierieandhaughtiein its nature , and wil mount and ride on thwack of al his fellowes. Yet wil it flily infinuate and familiarize it- felf with its neighbours; for there is nothing wil cn^ crochfo much and (hew fo flick and fmooth a brow. And finally it is the ioyful fmile of the husband- man,and the leaping of his hart, his barne,his cellar, and his whole Riches.lt is the Wardrop to cloath his children , wherwith he payes his rent , and liuesas merrie a$ his Landlord doth. THE ijl8 Part;heneia Sacra* THE MORALS. Speciosa et frvctifera; H E Lion is a ftatelie and princelie crea- ture , and held to be the King of beafts, but is not fruitful; becaufc lightly they whelp but one at once , and that but rarely too , as once in fiue ycares only; while the Wren wil bring forth a 1 6. or lo.yong in a neaft, that befides a litle skin and bone is litle more then atuft of feathers. The Stcmouris agoodlie and beautiful tree^and hath fo faire aleaf ,.fo fmooth and delicat,as a reafonable Taylour might wel hauc made therofa gowne andcloke for Adm and lue. And yet this gallandtree is wholy barren ; wheras the Slowe^though fhe beare a world of fruit^they are but fowre^and (he no more then athorn.s^r^jthe wife of Abraham , was fo faire and beautiful , as Abraham himfelf had fome litle iealoufies of her; and ?haraa was fo palEonatly enamoured with her, as tofnatch her away from him , and tocarrie her to his Court, But yet flie was not fruitful, while (he had much ado, to bring an Ifaac into the world. Lta indeed was very fruitful , and brought her lacoh manie children; but (lie was but bleer-eyed and ilfauoured, and illu- ded in taking her for another. indeed was gra- cious and extreme faire,but barren, that with al her Mandragoras was hardly able,to bring her Jacob a and the litle Beniamin coft her her life .Only the Virgin Marie was truly faire and fruitful both togeather, who remayning ftil a Virgin , was yet fo fruitful , as to bring forth not a lofeph^ or a Sauiour of afevv , or a Beniamin to his mother, but a Ie svs and a ^ " Samom The Oliver 129 SdulouY indeed of the world,being the true VrmoginU tus of an infinit offpring of Chriftians , fucceeding in the world ; and particularly of true rarthenians. And therefore was truly 5peciosa et Frvctifera. THE ESSAY. Y the is vnderftood the tree, the ^he fruit, the oyle. As for the tree, if man be a j^uUyr, tree,turndvpfidedowne,asfome wilhaue itjwhofebodie is the triinck, his legs and armes the branches , and whofe head the rootjWhere, by the mouth, it takes its nutriment^the oltue is that tree, fince no other tree refembles him fo wel. For no other tree,is fo ciuilized as it ; no other tree fo vfeful and profitable to the neighbour •, no other tree/o medicinal. Thefirftmakes himaCiti- 2en,at leaft a free Denifon amongft men •, the fecond, a Marchantjand the third, aPhyfician ; and what are theft but trades , faculties, and profefiions of men? was the firft as the Paynim Antiquitie wil haue it , who found-out the culture and planting of the OliuHy andexprellioof the lickour thence, or pref- fingof theOyle*,howbeit they grant the Plant had been euer exifting,and had grownc before, but alto- geather vnknowne tomen , among the other trees. And for a good while was not the oUuc to be found, . but with the Athenians -y and therefore the fpidaurians- contraded with them , to fend them yearly oltut branches for the-ir Sacrifices. And for as much as thelickourofthoO//«^,as theOyle exprefied, is apt for al arts,they held Minerna was the Inuentrelfe of al arts, Foi furely, there hardly aide Art, that makes not i;io P'artheneIa Sacra^ not vfe of this vnduous lickour, we cal Ojle of Oliue^l There are two forts of thefe Oliue-trees; the one Ci- nil, asl fayd,and fit for Citties , bred and trayned.vp in Gardens , welcloathed with Oliue-coulourfuits v/ithout,and faced or lined with afn-coulour withinj the other Wild , and fitter for the forrefts , being fomewhat of a harfher & more churlifli difpofitionj as being ful of thorns and prickles mingled with the leaues ^ and whofe fruit feldome or neuer come to good 5 as hailing little acquaintance or familiaritie with the S un, that perfeds al things, by reafon of the thickets of the forrefts where they dwel , which hinder it. But for the nobler & more generous Oliue^ they are high and tal of ftature , wel branched , and with as maniearmes and hands to feed vs with , as had Bfiarius to fling and hurt with* Their flowers and bloflbmes clufter togeather,like to grapes^the fruity madeOual-wife , being long and round , about the bignesofourdamfons ; whofe bones within, were they as final as the flefli is good, the marchats needed not to venture fo far as to the Indies for gold or fpi- ces , while Spajne and Italie would hold them trade enough. AsfortheOyle, the Poets, who are punc- tual & Religious in their Epithets,are wont to ador- neand mark out al other lickours with their proper attributs, as totearme the milk , candid ^ the honie, liquid goldj the Rofe, crimfon j the wine, brisk*, but the Gyle of al others, they cal humid,a qualitie com- mon to al lickours , chiefly , for that it hath na ariditie of anie mixture with it , as other lickours haue,euen the water itfelfjthere being nothing naorc fmooth, flick, and leffeporiejthen it. It hathbefides very f^ire correfpondencie with the eyes , and little lefle then good wil between them^ affording itfelf to be eafily gazed on , as aglaffe*, and though not fo ' ^ ^ ~ tranf^ T H « O L I V b 7 iji tranfparent as other lickours , yet morereflefliue & reprefentatiue, then others . It is apt to burnc , as being fo liquid, as I fayd*, for were it ayrie , it would vanilhintofmoke*, ifearthlic, turne to allies ; but being humid , it fpends itfelf , and nouriflies the fire. Finally this fweet lickour , as the friend and dear companion of Nature , reftores the fraile forces, comforts the languifhing vigour , repay res and non- rifheth the bodic in decay, clarifyes the voice , difli- pates , refolues, and quite confumes the coldnes of humours, and affwages tumoursjand what not? THE DISCOVRSE. He Sacred Scriptures fhew , that when the Trees decreed among themfelues , to eled:aKing,thefirft they caft their voy- CCS on , to haue aduanced to that Regal dignitie, and weild the Scepter , was the 0/i«e of al other; for that , the firft and principal thing they re- quire in fuch a one , to gouern fubieds with , mufl: needs be Pietie and Mercie , whofe type indeed the o/m^beares.Nomandenyes , but the Incomparable Virgin is worthily heer compared to the Oliue~tree;of whom is fayd: As it were an Oliue fieciow inthe felds.Sin- ce then that Supreme , Soueraigne, and more then Royal dignitie of Mother of God , was conferred fo vpo her in her Annunciation on the myftical Oltuc^ af- ter the receauing of that Imperial title , krCharitie &rMercie appeared more then euer,as became a And as in the Annuntiation of the immaculate Motho of God^theDout was atrue type of ber^(6 is the oliue-tree no le{re,wheron jfoc fate aliuelie& reprefetatiue figu- re3between which two, are fo great correfpodcncics, which Partmenei’a Sacra; which Vhilifophen cal afympathiQ. Cal then to mind that admirable Done , which Noe , the great reftoret of the world , from that vaft and huge Argofrie of his, or rather vnmeafturableCheftjwherin he had en« clofed andfiiut-vp the world, as vnder lock and key^ fent forth to be his Spy and Intelligencer abroad , to vnderftjand, how matters went with the other world fobi^yed vnder waters. Whoflying freely through the emptie world, within the liquid ayre, prying e^ierie where with the pearcing cafl: of her litle eyes, th^ elder world beginning now at length to difeouer fome part of its lametable mines , when fneinought welhaue lighted either on fome ftatelie Cedar, or vidorious Palme, vpqn fome mountainous Cypreffe^ or robuftuous Oak , \)r els on a prudent Mulberrie, the moft fweet Fig-trte,or moft fiorifhing Almond: yet fhe belike as flighting them al,and al other kinds of plants or fruits whatfoeuer , made choice of the OUue to fet her litle foot vpon j and with her litle bil, as a wife and ingenious Spy,to faften on fome proof or argument,to bring away with her of the faire dif- patch of her negociation, which was to bring her maifter certain & infallible tidings of the difeouerie andrecouerie anew of that greater world.Returning to the Arck againe,as Scriptures teftify,nie brought along w'ith her a branch of that Oto-tree : the 70, reade a kaf,a fprig of olme, or, as other s,a fefeue (as it were ) therof , to wit, with leaues , or the top only and moft flender twig of an vpper bough , as Dihm expounds it •, for fo might the Done very eafily twitch it off. Wherefore we aptly marke the o/kf in the whole Myfterie of the AnnHnmtion,as the Symbol of Mercie and Peace. For in the fame was made the firft begin- jning of human Redemption ^ as alfo of the Diuine benig- The Olive; ijj benignitieandliberalitie j which to the end that Pa- tron and louer of men the Sonne of God might truly flicw , it was needful , through the bowels of mercie to vtjit rs fifing fromahoue y which in this Myfteric was truly done, when Gabrielttiking the perfon of an Embafla- dour,dcliiiered.hisEmbairage to Marie, whom if you conceaue as the Doue of No'e\ bringing in his hand a fprigof green and dourifliing Oliue with him , as the enfigne of his Legation, you Ihal not think amiiTc- fincetheG//«^-branch is euen with the Gentils them^ felucs , the Symbol of mercie, but in a lingular and peculiar manner* denotes to vs the Virgin in the Thea- ter of the Annumiation. But hcer may we demand with S. Amhrofe : how caraeit to palTe, the Otiue fliould flourifii fo fuddeiViy ^fterthe Deluge,andput forth a twig fo foone?doiib- ting , whether that leaf ( for fo he calles it ) fprung before the floiid , or,during it; concludes it di d, and that the lull Nof reioyced, to i^efome fruit refer n- J of the old feed ; and gathered thence a notable f gne of the Diuine Mercie , for that as then he had remo- ued the deliige,flie wing the fruit which the inundatio could not hurt , as holding the litle branch of green 0/i«^tobeafignetherofjwhiclieuen fiourillicdin the midft of the waters and vniuerfal inundation of vm- dicatiue luftice, Ence this Qim of Mercie could no.: be drownd,fwallowed,or withered wholy , Wherci i i truly may we worthily contemplate our blefcd Virgin Marie exprefly deciphered, as the efpecially and moll Angularly preferued plant of this myftcrious^ oliue, which eucn flourifliing before the floud , ccalcd not likewife to be green and profper in the ver ie floud. For if the iiift man worthily rcioyced to bcI'*old yet fome fruit to remaine of the old feed ; could he choofc but admire this my flic ul branch oi our “ K pUe 154 Partheneia Sacra^ Cliue heer , which eiien fo great an vniuerfal floud of Sin tie could no whit domage? Heer now the Hcbrewes would haue Uount-Olmt not to haue been couered wholy with the waters of theficud,and how that branch of Oline was taken from that Mount- Oliuet, Others report it to haue been fetcht out of Paradice. Both which I hold fidi- tious,if w^e fpeakeofthe Mount or Paradice in a iteral or hiilorical fenfe ; and otherwife moft cer- 5 if we vnderftand it in the myllical. For the of chnf is myfticaily indeed the Mount of OUues^and fiie alfo the Paradice of pleafure ,whe- our Lord hath placed the man whom he had This Mount of then , this Paradice, floud of ouer-flowing finnes hath drowned or THE^ ppp T H I O t t V E. THE EMBLEMS. O T without cauf the Oliu^^trce is flow ^ Afid bat k^’Vard m it*sgrowTh:Tbe fruit doth show * th*ojk ttjealdts ( the type of Mercie ) long \Ve did expedl, before that tender, yong^ And fruitful tree^ hreOliut, from the earthy ( The buffed Virgin ) fprung^ by whofe blefi birth. The oyle of Merck ,frotn the fruit did flow. Which with the tree grew vp,and grew vp fo. As the firft Oliuc tree , not flow in growth. But branch* d,&leAU*d, &fruitfulM^t;cic both { Likj oyU ) the Tree & Truit, produce : a Prieft Meflias in herWomh's annoynted Chrift.* . Kij TH5 Par t h « n e i a S a c r A - The Contem- fUthn, Ifid, Cxnt.i, THE THEORIES. Ontemplate firft , that as the 0\m is euer green , both in Sommer, Winter, Spring, and Autumnci and what hew it reccaucs in the Spring , it ftilretaines the dead of Winter , when al other trees befidcs haue either no Icaues , or els are changed into other couloiirs , as tailing the common caiamitie of al Plants* fomefew excepted. So the incomparable Virgin Umc neuer loft the flou- riiliing greennes of her fandritic,eyther inthefmi- ling Sommer of her abundant confolation in her ioyfulpaifages with her deer 5oww#; or in the fad iWinter of hergreateft defolatio, as when she loft him inthe Temple, and when she found him afterwards hanging on a forren tree, fo ftrangely altered , as he could hardly be knowne, inhispaffion j nor in the Spring of her youth,while she lined inthe houfe of her Parents, and efpecially in the T emple of our Lordydu^ ring her minor itie •, nor yet in the Autumne of her el- derage, fince look what feruour she had in youth, the fame she ftil retained in her elder yearcs. Confider then , how the blelfed Virgin , and her deer Somie^ were both Oltues, to wit, the fruits of OhuesJPor: as the oUues are hrft green, then red , then brown or black ; fo was the Virgin-Mother green through the precious and intemerate flower of her Virginitic; red, through her burning and enflamedCharitie; and brown or black, through humilideJ Am bUckjhchold the brownnes of her humilitici butfaire: fee there the floiirifliing ftate ofher Virginitie i likj to the skins of Salome: where you may note therednes ofher charitie. And for her Sonne^ the y ong Vlme^ He was green in his wholE?* The O l 1 V b. 1^7 irtiQlc conucrfationJ/iw^r^rwivootl thtjio thU^whAtiioiL hedomin thtdrj f He was red in his paftion ; Wherefore ‘j* is thj gMmtntred^ 4nd thj veftments likj to thofe , vpho fiawp •r tri 4 d in the freffe ? And black he was , at his death: while the Sun htume bUcK,a4 a Sackjcloth. Ponder laftly,how Chrift himfelfwas truly the Oliue-y and the Virgin-Mother^but as the oliue. He was truly the Oliue , bccaufc he had the total and vmuerfal Mctcic with him,and was indeed the natural Mercie himfclf, lince it was indeed his verie nature, & proper to him, to haue mercie,and take compalTion ofal : while the Virgin was but as moltue •, forthat she was fo accufto- xned to pittie , andfo readie and prompt to compaT- fion,as she feemedin a fort moil like vneo him. THE APOSTROPHE. 7U Delicious and fruitful Mother, doe thou fhew thy felf a true Mother*, and doe not reieH me from thy bofomSyfo ofen to al finners,0 Virgin Mother, O Oliue truly fruitful in the houfe of God: according to thy name , let me ftoue the effdis thcrof :for thy name dilates itfelfltks Oyle j thou healejt the vrosuided , thou giueji light to the ignorant \ thj name feemes to carrie a hitter^ nes with it , andyet affords vs a f weet and delicate ojic or ialme of mercie and grace y more fooeet then honie , or the honk-comb^ and thy name^tn the mouth^isfuloffuauitie and delegation. O how fairc is thy mcrcie , in time of tribulation ! Tor then dofi thou powre itfotthy when the uecefitte is mofl t wdenr. Mother ot mercie , whoprefcHtjl thy felf mojl prompt to al, that erre and got aft ray: Doe me the grace, to participate of the fruit of thy name.Giue me a fpecialdeuotion to fraife thee, a hue to hue thee, and a perfe^ humilitk to follow thee , through the fruit of thee , the Oliue , thy bhjfcd Sonne I e s v s . K ^ THE THE CHARACTEK. 1 He Ni^htmgal is the litle Orfbeus of the woods, and the true Ampbion of the for-, reft , that hath for Lyre the Htle Claris gal, or Organ of his throat ^ wherin he _ _ , is fo expert , as not contented to out^ ftrip others,he wil neuer lyn,til with running his di- mfions,he hath put himfelfto a Non-pius , for want of breath ; and then wil look about him , as he had donefome thing,andfome notable conqueft,when it is but himfelf or his owne Eccho he hath fo foyled, andputtofilence. He is the pety Quirifter of the Groues, The N I g h t e <^a l. 1^9 Croucs, thatfings his Anthems andprettie AlleluyAi in the nightjgiuing the word to Chantccler,the obflrc- perous Cockjto ring the world an Alarme or peal to Mdtt'ms, He is fo prowd of his mufick , and hath fo good a conccipt therof, as he wil not confort with anie other minftril befidcs ,tofil-vp his melodious Symphonies, but wil alone haue al the pipes to him- felf. He is a true Muiitian indeed, that hath a litle of thefantaftick with him ; and wil in a humour , if he iarre but neuer fo little with hinifelf, of meet cholcr be readie to break his pipes topeeces. It iswcl he Zings no words or Dittyes to his Sol-fa •, for if he did, wefhould doubtlcs loofe our felues, and be rauiilied and reft of our fenfes. And much T doubt , whether the Intelligences themfelues would not quite giue ouer their mufick,to liften to his Mottets. His vfual fongs are certain Catches and Ronndelayes he hath, much after the manner of the French Biaulesjyou would take him verily to be a MTfuur of Paris llreighr, if you heard but his preluditims •, for then indeed is he fetonamerriepin. Sometimes againc wil he be in a melancholie dump, and ftrik you fuch Notes ,as Dowland himfelf neuer ftrock, inalhis Plaints and Lachrymies. It is then perhaps, when he feels fo the prickle at his breaft,inthe midft of his Sociums, For then like aright Mhhael-Angdo with his ftatiie framed tothelife,whichfeemestoliue and breath, wil he make his pipes to fpeak out plaincly : A y mcl a hi I: hc;i! They are Hermits al, for the moft part,aiid keep in the wildernesjand are fo contemplatiue, as tliey hate the Citties,and neuer come there but as Captiues , fore againft their wil. It is marucl .there is fich (lore of them , and that euer they flioiild leaue the Tingle life, andbetakethem to the coniugal flate , but that c/u- ftitie indeed is a ilrayne beyond their Eta. THE Pahth'sneia Sacra^ THE MORALS. In ore MELOS /CORDE IVBItVS, The ^Hom. And yet the Rauen hath had the g T is a common Prouerb : Uu^tc^ m ^ mfortuvA ndnatio : as much to ^ fay, as MufteJ^n mournings is* harsh he Am been fcrioufly told , flie had a good one ; but whofbeuer it was , he did but to flatter her grofly to herface, & fpakenot as bethought indeed, but to bring her into a foolers Paradife , and to footh hervp for fome politick ends of his ownc. But what haue we heer to doc with fuch Saxtons^ as flie , that rings but knells to paflengers out of this worldPWel- fare the Swan yet, who though she fings very dole- fully, yet doth it very fweetlyjnor should I think the Swallow had reafon of her fide , to contend with her for skil in mufick jfor if her tune be reafonablc good, she hath no varieties^ & though she fing very cheer- fully and hath iubiley in the hart, yet hath she no great melodie in her mouth. The is truly she of al wind-inflruments , that carries the filuer bel away. For she wil iug-it forth both cheerfully and fweetly to. She wil fing from the hart , as hailing an innocent foule of her owne, not an ounce of care within,nor fo much as a Doit of debts to pay .A good Muficia indeed can not choofe but be an honefi: man; nor doe I fee , how an honefi man can be ought els, then a good Mufician ; fince Mufick is no more then a harmonic and fweet accord of diuers tones into one melodic , without any iarre or difeord between them. And Man is a Harpjthe Powers andFaculties of the Soiilc,the ftrings;and Reafon^the Harper .If Rea- The Nightingal; 141 fonthenplayes wcl his part,which makes the honed inan,Oh what a harmonic there is in al , & cfpecially where the tongue and hart agree togeather ? When Dduid playd on the harp,the il Spirit fled fro Ssul, And why? becaufe he hateth vnitie andconcordrWhereas had he iarr’d but neucr fo litle,the Spirit had ftayd no doubt. Is it fo in the Harp, & not in the Organ of the voycc?Nadoubtit is. As the hand driks, what the hart didats, fo the mouth puts forth,of the abundan- ce of the hart. The hart then of the Incomparable Fir^i»,foinnocent and free from al cngagcmcnts,hov/ cheerful of ncccflitic mud it needs be ? and being fo ful of glee and iubiley, how mud she needs exhale & vent forth melodie ? and confequently,how diuinely brake she forth into that melodious Canticle of her Magnificat} And if eucr els where, was that truly veri- fycdin/;#r;lNOREMBLOs,co»,DE ivbilvs. THE ESSAY. is one of the prettied Iports of Natii- ' re, when (he is in her deeped filence, heare the litle High tingal to warble,in td- iling and recounting her delights & plea- furcs to Zephirus and the forreds, tuning a loco. Canzonets, and fweetly cutting the ay re with repetitio of a hundred thoufand femi-femi-quauers, which die lets go without ceafe.To take her pleafnre and recreation , fhe wil ballance her fclfvpona branchthat diakes , to dance Laualtoes as it were at the Cadecc of her lighter f6gs,& to match her voyce with the filuerdreames of a chrydal currant, gliding there along, which breaking againd the litle pibles, murmiires and fweetly purls, while (he pcarchcs and fets hcrfclf iud oner a banck enameled al with litle i^i IPartheneia Sacra; litle flowers. Thislitle Mufician alone making vp $ fong of foure Parts , and a ful Qmre of mufick , you yould fay fne held within in her throat , a thoufand Qmrifters, and as manie Violins, and that the litle cornet of her beak were infteedof althe wind-in-* flrumets.It is admirable in fo final a bodie,fo clcere,' fofweet jfo ftrong, andpleafant a voice fliould be found ; that in the Spring , when trees begin to bud their leaues, whole dayes and nights perpetually flic fliould fing without intermiilion at al. For whence from fo litle a birdfo bold and pertinacious a ipirit? Whence that force of containing yet the foule, in chanting fo manie diuerfities in the continuation of one fong? and where, T pray, are the liuelie ftreight- liings pnd remifllons of the voice cotained? Whence fo artificious and fo perfed: a knowledge of mufick, fo ingenious a modulation , fo gratful a tone to the eareSjWhich now wdth a continued breath is drawne out at length , now turns agaiiie with a ftrange and admirable varietie , diftinguifhed with a Hieing voice, and then with a wreaftedpeeced togeather? There is truly no Song fo hard and abftrufe , which flie cannot exprefle,ful, flat,fiiarp,quick,iong3high- meane,bafe. What more ? Now in thefe litle throats, arc al kinds of fongs to be found entire and perfedj •which, wdthfo much labour, with fo much induftrie, and withfo manie inftruments inuented , the Art of man hath dcuifed. But oh what fport it is , when this litle feathered voice, this prettie harmonic in the fliape of a bird , this litle end of nothing,as it were, being viuifyed withmufick,is euen readie to kil her- felf wdth finging, when flie heares the counterfet i^'tghtingal ( the Eccho ) to mock her , in repeating and returning her whole melodic againe! For then flie mounts vp , as it were , to the heauens, and then ftoops The NightingaeT 14^ ftoops againe to the Center ofthe earth , fhe flyes^ fhefolfoweSjfhe fighs,fhe fobs,fhe isangrie,and then •pleaf'd againe, fne mingles the ftiarp with the fweet, the fharp with the B. flat ^ one while a Chromatick, then a Tweeter ftroke, nowftrikes aDiapentc, and the a Diapafo. She counterfets the Hawboy, Corner, andFluteifhe deuids,{he gargles,& hath hergroppo, the trills,and the like , and al in that her litle throat, but yet can varie nothing , but theEccho imitates andexprefles j til at laft, as it were, flie loofeth al pa- tience , falles into a litle chafe with herfelf , in that feing nothing 5 flie heares notwithflanding , and fo flyesintofome bufli to hide her felffor fliame,til prickt with a thorn, at lafl: flie is puflied to fing againej which (he doth without meafure, v/hcrcal is delicious as before, THE DISCOVRSE. V T what are al thefc to the fweet modu- lations of Maries voice, wherewith flic tuned a Canticle of her Diuine Soule,furc - ly a magnifying of God , to be imitated of no Nfghfin^al els inferiour to herfelf, whether we regarde the manifold varictie of her voice, or the deledable fweetnes , or pertinacitie in the cotinuationtherof? The Orpheans.Ampbms.Arwis^ the OrlancloSy and Maren:^as^ yea the Sirens them fellies, with cafting downe their eyes would goe their wayes confoiinded,andbreake their harps and other inflruments into pceces,had they heard the melodic of that Diuine Voice ofhers,0 letthj voice tbenfoustdin mineeares ?for thy voice isf met. The J^ightingals are fayd to be of two forts : fome conuerfant in the moun- tains , and fome in the mariihes j which wil appeare by the The S'Muey. Cam, 144 Pa!itheneta S'acRaJ by the manner of their finging, there being no com^ parifon between them ; fince the one doth far excel the other , whether it be the litle pipes of their or- gans be ftopt by the vapours of thofe humid placeSjI know not^but am fare of this , that lulim Alexdttdmm vponthc 9.booke of GMen, puts a notable difference , betweenthemjforthushefaycs: Itis noted,that the ToJen ofthe plaine and marifli places , are wont ' to giue forth a voice a great deale Ibirlcr, then thofe ofthe mountains , the organ ofthe voice relenting no doubt throughtoo much moifture,as they cannot haue fo fmart,cimning,& tunable a voice with them, as the others hauc. Behold then our Ldie aiiJlghtingAl ofthe mountains: for Marie artfwg 'Went into the mountains , and fo became the Nightingal of the mountains.Slb^ inhabited not the fens or marifhes'of diffolute lubricitie, abode not in the playncsof an ordinaric vcrtue,but left the vallics of bafer cogitations, afpired to the tops of Heroical vertues , placed the neft in the fublimitic of Diuine contemplations , and dwelt in the top of the mount ofPerfedion •, whence proceeded that fvveet voice, morefwcctthenanie mortal harmonic beiides : My Soule doth magnify our Lord, Let others with the tonguc,hand,or breath charme the delicate cares ♦, let them wind the Cornet , with a , thoufand diminutions , runne diuifions on the Harp- ficon or Virginals: Let them pay the Violin as much as they wil , fpatter the Lute , touch the Orpharion neuer fo fweetly, the Cithern, Pandore, and the Harp itfclf : Yet this Canticle of Magnificat in my mind ex- ceeds them al , and wil ftand for Organs , Flutes, Cornets , Harps , Lutes , Citherns , Pandoras , and a thoufand the like. This is the Muiick indeed that pleafed God, and which I like beft , which the fyl- labks The N IGHTISrciO 14^ lablcs of the Soule and hart doc make,' while the tongue playes the Harp, G od magnifyed bccaufe he made her great ; Mmt magnified G o d, bccaufe flic proclaimed him Great. When I think of our Nightingale what haft flic made to goe vnto the mountains , it comes into my mind, what a ceruin Authour hath , writing of the na- ture of things : That the Nightingal is wont to fing with expedition and ccleritie. But what arc^'/i/T the caufes of her fo haftic and precipitous fpeed? The Namalip wil tel you ; perhaps , bccaufe fiie * fearcSjlcaft the time of her finging pafi'e awayi^'.-g’o. perhaps flie haftens , Icaft her tunes otherwife would feemc harfli and vngratful to delicate cares j perhaps , becaufe flie would charme the cares more powerfully and politely w ithal. But why made Marie fuch haft then ? Let Anibrcfe tcl vs : The Virgin made haft , that flie might not rc- maine long in piiblick out of her houfe. Leanie, you Virgins , fayth he, nor to ftay in the ftrects, nor to hold vnprofitable chats inpublick. Againc let Ambrofe tcl vs : She haftned for ioy , where- with the hart exulted to God. Let him tel vs athird time againc : The Virgin being fulof God, whither flbould flie goe but to the higher places, with ful fpeed? The grace of the Holie^Gbojt knowes no delayes. Let Origen yet tel vs : For that^ Christ , who was in the Virgin womb, madfe haft to fandify Io/i»,and cleanfe him from Original fume, O let our Nightingul therefore ling apace. But hearken awhile , you Muficiaiis, how the Nightitigal fings ; obferue her vvel, and you ihal note, how flie paufes not,but equally fings at length u ith a cotinual breath without auic chige, ftil h.olding out l'4^ pARtMlNEIA SaCRAI her wind to the fulrnow fne fings her diminutions^ anddiuides mvifinirum-, now fhe wrigles and curies her voice as it were, now she lengthens itagainc, now file dr awes it back *, one while Ihe chants forth longer verfes,as they were Heroicks; another while^ more fhort and fudden, much like vnto Saphicksjand fometimes againe^extreme fliort as Adonicks. Now fne tunes with a fat and groifer voice, you would vc^ rily fay , it were a Sackbut at leaft ; anon rings fhe forth a moft fliril treble, as fetched a note aboue EU at lea{ljcleer,to fil the eares with a (iluer foundjfweet,' to charme the hearing with delicioufnes , running Defcant as it were , vpou the ground of her lower Notes-, and now fhe goes fmooth & euenagaine,now feeme you to heare a Tenour voice , then a Counter, & a Counter-alt following and chafing one another with certaing fugnes.But Oh terrene Philomel,thou art but a babier heer , with al thy trilloes , if thou ftandftin competencieinMufick with this Diuine Ntgbt'mgaL Let vs heare then this Celeftial Bird ; My foule doth m^ignif] the Lord. What is this I heare ? what is it , that filles fo mine eares ? What is it ? what a melodic and moft delicious found it makes ? which being con* ioyned with vnequal paufes , but yet diftind: , with certain quauer-refts , and not with an artleffe voice vnskiltully come oft^,nor withaffedatioridiculoufly handledj nor with a fwelling of the throat vn comely to fee to , nor expreffed with inftruments il tuned, but meft diuinely and fweetly done , with a gratful inflexion of the natural voice, which tempering the Flat with the Sharp, the rough with the fwcet,the obfeure with the plaine and perfpicuous , the ligatu- res with the free, the flow with the quick,inoneex- preff^th moft different harmonics. Let vs examine the 1 Thi Nighttncai? 147 themuCck MagnificM d^c, which if we relifh wel, and the eares of our foiile be not wholy out of tune, we fhal find inoft melodious indeed, and framed not only with admirable artificioufnes and skil,but tem- pered with a Angular fweetnes andvarietie withal. Fortherin is heard the height of Diuinitie in the Treble : My fprit hath exulted m God my Saviovr : the vilenes of the Humanitie, andfo the bottom and the bafe of demi/Tion, He hath regarded the lowlines of his hand mayd : the Alt of Power, He hath done great thmgf for me^who U powerful :theTcnour ofMcvcic^Andmercte ^ from generation to generation to them that feare him : the GraueorFlatof vindicatiueluftice. The prowd hath he defperfedinthemindof their hart : the Sharp of Exulta- tion, My fpirit hath exulted in God my Saviovr: the Sweet of Refedion and refrcflimenr. He hath filled the hungriewith good things : the Chromatick or harshnes ofRebiike, The rich hath he fent emptie away ; the fatnes or fulnes of Fidelitie , He hathreuaued his child: the ar- tificioufnes ofRcuelation ,Ashe hath fpokjtr. the con- fonance of bath Inftruments , to Ahahamand ht$ feed foreuer. THE 148 Parthenexa Sa€RA^ L E M e; SIE. E , likj /fNightingal, was placed to jing Eden , where^ with euerUfitng Jpring^ God for berfolace fleafant arbours rays'd, ® Had she with lowlic frames her Makjr frajs^d. ^ * But to an Alt her mind afftrd too high^ Would belike God , affecting Dettie. Therefore from Bden*s faring she was ex^etd^ Sad Bhilomely to tnourne : Til God beheld A Nightingalwith an exulting ftraine. That magnifyed her Lord, But downt agaim she lowly ftoofd^ 8c iiig*d it , when she fayd: He hath beheld mn me a feruilc M^yd. The NlGHTtM^Atr' 14^ THE THEORIES. Ontemplate fir ft, that as the fearch^rs in- to natural things, 4 iaue deliucred , al bitds the ^^x^y,’^hau€ their peculiar Notes, which are as their proper Dialefts , in the region their kindsj^: by which^when they are not reert,they are eafily diftingUiiheddnefro another/aue only the Ni^fcfw^4/,which hath no proper Note of its ownc, but rather alone is a Quire of al the Mufical birds in the world. So is it right with our heaucnlie and diui- ne Nightingai-yfor as al other creatures chant forth the prayfes of their Creataur with Nores each one in their feueral kinds, our warbles them , with the diuetfitic of al voiccs^with the voice of the Angels^ of men, & ofthings that want both teafoU and fenfe. Confider then , that ^ as P/iwwfayth , the Sightjftgd lings not fo artificioufly by nature fo much as by arc^ while the y Ong ate taught to warble of the elder he yonger (fayth he) do meditate and receaue their verfes fro the elder to praftiie , to imitate t the fchol-» lars attentiucly liftetij and proue their Notes, and by turnes holdrheir peace. You may note a corredion in the learner , and a kind of reprehenfion in the tca-> cher .Where behold^how SJohn Was a yonu Nighti/tgdU and if you doubt it^ aske of him 5 if he be 10 or no t he wil tel you: He is the voice of the i/e/errjWhich is nothing els but a NtghmgaU For if you pul but the feathers of his titles from him^ you wil find but a voice^ and no-, thing els;and what is that but a j that fingi as it is taught by an elder one? whe being in his Mo-* thers wombi and hearing this oUr NighthgM j to lead him a verfe of her Cmtkle of MugmficAt^ he prouing tef follow and fing likewife, as then could nO more, but skip and dance* Ponder jaftly, that as the Ni^feff^/^^/jthough often shi 150 Partheneia Sacra? be iouial & ful of glee, & out of iolitieofhart doth often fiiig in the publick groaues amongathoufand of other quiri ft ers beftdes , vying and inuiting them al to (ing to the prayfe of their common CreatGur:Y et wil ftie fometimes by herfelf alone be fingingin pri- uate alfoinabiifh,wherehauing athorn at her breaft, it is incredible ,the varieties fne wil put forth , that were euen able to rauifli theintelligeces themfelues, could they heare her at leafure , and were not occu- pyed already with their owne Mufick.So our bleffed Virgin , the hightingal of Heauen , though the would often ftng in the companie of Angels , as likely was fne rarely without their companie ^ with whom (he would ch 2 int Aik lujoi more audible and melodiouflyj yet fometimes againe fhe w’ould retire herfelf, and the thorns of her deereft beloued through a liuelie . tnemorie (licking at her breaft , & prickingtheharr, it can not be imagined , how dolefully, and yet how fweetly,(]ie would (ing, THE APOSTROPHE* great Chorift a7m 'Rtdivicc of the Angelical OjAre , we pocrc fcttj-QtArtflcrs beneath , haue our ej/es (aft thj al-iomnunding B.cd, to moderate our Time, that with due pofortio beer on earth , we maj an fwer in fome maner to thatvppr QjAre in heauen, (hanthig the payfts of cur cemcn Lord & great Cvcutouv ,6 Marie,6DiuincNightingal; thj Qme beneath i$ held in the whole Church : but thy ptuate fchoole k kjp in the CecUue of the HartjVfhere thou art wont to teach thy Denotes, to fin g aright, how with the Voice, the Hart should tump wiihal,d> the band and foot he kjepwg a iuft Timty that k,witb our hart, yoke, exam pie, and good workj^ that we keep an euen time with thee , in conefpondencie of that great M^gnific^t of thine. Com then , great Cbantreffe ofheauerjy andereB thy fchoole wtthin wy hart,d' teach it to fing forth his praifes with out ceafe. Lo heer, i fay, let thy voice found in mine cares jfor thy v oice is fweet. THE TJI THE XIV* SYMBOL. THE PALME. He is the inuincibte Ch:lfnpi(!>n among tree^j whofe ehickft point ot valohr confifts in bearing iniiiricS and Im^rtfA opprefTioSjVvirhoiit iQirinkiiig.It is cuen a verie Atlas, for the breadth and rtiirdin nes of its fbouklers; which the more you loade , the ftbutlyer it ftands to it Jt is for name and qualities a Thenix right-, & therefore as they fympathiic much, thePhenix willightlytakevphisinnc nowhere els And verily I thinks ifthePhenix were to bcatrec, it would be no other‘,and I doubt much Vv hether if tiie bairns could metamct'phiite itfelkir woukiwini to be pARtHENElA SaCHA* anie other, then it is. It is a whole prouifio for the vft of man ; fo as a new marry ed couple might wel go ot howfe withfucha ftock. They are euen as Turtles among trees, deconftantLouers to each other. They are fo amourous one of an other , as they wil hardly Hue without the focietie of each other j and yet fa chaft, as they breed and bring forth without contac-* tion. As the Turtle-widowes fit mourning on a vv^itheredbranch,ordieofgreef *, fo wil the Palme in loohng his mate become a withered tree , and pine away. If diners fexes they haue v/ith them (asfomc think) they are the conftant Vhjfes^ and chaft Penelope; if iiot,a Damon and Ptthias.O^ al trees, the Palme comes iieereft to a reafonable foule, if Loyaltie and friend- fhipbe according to reafon , who are fo paflionatly carry ed towards each other. No maruel then the P4/- we alone , is fo taken vp to heauen,as Scepter of the where nought but reafonable things can hauc admittance. The Male , that beares no fruit himfelf, in a manner is endles and euerlailing , becaufe Date- les, as without dates;and the femalthough fruitful & ful of dates, yet bearing pulles her not downe , but is for al her dates as durable eucry whit as the other. They are the Hermit's Kit chin & Refedorie at once; whofe dates they eate no otherwife then as they come already cooked and drefled on the tree. They Ihewa farofflikeTropheys hangd with Fauchions or TfirkieScimiters ; but neerer hand, asloadenand adorned with ftrange leaues , infteed of armes or branches without boughes. By reafon wherof no bird can hanfomely pearch vpon them; which priui- ledge is only referued to the Phenix , where fhe wil- lingly and delicioufly plants her cradle, her couch, her Temple of the Sun, her Aultar of holocaufts,and fina^^y her tomb at one. The Nightecal; ^53 THE MORALS. Depress A rest roe ns. S HE Vcrtucs of Fortitude and Patience may feeme as two^but are eafily reduced to one, that is, to a ftout Patience,or pa- tient Fortitude.If you deuide them,For^ titude attempts without temeritie j and hauing once begun , without al fearegoestlirough with it.Patience hath large fhoulders,and fit to bearc aburden ofiniuries , which it Puffers not ofpufillani- initie or bafenes , as not daring to reuengc it relf,but out of a true and Chriftian niagnanimitie,becauic he may not. Fortitude feekes not dangers , but meeting with them,beares them braucly indeed with courage and good fu*cceffe. Patience is fofubied to it felf, as iniuries can not fubdue it , as holding this Maxim, that the whole vidforie confifls inyealding. Fortitu- de is foie Mi 0:r is of it felf, fubmitting paflions to Reafon's lore jthrough which interiour vidtorieit works itsowne peace. Patience walkes abouc Na- ture, fo long as it is beneath it felf. Fortitude is trou- bled at nothing*, butfordifpleafmg the Soueraigne Good, and feares nothing but Sinne. Patience makes vfe of Lawes for its onlie protedfion , not for reuen- ge , and its ownc forces , to efehew indignities and not to offer them. TfFortitude haue a quarel in hand, it regards not the arme, but the caiife, not how Idout it is , but how innocent *, and where it hath cquitic for w^arrant , w^el may it be maiftcred , but not vanquiflied. The centrarie euents , do only ex.r- eife , but not affright 4t $ and whenfoeuer it is 1 j preC.' t54 vPartheneia Sacra’;' preiTed with af^lidio^it acknowledgeththe inuifibl^ hand to be oner it , that iayes vety fenfible fcourges. vpon it , againft which it dares not rebel or murmur a whit. This flout VMwice then, or patient Torutudey this Heroical conftancie ( I fay ) the glorious Virgin had, through the whole courfe of her bleffed life,but efpecially inbearing the dolours Sonns’ i paffio, fo equal, and perfeiiering fo long at the foot of the Crofle , and not fainting the while , but remaining firme on her feet,fo vidorious a Valme ofcades^zs wel might flie fay indeed : Depressa resvrgens, THE ESSAY. Xh ^ ® , of trees is it, that beares away the palme. It is euen the Tower of Plants, both for height and ftrength at oncejfor if the Pine be higher, it is the weaker j if the Oak be ftrQnger,it is nothing neerfo highland there- fore with Antiquitie it was the Symbol of conftan- cie and yiftorie. It is ( as I may fay ) the Phenix of trees , with which it hathfuch fimpathies , as what with the Etimologie of the name, being the fame in Greek, and the faire correfpondencies they haue with each other , in Authours they are much con- founded. And for the Phenix/ne wil neaft herfelf in nolle bther.The Palmes are likewife the T urtles amog trees for they are Male and Female , as they j they match and payre togeather as they , and are as loyal as they, and ful as chaft as they .For in the abfence of each other , they produce no fruit, and yet ( wherin they much exceed the Turtles ) they bring the forth without cotadion of branch or roor,b ut it is enough that they enioy each others companie ; and fo great , fyrnpathie they haue withal , that if they be tranf- planted The Palme.' f )lanted from each other , they mourne and langui/ii ikewife.ifnotdye.The i^aLmns eiientheMagazin of al prouifions , for the vfe and fuftentation of man. The Indians haue need of manie things , and lo the Faime fupplyes the al/o as if anie one be induftrious among them , or anie thing be very profitable , they v/il fay immediatly : Behold the Palme. It affords them oyle,wine,and bread, as they hadle itjvviththcleaucs they couer their houfes, as we with tiles j they write theron, infteed of paper j if they put themfelues to fea,the Palmes doc furnifli them with al things necef. faric theretojand not only with vid:Lials,but cuenthe very vcffel in itfelf is nothing els but Palme, The trunck and branches yeald them mafts and boards j the J.eaues being wouen, make vp their fay les ; with the bark, they frame their tacklings and cordage.So as not without fome miracle,as it were,may you fay, when you feea Man-of-^warre of theirs, or a mar- chant’s fhip , behold a Palme , how it rides vpon the feas. THE DISCOVRSE. Ehold heer the true triumphant Palme in- deed 5 the Qjijcn of Beauen , who not with- ^^^**'y* {landing al ner combats and bitter ago- nies inthe paflionof her S(;w;/i.',yetftd Ihc triumphed ouer al, cfpccially in her glo- rious Ajfumptmr.l am exalted as a Palme in C.wti.thar is, in my Ajftimptton , (ince Cades is interpreted : TranjUcio;:; for who fees not the Affumption of the Mother of Gop, to be nothing els, but a certain tranllation of her fro this Militant to the Triumphant Church? A r.J«/d being opprefied with a heauie weight , was put vp in thcO bfcquies of Marguerit of A w ith this Pe u i 'i c : L iiij ’ SiuMta i $6 P ab^theneia Sacra^ SuhaBa mole refurgo •, reprefenting therin , how the luft fhal arife at the laft Refurredion,like the Palme, move ceflitie. And fo was it with our ineomp.arable ladic in an erninent degree, efpecially (I fay)ather glorious Ajfumpm, Among the there are Male and Female j and the Female ncuer brings forth fruits , but ftanding Oppofit by her Male : and hence it is, that two Palmes, being planted by two Ipanck-fides of a riuer , are the Hieroglifick of Nuptials, withr^/^riw^; & efpecially, fay I ,of the Spiritual ][^uptials between the Spoufe,Sc bis S^oufe, between cl?f)^andhis bleffed Werkr, Amog thefc Palmes likewife, is noted this diffcrencejthat the Malegrowes and flouriflies fooner then the Femal; and fo fares it heer with our two Palmes , our Sauiour Chrift,zndhisdea.vc Mother. Where, of the firft fay th the Prophet :T/Jt iufi shal flourish likj the Palme', And the latter faythof herfelf: J am exalted liks ^ Palme in Cades-, with this difference, that Chrifi muck fooner then his Mother arifing to immortal life,feemed to flourift fooner : as he teftifyes of himfelf : And my flesh hath flourished,^ But the bleffed dying fome' yeares afterwards, and glorioufly refufeitated , did flourish indeed, but fo as after him. It is fayd moreouer , that though the Palme grow higher then manie trees , yet neuer arriues it to the height of the Cedar. So likewife , though our myfti- cal Palme , our admirable Ladie , were ray fed and exal- ted fo high,asihe far tranfeendedthe glorie of al men .and Angels , yet to the height of the glorie of Chrift^ very aptly fignifed by the Cedar , was fhe neuer afrumptcd,as wel for fublimitie as innated incorru- ptibilitie 5 bccaufe our lord Qhrifl as wel in the . _ - Triuin- faire and beautiful then before*, though formerly op- preffed , by the burden of death and of human ne- The F a I m e, Triumphant as Militant Church is the Head of the my fticalBodie, whereof his Mother was a member only , though the noblcft part of al , as being the 9teL^. Heertomay be added thatprettie Deuife of 'Mark^Anthonie^ being this: aPillar wreathed and com- pofed about with two branches, the one of the other of Cjfrejfe , with this Motto : Brit altera mines ; Cgnifying thereby , the recompence of a generous man , was either a noble Vidorie, or an honourable Death •, forthat the Palme reprefenting vidorie , the Cyprefleofthe other fide is a Symbol of death, being ordinarily vfed in the Funerals and Sepulchers of -the dead. So was al the life of the bleifcd Virgin a perpetual ftanding pillar or Trophey , as is were, of incredible Myfteries , efpecially in the palme of hev glorious Ajfumptton , yet bythemeanes of the Cy- prefle of her death , fince that was to be the way and thenextftepto her higheft aduancement , and the greateft vidorie of al. TheP4iwf,isfiiarp and rough beneath,but fmooth Jindhandfomeabouej wherein S. fay thin his Morals , the life of the iuft man is aptly reprefent ed, being bitter and rough in the exteriour (liew and in the fcnfitiuc part , but yet fweet and delightful through contentments which the foule receaucs the fvhile: So was the wholelifeofthe Mother of God nothing els but a life of paynes and doulours , cfpe- cially at the pafiion of her deereft Some , which through compafiion file made her owne , but yet fweet forthe end , to wit , of a life of refi: and repofe afterwards in the kingdome of Heauen , and of the ineffable ioyes of her glorious AjI'amptton by the way, as riding in Triumph. Which Savit befides , makes yet another note , whieli is 15^ Parthekeia Sacra^ this ; that the ?alme hcerin is differing from other trees,in that the other are groffe beneath, and grow tenderer vpwards ; while the ?alme of the conjrarir, is {lender beneath,and bigger and gro{rer,the higher it goes:So were the thoughts of the bleffed Virgin, true Vdme indeed, as poore and {lender downe to the earth-^wards,butfub{l:antial andfolid vptothe Hea- nens , whofe emuerfatm doubtles, as 5. ?aul fayth, was whlj in H^men, Strange things are reported of the fdmes , tetliue mutually , anddyetogeather. A lingular type furely of the Sympathie between our two Vdmes , our Chrt^ and his bleffed Uothey , affording one life , and as it were one felf-faine death between them both. For Chrijt dying , fne languiflied as aead i and he arifing from his Sepulcher after his death , fhe reuiued againe as it vvere from death. And fo that fame Epi- taph more fitly might be apply ed to thefe Diuine Louers , our amourous Pdmes , which a certain Poet of ours had framed for a payre of profane Louers, dying both with one and the felfffame fword: His being In her done^ . And he not being, she was none, Thej lofd one loj \ one grief thej grieu'd\ One loue thej loud j one life tbej ivdd. The hand was one, one W4^ the sword. That did his death , her death afford* THE The Paime, ' 15^^ JHE EMBLEME,. THE P O E S I E; Ha^nix ( in Greeh^aV^ltnc) doth aptlj fute Wul? thM rare btra the PhjEiiix, hej t the fruity ^ Which, when brij^hrPncshuSjCorchingbcAmesdffpif- ^ J neafi of Spices (to renc-w his dajee, ''BJ 4 fecond Unth) vpon this tree he makjs: •Where burnt to ashes fo bmifelf jl’ffulii.Sy Made png, that he ret aims vrhat he had hjn. Thus th’onlj Sonne ot God , f abolish finne, Midfi burnmgfiames reuejt with mortal plume, IRctimes man's nature, rchichhedvth affumc', TbeVirgin-Vhxnix is the fruitful tree, Whm Godin fames ofLonc^new-bQrtievrotrldhe, THE PARTHCHBIa $ACIt.A. THE THEORIES. ru €omm’ fktim. Ontemplate firft , inthe what a gratful (hade it affords to wearic trauelfers onthe way, preferuing them from thefcorching rayesof the Sun, and yealding them Dates to expel hunger, and not fo only, but is a nota- ble delicacie befides. The Monks and Fathers of Thehaid^^ and Arabia ^ would make a goodlie lining with a Pami^tvec only by achryftal riucr fide, fiibminift ring them al things needful, for meat, drink,and cloath,to fatisfy nature. O rare and admi- rable tree ! B ut then confider the Palme of Par adife 5 1 fey, the admirable Vhgin Palme , vnder whofe fhadow and protedion , we are faucd from the outra- geous heats of concupifccnce,fed with the delicious examples of her life, and cloathed with the habits of her vertucs , and efpecially refr efhed with the fweet confideration of the limpid ftreames of her pureft , fam Couek of the mjftual Salomon , and hk T krone $f luorie I Oh Sankumle of Gon y the Arck^of peace ^ Seat of SNifedorne , the Refl and repofe ofthemofl high God, theglo^ Yum Cabinet of a tlmfand and a thoufand guifts of the moft huffed Holie-Ghoft, the precious Rellquarte ofalinfufed gra^ tes ! o facred Pamlton , whete Gop fets bimfelfin the shadow of the rajes of hk great glork imufi diikious Ladie^ moft pure andgradousym the midji ofthofe CeUfiial pUafureSy and Dimne delegations of thine : Grant, I kfeechtheCythat I alwayes refi vnder the shade of thy branches , within the folds of thy protect tion andfmetmsrcte , m this life \ and when I shal finish the courfeofmypilgrimagey intbk vale of mi feries fit would plea fe hts OmnipotencUyto ynite my hart and f pint, with hk more then hoik Spirit ^by the facred limk^ofhk moft faire and transforming hue, Thk doe I begat thefeetof theejmoftfoueraigne'P^lmc of the heauenUe Raradife. THE 1 Vy T X\. iJ Xu 0 He chiefeft grace, fplendour,aiid glori( a houfe\ is , that the Maifter thcrof , n V\#=» fvi V L' O Kl Xr 1 1 1 11 0-t* t < The H o V s eI i6^ THE DISCOVRSE. >ricof who The dwelles therin, be markable & illuftriotis Smuey, for Engular & eminent vertues ; fince the chiefeft ornament ofa b«ycds,rhe vertue of the Lord therof. No w then the bleffed Virgin , being eternally ordayned to be a Houfe and habitation of the Diiiinc Wor^ Incarnate,and wherin the Bolie of holies for nine months , and the endlesFoiintaine of al fanditie was corporally to inhabite , this [3.crQd Houfe muft bor- row needs fo great a fpledoiir Sc dignitie,as no other,' nor the Empyreal heauenitfelf,might anie wayes co- pare with it. What more? Howbeit the glorie of that ancient houfe and Temple of Salomon were great , yet can none deny this defedin it , for being incapable to hold the greatnes of Gooin its ample galleries Sc fpaces,euen by the geniiin confellion of Salomon him- felf : if the lleauen and the Heatien ofheauens can not conm^ ne thee^ how much lejfe this houfe which 1 haue built ? But the golden houfe of the bkpd Virgm , more capacious then the heaiiens themfeiues, did clofe in and cncopas the greatnes of GoDoneuerie fide, as icremie fiyth; A wo~ e^:, man shalencompas ama, AndtheholicCatholick Church itfelf (ings : "Whom the Ueauens can not containc , h.tjl thou held in rhj Lap, Befides that, which highly aduanceth a: fets forth the glorie of a houfe , this fame prerogatiuc is of no final moment, to haue been deciphered , delineated, plotted, and contriucd,& euen rayfedand built Iroin thefirft foundatioby a skilful Sc exqiiilit Architect. BeholdGoDhimfelf,theSupremc a^rchitcd,not only defigned this Houfe ^ but euen finiflicd it liimfcU , A" brought the fame to that eminent perfedion,it is oh I haue kenetcrnallj ordajmd. Behold the plottingjCotri- M j ui ng. tjo Parthekeia SacrA^ a j’p.S6.umg,& defigiiingofourHo///r; TheHighefi himfelfbat^ founded her, where note the foundation. I know, how Quid in his Metamorfhofis deferibes the heufe of the Sun very elegantly in this manner: The Taltace of the Sun, on pilar s highlj flaced^ With hurnhhtgold dtdshtne, and Vjrop fione^ And feeling roofs wdh furefi lu^riegrAad, But who fees not,how thisJJoufe heer^wherin the Sun of lufltce dwelt 5 did farre exceed the fame, whofe ornaments furpaifeth thofe , by infinit degrees? for whofe golden pillars , were the Guifts of the . Holie-Ghoft ereded in her j for whofe Pyropus or Carbuncle , which euenglowes like a burning cole, lier moft ardent Charitie abundantly fupplyed;& for the white & pureft iuourie , her inuiolablc & imma- culate Virginitie. Whence , while the moft bleffed Virgin Mark more pletifully abounded with the guifts of the Holk-Ghoft , ftie burned more ardently with Charitiejand in virginal puritie was more neat ,then the heauenlie Spirits themfelues j furely more ftrong and ftatelie Pillars fuftained this boufe, more precious Carbuncles enriched it , & purer Iuourie adorned it, thenthofe others did the Outdian Pallace of the Sun. 1 baud fan^ifjed this Houfe^whieh thou hafl built, to put my name eternally fhm«,fayd God to Salomon, not being yet (as I fuppole) affeded fo to that material , as he pretended thereby rather toflievvthe loue he bare to hisfpiritual/?o«/r, & yet corporal both,of his Incom- parable Mother, whom he hath fo fandifyed with his eternal predeftination before , and enriched fo with his perfonal prefence , to put his name eternally in her. For that faying can not fo wel be verified of the built by Salomon , which was afterwards demo- iifeed & razedsbut rather of Markheex p who fbal be T H E H o V s b; 171 ^ fayd Sc preached for euer, the Temple of God, the hoite Houfe^ where al glorie hath entred in, as to a chart: Bower, & which hath neuer been ruined like that of Salomon-^for that her foundations haue been planted in the holie mountaines,as Dauid fayth,that is to fay, by the Diuine Perfos of the HolteTrimtie-, while the power of the Vather hath confirmed her in goodnes, the Sonne hath illuftrated her with Wifedome, & the Holie* Ghoji preferued andeftablifliedher inhis grace. Material Imfes^whicb are built but of frayle matter ' 6ctrafitoriefl;uff,diuerflyfaltorubbage,&areroone . , demolifhed quire, as lob fayth: Who dwet in cla) houfes^ ^ haue a terrene foundatio. But the bedie of Marie^ howbeic other wife framed of a frayle matter, is neuerthcles fo confolidated & cofirmed through the fireof the Holie Choft^zsshe is fubied to nodemolirtimentor diflblu- tion at ah& as she fayd in the Canticle s,th2.t leaning or reft:ing on her wel -beloued,^.^?e was pong as themountai- ne of Ston , hauing fuch confidence in him. So as truly c^nt i: the prophecy o^Aggtm was fully accomplifiiedin her: V That the glorie of the latter houfe should be greater then that of the former Jt ox as in the building of the firfl,vvas heard no noyfe or the Icafl; flroke of anie hammer : fo heer in this Houfe of Marie , could not be heard fo much as the kail found or touch of Original SinnCjfo built by the Diuine wifedome, who was a more expert te^ by far, then Salomon wzs^o^ whom is verify ed that vvhich Danidfo long before had prophecy cd & fore- p/* j,x: toldiThatglorie and riches should be w the houfe of the Dimnc Wifedome^ and its iuf ke shal be perpetual. THE 172. P ARTHENE lA S A c ’r A i Who dml$hm?A Virgin. What are jouf A Varanjm^h ftnt far ^ am come to fue For one that pUgrme4ikjivvuld lodge this night Vnderjour roof and be a mortal t^tgbty Comes as A Bride-groome.Ueer s no harbouring feat. But h*u A Monarch, Then for me too great. jTis God, HenoWy & euer lodgdwith me. Would be a childyjour Sonne.How can this be? BJ th* Holie^Ghoftyou shal be shadow’d orcj Jou let him in by kjefmgclosdjour doore. Thenbeit donne. Owe Fiat bantshtwghty And now An otlnr brings from keauen the light. THE T H E H O V s e: THE THEORIES. Ontemplatefirft, that as in ciicrie Ilcufe wel built, and orderly diTpofca, tlicrc 7./^^ is a Dinifig-roome at leaft ; aiia a ban- comcm. fome chamber for fome principal guvif to lodge in’/o this gold e nouji^ the Mi. .hcr of God, which he had fo eternally prepared for hini- felf,was not contriued without them both, niidfirft for the Diniiig-roome , King Salomon iiiacie him a Throne of the wood of Libanur^which woode Throne was thebleifed , becaufe the heaucnlie Prince and bride-groome fate and lay fvveetly repofed in her armes and wombe delightful vnto him , while he took flefli of her. She was a Bride-chamber , becaufe a golden couch. For as gold is beautiful, incorruptible, and refulgent:So was hervertue^yto,becaule beau- tiful for finceritie of manners ; wcorruj^tible , through priuiledgeof Virginitie ; and refulgent , for her luiler of Vertues.O how beautiful / behold the bcautie of her ^ manners^ Chaji generation: fee the priuiledge of Virgi- ^ nitie*, With cUntjmote the lufter of Vertucs. Confider then , that as a Houfe hath alfo Galleries for recreation and delight, fo had our My Hi cal Houfe hcer,delicious galleries to walke in,and,for varictic, three . to wit , the lower, the middle, and the vpper gallerie.The lowxr was iiiftained with lilucrpillarsi and therefore is it fayd , that wifdome ertticA Jiluer ftl- lars. The middle was paued with precious Hones, ac- cording to that: TlHjniddle was jtrewed with char trie. T lie higheH was hangd with filks and purples *, and there- fore is added purple afeent. The lower gallcrie of this virginal houfe ^ was the precious bodie of the Virgin ; the middle , her pureH foulciand the higheH, her fublime and Angelical fpirit. Her bodie was the lower gallerie , becaufe her fcnfualitie was neucr prone 174 Partheneia Sacra; prone to euil,but al way es coformablc to reafbn JHer foukjthe fecond;becaufe ftrewed with precious fto- iies,that is, Diuine vertues. Her Spirit was the vppcr gallerie,& adorned with purple hagings,for being fo ciiflamed with charitie,or wounded with the forrow ofherso««e’5 paffion,or fprinckled withhis bloud. Ponder laftly , as a houfe , efpecially the Pallace of Kings,requires to be fpacious and ample; fo was this Houfe^oux Ladk jDcin^thc Houfe of GoD,moft fpacious Sc wide; according to that which the church iings of hexiWhsm the heauens un not containe, hafi thauketdhn thy lap. Secondly, wide and ample ftt^copaiEon, while flie receaues al,and refufeth none, into the bowels of her tnercie ,* receauing the tempted , in proteding them from the fiiares of the Diuel ; Sinners , in obtaining mercie and grace for them;theluft,in conferuing the in grace obtained;and laftly the Dy ing,in receauing their foiiies into her protedion ; and therefore fayd to be Mother ofgrace^ and mother of mercie, rh the apostrophe. Col/® . Sacred Houfc^Temple of the Diuimne, Diuine Taher^ lining God! A yporkjurelj much greater the the Workjnaship of the world bejtdeslofacred Pallace framed by the Dimne handyWitl) admirable art^arJ moft exqu'tfit & choice matter-, a peece ofwor^aslnpwithout peer^ere^ed by the Diuine Wifedome, imputrible Arck^McorruptihleyeffeUCelefial Teple^ Tfd. s 6 cittk of God, Oh what glorious things are fayd of thee! Eal,x^. jhQuypaflardamd eternally, be fore the earth wa£ made. The Lord hath poffeffed thee fro the beginning of his wa- Tr§u.%, before his works.Thou waft begot, when as yet there was no abyifes feen ; thou waft for- med before moutaines were yet placed. Whe he pre- pared the heaues,wasthouprefet. By althefefaire prero* games we befeech thee^lmoparable peece of his handle works fo logdefigned ^ premeditated before had,& fo exactly framed at laji to his owne Idea c^defigney hat inis likewtfe his eternal defi^ gne of predef inatii through our defaultmay not ytterly perish. *75 THE XVL SYMBOL. THE HEN. THE DEVISE, He Hen is that gentle Harr, that con- tents heifclf with the common Apclla- TU due of her fex; & as others ambitioufly vfurp ftrange titles , as in Hawkes, for males or femalcs(as the m^er is) to be called Ladie,Miftris,& the like,flie wil go no higher then the ftile of plaine Goodwif,& be called the Hcn^ and wil take it amiffejto be termed otherwife. Yet is fhe the dear confort of the generous Chantecler, and his deereft beloued partner, and moft indiiiidual c6- panion.Sheis very familiar and domcftical,and that fo 17^ ^^PaR THENEI A SACRAr fo truly as flie wil ncuer goe from home fo much as a flights ihot. Butisfo kiiid-hartedto al,eipecially to her owne children, as fhe hath not adifli , which she shares not among them. It is a iport to fee, how. flie knocks to her drefler, to haiiethe come quickly, if flie haiie but a bit worth the eating,and then to fee what ftrife there wil be amogft the litle fry of them, for a Angle graine of corn , as the ambitious of the world for a Crowne & fcepter,or as Cafar and Pompey i for the Empire and Didatourfliip of Ro?weitfelf; while ' the Hen falles a deluing and digging afrefli for more. I She wil be asfierce as aTigre orNemeanLionefle j againfl: the affaflinats,who are fo bold as to feaze on ! her familie , when flie wil brifile her felf and fly in ' the faces of the cruelefl: Bandites that are of the lad, I orPiratsoftheayre, on behalf of her brood j and i triumph as fail , if flie come but handfomly off with | her owne.And then mufl: al the world take notice of i her conquefts, and fhe be recounting the fame to her deer confort , who wil fwel therat and briflle as faftj | and euen menace the skyesinhis greateflcholer. She is no great Arithmetician , and hath but a fliallow ! memoricjfor flie neuer knowes,ho w manie y ong flie hath;^ fo fhe haue anie at al,fhe is pleafed alike.She » loiies not her children fo much , as the name of Mo- ther; which holds in onCjas wel as a lOO. She is not a Caftle , or Bulwark , Vvhich keep their {lands atten- ; ding the aflailants ; but as a Pinck at Tea, wel mail'd, wil meet and encounter the Aduerfaries themfelues, and defye them to their teeth, and with the fay les of ! her wings wil feeme to fetch the windoftheiTi,to fly ; the fuller into their faces.But if flie be let alone, and not proLioked, there isnoeDoue more meek and I gentle them flie. ' THE ; T H * H E k; *77 THE MORALS. TvTELA FIDISSIMA. T is hard to fay , which is better, to giue protedion to others , or to find it for themfelues ; this am I furc of, the fir ft is more fpecious and glo- rious, the latter more happic and fc- cure. It is fayd indeed : BidiuifcjtdAre quam accip£re,bec2Li\[c it is fuppofed^who hath to giue, hath otherwife no need to crane, wherin the beatitude confifts i wheras who finds protedion now , was of late in diftreffe , or feare of danger ; fo as tl iough he hath the happines now , to dry vp his vvatcric eyes, yet not the priuiledge,to haue them neuer to dry .To giueprotediojinuolues apowertobe able to afford it ; take the fame , implyes a neceftltie to recurre vnto it: the firft hatha kind of obligation with it , if not of iuftice , of charitieat Icaft , to yeald his fuc- cours:in which eftate he euer ftands , &: cofcqucntly in a ftate of feruitude,bccaLifc obliged.But the fecod difcoiiers his impotencie only , and prefent il condi- tion ; but yet with a hope of enfranchizment , and a kind of title vnto it j yea manie times an abfolutc freedome and quite difeharge of further cares. The truth iSjhowfoeuer the firft, as it is move honourable, fo is it more happie,& as approaching nccrcr to the ibueraigne excellencie of God himfel f,is acquit fro anie iinperfcdion of feruile obligation •, but al what is,is mcerly a goodnes in him, that feemes to put the obligation vpon him,which is no more indeed, then akind of vertue in him , that makes him fo prompt and rcadie to help the uniferable inal nccciTirics. Thii ^ARTHENETA SaCVLAZ This excdlecie and fingularpriuiledge the glorious Vrgm hatLof power,to proted*,& of beneuolence,ta haue the ,wil to proted-, with the happines befides of an infallible efficacie in al whatfoeuer fhe vnder- takes.Ahdtherefore is fheipiplored of al^and held to be the common Sanduarie of the neceffitoiis that fly vnto her, & efpecial Patroneffe and fnre Protedricc of her Deuotes , and by confequence rightly and de^ feruedly called :Tvtelafidissima. | 1 THE ESSAY, | a H E Cock is very glorious,whcn he h ath | al his attires and accoutrements about i him 5 for then he wil ftroiit it^as a foul- dier rightjhe buckles himfelf againft his enemies , and with his wing making a target or buckler,defends , couers , and fliroudes the chickens from the affaults ofthe Rauen •, and falles a quarrelling with euerie one,either friend or fo , that approches or but looks vpon them. And for the herfelfjbefore fhelayes her egs,as others doe,flie be- gins to prouide and take care for her lying downe. for fhe choofes her a quiet place to breed in , and builds a neaft or couch to fit in , and makes it very foft, as knowing wcl her egs would bruife and de- ftroy one an other, if they be not commodioufly and handfomly layd. Her yong are no fooner hatched, but Ihe prefently clucks them with her wings , leaft the cold or fharperayrefhould hurt them *, andisfo tender of them , as that if a Kite or Wefel come in light of her , receauing them vnder the fhaddovv of her wings , fhe oppofes herfelf as a ftout champion agaiaft them , with a great clamour and outcry , to ^ ftrvkc The Hen.’ 17^ • ftrikeatcrroiir into them, defending them hcrfelf with fpurre, bill , and wings,mth might and maync, fo aslliewiirather euen dye in the place in defence ©f hetbrood,thenby flying away leaiie them in anic danger. To fomeflie wilprefent her wings to cluck beneath , to others yeaid her back to mount vpon, nor hath {he anie part about her , which fhe is not willing to afford them what fhe may, to chcrifli and conferucthem *, nor that tVuly without ioy and ala^ critie,as appeares by their kackle and tone they hauc at fuchtimes.When Che is alone, and hath no more to care for then herfeif^ flie trembles at the Hawke and buzard, and wil fly away from them *, but if fiie haue yong,andefpy anie danger neer,flie comes forth like a Lion againft them in their defence , and fights oftentimes far beyond her forces. the DISCOVRSE. O w is this Hen truly a gallanf Symbol of the fruitful Mother of God, as wel for the plentic of egs fhe layes (for they wil lay, fome two, and fome three a day) as alfo for breeding fo each mo- neth of the ycare , whereof though ArifiotU and P/mh except the two winter-monethsjet experience fhewes and fome Authours affirme,they wil lay alfo in tliofc mo- Heths,and feme there are, that wil lay two a day eucn in thofe moneths likewife*, which furely is a great fe- Cunditic,not lightly found in anie fowle bcfldcs.For lo, the blefl'cd hath a double fccunditic with her,one natural,& the other myfticahthc natural, in bringing forth CuRiST^whofc natural Miftkn ihe was; i8o Partheneia Sacra! and being his Mother^ fne was Mother in a forte to a$ nivanic,as are called and are truly Chrijiuns *, whilft of this one her feed became multiplied beyond the Srarres in heauen, & aboue the fands, that lye on the Sea-ihores. But wliat fnal I fay of her myftical fruit- fulnes , which euen fdles and embraceth the whole world , that inuocates and calles vpon the name of Marie , as their common Mother ? Behold al the king- domes therof, and al the ample Prouinces 5 and you fnal rind them ful of her Denotes and Children. Nor is Eungane only her proper familie , which title die hath taken , and yet holds from the donation of 5 * King of that Nation,who freely and deiioutly once confecrated the fame to the Mothtr of God ; but euen our England is knowne alfo by the name and title of our Ladies Doivric : Yea France, spajnejtalie, and Ger- mank , and the reft oftheKingdom.es and Prouinces of the worldjwhofe afteiftion and deuotio is no leiTe to this common Parent, our IrxComparable Ladk , the Mother of God. But nothing demonftrates her fpiri- tual fecunditie fo much as the innumerable multi- tude of Families of the Sodalhk of her Immaculate Co«- ception, the true FarthenUn Children of our facred Varthenes. For in how fiiort a time , throughout al Europe firft5& then through Amerka.thc new vvorld,thc Indies as wel the as Wefr^ haue ^ivdalttk. of al forts & conditions whatfoeuer either Secular or Eccleftaftical been iii- ftituted,vnder thefoueraigne and moft bleftednamc of Mar iE?vvhich withal obferuanceanddiie worfhip ferue her as the Mother of God, and their common Pa-^ rent : while they doubt not by her meanes to be led and conduced to a better life,and to obtaine Eternal falaationj if they ferue her truly indeed, and but ob- ft rue the Rules of her faid Sodalities » Beftdes the proper tie , the Htn hath to defend her chickens The Hen: chickens, during life , this is fingular in her , that cuen after death flie is foucraigneand^medicinal for iiifinit difeafes , and her bodie the (Jhoyceft diet forthefickandinfirme* And therefore is the Cock Confecrated to IfcuUfius the InucntOiir of Phyfick. And for our Ladk , what need I fay more then that verficle of her Litailies : Salm infirnlorum ? becaufe die procures health both of bodie and foulc. For is there adifeafe in aniepartof the bodie ofma,eacnrunning through the whole Catalogue of maladies ^ whereto prefentremedie hath notbeenbegd and obtained of our myfterious Ht?w^thefoueraigne Mathtr of God?0 what a thing it were to reckon vp the Teples & Cha- pels,& therin the Votes, tables^ & waxen images fee \p as teftimonies of her infinit cures 1 Nor helps fne the bodie more the the foule. For Pride flie healed no leffejthc the head-ach;f no leflfejthethe vertigo turning oftheheadiWy^r/jnofeldomer thethc frezic; Slottth^thi the Lethargic iignorace as cafily,as the Pin &: web in the eye; Luft , as the difeafe belonging to it; c?ii O E S I E, » ^ , O mother , llks Hen , preferues herjong^ Trouts , & shelters with her wings ; her tongfic Is clucking With a fad and doleful note; Call's haehjKr chickjns, when thej are remote^ Afid if they come not , chides sharpy shril^ & lowd ; Wh/j beck^&tallions fights for them. Thus shrow'dt 0 Virgin Mother, while the Tuttockjits, iS4 Partheneia Sacra* (The Prince of darknes) whowith watchful eyes Seekjsfot my Soule, his prey. The Hen is kpowne^ Careful of al. Tet tf she hath but one, Her care's as great. So's thine of one, or other. Then to me Sinner, shew thy felfa mother. THE THEORIES. Onteinplate firft , the great magnani- mitie of the Hen,in defence of her chic- kens , as aboue fayd. And then refled: vpon the courage and fortitude of our vidorious PatroneflTe, the glorious Kir- ^m^elpecially in the protedion likewife of her Chil- dreujfor to her enemies is she terrible as a hattatl wel Cam,6, anarmiewelmarflialled, is aterrourtothe enemies , and makes themflyatthe fight thereof, beforethey enter into fight : fo are the Diuels dan- ted at the prefence of this inuincible Champion , {lan- ding in defence of her Clients and Children. Confider then , the great compaflion of the Hen towards her yongj which appeares in this, that with the fick and infirme, fhe wil be infirme ; fhe is fo fol- licitous in feeding them,as fhe finds not a graine,but flie; calks them to her , to participate therof ; And for her care of preferuing them from danger , fhe cluc ks them vnder her wings , from the rapin of the kites, and the likerauenous fowle. And then weigh withal the tender compaflion the Virgin-Mother hath eiier file wen towards vs her Children and Seruants, in being fo follicitous to feed vs , w^hile flie was on earth, with the food of her dodrine : she hath opened Tro*ji. her mouth in wife dome , and the law of cLemenae in her toung-, and for cuftodie, how flie hides vs vnder her wings, andproteds vs from the fnares of the Piuel. For this is&c. T H E H e’n; ,1 is fhe,fdTvbow was fayd , that mo great rvings Kvere gluen l;er ;Theone,thewingofMercie ,to which Sinners dofly tobe recoAciled to God j according to the prophet : ^rote^l me vnder the shadow of thy wings ; The other, that of Grace, vnder which the luft remaine, to be conferued in grace , and may fay with him li- jkewife : She hath shadowed vs with her shoulders. Ponder laftly , how the Hen not only fits vpon her owneegs , butfometimesftrangers likewife, as the cgs ofDucksand pea-hens , put into her neft, which being hatched, the Ducks according to kind wil be- take themfelues to the waters, and there diue and plunge themfelues ouer head and eares ; and the yong pea-hens enamoured with their owne beautic wil torfake their tender nurfe that bred them vp. And then weigh withal , how manie ftrange and vn-i gratful children our myfterious Hen , the admirable Virgin^ cherifiies and nurfe s with her day lie prote- ction, who requite her il for al her care in tray ning themvp. N ^ THE Par THEN El A S ACR Arf, THE apostrophe: rhe Queen of Angels , faluted hy the Archangel I adored by the Powers ofHeauen , Mifijiffe of Vertues, D«f- of Pmci^ alkies. Ladle of dominations , Pri«- ceffe ofThroneSj more highly aduancedthen the chem ruhins themfelues , more enflamed with ardour ofDiuine loue, then althe Seraphins *, The firfi next to God , the fecondln the Hole orPegifter of the Pride f mate : Thou mofi ternhle to thy foesf as an Hofiwel arrayed j and yet tnfirme with the infirme^ as a Hehamid her chH^ns,mofl tender of thcm,c^ amofijure bulwark^ for them , agau.f almcurfions and affaults of forren and dome fkk^memky, either nfihle orinuifible. O' thou, who through thy Sonne ^ and thymanhles humdltie > crushed the Serpent’s head : through thy bolte prayer and intenefion , i hefeechtket^ letSzthan be trampled li^wife,, vnder thy Ser^ Hants feet, o grant this fame , myfierkus and indulgent Bird ofParadice. ‘ * THE THE XVII. SYMBOE, the pearl. ' THE DE VISE. THE character; ;.H E Vearly or M4y^4r^T,the Lillie amoj^ lewcls," ‘ is the peerleffe Genime of Nature , lb much « w., happier then the reft , as nobler dcTcendcd then they ; this being bred inthe womb ot the Tea, and they in thebowels of the earth. If they be llilli- cides from Heauen (as fome think) they are the mil- kie drops diftilled from Juno's breaft , which Sol par- cheth into feeds ; which feeds cmpcarlc in tliofc litleOuens lying on thebeach. The Diamant that fparcles fo , though rich iiadced,arriucs nottotliat N 5 vYcaltb Partheneia SacraJ wealth without trade , and exercife of the Teweller^ inpaffingthefileandchizel, wheras the Fm/ needs non^ of thofc to taife its fortunes by , but is truly borne a Ptince. They are the ordinarie companions of the greateft Ladies , and fochaft as they wil be dandling in their necks , without fenfualitie in themfelues , or thofe they dallie with , without iea- loufie of anie. They are true Subfidie^men, and fuch Sureties indeed , as their credit wil be taken for as inuch as they are worth. If you would epitomize an ample eftate, & put the fame into a litle Compendium, with Bias to Carrie your wealth about you , fel what you haue, and put it into Vearl. If you haue anie fuit jn Court, it wilpurchafe greater friends , and pro^ cure you better preferments 3 then the beft deferts. Like a pin and web , it wil put out the eyes of Lmeus himfelf 3 not to fee what he fliould. It is the key, that wilfetopenthel^yleto the word: conditions ; and the bolt toihut vponthebeft deferuings. What ciuil warres could neucr effed , the or Vnion hath im fallibly brought to paffe , to wit, the ruiueof that great Triumvirat , being difunited or difToluedr: what would it then bane done, if vnited? It is called C'ri^m^/, as muchtofay , as it makes al mentoarife Vnto it, to do it homage : and wil make you more place in a throng of people, of meer refipe^ , then a rufiing Whifler dial do with torch in hand. In fine^ it is a rich Treafurieof rarities enelofed in a box THE The Pearl; THE MORALS. Preciosa et ca^lestis; Are things arc likely precious and precious rare :not that fcarcitie alone fliould fet the pricCjOr priceand valcw make them rare *, but that the ordinace of God is fuch, to haue them fo , that things which are excellent in themfelues , fiiould be rare and fcarce to be found , that pearls (for worth) might not be caft to fwine , or trampled vnder foot. Monfters are rare indeed , and yet moft hateful , and prodigious. It is the worth then that giues the price to things. The Sybils Books were valued leife being nine, then when they were but three ; not for the plentie of the nine , or fcarcitie of the thtee •, but to let Tarqumm fee , the true eftimate and value of each one j and had he not perhaps taken her at laft at her w ord, as he did , he had pay d as much for one alone, as for the nine , or gone without it. Yeagold itfelf, were it as common happely as manie other things are of litle worth , would yet be in as great eftceme as nowit is, through a certain excellence it hath in itfelf abouc others. And therefore S. John did very wel , to drefle vp God al in gold , and pauc the Para- dice of ioyes with the fame : for otherwife , do I feare , that manie an one , would neucr hauc had anie great thirft after it ; who perhaps would better haue liked the horns of Lucifer , tipt with gold , then thofc of the Moon with filucr, or the burning criftal oftheSun. Who would thinks, thatapofcce of earth , ta^cn, as it were ^ with the difeaic ipo Partheneia Sacra; difeafe of the yelow laundife, being no more indeed then a yelow earth^a glittering Stone^a kind of froth boyling from Hel , fhould haue fuch a power vpon reafonable men ? So as wel it may feeme , to be the Golden Age, fince al is fet vpon gold^they wilh but gold , they ipeake or thinke of nothing els but gold, when lOjthe Gold of gold, the precious Margarit of Tearls ^ is truly valuable indeed , the Incomparable Virgifi^Mother , I meane , who is either the Peari itfelf^ or Mother of the true Oriemat Pearly which defcended from heauen, and therefore is worthily called : Pre- ClOSA ET C^LESTIS, THE ESSAY. H E true Pearl hath a lufter of filuer with it, which wil not foy le a whit,nor wax yel- low jits skin feares no nipping of the frofts, nor the tooth of Time. It is bred in the Sea,, and feemes to difdayne the fare of its Ho- flefle,the Scallop,wherin it is aprifoner, while it ta- kes its food from the heauens , and hath its whole alliance with them .They vfe to counterfeit the fame in athoufand manners with gla{re,and aboue al^with the Mother-Pearly inbcaxing ittopowder,and making apaft therof,and then caufing pigeons to let it downe , which with their natural heat do boilc and polifli it in the manner it is , and then put it forth againe. The Mother-fearl engenders from the heauens , and lines but of cele{lialNed:ar,to bring forth her Pearl withal, either filuer,pale,or yelowilh, according as the Sun makes it,or the ayre,whence it feeds,be more orleffe pure. Receauing then the deaw of Heauen into the gaping Ihel , it formes litlc graines or feeds within it , which cleaue to its fide$^ then grow hard, and geale , as it were: and fo Nature T H B JP E A R l; Ygl bj lltle and litle polifhes them through fauour of theSimnie beames,and at laft they become the Oriehidf earls ; and as theDeaw is greater or lefie, the Tearls become the bigger and fayrer. The Vearl in powder, is good in a manner for al maladies. It growesnotonly inthe flefli of the fifh , but in the mother itfelf, or fhel without the fifh. It is render ^ within the mother , but growes hard as foonc as ta- ken out of the water. The greateft gallantrie of La- dies , is to haue them dangling at their eares by half dozens , whence are they called Cymbals j they v\ il fay likewife : afairc Vearl in the eare, is as good as an Vdierto make them way in a prelfe. Cleopatra wore two of them, which were worth a million and a half; w herof one fhc fwallowed downe, being firfl diil'ol- wed by vinagre. THE D I S C O V R S E: F you look now into the myftcries of al natural Secrets , youfnalhnd none to fymbolize better v\ ith the Virgin Mam , this Margar'tt of ours, then this fame Pearl or precious ^^rhoftheSea ; if efpeciallywc re- gard but the names only , v^herewith they arc ftilcd, the one of Marie^ the other Margar'tt , and both ha- wing fo great alliances with the Seas : the one being, amarum mare , a bitter fea : and the other , as wholy ^ borne and bred in the feas *, the one importunarly begd and obtayned of God , by Anna her Mother: and the other, as greedily gaped-after from theHca- uens , and cfpecially from the Sun , by the Motrerof Teat], fo properly called by like , for her mothcrlie cV maternal appetite to engender and bring forth ; and \\c Parthbnbia Sacral we al know , what TcayU of fanditie are lightly brought into the world, with fo great importuni- ties, But if we looke into the other congruities between them, we flial find them to fympathizefo, as we may wel tearme our Virgin^ Mother ^ a Fearl or Margmt of the Heauens , as the other of the Seas. The Margarit , as I fayd , is bred in the Sea *, which Jfidor a&ivuiQs , and that in this manner. At certain times of the y eare, to wit, in the Spring and Autum- ne5the cockles,oyfl:crs,or fcollops, or cal them what you wil,approachto theSea-fhore , and lye there ga- ping , and opening themfelues , and receaue the celeftial deaw into their bowels j from the coagula- tion wherof , as abouefayd , are the Margmts en- geiidred. Now this Shelfifh , oyfter , or Mother-Pearl (for the Mother , or iffuc Pearl , are al of a fubftance, as mothers and embrions vfe to be) is the Virgm-Mo^ ther-Pearl it felf, which opened her Virginal foule, at her myftcrious Annunciation , in the Spring of the yeare , by the quiet fhore of her tacit and filenc contemplation, to receiue the heauenlie Deaw , the new Margant ; that is , to conceauc that precious Pearl , Chnfi Jefus , in her womb. For (lie opened her confentjto the great Angel, her fingularParanimph, to obey God in al things , faying : Behold the hamU tnayd of our Lord^ &c, and her foule likewdfe to the HGite^Gkoft, to ouerfhadow heriand after the opening thus of her freeconfent , and her Angelical foule,the Celeftial deaw of the Hoik- GbofldtCcendcd into her, and fo this infant Pearl was diuinely begot, in the virginal womb of the Virgimmother - Pearl, Of which deawing of the Holie-Ghojl , and opening of the Blejfed Virgin therevnto , it is prophetically fayd: T H E P E A R t: 19^ you heduens thervpon ^ dttd let the clouds rAjnc (A/. eloix^ne the Juft , let the earth open and bring forth the Sautour, Thefe Pearls befides , if they be right Margarkt indeed, are faire, white, and deer-, for fiich as arc fo, Are truly of the beft , and a great dcale better then thofe which arc dimnier,and of a yellow and dusk ifh coulour ; For thofe which are faire,white, and clccr, are bred ofthe moriiing-dcawjand the others, of thar .which falles intheeuenings.And our Incomparable Margarit ,w2LS predeftinate fofrom the morning of the eternal Decree in Hcauen , fo created, as it were, ab initio ante fecula , while the other peurls of Icfl'e regard were only produced in thceuening, after that finne was brought into the world. This Margarit therefore fo faire,ro white, and deer, fignifyes our heauenlie Margarit and glorious Vvgm^ who v/as beautiful and faire in mind through a more then Angelical puritie of hers conlifting in the mind jinoft fnowie and white in bodie , through an immaculate chaftitie andvirginitic ;and deer and fincere in works , through a hmple fanditic, and Saintlie fimplicitie in alheradions, in the whole courfe pf her blcifed and incomparable life , which {he led on earth. I fayd abouc , that VearU being ftampt and beat to powder are holcfom , foueraigne, and medicinal for manic maladies *, wherof I find the 'SaturMifts chiefly to reckon three : Virft , they are purgatiuc, becaufe they purge and eiiacuate the bodie of al noxious and fuperfluous humours ; recondlv,rcflric- tiue , flaying the flux ofbloudor vcntcriand thirdly, they comfort and corroborate the hart, being readic to faynt or fwoune through debilitie ofthe fpirirs, or the !P 4 Pa’rthenea Sacra* orthevitalparts.To thefe infirmities , tPie applica- tions of thefe powndcd ?earU fo beat to powder , are offingularauayle. In this manner the Blefied VirgWp being ferioufly preffed with importunitie of pray- ers , and often vrgedand called vpon with incefiant vowes , relenting and mollifyed at laft, as fallen into powder , apply es herfelf , firft through.apiir- gatiuepower topurgevsof our finnes > by procu- ring vs the grace of Contrition , and the holefomc Sacrament of Pennance 5 to bewayle and purge out finnes paft 5 fecondly , with her reftridiue vertue, to reftrainc the foule from flowing and falling agai- ne into future finnes > and thirdly , with her re- doratiue, comfortatiue , and corroboratiue power^ to flrengthen and fortify the hart , in prefent oeca- fions of finnes. THE EMBLEME, The Pearl. ^ 9 $ THE P O E S I E: Rare and precious Pearl is hardlj found. That* s Great, Heauie, Smooth, pure-white and Round. rhe The Sonne of God came from his heauenlie Throne^ Tau/i, TaMour for Vczvlcs, at Uft found fuch an one. , Greats to comaine himfelf;^ Heauie, ful of grace. And therefore fmckynto a Handmajds place. Smooth wit hout knob ofsinne. Virgin purc-vv hite. Round in perfeBiony more then mortal vpight. This pleafd his eje-, a long time hauing fought, Gaue al that ere he hady this he bought. Vnion's aTeavlc {no twtnnes) lufelf, but one-, Such was the Virgin-Mother far agon, THE THEORIES. Ontemplate firfl: , how this Vearl or Hargantis vfually called ; as wc Eiyd, Tht by the name of Vmon ; w hether it be for the great vnion and fyinpathic^ ^ there is, betw^ecn the Mother and the FeM, I know not ; for you can not mention the Mothers name , but needs mufl; you bring-in the Tcarl wdthal : or for the vnion of the Celcilial deaw , with the Conchal nature , to make vp Veari, in the lap of the fifli,T vvil not fay: this 1 am fure ofjthat our blefl'ed P^4 k/ hcer is called Detparj, as much to fay, as the Aior/;erof GoDjnor can she be fo called a as flieiSjbut God muft needs be vni- ted to her, to make Vp her name. Coniiderthen^ that ^$t\K Mother-pearl; beirgorher- w ife igS Partheneia Sacra; wife only ameer fliel-fifli of its owne nature, aild of no greater aranck then aplayne oyfter of the Sea: yet through the appetite fhe had to fuck , and draw’ in the heauenlie deaw into her bowels , obtained the efpecial priuiledgeaiid prerogatluc, to become in- deed the Mother of the true oriental FearLSo the virgin^m mother, though fhe were, as flie fayd herfelf , the fillic handmayd of our Lord , and of our human nature/ fubiedto the natural frayleties therof ; yet through a lingular immunitie with the puritie of her intention , integritieof bodie , and Angelical can-* dour of mindjdiipofing herfelf moft affeduouily and ardently indeed ^ to receaue the Celeftial deawes fra heauen,that is,the grace of perfed Vnion with God, in her pure foule, fhe deferued to become the Mother of the Pearl of Peafles^fwcct Iesvs* Ponder laftly , that if a meet Pearly being fo bafely bred inanoyfter-fliel, whofe extrad at the beft is but meet Deawes let fal froni the hether Region of the Ayre , and thofe but drops of frefn water, as it were impearled in the fifli , through benefit of the Sun fnould come to be fo highly prized as we hauc fayd, being no more then a meer feed oEPearl fomwhat fairer then the reft of that kind/iow are we to prize and magnify , trow you, our heauenlie Pearl heer, whetheryou meane theP^^r/, or Mofkr herfelf? the himfelfjfor being fuch a Pearl fo truly defen- ding from heauen j and ker, for being the Mother of fuch SiPearL THE The Pearl. 197 THE APOSTROPHE; O ST [west , moft dehonnaire Virgin- rhi Mother, the Immaculate through erru CoU»- phajis^the Mother offuj^re (UlcBion, Mother of Iciixs , regard me poore vpretched foule^ and oh tame , that mj hart and affe^m he pure and clean ^ at leafi Ukj the feed pearl, according to the proportion ofmj litlenes , and my hodie ivhok/ free ^from the dus.kjsh hlemishes of the leaf finnes^and that hj day and night my thoughts being repurged from al tmmunaU dties and vneUane ohie^s , the flourishing hed of my fancie, may neuer he foyled more , to ofl'end thine eyes , and thofe of the immaculat Pearl of thy womh , thy Spoufe of my joule ^ Christ Iesvs, O THE H E Doue is the true and perfed type of ‘ Loue *, let them but change caps with each other , and the D ouc fiial be Lone, and Loue a Doue, If Venus betake her to her Chariot , flie is drawne with the teame of foure of them,as Poets fay .This are wc fure of, the Holie-Ghoft , the effential Diuine loue, hath beeiafeen to appeare, as carried with Charitie,in the forme and figure of a Doue. The Danes ate neueriri their proper element more, nor better pleafed, then* in ' HARACTER: PaRtheneia Sacra; ill digging them holes in the rock , and planting their litle pauillioliS there. And the Eyes(thc Agents of Loue)like apayre of twin^like Doues haiie fct vp their reft s, and built their ncfts ^as it were, in the hollow concaues of the browes , in feruice of Lone. The Dmi! is the truftie meftenger , or winged Poft of the Ayre, that carries letters to and fro , in inatcers of the greateft importance ; which lliefaylcs not to deliuer with the hazard of her life , nor cuer miilerli, butitcofts her the beft bloud of her bodie. She is euen an arro w , and verily as fwift as it, but without afteeliehead to hurt withal , as hauing no gaiilc within her , or curftnes m the bil. She is a very fo- ciable creature ^ and apt for Citties ; witnes their Douecots , where they liue in great peace and neigh- bour hood togeather and not of feare > as fomc , do they flock togcather in great troupes, but mecrly of loLie and charitie one to an other. She is very abftc- mioiis and religious in her dyet , and wil not feed on thofc flefh-potsofEgipt , that firft came-in with that Patriark andfecoiid Parent of our kind-, contenting herfelf with bread alone , allowed euen Irom AiIaw’s time,who tilled and ploughed the firft ot anic. She is hot by nature , 8c yet of condition a Mojps for meek- nes ^ and euen the verie Lamb of birds-, it not fo able to cloathoiir nakednes with her wool as he . yet la- rely file would , if flie could *, yet euer readie an . I prompt to lodge vs in her downes.And when Ihc can not Head vs other wife, fhe wil afford her bodie, to be facrificed by vs ^ as an entire holocauft ot her good nature* THE PARTH^NEtA Sacra; THE MORALS. In FORAMINIBYS PbTRAE.’ HO wil glue me the mngs of a Doue ( the Prophet fayth ) and L wU f.y and reji^ The Doue would fly , and then reft: fly inthe exercifeof al vertues , and tlien reft inthe contemplation of the Diuine attributes j or fly inthe medi- tation of our S^uiour s life,&then reft in the deep con- templation of his bitter paffion •, fly in reading the Diuine Scriptures, that point vs the Rock j and reft in digging in the holes of the faio Rock, thebleflcd ftigmats of his venerable and facred wounds. For Reading indeed , though it much auayle to lead vs to the Rock, yet diues not fo deep into the Rock,as ferious Meditation doth *, dz Meditation though it dig into the Rock , yet dwels not fo quietly there, nor refts fo fw eetly in the Rock , as adeep Contem- plation doth ; while Reading regards but the fliel only , that is , brings to the Rock •, Meditation , the kernel , that is, digs into the Rock •, but Contempla- tion fwallowes &reliflieththekernel, that is, dwels ' and fets vp its reft in theRock.Reading looks but ' fuperficially therinto ; Meditation bores and enters ' into it ; but Contemplation diues and founds into ■ the depth. Reading exhibits the breafts of the Mo- ther-Church, in opening the books of the Old and • New Teftament j but Meditation, and more Con- templation, wrings them, to fetch out the milk to nourifh withal.Reading crops off the earesof come; and Meditation and Contemiplation,as with thefln- gar and thumb , wrings outthe grayne ; then grinds T H E D O V e'. 201 ittonneal,tilit comes tobe bread and food of men. And this the tender and compaiTionate Mothtr did, who flying, like to the Doue^^l thetimeof her life, neuerreftedherfelf, til finding her Sonm , become a Rockoffcandal andreproch , and pitcoufly bored oneueriefide , she enters into them, and dwellcs within themj and if you ask her, where Ihe h, might very wel anfwer ; In fokaminibvs Petrae. THE ESSAY. HE Da«r,theMm«m of birds, the fayth- ml Meilenger of Nuc , the friena to the '* Oliue, hath properly no couloiir of her owne to know or diftinguiih her by •, fo is fhe vniuerfal for al *, in this only ilie is lingular aboue the reft, that being of what coiilour fbeuer , her neck being oppofea to the Sun vviidi- lierfify into athoufand coulours, more various then the Iris it-felf, or that Bird of imo in al her pride i as fcarlet , cerulean, flame-couloiir , and yealding a flaflijlike the Carbuncle , with vermilion , aih- coulour , and manie others befides , which hauc no name , but as you borrow them from other tilings. And though fhe be neuer fo chaft , innocent , and loyal to her mate, yet can fiie not aiioyd his icalou- iic. Which you may fee , and it is a pleafant con- templation to note the while , when the Cock returns to his Doiiecot , how, difcoiicring his ica- loLifies, his litle breaftwilfwel vp tothebignesof his bodie^then with the voice to break forth into a hoarfe and angrie note-, by and by to walkcin ftatc, as it were , and encompas his mate about ; anil with the flievv of a wrothful N cmefis^v ike the ground,’ with the fwift trayling and ftrotcing of hiscrayne, O j and ioMe againe feeds not onthcflefii ofothcr fenv- les dc birds , as fome do,but of the grayncs of come, and that the feled & moft choice of al. Nor was our , the bleftedF^r^iw, affededorgiuen to terrene O 5 and 104 pARTHENEIA SaCRA. ' and worldlie things , but to Celeftial and eternal^' Hie fed not on the flefn-pots of Eppt , nor yet of Manna , being but only the bread of Angels, but ra- ther fed of the Bread of life, the thing repreferited by that Manna, {he fed on the fweet thoughts ofrheDi- Word it felf Incarnate in her womb, andfed of * that grayne of corne,wherofit is fayd: V^lef thc^rajne of CQrm fallwgtnto the earth bt moTtifyea anti aj 3cc, This grayne of come refrefiies and fatiatsj and therin may iignify our Sauiour Chrijl , according to the Pfalmift: fatUts thee mth the fat of corne •, and hath rednes without , in regard wherof may it (ignify the hefh of Chrifi; agreable to that : How red is t\rj garment dec: and befides is white within , and expreffeth the Sap.7. foule, which is fulgent and bright with the candour and fplendour of puritie ; For indeed it is the candour of light. And therefore in the Canticles the Vfrgtn fay th: Mj heloued is white and red , and chofen of a thoufandy Whi- Cam. 3, te,forhisble{ledanddiuinifyedfoule ; red, for his precious fle{h, embrued with is bloud, and the choi-* cc of a thoufand , for his foueraigne and fupreme Di- •uinitie. This Boue then fed of fuch a grayne , becaufe Ihe was wholy and fully delighted with the Piuini- tie and the Humanitie of Chrtft. And for her groanes , the ordinarie mufick of the Lyre of her hart, they were the lamentable and fad accents , which the Pa/Hon of her deer Sonne hadcaufedinher. For lo , this Doue with the re {I of that defolate and mourning fight of ^-vher fellow -doiies , did nothing els , but figh and groane, in beholding the onlie Pearl of doues,her deerefl Sonne , in fo piteous a plight , fo hampered end entangled in the fowler's nets. Likj that mmtate f thejgroned fore , astheProphetfayth, The Dove. cfpecially this Doue aboue the reft, the incomparable Virgtn-Dmt, being the natural Dam and parent of the poore diftrefted one,moft fadly powring forth a floud of teaies without meafure. VV hence S, Aiflm fayth in a certain place:My moft merciful what ^ fountains may I fay brake forth of thy pureft eyes, when thou faweft thy onlie innocent Sonne to be fcourgedjbound, & fo cruelly entreated before thee, and the fiefli ofthyBefhfo mangled in thy fight? "V^^hat groancs flial I imagin thy breaft fent fortli the while , when thou heard ft him fay : Wo;w4w, behold thy 5y/???r5and agayne ; Behold thj/motberlTox ftie could not fee her Sonne to be fo crucifyed , without groanes, and motherlie laments for her dying Sonne , the ioy of her hart,and hart of al her ioyes,fo pierced with a fouidkrs.j(peare , that euen transfixed withal the mo- thers breaft,averieN^ok ofteareSjOr rather of bitter groanes. Now for the wing , which fo eternizeth the Doucs, and makes them moft illuftrioLis among fowles of the higheft pitch , this I note , they lauc not much to fly alone, bur to aflemble themfeliies in flights. The blelled Virgm^ is' that Woman cloatiied with the funne , of whome it is fayd in the ApocAljpf^ that Wo vpwgs "Wen giucu her to jiy with , w the Which two wings are the wings of Loue and Hope , wherewith fiie Eyes into Hcaucn.W/;o w/ ajjud me wings of the Doue ? But yet flie would not fly alone, but draw others alfo to fly along with her,to wit.tiK' Apoftles , during her life , and through her cxair.plc afterwards al other Saints. They w’ere acciiftomed of old,thc better to attraift ftrange pigeons to their houfes, tovfctliis indiiftric or flight,to annoynt feme one tame and domcflieal Doue with an oyntment , which they kne^ moft 2o6 Parth^keia Sacra^ grateful vnta them , and fo annoynted to let It fly at large ; when fhefo flying in the ayre , through the fragrance of the odours about her , would draw to her a number of them*, & fo flie, whoiirfl: flew alone, would returne back againe in triumphing manner. The Virgin of herfelf alone at firft was the onlie louer of vowed Chaftitie , who profeffed , flie knew not,^ nor euer would know man. This Done then the hea- nenlie Fowler had fent forth into the ayre of the wcrld,as annoynted with the perfurne of al graces, and efpecially of Chaftitie*, but now fhe flyes with an innumerable number of Virgins .led by her example, flnging altogeather with one confent that verfe; We ^ii Yunne after the odour of thine ojnments j thejong virgins haue lotted thee^ O louelie Doue, Laftly , for the fitting of the by the waters fide 5 heare what the Holie-Ghofi in the Canticles fay th: ' Thme eyes UkjDoues vpon riuer^ waters , vphicb are washed withmtlk^^ and fit by the fulleft fireames, S.Hterom , that great Contemplatour of Celeftial Secrets vpon the cantiiles , fpeakingof this moft holie Virgin , how fhe 95 was afTiimpted to Heauen , fayth: I faw one fpecious >9 as a Done afeendingfrom the waters. She wasabeau- 39 tiful Doue , as it werej becaufe fue fliewxd the forme 39 and fimplicitie ofthat Done, v/hichcame vpon Chrifi, 39 coming out of the ftreames of waters. Now as the Doue is fayd todwel vpon the ftreames, as wel to difi couer the fliadow of the hawke , as to refrefh herfelf againft the heats : So theblefled Virgin refts Sc abides vpon the fulnes of the flouds of the ilolie-Ghofi.as wel to admonifh her Denotes to beware the Diabolical fnares,as to enioy the plenitude of the waters of the fame Holic*Ghofi:^to \yit,the guifts therof. I THl E D O V eJ E M B L EM E. THE POESIE, HE Ho\ie-Gho{[,tbat fjcftlcs Itkj aDovfc, The Betwixt the Father & the Sonne aho//e, • ^'^fl(^^vnefio7n Heauen to fceh^a mxte bclow^ A Virgin, chajl, pure Done , as white as fuow n'gr»*n leethredyalikj cimjurt •, sh e with out gal ^ Simple & mild ; he Lone ejfential, Thusjhey accord^ as they in colour futCy And to the flower correfpond's thejruir. The Virgins shadowd^ yet remames pure white; (Shadowtsexpeld) the [uh flame brings to Itghr. But while her Sonne is shadowd on the CrcjTcy The mourning * Done in blackjs laments her UJfc. THE te ad ji- uiitl Ctfij-'n Cr [f jrtrrM. in^s It Tun>4. Partheneia Sacra; the theories. The ^ Ontemphte firft, how the Doue.hcing Contem- a moft pute creature , feares to be de- flation. ^ filed ^ & abhorres whatfoeuer is foule andfordid ,as appearesby that which hapned in Noes Floud.No^ fent forth a v after fourtie dayes , to difcerne whether the waters were fallen and ceafed vpon the face of the earth or no , who not finding wheron ta reft her foot , returned into the Ark againe *, and the Cen gg. was,as S.Auguftm thinks, that though the tops ’ of hils appeared bare , yet they remained moift and flymie , and therefore the Doue being a nice and deli- cate bird, and extremly amourous of puritie and cleannes , would by no meanes put her foot theron. And heer reflect vpon the Virgin pure , in whome no fpot appeared of Original Sinne at al , in that great inuncktion & deluge therof in Adam , but remay ning in the Ark of her Innocencie Immaculate , becaufe the mother of the Immaculate Lamb. Confider then the fingular prouidence of the Doue, which is a part indeed of the prudence of this crea- ture, in that to rinin the hawke, ftiefiiroudsherfelf in the fecret holes of the Rock , and there fecurely re- pofeth in great peace. And then confider, how this Doue , this fame moft prudent being higher then the reft, and more profound, had placed her neft or chamber in Cbrifi her Rock ; where being al V ayes fafe and kept inuiolable , the flights of the Diuelsand the iubtleties of Hereticks cOuld doe nothing againft her i but what they did,was againft the Rock itfelf, rebounding back vpon the impious themreliics, like the wanes againft the cliffes,thc ftips againft the ftielfs.the rufling of the winds ' againft The Dove: againft the towers ^the fomie froth againft t|ie beach, the edge of the fword againft the Adamant , the reed againft a target , drifts of fno w againft a helmet , fire againft gold,a^ laftly a {lender cloud againft the Sun, Ponder.laftly the great fimilitude and refembJace, which is between the faluation ofmens Hues inNc^V Jit k,, and that of Soules in the Church , whofe foun- datiowas laydintheFir^w-mothers womb,ourtrue J)oue indeed, at the Annunciation of the Angel Gabmly When that ftupedious miracle of grace was wrought within her .But as then that Done of the Ark carryed only the meffage of faluation , the figure of that em- baftageheer brought by Gabrtd , whom when you behold fo painted wdth a br^h of Oliue in his hand, as a token of peace and mercie,what fee you els, but (jei bearing a bough of oliue,i n the feet? THE APOSTROPHE. Mcft innocent Doue , Ladj of meekjies ! O vpould tevcn.cfnbcr me form j good ^mcfi foher Co^o- fitj/z^rtVirginjC^ amomotk Mother oj ?nj decrefi^^^^' b^uujt,Oh fray the ctennai Louefor me y rend me not foon Vifretih ymeft wretched Smner^fowholy immorrifyed in almy fenfes^who beer pefentmyfdf heforeyom gondnes tn the dewad and fur mt of manfuctude oj mmek Oh grant ^rnofi frecious Virgin-Mother, that I feriih not for euer , and he lofl. o admirable i fay^oj heaucn and earth next God your demfx Sonne, p/^aW aheue al the Hierarchies of Heaiien: Let me not quite ^en shy Qtacn of the heauerAie Fmpni for alos^ *' whatfrojitwil thtrehe mmy ytter ruine'i Alas ^ Alas Jetme not falydcaytif and vnworthie werme as I am, to nvibing , or yporje then nothtngyfowholy drowned m Smneand yice. THE 2lO TRE XIX. SYMBOL. THE F O V N T A I N. THE DEVISE. THE CHARACTER. H E 'Bountam is the liquid Glafle or Mir- rour of the Naiades^ where they haunt to contemplate their beauties inj or rather is the Nimph herfelf,who gazing on her proper beautie,through a ftrange Meta- morphofis of felLloue had loft herfelf ia her ownc Glafte. Hence it is, fhe runnes the Kay, as it vvere,in the nieadowes , to feeke herfelf in the waters which fhe is herfelf , got forth to take the ayre, in the fields abroad ; and as it runnes , it playes on the Harpficoa the while, whofeiacl^3 are the pibleftones,ehecking The Fovntaik". V}t litle wanes as ftrings,that fo with purling frames *^he harmonic it makes. The feathered Nimphs there , are much taken with it , efpecially the S Vv^an, that wil be tuning her Defcant to that ground. A1 the care flie takes 5 is buttohafteto pay her rents, which Ihe doth to the Brooks and Riuers^as Baylifes to that great Exadour , who takes them grumbling, as neuer fatisfyed. She is the breaft of Nature , and Nature the Nurfe that fuckles al things with her mi Ike, and is fogood a Nurfe and fo prodigal of her fugred lickours , as where fiie can not els commuiiN careherfelf, ofherowne accord wil fhe breakout into Springs: Springs fo called indeed , becaufe they leap and fpring forth of the earth. For fo fiial you fee the litie lambs and kids prickt with this milk of ‘NaturCjwel concod with youthful heat,to fpring,to iump, and friskj whence doubtles the feafonofthe Spring tooke firft the name. For what is thebloifo-. mes,trowyou,tofpringand bud forth, but for Na- ture to |)reake out as into Springs? The Rofe fprings forth , while Nature breaks a veyne as it were, that fpringsinto aRofe. The Lillie fprings, while Nature fpillesher cryftalmilk, thatfprouts intoaLillie.The Springsand therefore,are thelife ofNaturc, ifthelif€,as fome maintaine, abide in the veynes, whichmay wel be. They are the verie ticklings of Natures hart , that make her fprug vpherfelfinthc feafonofthe Spring, to court the world with,in her beft array. For then fhe crownes herfelf with a gar- land of al flowers, puts on the mantle of her goodlie meadowes diapredal ouer, and tricks and decks vp her hayre, the fruitful trees, with gemmes of bloflb- mesofinfinit varieties , to feaft and entertaine the new-borne world. THE %iz Partheneia Sacra. T H E ^ MORALS. PERENNIS ET INDEFICIENS. L things that ate ^ haue their, certain tearmes-,andther is a ftint and period to befeen,inalthings.Be they treafu- res of immenfe riches how vaft foe- uer 5 they may be fummed with good Arithmetick , to alaft farthing. The Catarads of waters, in time, that powred downe fo fail , at laft were exhaufted quite, and gaue ieafure tothe Earth ^ to fwallow. and digefl: fo huge a draught,Theywereneitherperpetual,for they lafted but a time ; nor yet without meamre , for it may be fuppofed the Springs were dry ed, or that the hand of God had put a fluce to the torrents . Eiiits called for rayne,andit powred downe fo faft^ as manie were affraydofafecond deluge-, but the glut and tempeft ceafed in a certain time^Sd al was wel.T o leaue thefe, and to come to Man , whofe pride makes him oft-ti- mes to preted to a kind ofeternicie of felicities LeC him lift vp his creft neuer fo loftily ^ his pride wil foon haue a fal. Alexander how great foeuer^when he faw he could not eternise himfelf, & become drcad-i ful enough otherwife , vfed a ftratagem , which was to be drawne by Apelles in fundrie manners , now mounting on his Steed ^ that braue Buiephalus , in the adtion of making the earth to treble with his looks; and then to be admired in the habit and equipage of a God, calling himfelf the Sonne of lupiter Amon j but the truth is , his looks made not the earth to quake^ but only in his pidlure ; norwas he adored,butin his pou^trait,and he no nio^e tjh^n a mortal man, whofe The F o V n t a 1 N4 Amou ^ni curforie dajr, had a fpeedie fun-ref. Nffo caufed a coyne of gold to be ftampt, where his owm effigies was engrauen of the one fide, and of the other fortune enchained at the foot of a Rock , with this word i Nec fcofulos memo. But he Ihortly found the cohtrarie, when killing himfelf, he fuflFered fhip . wrack in the feaof his owne bloud. Orfco reprefented bimfelfinfuchpeeces of gold , with his hand armed with thunder, with thisi Jlijs non ytor foone the fpring of his life and Raigne,was the winter of bis death ; and what death but a death which his life deferued? There is nothing furc and perpetual in this world ; but al things Aide away like tunning ftrea- nies from the fpring-hcad ^ whkh leaue not fo much behind them^^as thememorieof their pa{]age» The Spring only is itj which ftil remaynes, whofe waters -after they Line runneanendlestime , lhal then hue feeme to begin to runne , as being an Aby ife of wa- ters fprung fromanendles fource. Looke then what the Spring is of elemental liquids, thefameis the Aio- ther of God ^ an endles fountam offpiritual graces and perfed:ions,and is truly the Fon s Perennis e? i N D e f 1 c I e n s of al Graces. fi THE ESSAY* O fpeake of the V^omtAin truly ^ as the fetching deferues , one had need of a foun^ of wit and brayne about him ^ to decipher it aright. For who can draw a * pidlure of one that can not fir,but is euer logging vp and dowme ? For lo , the fountain-wa^ter neuer ftands ^ but hath the palfey in the veynes, that wil not reft. Itis fometimes taken for thejabrick- itfeif^' as built of ftonci which if wc lliould, the diffi- p cultic 214 Partheneia Sacra; tie would encreafe. For fo were we obliged to ex-- preffe as manie formes wel nigh , as there are fan- cies in the Brayne. For fome fnal you fee of one failiion , fome of another , as euerie one abounds inhisfenfe. Wimes that fo artificially wrought bjr the famous Mkbad Angelo de Bok^roit in figure of a Woman wafliing and winding of linnen clothes in her hands*, in which ad of hers, fhe ftraynes forth the Fountain-waters^AiTotherhaue I feenof an Ele- phant fpouting the waters from his Probofcides or trunk , to the pleafiires of the SpedatoUrs *, another ofa Whale,that fpouted the waters fo high , as euen did difelement the fame into a duft or powder of waters. Another fo cunningly fet and eontriued, as what with the waters fo difpofed ^ and the Sunnie rayes togeather ^ it would make a per fed Iris in the eyes of al men*, and a thoufand other , while Art in nothing more wil vye with Nature > then with her vvorkmanlhips of this kind* The fo««f the waters of grace are hidden , but yet to be fetcht and had with the labour of contrition and pennance. biitthe water of the Spring is drawne without la- bour at al,and flowes continually : and in this manner file communicates herfelf to pious Soules and her Denotes , becaufe continually flie affords them gra- ces with much facilitie ; and laftly , as touching the Riuer,that flowes fowith great abundance,fiie com- municates and powres forth herfelf totheBlefled SQuks,with ineffable graces, which are not commu- nicablc to mortal wights. THE lit Partheketa SacraJ THE APOS T RO PHE; Virgin Marie, Fountain Fountain,! fajy of the Paradife ofpleafure.Thou crifial Well of the Itumg yoAters , which flowc with impetuofitie from tibanus. O Jigned and fealedVountSLin y fitch as the Wife-nian/o points forth^ that heganfi to rife from the earth cf A barren foile , to fra^ify the world with thy Mcriii , Mid to water it witl) thy Gr4fw. Thou litle Fountain as then, now growne to a great and ample Riuer , who in thy birth ap* paring asalitle Spring by humilitie , and then a Fountain of more note y and fo encreafingftilwith fan6titie in conuerfation kecamefi at lafi to be a f welting Ritter, when fio thou conceauedfi in thy Wob, the fmrce of algraceSythat precious Oyle Christ jESVsfo as now from the plenitude of this Fountain, al places of the Chur chyhaue balfomed hquoun beeudermed to vs, obtayne, 6 incomparable Virgin , inexhaufitbU Fountain of Graces , of that deare Sonne of thine, that the waters of his Celefiial graces may fa water my foule,that through fpiritual ariditie it be not enforced to languish vtterly. This j befeech thee, thou Fountain of liuing waters. THE the no- bkft and beft extradion of the earth, and therefore apteft to rake fire-, wit- nes JEtna, or Mongtbei They are as great Barons in England , and Grandes in Spame , for their eminencie aboiic the reft of Hi Is, in the Vpper-houfe , & the other as Knights & Bour- gefes of the Low»r the Vallycs being no more then the Commons of the Land , who choofe them out to ftqnd for the people. They are the Cedars of the earth, and Csjau in the Senat of the highell towers, as topping ii4 Partheneia Sacra. topping them al and keeping them vnder. They are the Piramides @f mould^more ancient and more la- ftin2 then thofe of Egipt j and the true Maufbleums of the Monuments of Nature ; the ftatelie Colloffes of earth , ereded as Gog Magogs among the leifer people of the Hils or Hillocks. They are as i>auls , far higher then their brethren by head and flioulders: ^andthe reft as litle Dauids , more fit to keep ftieep in the lower playnes. Had not Mount Arram ftood fo a tipt-toe as it were , the Ark had been forced to haue made a longer nauigation,and Natures ftiop had not been opened fo foone , to expofe her Speciefes of li-. uing things to the new world,nor yet the doores and windowes therof fo foon had been vnbolted within. The Mountms then, are as Atlas fiioulders;to fuftaine and bear vp the Welkin with. If the earthlie Paradife be yet on earth , it muft be furely on fome Mountam top, or els as hanging in the ayre , and fo no earthlie Paradife.They are the Rocks of the Ayre, againft the which the racking clowds,like Argofejes^ dafhand breake themfelues,and fuffer ftiipwrack. They haue the honour of the firft falutcs of the glorious Sun, in the Aurora of his firft appearing ^ and haue his laft kifieSjCre he goe to bed. They haue their intelligen- ces with the Intelligences themfeluesiand were they not fopurfie and vnweildie, might euen dance to their muficks , howfoeuer they may Uftento them as they ftand. THE T H B M O V N T*" 225 THE MORALS. In VERTlCE ^gntivm. Here is nothing honourable, that is not good; nothing good,that is not equita- ble j and nothing equitable , that is not wholy oppofit to al deordinations. True honour confifts in fearing God; and to fpare neither life nor ought that is deer eft , in augmentation of one's glorie. It ftands not vpon its Ancefters,infeekingfo much to borrow lufterfrom them, as to earne it of itfeif. So as if it cannot arriue to their vertue,who haue left it anie Title by inheri- tance, it blufhes more for its owne infirmitie therin, then vaunts of the blazon of itsHoufe,whofe great- nes makes it not haughtie or imperious, but rather, as the fixed ftarres,the higher it is, the lefTe it defires to appeare^nor regards it fo much an outward pomp, or fwelling oftetation, as the folid veritie of a Soule truly noble*Courtefie and fvveetnes can no mor® be feueredfrom it,then the bodie from the foule, to re- mayne true honour, nor doth it of anie bafe facilitic toinfinuate with, but out of a natural courtefie co- ming from a true efteeme of itis felf. None more en- clined to compaflion towards the afflided, or more dirpofed to fuccoiir them , then it ; and then moft, when they haue leaft help otherwife , and lefie poili- bilitie to requitc.lt is more careful to yeald true ho- nour to the Creatour, then to receaue it fro anie one. In a word,it fo behaues itfelf,as it holds the Bodie of true honour , to confift not in the blond or dignitic only, but the Soule in the eminence of vertiie aboue others. This true Nobilitie said honour tiie glorious %i6 IPartheneia Sacra7 Virgin had in highmeafure, who being lineally dejft* ceiided from the race of Kings , and , which is more^ exalted to the foueraigne degree of the Mother of God , and conieqnently rayfed abouc althehils of the blefTed Spirits in Heauen , yea the Cherubins and Seraphins themfelues *, ftiled herfelf ^ the handmayd of our Lord , being arriued , I fay ^ to fit In vertice Montivm* THE ESSAY. Ovntains are one of the galiantft things in Nature, efpecially if we regard the Profpe^ they afford , to deliciat the eyes with 5 when taking a ftand vpon fome good aduantage, you behold from thence a gOodlie riuer vnderneath j which in token of homage ^ as it wcre,runnes kifiingthe foot therof, along as it goes; But the moft delicious it is^wheyoufee on the other fide, a vafi: playne fufpended before you, anddiuerfi-i* fyed with litle rifingSj hils, and mountains^ heer and there, which bounding not the view tOo fliort /uffers the eyes wdth freedome to extend themfelues into the imrnenfitie of Heaueniwhilethe Riuetj creeping along the meadowes with Meander-windings enclo- fes theHilabout,in forme of an Hand, whence manie veffels of al forts riding there at ancker , may be dif- cryed , the neereft queftionles very eafily difcerned, the reft farther off through interpofition of backs between, not perceaued , the tops of the mafts only appearing, like a Groiie or wood in winter w'ithcut leaues ; the litle clofes or fields thereabout^with tiic hedge-rowes enuironing the fame , feeming as Gar- den-plots hedged in with prim, and the lanes and high wayes as dreffed into allyes. The verdures giue forth themfelues delicious to bchpld>Uke a Ladskap in a The MovNt. 12^ 1 n a table5^vith al the greenes to be foud in the nec k of a mallard, heer a bright , there a dark, and then a bright and a dark againe,& al by reafon of the lends, with the rifings , and fallings togeathcr , with the lights& refledios caufed through the dawnii^g ofthe day in the morning or twy light of theeuening , the tay es of the funne being an open enemie to fiich neeir prorpeds,offending the view with too much fimpli- citie & fiiiceritie of dealing. It is a great curiofitie in Nature, to enquire how thefe firft came vp, £q 10 furmount the lefTer Hits and lower vally es ; ot whether Nature intended them firft,or no. If fo*,ho\v came flie partial?if not ^how came they to be fo? and a thoufend other diuels they rayfe befides, which no ordinark Coniurer can lay .But fuch would I haue to aske the Vally es , how they came to be fo beneath the Hilsot higher hlounuim ? whichif they fatisfye , I vndertake, the Mountami flial as much. But the truth is, he that puts gencrofitie in fome aboue the reft, and made not al of the fame euennes and tenour ojf mind : and fo in other things he made a Cedar and a ftirub,a Pine and abramble^an AUxander & a Diogenes^ a and an im , a Giant and a dwarf: fo made h« Mounts of Telm and Ojfa , and the vales of Mambye and Jofaphat, Thefe, fro the firft, were fo created mounutns & vallyes *, vnlcsperhaps,as with the Angels,al were once 'dsm$untams ^ti\ and his Complices afpi- ring higher then they ftiould,were throwne hcadlog, and made the vales of Heliilhfeinds: So fuch as wil afpire to be fo wife,to fearch into the fecrets of God*s hidden Archited:ure, fl>al be rankt in the number of the filli'e vales , in puniihmentof their daring follic tP prefume fo muchjt THE iiS Partheneia Sacra. THE discovrse; the SuYU^y, rious Mount , fo like in name and qiialitie to that of j M.onnuMQyu^ 2 , certain hil in the Cittie of Lerufukm.Vor: I as on that MounuMoria^Sdomon fir ft founded his Tenu I ple^thehoufe oF God : fo in this our MonutnUArlij was the heauenlie and Celeftial Temple of the true ray fed indeed 5 which hefayd within three 1 day es fhouid be re-edify edagaine,in cafe it were rui^ - tied, to wit j the Temple itfeif of the humanitie of I Iesvs Christ. Mom^nifyeththelandofvifion; & what land more worthietobefeen thcMarie^ theMo^ i ther of God ? Moria is fajd to be a high and ftatelic j i land, and next to God : and there is nothing fo high 1! and fublime as Marie is^no not the Angels nor Arch- j | Angels ^ nor yet the Cherubins or Seraphins them- felues. Moria is interpreted shining ot illuminaring: and Marie being clothed with the Sun,illumincs Mortals, PMn fninesj as being truly the Starre of the Scr. i Moriif , as fome Authours fay , is deriued of the He- • ; brew Men, which fignifyes mirrb, and 1^/;^ which is i God, as much to fay as God ismjmmh. And was he I! not truly her mirrh indeed, whenfheftuck himfb in ;i her bofome , as he lay in her lap , being taken from the Croifcjaccordingto that:w^ heloued to me is a. bundle / 1 of mirrh?and fhe herfelf no leffe theniii1rrh,if we look | into her name, which is Marie^quafi amarum mare^ a Sea as bitter as mirrh itfeif i of whom is fayd : As4 choke pi'^rh ! ■ Vt then to fpeake ofthc Mount ofMoun^ 1 taws , placed in the Garden of the Empy- real Heauens, where al are Mounts^ and this Jl the Mount paramount aboue them al j is a ^^work of a higher nature, the Incompara- ble Viroin Maria, I meane,that admirable andmy fte- TiIeMovnt 219 fHlrrhhAue Ijeaded a fveetnes of odour :MarU isderiued al- fojasfomewil haue it, from the Hebrew wore/?, which is teaching, and i4/?,GoD •) teaching *, who taught in- deed, when being feared as Salomon in his Throne, or rather it- felf in its Scholaftical Chaire,in the Womb of the Virgin-Mother , for fo manie months, he read to the world fuch a Le^ure of humilitic, pa- tience,charitiejand al vertues particularly in his 2«- C4rnmoty^ but efpecially in the Gdb,and armes of his ,, Mother when teaching both lew and Gmtil , in the Shepheard^ and Magi, at his Birth & Manifeftation, hefo taught them the GhofpeU It is finally interpre- ted the Ray lie of God, wherciyou may iudge what a fhowre of grace by this oux Umc ’was powred into the world^when adry & barren clowd , for manie yeares before^was at laft deliuered ofher;and ihe powred into the world, as a fhowre of raync,after a tedious famine^ to fertilize and frudify the earth. Nor is Marie our Mount reftrayned to Moria only, but to^jalfo feemes toreprefenther, no leffe in regard thatHilis accompted the Alo/wf ofmercie & promi- fe,as wel as flie. This Sinuj is feituated in the prouin - ce of AWw?i,vvherjbf Orth is a part , & where our Lord appearing to Mojfes in a bufn, and taking compafTioa on the affiidion of his people , promifed to free them , from the bondage of the Egjprians , through the power of this mightie hand, as we haue it in txo- ExaJ, eiiif.And fo was the Blefled Virgin Ai^nc^as the Queen of mcreie , promifed and prefigured in the fame Bufh , vvherin our appeared to Moyfes \ and for the reft ^ were the promifes likewife perfor- med in her , of the Redemption and deliuerance of the Human kind , from the thraldome and lla- uerie of the Diuel , while the Sonne of God tooke flefli of her for our ranfomeand deliuerie. Our i^o Partheneia Sacra. Our Lord defcended on mount Sinaj dcCi That mountw^S likewife as theRendcuous & haunt of our Lord •, for there the Angel appeared ofte on behalf of our Lord^ & fpake familiarly to Mojfey, & therefore it is faid of 7* him in the Ads : He a^fearedtohtm in the defirt ,of mount Sinaj^ in the flame ofafierte bush. And fo was the Bleffed Virgin faluted,and as frequently vifited by the Angel, and inftruded no leffe of the Word of life. Stnat was a Mount of rayne, &*Deaw : & fo was the Bleffed Fir- in conceauingthe Sonne of God*, according to Tfalji ^\^2Lt:He shal defied as rajneon a fleece. was the Mount of the Diuine habitation-,for lb,according to lofephus was the comon opinion inthofe dayes.And the Blef- fed Virgin was truly the habitation and dwelling of Tfliie, God. Shewasthe mount in rp/;om God tookjniuh delight. Sinaj was the Mount of wifdomc aud learning^for the- rin was the Law deliuered to the people by the hand of Mojfes: fo likwife the Bleffed brought him forth to the world, who is the Word &r Wifdo- me of the Father^ who is our Captain & Law-giuer, through who do Kings raigne,& the giuers of Lawes decree iuft things. She was a Mount diftilling the oy- le of mcrcie •, z- Mount of peace & alliance *, a Mount of paftures to feedoiij a Mount^whcrc it pleafed God to Tfaiyi^ ^t^habit,as Dautd fayd,the Mount o£ God, the fat Mout, 41. the holie & litle Mounts which ifaj fortold of,which fliould be prepared , & to which al the world fliould ircfort for pleafure,and repayre forfweetconfola- tionithe Mo««ffarailiar to the Angels , in their fre- quent vifits. THE t; rajs*d^while Mortals feigne^and em) Tfef Sf4f«^o/Nabuc6dono2cr. Herefie on feet of Clay and Iron ftands^ ' W hub haue no Vnion, la , cut without hands A ftone falles from a Mountaine. sh* hadasonne^ \Vko(hauing vow'd} fajfd:How tan this be donnej t know no man/Tw^ then the work.alone Ofth* Holie-Ghofi: Thus without hands the stone "Bel from the Mountain, Heady hefty arm^s, and al Hyftrtkjng of the feet, dmolishty fal, Vy with that Stonty this Monftersfeet mifted. May she hea{e Jowne, that crusht the Serpe/ ..uj THE THEORIE:>. ^ntemplate firft,tliatas Libanm is a Mount of The indeficient watersjforthat,thcre,according conum, as we haue it in the Catidesyare fptings ofliutng P'*^*^^* VPAtsrs^ wbkhfloy^wiih a forte and rielentt'^dc Libanus irfelf -- - • ^ Q, rs PartheneIa Sacra; is a fountain and fpringof flouds*, vsdtile on the foot therof ^ two fbuntaines arife , the one Ur , the other t)dn; vv/hich Aiding & falling into one , do make the Iordan at laft 5 as S, Hierom fay th.So our Incomparable Virgin is truly a Lihanm likewife of endles & indeficiet waters 5 whofe graces and fauours continually Aow to Mortals;nor can thofe fprings of hers be euer dry, to vvitjher perpetual virginitie, and ftupendious hu- milities which being fo vriitcd iuhQV A nnundattoy pro- duced flich B. Iordan of al graces in the perfon of her deereft Sonne our Saaiour Chnft, Confider then , that as Mount Lihantis is a Mount of fragancie and fweet odour s-,and therefore it is faydj likj Lib arm haumg the odour off weets.Vov there are trees that bearethc mcencc|,and many odoriierous herbs beiids, do there growj So in our facred Libanus y the Virgin Mark ; are the delicious odours of alvertues, with the Incence of fubliihe prayer arid contempla- tion;the perfumes of fanditie& holie conuerfation, the mirrh of mortification & memorie oi deaths while her life was nothing els , but a continual lan- guor of perpetual mortification , as wel in denying herfelf the pleafures, contentments, and delights of the world^as infighing Sc groningfomiuch after hea- uen, where her whole conuerfation was. And there- fore is it fayd inthe Canucks : Vlj mj bcloued^refemble the goat &fav^n of the deer on the Mountains offfueiy as much to fay, as fiy from the vanities of the world , Sc hygh youto lil;4fiii5themount of Spices , to the Blefled Virgin the libanus of al graces. Ponder laftly , that as Lihanm is interpreted white, for the candour of the fiiovv, which perpetually co- iiers thefame: fols our lefi'e white , yea a great deale more, through the candour of perpetual Virginitie, which is a kind ofvvhitnes of the ks The M o V n t. as Lftow through the abundance of the Deawes , & much quantitic of ray ncs, that falVpon it, abounds with principal hcarbs , fat pafturcs,and excellent fruits : foin our Libanm oftheBlefled Virgin ; do flow the deavves of Diuine grace, -and the raynes of fpiri- tual knowledge : and therefore abounds fhefo with the rich 'paftures of the facred Scriptures,and Celcf- tial viiderftandings of high Myfteries , with plenti- ful hearbsofthcflouriiliing green ofal vertues,&: eC pecially loaden with the gallat fruits of foiiles. Her rootshd break^forth , as that oj Libanus j her botighes ibal gro'^ outy and her glorte shal be as she Oliue , and her odour as q/LibaniiSj fayth tin Pro^Jet, THE APOSTROPHE. O Quen of Angels and Archangels 5 of Patnarkj , Pro- pheti\md Euangelify, ofApojtieSy Martyrs, and Con ft f- fours', ofOociours, Anchonts , and Hermits, and efpecni I y the ^ Crowne and glorie of Virgins , VJidowes , and of al holte'^oc- wen, in the coimgal ft ate, o Mountain among the leffer hils ’ of al rbofe Saints , that haue been euer, are,Jor tuer shal be, o moi/m Mountain, Mountain. O MotintyWho- fe aire is temperate and neuer troubled, where no Sercns of in- ‘ ordinate concu pi fences euerfal , and where no murie of times euer workj ante mifhtef. Mountain of pleafure , deli- cious Paradke, the Libanus of farMitie,the Sinaj ofMaiefic, and terrour to the reprobate, the Caluarie ofcompafion of thy Sonne* s paf ion , fboThabor of Dtuine myfteries, jkOliuet of toy. artd eternal happines: inaword, Omount ofheami fayre habitation of the Heauen oflleauens , O V irgia , Alas, niakj me of thy condition, dr aw my foule from the feruitude of finne,from the affection of the world , tyrannie oftbeflesh-, C^ putmyfeeton the Mountain of perfeHnOythatfoapproi htng neerer to thee , I may come to inhabit with thee , about the clowds, O grant thisfamej befeech thee for hk fake, who came downefrom heauen to mcetthee,m the elowds,accopanied with miriads of Saints, & bleJfedSpirits^at thy glorious a; THE XXI. SY^IBOL. THE S E A. Tht Infre/^ H E Seas , are the great Diet , or Parlia^ ment held of Waters , at the fir ft crea- tion of the world , when God himfelf was the onlie Speaker of the Houfej where they met of compulfion rather then faire accord , while eucriewhifpering of fini- fter breath puts them aSi into combuftion , when for thetime,there wilbe no dealing with the , fo impla- cable they are, that the ftouteft are faine to vale-bo- net & ftoop vnto them.They are great Vfurers, & li- kflie neuer let go anie pawncs they once lay hold of, which they extort ful fore againft their wils who- Icaue the iii their clutches. They are infinit rich witli fuch; The Sea. 2^^ fuch booties, & may v/el compare with their neigh- bour P/«fo or Al 4 wohimfelf. They wil fometimes nor- withftanding be very calme,courteous,& feren-.fo as they wil inuite the houfliold-Nimphes & Halcions tofing & dance to the noyfc of their mufick , & of a fudden change the key and tune fo, as none but Dol- phins ca brook the ftage,or keep meafure with their DoyfteroLis time,in the vnrulieReuels they keep. As the Earth , haue they alfo their mines of richeft wealth, lying in the bowels of their Abyffes , which cnioy no other light, the their owne lufters, nor euer are like to do-/uch couetous mifers they are of their pelf.They haue like wife their dales & mountains to, butthofefo reftles,asnobeafts can graze vpo them, going vpon foure , but fuch as take anie benefit of thofe paftures,are faine to go on their breafts. They are the humid firmament without firmnes , where al the ftarres are mouingPlanets.They aretheclowdie or waterieayre, where the birds make vfe of fins in- fteed of wings. Only the Element of fire hath no frienfhip with the,but is at deadlie fewd with them, 6c therefore goes as farre fro them,as poflibly it can, becaufe they neuer meet, butitpayes welforit,vvirh its owne deftrudion. They fcarcely acknowledge anie deitie aboue them , or homage due to anie but the Moon, to whome they are very piindual 6c obfe^ quious , nor miffe her a moment with their feruice, at her beck to go& comeashavykes inaline,or hor- fes with the bit,that dare not go amilTe. Moft think, they are flcgmarick, becaufe fo humid , but rather I take them,to be of a melauipholie complexion, with the guift of teares only, for that their waters are ^uer brackifh & bitter as teares are. Infine, they are aftother world in thefelues, wherin God hath pluged anddrcnchtthcdii^crfitiesof al earthlie creatures. 04 THE 1^6 Partheneia Sacra, THE MORA L S. Ab a MARO mare 5 A MARI MaRIA. The igiptians for charadiers , had pidlurcs j of Mom. K|^pichires,made they books ; wherin they had to haue been excellent Morallifts , and conicquently goodNaturallifts,to know the natures and properties of al creatures, I adde withal , fome part of their wits alfo, fltould haue layne in their fin- gars ends, to fhape forth with eole or chifeljio manie cUucrfities of things. our firft Parent, gaue them the lirft ground therof,when fro th^ beginning he fo called & alfembled al the new-born creatures to giue the names, as a baylifof fome great Lord fhould goe about, to marke this Maifter’s fneep , with fpecial marks, notes, orfignes of whoferhey are.Andthis he did, by the pattern & exaple firft giue him by God in hinifeif and his coiifort , the firif that euer took anie- name;while he was t:alled Adm , as fignify ing,/?, as hisrype, was called a sauiour and lofue likewife , for, the fame reafon. S,Jobn the Baptijl his Precurfour was called Grice, wJiich lohn imports,tQ Egnify the coming and approach of Grace indeed, in the iiepas at hand. Yea If.svs, which fignifyes Sauwur at laff with that name afligned him from al eternitie,and laftly giuen him by the Paranymph Angel , with the furname of lmamdy3.s much to fay, as Dem mbifum^AndCo the In- coparable Ph,g.'«,was liiuinely forted with the name of Marie, that fitted her fo right. For fne was indeed aSeaofbitterneSjthrOugh thefeauenfold fword of forrow'. The Sea, ij7 forrow.rhat pierced her hart ■, and therefore right!/, Aii A MARo Mare, a mari Maria. T H E E S S A Y. rh. ® He richeft pieces of Eloquence, andPoetryarc borrowed of the Sea \ be it for deferiptions of fo me notable Piipwrack, or toexpreifetheblufte- ringwinds,whichfurrow the faceofthat liquid Ele- ment, rayfing vp billowes , that dafli and wafh as it were the very face of the H'eauehs, and feemc to plunge the Starres in the furges of the wrathful Nc- niefis dr Thetjs rather^or laftly in expreiEng fome N 4 «- niAchias^ or fea-fights, or that of the Remora, that Caftr of Cafdii in captiuing ro,in a floating Caftle, Caligula the Roman Monark, to the flupour and amazement of the world. Thefe are the vfes Poets maketherof-^ butPhilofophers goe further yet, and tel vs fkanger things of this ftupendious work of Nature , of the Elux andRefluxEherof,and faire correfpondences it hath with the Moon. The fabulous Antiquitie hath reckoned euer the Sirens thofe chanting N imphs, & great enchaptrefles,tobe theHofteflesofthe 5r4;and euen thefagefl: of them in their follies , take it fora grace to their Goddeffe Ver^myto fetch her extradion from the impure flames of the waues.This we know by experience , the fome and froth of the Sea^ being dryed with the ray es of the Sun, conuert to Iponges , & they againe'into pomice-ftones,as light as Venus herfelfit is ordinarily vcyled with vapours, eurtened puer with clpvvds , enwrapped with fogs, andfometimes b^^ryed in Cimerian darkness then oi a fudden it changes th? countenance, and be- comes a cerulean Sea , as various in hew , with as inanie coulours , as the changeable neck of a Doue giues forth with the reflexion of the Sun; yv;hen the former furrowes al of •wrath in 258 PARTHENIIA S A C R A. f be face of this ftern wil tunic to fmiles and daliances with his amorous Tcthis *, the Hakion , the ioy of Marriners wil ftreight appeare vpon the decks of fliips to glad the paffengers, & the Dolphins dace before them with a pleafant glee ; the wateric paue- mciits feeme as fwept thewhilc,to inuitethem like- wife to dance laualtoes with thcjand the gentle Emus and Ziphirm in difpofition totune their pipes for the purpofe. And for Cofmographers we muft be- leeue^vnles with meafuring the world ourfelues, we wil difproue the)they tel vs,the Ocean is that vniuer- fal Choas of waters, which enuirous the land of al u- des : for looke what coafts foeuer they fayle vnto^ they al way es find the Seas to waft the thither which on the eaft is called the Indian Sea : on the Weft the AtUntii kj on the North and the Regions oppofit,th e Tonttek^mdzhe frozen 5^4:and on the South,the Red or Ethto plan ^beyond al which,manie ftriuing to reach to the vtmoft Ihores, haue made vaft nauigations , and hauc fooner found their viduals to fayle them, then ample {paces of immenfe waters vndifeouered. THE DISCOYRSE. S Ehold heer a fingular Symbol of cur Inco- parable Virgin , a vaft and immenfe Sea of Chai if;f jfor fo is ftie pleafed to go fliadowed at this time , nor may it feeme to anie ftrange , fiie ftiould do fo,or we prefumefo to ftile her,fince lo the Blefted cyprM?*’ teannes her, not a Microcofmeonly, as we areal,but euenan ample,c6pleat,and vniiierfal World within hcrfelf , adorned with the Species of al creatures.! reade,fayth he,and vnderftand,that Marie ” is a certain intelligible and admirable w.orld,whofe ’’landis the foliditie of humilitie *, whofe Sea, the lati- 7, tilde of Chanties whofe heauen, the height of Cotem- 7Vlationjwhofe funne,the fpledour of Vnderftandingi 7 whofe moone , the glorie ofPuritiej whofe Lucifer,, The Sea. 1^9 thebrightnes ofSantoie*, whofe cliifter of feauen « ftarreSjthe feauen-fold Grace*, and whofe other ftar- res are the beautiful ornaments of the reft of her ad- mirable yertues. TheHiftories Report, that Helena amog the Grecian Beauties carried the prize awajfj^ that Zeuxis^a moft exquiftt painter , in the Age immediatly following, wouM needs draw her pourtraidt, though he had ne- uerfeen her while file liued:& therefore gathered he togeather al the fayreft damzeis in thofe parts, and whatfoener he found rare and^exccllent in anie , he would exadlly put into his peece , not leaning, til he had finiftied a moft admirable peece of work, deli- neated from them, which euen rauiflied the eyes and harts ofal.So may we fay of our bleffed Ladie, Mo- ther of the eternal King, that fhe was an abftradt of a! theperfedios poirible,dirperfed notonly inthat fex, pr the hpma kind, but euen likewife in the Angelical nature itfelfjand therefore wel might be called a Sea of al perfedios; finpe both her name, in the Hebrew, founds as much as Sea -j'and as the Sea is nothing els, but a certain congregation togeather of at 'Waters., fo is file po le^e an affemblie and congregation of al graces and perfedions to be found elswhere. The Sea indeed hath three properriesjit is the Spring and origin of alfountains,dtisalwayes ful^and is bit- ter and brack ifii in taft. Our Ladie likewife is the Ipringand origin of al graces , from whofe vipginal womb did Iesvs flow, the fountain of this Fountain, the increated Grace , from the plenitude of whofe grace, we al receaue grace , in what meafiire foeuer we become capable of. And as from the fea do flow great quantities of waters which it receaues againe, hot being kept jfo do graces flow fro this Sea of Martc 4n great plcncie *, yet with flowings and ebbings, through pur ingratitnde;^and not making vfe thcroL 2.40 Parth?neia Sacra. But if after our negle£b of her fauours we returne, as we ought, to beg them againe, though w e receaue no effedual benefits by her iirft offers which we re- fufed, yet doth flie dayly offer them againe;with this 1 differece from thofe flowings of the liquid Teas, that 1 they go and come to and fro of courfe,and at certain times with flints^but flie is readie euerie moment to communicate her fauours without limits , fo we wil but open the chanels of our harts to let them in. ! As al Weis, Springs, and Fovmtaincs deriue from the 5^4, the Se/f virtually containes the nature and | qualities of al Well-fprings, current fountaines, and ’ riuers. By which waters arcaptly vnderftood the j three degrees of graces , which through our Ladie : flow into our harts ; to v/it , the Incipient or preuc- | nient grace,inthc flr ft beginnings of our conuerfios; ! the Proficient , by which vve proceed j to vertuous aftions through grace receaued;& the Perfed grace,^ I which is theful confummation theroftand is indeed ' a conftantperfeuerance to the end in al vertues.This Incipient or commencing grace , is fignifyed Ij the ; Wellor (ippng of liumg waters yhcc2.\ifc fprings .^i haue their waters fecret & hidde vnder groiind;they } [ fuddsnly arife, and no man knowes from whence,& fopreuenient grace,is by vs not merited at al , but ^ fprings, and is powred into vs , through a fecret and hidden infpiration of God , no man can tel how , or vvhence,but often comesthrough the interceflion of the Incoparable Motkr of mercie,and the Sea of gra- i ces,,being called the lining Waters, for that by this ; grace , are finners dead infinnes, as viuifyed to lifc^ The Fountain-wat€r,is vnderftood to be grace Pro- i ficiet^wherof is fay d: the Voufttain of the Gardensywhich j gardens of God, are the good Proficients in grace, & y ertuesj in whome are the hearbs & plants of al vcr-. tues. The S e ji; tiicSjinaflourifhingftate^whi.ch yet could notfpring at al,nor grow a whit,niuch kfle feeme to profper & floiirifli , vnles by this fountain they were watered with grace , being a Vountm indeed 'aficnding from the ^ earthyWhich ivaters the vntuerfalfaie therof. By the Riuer- water,which flowes with viblcce,isperfed: grace to bevnderRood, which is hydro flow mth violence^ be- caufe fiich as are repleniriiedther with , are very ear- neft and follicitous in the works of vertue, and pro- ceed with feruourtherin.Lofl4fw/:7wtfc^/orce ofthejpi^ Efech.l fit kadi them^thither wtl thej go with a yiokme and imfetuo- ftcieasitwere. The Sea is al wayes ful,and neuer waftsj^nd fo our ladie was announced by the Angel, to be ful of grace , as truly fhe was a vaft and immenfe Sea of al graces.Of whoni the mellifiuous S. Bernard fayth vpo thofe words of^Aue gratia fkna ; In the mouth truly was she ful ofaffMitkiirt her weinb^ with the grace of the Deitie-, in her hart^ with the grace of charitie j in her hand or Work^ with the grace ofmercie and lihcralitie. So like wife are the waters of the Sea exceeding bitter j and our Virgin Marie W2.S amartm mare , that is a bitter Sf4,fordiuers refpcds.Firft for fprrow,for the lofle of her Sonne in the Temple ; Behold thy father and I haue fought thee with forrow. Then was fiie bitter, meerly of compaiIion,in beholding the Spoufes in the Nuptialsto be abaflied & confounded for want of wine*, ftie hadcompaflion of the lewish nation^ while flie faw them to be repro- bate and forfakenof Gooi Shepittiedthe Afofilesin feing them difperfed in the paffion of her SOnne ,* But efpecially was flie bitterly forie at the pafEonof her Sonne, when the fvvord of forrow trasfixedher hartj and laftly was Ihe bitter for her tedious pilgrimage heer fo longiand therefore would (h^hyiAloiJjowmy I i grimage is froUmt^d ! Vfml, THE Part«eneia Sacra; 2^t THE E M B L E M Ei THE POESIE, O fiotier wof the 'mfanuivorlddifclos% But that God*s Spirit on the Sea reposed: Borne on the waters did impart a heat By injiuenee diuine : afertil feat He made that yajt and barren Ocean* s womhe Twas fruitful when the Holie* Ghoft was come. The facred Virgin was a Sea like this^ But darkjies on the face of the A byjfe^ Vlas neuer on her Soule , that shined bright Trom herfirfi being; for God fayd: Let light Be made: the "Word was in this Sea tomprifd^ When th* Holie-Ghojl the waters fertiliz'd* THE T H fi ' S fe A* THE THEORIES. Ontemplate firftjthatwhcnthe world was firft created,& that the waters were diui- rht ded,as it were , by the Firmament , while Contemn part was put aboue the Firmament andi*^^^”* part beneath , the waters beneath on the earth, were called by the name of Marta^ox Seas *, and the Spirit of G o D , we haue it in Genefts , did imubare fuperAiiuas couer ,as we ray,or ouerfliadow the waters : Which was a work of the firft Creation. So in the work of our Redemption, where the blefted Virgin by name .which figiiifyes the Seas alfo, it plcafcd the Eternal Word , leaning the delicious bofomc of the heauenlie fatim to defeend into this sea^ of human miferiesto take them vponhimjandthe Holie-Ghoft likewife to ouerfliadow her withal. Confider then in the T cmplc of salomoHyth^it as befi- des other riches and ornaments there , as thePropi- tiatorie aboue;the Chcrubins andSeraphins of each fide therof, the golden Candlcftick in the midft , the Altars of Perfumes and of Propitiation , heer and there, with the lamps, the Veyle,the Ark,andthe like in their places , was planted a great veflel of Bralfe, ful of water, at the entrance of the faid Tcple, where the Priefts were to cleanfe themfelues , before they entredto Sacrifice;and this Veflel w^as ca\\e(\,Ma7c aneum, or the hra:^n Sea. So ought the Priefts in our Churches before they enter or approach vnto th$ dreadful Sacrifice of al Sacrifices, the of the Maffe^to recurre to this Mare aneum, our Blefled Ladie^ to procure them a puritie foule,to aflift therat, or approch thervnto. Ponder laftly,that as God, the foueraigne Lord of al things , communica,tes his offices and charges to men according to his moftbolie and E^iuine difpen^ ' fation The Cdl9- 144 iPartheneia ' Sacra, fation,very fuirable and agrcable to eucrie one: as tS Moj/fiii the office ofaLavv-giuertohis people of ifrael; to Jard'thc office of high Prieft;ro Iufue,o£ Captain & Leader of them into the land of promife > and confe- quently gauethem talents accordingly todifeharge the fame very pundually inalthings.So is it likelie, that in choofing his Motherffie vfed the fclf-fame te- nour in his fayre difpofitio therofito within appoin- " ting her fo to be the Starre of the Sea, he ordeyned her no doubt to be the Ladie of the Sea , as her name im- ports. N,o w then as in the Seas , he hath drencht and plunged^as it were^an other world, fince there is no lining creature but hath its like in th^ Sea alfotimpli- dtiuely,he hathlikewife appointed her to be the La- die and Miftris of al the world; For howffiould ffic faue from fhipwrack, if were not Ladie & Miitris of the wanes and winds ? And how ffiould fiie be Ladie ofthe S^^alone,iffhe were not the Ladie likewife of the land?Since fiie who is ftiled the Ladie of the Seas, is the true and natural Mother of him , who is Lord both of and land,and a! the world. THE APOS-TROPHE. O ladie of the Ocean, Starre of the Sea , Sea of graces^ Fountain^ ofltfeySpringoflmingwaters, that flow fro the Libanus ofthe candour ofglotie I Thou great Abyffie of llmpd waters^whofe bottome, none can reach vntoivpheme no^ thing artfethfhut the parefl exhalations of Taradife-yltght clowd, v/uence nothing f dies but deawes and showres of graces, O tminenfe Ocean o/Charitic ^ which bearefi vpal things, and where eafilj nothing finckj) bitter, but in the dolours and paf- ftons ofthj ^onneffmetto the creatures , that Hue of thee, or depend vpvn thcc.o grant, I befeech thee,thatwholy relpngon thee, I perish not, and bynegleding theeandthy feruice^l incurre not thj difgrace , nor fo running on the rockj of thy difpleafur^, 1 fpHtnot Qti them, nor fuffer shtpwrack ^ftny feuU^ THE H E ship is the artificial Dolphin of the jSeas , that much addifted to mufick , is , , ‘neuer fet on a merrier pin , then when the winds whiffel to her dancing. • It is ^ Fa floating Caftle , that hath the gates open indeed , but trufts to her Battlements , which fte hath wel planted with Canons and Sactcs.wher- in flic more confides , then manic doln SacrW Ca- nons; her whole faluation depending vpon them . It is a litle Common-wealth, whofe whole Reafon of State confifts in isalpufics , & 5>ycs, which flic fends R vp 1 24^ PARTtlENfelA SACkA, vp to her turret-tops , todifcouer, if the coafts clear , ftil {landing on her guard , againil the neigh- | hour wanes , that feeke but to fwallow her vp. And i al her care is , to^walke vpright amidll her enemies^ | leafl vnawares they arrefl her , and cite her to ap- | peare at Pluto's Court , for cuerie errour or default I of the leafl fhip-boy* There is noBride requires fo ' much time to drelfe her on her wedding-day , as fhe | to be rigd, whenfoeuer {lie goes to fea. If they haue i their fillets to bred and wreath their haires with,fhe ; hath her tacklings to trim her vpjwhofe ropes are as i manie & as intricate as they; if they haue their vey 1- I es to fpread vpon them^fhe hath her fay les,to hoyfe | vp to go her w ayes .It is the Lion of the feas,that fea- res no Monfters , but is as dreadful hciTelf, as anie i Monllerj hauing as manie mouthes as Gun4ioles5& in euerie mouth a Serpent tongue ^ that fpits & vo* mits fire, & which eucn fpits her teeth too, in the fa- ce of her enemies, which often fincks them vnder water. It isoneoftheprettiefl things in the world, to fee her vnder fayle , how like a Turkiecock flie fir outs it out , as brauing euen the Elements them- felues, both aboue and beneath her , wherof the one fhe ploiighes with her flicing fnare , and braues the Other with her daring look. She is an excellet fwira- "mer , but ho good diuer at al ; which fhe neuecdoth, but fore againfl her wil , and that with fo il fucceffe, as likely file is neuer feen more, The firft that euer v/as feen to our Antipodes,was thought by them to haue had indeed a lining foule with her ; els would the limple people fay , how could fo great abulk , fo eafily wind &: turne it fell euerie foor> & this,beeau- fe they knew but the O are only , and not the Fvudder, ■Whatwouldthey haue laid then, had they knowne | the effeds ofher Card and Compas?doubtles fhe had ; areafonalTe fouIe.-Sbe likely neuer goes without j , The S k A'; *47 iieir Pages with her , to wit > her Long-bbat and her Cockboat , wherof fhe makes fuch vfe now & then,, as without them,flie might ftarue for ought I know. Sheis very ciuih if a Marchant-manr, but when (he is a Man of warre, then Marchants beware, and lookc toyourfeiues. THE MORALS. DE LONGE port a ns pan EM* N the Teple of no gold would ferue his rhe greatcurio{itie,but that of Opfeir .Which the Sou- them Qme of Sa,hA knowing wel perhaps^thought no doubt her prefents would be gratful to him, coming fo fro jparts remote. Who is he that is not take much with verie toyes that come fro which carrie I. know nor how in themfelues, (at lead in our opinio) a kind of lufter with the, greater fatre then othe'rvvife they would. The prefers which the Uagi brought vn- to the Grib , coming from the Eaft were deemed by them Et prefents for aKing,yeafora GoD.And how were lofue & C^hi^theSpyes & Intelligencers of the •people of IfrM extolled & magnify ed at their retur- ne with thofe rarc& admirable booties fetched from Andyet the gold of Ophir was but gold,a yel- low earth-, the prefents made by S 4 i> 4 ,fuch as that Co- untrie afforded'j&thofe toyes,but toyes indeed. Yptheguiftsthe Magt brought, had greater lufter with them from the giuers harts, then fro thefelues; ! & more refpeded for the place to which, the whecc they came. And for thofe forren fruits,they came in- 1 deed fr6theladofpromife,fr6 VaUfim, which was but the figure only of the Heauenlie countrie. But lo,OLir Incoparable Vtrghi like a Ship,moft richly fraighted, hath brought vs Bread fro farre.What bread*, but the true &: liuing bread ? How farre ? As farre as Heauen. ^ But how bread? Bread whofe come was haruefted in ' the Mightie man's rich Boozfield , framed by, the hand of the Maifter Baker himfelf of a moft pure 748 Partheneia Sacra, niea.lc ot flower, to wit, of the immaculate Bloud of the hoiie V irgm herfelf, baked in the Ouen of an ardet Loue, which She hath brought into the world. And therefore is truly fay d: De longe portans panem, THE ESSAY. Can not tel, whether in the world befi- des, be amoreftatelie fight to bchqld, thenaiiEnglifii 5/«/>vnder fay le, riding in the Ocean,& cutting the watrie play- nes with her lharp keel ^ in cafe fhe haue agallat gentle gale in the poop-,for then they feaft it, and make good chear,who are the lining foules abi- ding in this bulk of human art, compiled togeathcr in defpite of Nature,to frame a lining creature more then fhe intended , that neither fhoiild befifhnor fowk,yet Hue in the ayre and water. But if the Seas prouerough,& al the marine Moilers rife vp againfl: her,c6fpiring with the bluftering Spirits of the ayre, to finck her quite,it is a fport tofee,how fhe rides & prances on his crooked back , fporting herfelf the while, and making a meet feoff at al their menaces. There is an infinit number of feiieral forts of thefc artificial creatures in the world , each country al- moft hauing their kinds.There are S/;/pi,Pinaces,Ho- yes,Barkes 5 Ketches,Galleyes, Galeons, Galleafies, Frigots,Brigandines, Carackes, Argofeyes , for the Seas; to fay nothing of Lighters , Bafges,Tiltboats, Xighthorfmen,Oarc3,Canoas,.& Gundeloes, for the Riuers. The shtp do fly andfwimme togeather,with the help of faylesonly;the Galleyes and their like, as Swans do fometimes fly, and fometimes paddle with the oare-They haue maincmafts^croffe fay les,top & top-gallats,they haue ftern, poop, rudder ,ancker,ca- ble,decks,tacklings, gunnes , and gun-holes , where they haue Canon Dcmy-can6,Saker, Culuering;not T H E S H I P. 249 to fpeak of the fmal (hot, as muskcts,har kebufes, & firelocks , and athoufand more. And fo much for the fenfles bodie of this'bulk in it-felf.But then to fpeak ofthefoule, or policie, and ceconomieof this admi^ table artificial creature, or mouing world,it is a bu- fines no leffe.to fet them downe. For as for the Ofii- cers which are fimply necefiarie either in the Admi- ral or Vicc-admitai of a Fleet or Royal Armado at i the feas, there is a General, a Lieutenant General , a Captain, a Pilot, and the Pilot’s mate*, a Maifter, and theMaifter*s matejaMarchant, & aMarchat’smatc-, the Maifter of the Ship-boy es, a Secretarie,a Chirur- gion•,aBoatfwain,aPurferJ)ifpenfers,Cooks,Cano- nier,& his mate,wit h vndergunners,{hip-boyes and marriners without number .The Captain commands abfolutcly in al things ;the chief marchat hath power ouer the marchandi^e and commerce only. They double fo the principal OfEcers,that one may fupply the others want.The Secretarie fets downe the mar- chadize the Ship is fraighted with,& takes accompt of goods vnladed. The Pilot hath no other commad, but in what concerns the nauigation. The Maifter hath comandouer al the Mariners and faylers oYthe ShipjSc of al the prouifions and vi apt exalted as the Flanetree neer thevifaters in the fireets.This Ship then was made of the Cedar Gfvirginitie,in that, the cedar xs odoriferous and incorruptible j there- fore, fignifyes her virginitie, which made her grate- ful and odoriferous to Goo, & kept her flelh imma- culate ^ incorrupted.lt was made o£cypre£e^ which is a wood fo ftrong & folid,as fhrincks & ycalds not with anie burden , being qualities moft apt for fhip- pingrnor would the charitie of the bleffed Virgin per- mit her euer,to ftirinck vnder the weight of tribula- Cam»s. tions. For Loue is firong as death She was made of the Qltue of pietie, which alwayes flouriflieth , & looks greehjin that her pietie neuer fay led any, either in the Spring of dieir youth , in the Autumne of their age, in the Winter of tribulation,or in the heat ofinordi- dinate concupifcences. She was further made of the Mane->tree of humilitiejfor the Haneis a moft ipacious & ample tree; & hiimilitie made the Virgin moft am- ple & illiiftrious ; becaufe thereby (he receaued hinx; into her womb, whom the Heauen of heauens was not able to CQntaine,fince S, Bernard fayth: She f leaded Vi^lth her virginitie, but conceaued through Humilitie, Herftern,is herwiidome& difcretionjher Cares moft facred andhplie affe fuge, according to that of S.BetnMd.lf thou dareftnot approach to the Maieftie of Gop, leaft thou melt as wax before the firejgo to th^Uosher ofMercie ,, Sc fiiew '' her thy wQund^ , ftie for thee wilfliew her breaft ^ paps the Saw to. the Father his fide & wouds. “ "the Bather wil not deny the Sonne requeftingjthe Sonne wil notjdeny the Mother crauing *, the Mother wil not d^ny the finner weeping,My children,why feareyou‘^ to go to MarieiVhe is not auftere,flie is not bitter, but piilke & honie is viidet her togue.This is the Ladder of %^6 Partheneia Sacra, and bonic is vnder ‘her tongue. This is the Ladder 55 of finners, this my great confidence , this the whole „ reafon ofiny hope. And whatmeruel ? For can the >5 Somt repel the Mother ? or be repelled of the Mother? Neither one , nor other. Let not therefore humane frailtie feare to approach vnto her^For flie is wholy 9> fwect,and fweetnes itfelf, THE APOSTROPHE, Thou td and goodlie Arck,^ thou ydiant "Wontafr, ydiant by excellence , more faire then RacheL»;cyr then Heller , more fleafmg then Sara,, more gentle anA generous then ludith , more f met and chafi thenAbi&ig the $Hnmite ^ more officious and frudent then Abigail , more magnanimous then Debora , more illumined then Marie the Sifter of Moy fes. Thou '■ivho bafi found grace before the eyes of Goj> , yi>ork^ with thy payers moft deaf Ladie , O my moft noble Princefle , that 1 may alwayesfind grace before thy Sonne. Thou who through thy Sonne hafi byokjn the head of the Serfent ^ crush likewife through thy holie payers his head ynder thy Seruants feet. Thou Ship of the great God, who from thofe iountries fo farre remote hafi brought to ys the bread o/Para- iik^trut God mflesh:Grant, I befeech tbee,l may be fed with the bread of grace, of life ^andwif dome ; and that receauing the [acted breM of Angels , which is the pecious Bodie of fweet Iesvs thy Sonne y i may euenfuc\. in the fountain itfelf , the moft fweet fleafures , and the moft fleafing^weetneffes of the Viuimtie , and be wholy inebriated with the torrent of Diuine confolations. THg THE CONCrVSiON TO HIS Proper Genivs^ Ow hecr , my Genm , flialt thoii difmifTe thy Redder^ with his Ship ful fraught with the prayfes of the facnd Farthents ; and (hutting vp thyfelf inthis Parthenidn Para- dice, walk in it vp and downe by thyfelf alonCj without eye or ar- biterj to witnes the fecret afpira- tionsofthy hartjwhilc contemplating with thy felf, this great rich Magazin of the trcafures of Nature, enclofedinthisfpaciousand ample Garden of our Sacred Parthenis, thou enter into thy felf a while, gathering the fruits and flowers, at leaft of good de- fires, from the obieds thcmfelues.Nor be a whit dif* Inayd , though they put thee to the blu(h , to be taught thy dutic fo , from irrational and infenflble things j but yeald and fubmit thy hart, to learne of each creature,how toferuethe common Crutcur of vs al. And as thou walkcft vp and downe , taking a view of thofe curious knots of eucr-flourilhing and green hearbsjfay this vnto thyfelfWhen (hal I order and compofe my greener and inordinat aflFed:ions,in fo fairc and gopdlie a decorum , and fo fweet propor- tion? Walking in the Ally es, fay: Lord , condudme by the ftreight and readie way *, and (liew me thy kingdome.Noting the neatnes ofthofe walkcs, how trim and fmooth they are,fay :When (hal it be,I be fo curious, to purge and take away the impurities from my hart? The great diuerfitie pf flowers, wil prefenc to thee. Parthbneia Sacra. to theCjtlie great muttipticitie and weUnigli infinitie of thy thoughts,as various as numerous, & al as tra- fitorie as they .If thoufeeft a fwarrne of Emots at thy feet 3 charged and loaden al with graynes of come, and carryingthem with toy I’e, vnt6 their litle Gray- neries , one groaning with his load , another new ly difcharged therof, moft lightly and nimbly running for another , fay vnto thyfeif : Oh flothful wretch^ looke on thefe people heer , how they labour to inay ntaine that paltrie litle carkas of theirs ,.of fmal Continuance ; and thou to may ntaine thy foule , in good eftate/o created for Eternitie,art fo litle labo- rious, and induftrious.When thoubeholdft the trees, fill loaden wdth their fruits , fo faine to be fliored vp beneath*, remember the menace of fire ,the Sauiour made againft the barren tree. When thou feeft the plants, to be watered fo, againft the fcor ching of the Sun , thinke and fay inwardly in thyfelf r When fhal we with our teares appeafe the auenging Wrath of theDiuine luftiee ? The faire and beautiful Panfyes, but without al fent or odour, wil tel thee , of the vn- profitable agitations of thy foule ^ the Tyme, the bitternesof difpleafures v the Poppie, that lullesthe foule a-fieep , wil admonifii thee of the fweet exta- fies and rauilhinents of heauenlie Contemplation, thounegle&ft fo muchjthe Rubarb,or hearb called Patience, wil put thee in mind of that Vertue,which giues it the name 5 the Balme, of a good and faire reputation.Noriday thou heer, but runne to refalute the proper and peculiar Familie likewife the ge- nuine symbols or the sabred Purrhanas y fo mentioned aboue*, and note the documents they wil yeald thee, for thine owne behoof*, and then take thy leaue of al, The wil teach thee to keep thy vertues TThe COKctvsio^r* 25^ V^Jrtucs clofe , if thou haft anie *, and not very eafily to loofe their odour 5 through a voluntaric publi- ihing the fame to others. Saluting the Ro/e, enuiro- ned with thorns^ think , there is no contentment to be found^without difpleafures. Beholding the Lillie among bryars , imagin Chaftitie is fo conferued amidaufterities.x The Violet wil figure theca low and-humbie efteeme ofthyfelf ; which yet is a fra- grant and delicious flower. The Helwtrvf ion , which hath alwayes its look to the Sun-wards , and foU lowes it by day , and clofes vp agayne with the night , wil put thee in conceipt of the true Sun of luftice indeed thou oiightft to follow , and flioiild bethe whole obied: of thy foule. The Deaw^ that failes from Heauen^ wil remember thee of the heaiienlie graces , that were flied anddiftilled from Heauen, by the coming oftheHo/if-G/j(;/f in forme of iierie tongues. Thebufie andinduftrious which bounds and rebounds fo aloft, in the ayre as fhe flyes ^ wil cal to thy mind , thofe words of thy great Maifter : and negotiate TS>hiU time Ujis. The Beauens ^ wil attrad rhy thoughts , to heauenlie things *, the Rainbow, mouethee to pardon iniu- ries,and immediatly to reconcile thee , to thine enemies. The Moon wil tax thee of inconftancie, like to hers*, the starre^ rayfe vp thy thoughts to a yertuous emulation , to become a Starre indeed, in the heauenlie Hierarchie , as it is fo fixed in the celeftial Firmament. I he Oliue wil warne thee , to be alwayes green in thy good purpofes , and fruitful in good works. The ^ightingal , wil let thee heare a tafte or rclifli ,as it were , of the heauenlie Qiucrs , and facred Alleluya's , fung by the Angels in Heau(:n. ih-e Palme, 260 t^ARTHENEIA S A C R A. Talffte, wil ftirre thee to Martyrdomevat leaft,to fori . titude in difficult atchieuementSi The Hoa/e^ wil cal the heauenlie manfions and Tabernacles into thy thoughts, which are permanent for euer.The Hfw,wil caufe thee to fly ^ to the heauenlie protedion. The Tearl , wil iniiite thee to fel al thou haft , to piirchafc that ofthe Heauenlie KingdomCiThe Doue^ wil retire thee, and draw thee into folitiide. The Vountain , wil allure thee,to drinck of the waters, which the Samur mehtionedjthat fpring to eternal life*The Mounts wil cal thee to a higher degree of perfedion i the Sea^vc^ prefent to thee an Ocean of grace , to launch forth thy Soule, as a wel-rigd ship^ into that May ne , to ar- riue at laft into theHauen of Eternal Happines ; and that efpecially through the fteering of our Saend Tarthms^ Cut Lm & gUm in fmU, Am$n. THE EPILbGVE TO THE Parthenians IMSiGentk Farthenians^yovL haue viewed, refledcd 5 reviewed , furucyed , paiifed on 5 and contemplated the Mjjlenous and delk'ms Garden of our Samd Par- T H E N E s j and after al implored and im- portuned your foueraigne Ladie-Mtflru , and mine, vnderfomanie apt and rich Symbols. So gracioufly Ihe hath daigned , to condefcend , for our pleafurc and deuotion,as it were,to deliciate with vs in thefe irrational specks of things , made al but to expreflc (you would think) her pray fes 5 and al the peculiar Denotes of hers , cur deare Companions, in her fer- uice. Where you muft note , that thefe are but they only, which wayte and attend vpon her, in her Gar- den-, and that fhe hath infinit other Clients and Denotes befides, in created things, as forward al, to offer vp thernfelues , in her feruice-, I meane , in this Symbolical Theologie , to giue forth Elogies, En- comiurnSjEnd Panegyric ks, to her facred pray fe. For teftimonie wherof, you might obferue,the G arden being (hut vp, two noble creatures like wife, though rob late , to be admitted with the reft , to come in with their Deuifes and Emblemes , to exprelfe no leffe in herhonour, then the reft had done. But the Gar den , as I fayd , was fliut already , nor would Our leafurc afford vs more, then to receaue their Ef- cuchions only , & to hang them thus on the Poftern, asyoufcct ^ S THE * the PHOENIX THE DEVISE. NeCSIMXXIS visa, NEC secvndaI rite MoU9^ CMe holds not wo lifanders , the ancient Prpuerb faythj nor theHeauens two Suns, fay I ; which neuer appeare in fhewonly without a Prodigie. Hercules had thought , he had feta fpel to the world ,, whenhefet vp his Pillar fo ill the then vtmoft Spanifh Gaies ^ and calied it his Now flm vltra. But alas! Since that-, hath a new wholeworldbeendifcouered, far beyond it. One Painter with his art deccaued the birds , with a bunch M ORAL S. The PiiENixJ \>mch of grapes , and he thought verily he had done a great peece of matter v when comes me another ftreight 5 and with his art likewife,deludes the verie Painter himfelf in his owfie art. One drawes me a line^which he held to be indiiriEble comes me ano- ther with a lighter touch 5^ and cuts that lineafundcar with another line. It is often feen , the Scholler goes beyond the Maifter.Pl^fo excelled his Maifter, Arijh’* tie Ms ^ and fo hahe infinit others j the reafon . yealds that Rcuered Father s&mlmd in his Spiritual Poemst ■' ■ D-emfe ofman^w wofkj^ghath'm '‘W'kai thought mn tlhnk^Amtluf thought edit mend^ ’ feoOjWhcn he framed the world , might as wel hauc built mank more , and happeiy a fetond better then the fo a.third.and fo a fourth, becaufe al are in ^hecompas ofhisOmnipoteneicjbut fo can not ma do in his works/or ftil there wil be found an vrmoft tearme, beyond the which he can not paffe •, becauic feels finitt The Giants in their big conceipts , had framed in their imagination a Stayre-cafe vp to Hea- uen, by fettiiig Mm vpon Ojfas bask ^but when they had brought it to a certain pitch , they could rearc their building' no whit higher, but downe comes of* fa much Iboiier then he got vp-^and alwas but a Gaf- tk in the ayre, which hangs there ftil , the founda- tion being ftirunck away. Such arc the works of Mortals-, and fo are they limited in al they do. God only is he ^ who is boundles inal. Yet when he fra- med the Incomparable Virgin Mrfrie, and chofe her to be his Mother , he made her fo incomparable a Pbatjix^ ihbt only to al, that eiier were , or ftial be,but euen to fuch, as he intended or was able to frame (ince being not able to be greater then he is himfelf , he could not make her to be a greater Motlwthen flic is, ^making her his owiie Mother ;& therefore wel may befayd: Nec simieis visa nbc shcynda. Si THH 164 Parthbneia Sacr/.< THE CHARACTER.- HE Vhenix is the Cf/4r of birds, and folc Di^atour amongft them , which ad-' mits no Pompejf in his kind: & therefore Nature hath framed but one at once, to take away the caufe of ciuil iarrcs. He is the miracle of Nature ^ and a prime maifter- peece of her workmanfhip; wherin ftie feemes,con- trarie to her cuftome , to fhew fome art. He is eucii the honour of Arabia lelix, or the felicitie of that Re- gion^the of-fpring of the Sun , that might wel hau45 been his father, if either two Suns had been poflible, or two Phenixes at once. He is a Treafurer , or rather an Vfurer of fpices , with the intereft of liis life. He is the Heyre apparant to himfelf , and feares no other^s clayme to that nature *, bred of afhes, and,as we al,to afhes muft returne againe ; and yet immor- tal, while h^dyes not,butrenevves rather, and not as the Hawke,which mewes his feathers only, but him- fclf.TheTombishis cradle , the Fire his midwif, himfelf the Damme, the Sim his Sire .There being but one at once, they are framed without a pattern , and yetfolike , as they are taken for the fame. He can fpeakemuch of others AncefterSjbut nothing of his owne. He is the Alpha andOw^^Aof his kind , the fir ft and iaft, becaufe alwayes the fame, Being folitarie^ he is apt to fcruplcs, but puts them oner through the innocencieofhislife j for though by nature he^be a Prince, yet dares henot fay We , becaufe there is no more then he, Ifhefteale, they are but fpices, wher- of he makes no confcience, becaufe for his Altar GfHolocaiifts j nor hath anieCafuift with him , to : put that fcrupule into bis head* And being fo accef- farie * T H 5 Phoenix,. farie to his ownc death , he makes as litlc fcruplc of that airo,as done through the iiifpiration of Nature, as he calles it , to maintaine his Houfe , and to rayfe his feed. Were he not wel knowne otherwife to the Arabians^to beabird,by maniefaire demonftrations, it had been a wonder , that people had not chofen him for a God. But God , it feemes, would npt per- mit it , as a fpecial fauour to this fingular a/id mira- culous Bird.Like the Camelion,he Hues the ayrej and no maruel , the fpirit of birds {hplild Hue of its proper Element, the ayrebeingth^lemet of birds, as the waters pfthe fiih. The Firelie makes his Pur- gatorie in this world i and that fo efficacioufly, as he becomes renewed to an other life, or like the Snake, which changing his coat only, is ftU the fame , but yet more frefh. Whereby obferuing the precept , he fats off the old mm , to betakj himfilf to a new bmg , in newnes of life. ^holi, bow Death Ajmes with his mortal dart^. And wounds a ^hantx with a twm-likj haru Thefe are the harts u/Iefus andhis Mother So linkt in one, that one without the other Is not entire. They {[me] each ethers [mart Idne, though two,yet as one hart. One Virgin-Mother, ojher kjnd, ^ind we her Sonne without a father find. The Sonne’s and Mothers fames in oneare mixt^ Bis fide, 4 Launcejoer foule a SWord transfixr. Two harts in one, one Fhenix loue contriues: One wm^ reuiues. THE 4 Eiftotle fayth, that harmonic and Mu^ fick, is a wbrthie, great , and Diuinc thing, whofc bpdie is compofed of parts difcordant in th^felues , & yet accordant one with the othcr;which entring into the bodie by the eare withiknovv not what Diuinitie as it wcre,rauilheth the fpule. The World therefore is much obliged ta the firft Inuentoiir of Mufick , being the fvveet char- inepfalthc annoyesofourpittifulmortalitie. For cuenthey> whp are plunged in the abylTe ofal euils, at the leift touch of fvveet Mufick,do cuenfwim , 6c S bij vault Partheneia SacraJ vault like Dolphins (as Poets fay) at the feet of that Minftrel Orion. What grief or trouble is fo great, that reuiues not, w hen a gentle T reble mounts vp to heauen , and there foaring and houering aloft,as on the wing , comes like a Falcon at laft to feize vpon the Bafe , as a prey,eueu to the lolfe of breath & fen- fe of hearing ? or when the Bafe after a long purfuit oftheTreble, and not able to reach it as it woiild,as in a rage in defpite withitfelf, feemes to precipitate and plunge itfelf euen to the Center of the earth? Who would not wonder, to fee the gentle Orphetu ha- ue fuch power vpon fauage beads, to make them to forget their prey and chafe, to feed and fatten them- fellies with fuch mincing diuifi6s,& by the earefeed on thofeDiuine viands ? who , when he made his Harp to fpeak, and his fingers to runne fo faft , mar-, tying his Angelical voyce to the miracle of his Itrings , he made euen the people of the Seas to caft foemfelues infiioles vponthe Strond , to liften to him j and the Sirens to come forth and dance Vpon the green banc k-fide, aldiaperd with flowers; the Ecaresand Lions to quit the Forrefts , running in troupes to lye at the feet of their fweet Tyrant. But away wdththefe fables now , and caff we our eyes & cares vpon that DiuineHarp,fallen from Heauen to the earth , into the hands of Dautd , who caufing his drings to fpeake and chant forth his Heauenlie and Diuine Pfalmes , fo did exorcife and difpel thePiuel from his Hold.This Mufick therefore is an eflay,as it were, and tafl: ofParadife itfelfwhile in Heauen they feeme to do nothing but fi ng the greatnes & marucis of Gopjin two Qmers,ofthe Angels of the one fide, of.the blefledSaints of the other. But then , what jnufick made the white delightful Syr2,fittingon the Bancks t' M E S w A ij, i6g Bancks , hot of Vo , Meander , or Vurtdanus , but On the brinck of Death? Not of Coettus^Sux, pr fieric Vltgtton^ but of the playnes of that is^by the fhores of Paradice; when, like the , feeling her piireft bloud to tickle her hart for ioy of her approaching paffage out ofthis world, we may piouily coniedure {he tuned forth herDiuine Cant'ule anew for a Farwe! to the world and a laft Adieu ; and therefore wor- thily^ is. fay d : Ad vada concinens Elizei, THE CHARACTER., He fweet delightful Smn is that deli- The cious Siren of the Brook j the lining Ghoft,that walks and hants thofe humid playnes^as if confined to her llifcHm there. She is much taken with the pleafant banck of the -Continent,and fpends much time therin, but yetwif not truft it with her houfhold , nor there be brouglit to bedjbut rather hires fomelland for the purpofci&: the rent llie payes, is fome part of her children. She likes to haue her walks and gardens there , for her delights -jbut her maafion-hoiife, for more fecuritie, wil ihe haue wel gyrt with an ample and fpacious Moat. It is fl:rangetofee,how folitarie flie liuesjand yet otherwire,you would think her , though {he fee- nies highly to affed that life , made for Citties and the Court •, her clothing al , fane her Spanilh- leather buskins, from top to toe, of the richclh Mineuers *, her gate , ftatelie and Maicftical ; her garb and fafliion , graue , yet not affeded , or fprung from an ouer-weening of herfelf. She rather pitties tht compaiue ot men and their good fellow- 170 Partheneia Sa^ra. feMowftiips, asfeaftings, bancketings^and paftirdes^ then hates them for it,and fo negleds them rather^; with a demiffe eye^then with a brow contraded,or a loo k more Cinickjto appcareDfogefrcSyOr ter of men,rather thenthe deboifliments of their ma~ ners; As fne is folitarie and melancholie by nature,^ lhe'is%ery Mufical , aslikel)^ are al fuch ; but chiefly^ doats ihe on th^ wind-inftruments, and is neuer feen without her Howboy \ wherewith , when ftie liftj wil fhe enchant the vcrie Sirens themfelues with the melodie fhd makes ; but then efpeeially, when fee- ling the shinies of her paffage out of this world to’ found within her,as aprefage of her death to others^ fbe wil ring forth fuch a peale ofHeliciouS and chro- matic k ftraines mixt togeather , as wouldmouede- iiotion in the hearers rather, then compaiEon , while they wil iudge ftreight fhehad a pure foule of' her owne. She is a tight Hermitelle *, and hatlrher fallets proper to herfelf alone > and as fne loues them wel, file wil feed of no man*s picking, but her owne; Other whiles llie Hues in ftate,and keeps her kitchiuji as the manner is in fonie places ^ in the Cellars , and lower roomes ; which by reafon of the moy ftnes of thofe places, are alwayes vnder waters, but fiie likes them neuer the worfe for that but rather fo much the better; forfoflie feeds On her fallets veryfrefh,’ but new-gathered. She is further much delighted, to take her pkafure on the waters , for her meer dff- port and recreation;andwilhaue no other boat,then her owne Barge, nor other oaresthenher owne ; and being fo gooda Swimmer, makes a paftime of it, to tiither boat quite ouer head and ear es. She is very hale , and hath along breath , and wil keep her head vnder water, longer then any Moor fnal doe, that • hunts for pearls. W He K milde Vduoniui hmthes^ix^Uhwarllingtkost The milk^w^ite Sivdn chants mth a fweetet notti ^ut fweeterjet her Mufick, farre excels^ V/hen death affroches^ which her tune tels» So th* hoik Spirit breathing from aboue Vpen the Virgin ^ ray s^dwtthwings ofloue^ Her heauenlie Mufe vnto a higher jhaine in her melodious Sonnet, But againe, When gentle death drew neafe^ she high ajpires * To tune an Ant kerne with the Angels Qmres. Thj Cygnets ( mother Swan ) on thee/elye-y O makethemwhitej that they may fingingdye-, F I N I S.