The Argument.
The Bruce dispersed host their Lord doeth know
Who to Kintyre reteirs and their doeth sie
An aged Syre that vnto him doeth show
The heauenlie constullations curiouslie
And his blesd race and princelie stemm doeth draw
From these rair purtrates in the heauens that be
He showes eche Prince and doeth the lyne aduance
To that fair matchles Douager of France.
Soft now my Muse and do not sore to hye
Waed not in curious questiones too deep
Let thy pure ground be trueth and veritie
And learne the cheefest pointe's & heads to keep
Altho thou somtyme wantonize awry
To recreat thy self yet softlie creep
So neir the treuth as none may heare nor se
To taint the chastest eare nor sharpest eye.
The chyld doeth learne his lessone euerie day
Yet play doeth oftin recreat his Sprite
play sharpes th ingyne makes pregnant witt's they say
After long studie honest mirth is meet
The purest trueth doeth harshslie rune away
But sau'cd with Parnass streames it sounds more sweet
The strength es stomak waek and wanting power
With sugar sweet accepts a portion sover.
Whill Bruce and Douglas sleepes and dreames of toyes
That in their moystned braine impression makes
Evne as the Day comes in they heare a noyes
A noyes that suddanelye them both awakes
Yet makes them both therafter to reioyse
And greif's sad vale from their sharp eyes it shaekes
For heaune blissd Bruce was so with patience cround
Adversitie his mynd could neuer wound.
Altho he gravelie did vnfold his ill
Vnto the valiant Count his woes bewaeling
Yet with a constant minde he actes them still
His cheerfull lookes and words so muche prevailling
As in their heartes all thought of feare did kill
And winnes their love their curage still appealling
Who were his followers in eche wofull fight
And could no danger feare if in his sight.
Which made them all way vp and doun to rainge
Throw desarts Montains plains and Forrests hore
Bewailling their hard lots and fortuns strainge
Their want of food, but want of him much more
They did lament: and in this wofull chainge
They sweare to venge his death or die theirfore
For sure they thoght he by mishap did stray
Amongst his foes when night did parte the fray
Now were they come neir to the grove wheir ho
And Douglas slumberd soundlie in a dreme
Who both awaekt rush'd furt he and streight they sie
An armed man the King knew weill his name
whome when he cald the rest did quicklie flie
Furth through the groves; some feares, and some thinkes shame
Yet loue and ioie recald them all at last
Before his feit them selfes they humblie cast.
So haue I fiene a moore-hen in the spring
Missing her tender Brood throw desearts straying
She in her throat some chirping nots doth sing
Which when they heare with naturall loue repaying
Her kyndlie cair in haist them selfs they bring
And floks about her all her will obeying
She seims right glad to sie her yung ones so
Scap'd from the Daunger of their rawning foe
When he vnlac'd his burnishd helme of gold
His milde, Sueit, manlie countenance they knew
Vertue and Grace diuyne they might behold
Like Phebus beams from his fair looks t'ensew
As Phebus draw's the dew vp from the mold
His eies their hearts so from their bosoms drew
Before him still vpone their kneis they fall
To gratious hea'uens they render thankes for all
He thankes them for their faith their trueth their love
And to eche man did seuerall favores sho
Soone after they from thence did all remove
And westward to Dumberton glaedlie go
From thence great Neptunes freindship wold they prove
And th'Oceans watrie force they neids wold kno
Shipd for Kyntire fleing the wind before
Ere morrow nixt they saiflie came to shore.
The king his men in throgh the cuntrie sent
With them the Errl of lennox for their Lord
An vther way he with the Douglas went
To sie what fauour fortuon wold affoord
They trawelling allong with this Intent
At last their way them to a wod restord
Wheir half a myill at most they had not riddin
When both to ryd one way were thus forbiddin.
Two vglie monstruos wolfs they might espy
Had kild a harte and on the same was feiding
Eche choosd a wolf his hors swift Paise to try
For Boare-spears serud their launce in this proceeding
Eche wolf his follower leads a sundrie way
Their eger chase and ther persuit deriding
What fortun hevins for Douglas had apointed
We'll after show, now to the Lords anointed
I mean the Bruce that brave and valiant Prince
Who with an egger mind perseu'd the chace
The wolf had left the wood and for defence
Vnto a mighte Rock he rins a pace
Breathles he seimd so slowlie runing thence
As made the Prince hope weill to winne the race
He quyts his horse rins vp the Rock in haiste
But soone he loste the sight of whome he chaist
His trevell lost he wold returne o're night
Yet anye where to ryid he doeth not knoe
The Rock he seis of such a wondrous hight
As all the countrey round about would show
Vp then he goes to view so fair a sight
Whill he ascends the sone discendet low
But e're he could vnto the top attaine
Night spreds her painted vaile o're all the plaine.
In heavns heighe court the lampes all lighted shynes
Which him constraind to searche some place of rest
The montaines top was deckt with oakes and pynes
Where nature hade a garden rairlie drest
With fontanes walkes and groves without ingynes
Of arte: yet seemd of artes best skill poseest
But sad it seemd to Nightes sad shad inclyning
Showne to the Prince by Phæbes feble shyning.
At last arryving by a fontane syid
Beneath a leavie aged oak he lyes
A heartie draught of the cold streame he tryed
Which for a daintie maill did him suffice
And now his cogitation deeplie weyghed
Earthes glorie vane and wordlie fantasies
Compairing all beneath heavns syluer boures.
To cloudes of smook to shaddowes dreames or flowres
Thus rap'd with admiration whill he lyes
He vewes the starres and all the heavenlie lightes
When as he heares a sound pas throughe the skyes
Lyik to the noyes of floodes impetuous flightes
Or as when fearfull doues in numbers fleis
Aer and their winges with noyes them selfes affrightes
Suche was this noyes yet nothing he perceaves
Nor was there wind to move the trembling leaves.
A dark gray clowde past furthe o're all the air
But nightes pale Qveene cleird all the heavns at last
When to him did an old grave man repair
Whoes head and beard had youthes freshe cullor past
A cristall glob his trembling hand vpbeare
Where heavne o're earth did move from east to west
Their starres and planets shynd most bright and cleir
Which by a sprit was mov'd as might appeare.
A Spherik glob within hung lyk a ball
That figurd rairhe furth the earth and sea
Which round about was frie from heavns cleir wall
Whose restles course round o're this glob did flie
The glassie sea now calme then seemd to swell
Where wind-tost shipes with tydes and tempests be
Whill Neptunes azurd armes the earth embraceth
That cirquits yles and shore from shore vnlaceth.
Thus with a curious Pinsell th'earth was drawne
Heir meidds, their floodes, heir wodes their motanes were
Heir tounes, their towres, with flowrie gardenes showen
Heir vines, their figges, pomgranates Cydrons fair
Heir plowemen teill, their heards and flokes ar knowne
Heir Bowres doeth proyne their vines with wodrowes care
Their sicklee cutts the corne heir sythes the Hay
Heir peace, their warrelyke armeis in array.
Vnto the Prince this aged Syre drew neir
Whill chast Diana shynd more fair and bright
Cled in a horye mantle white and cleir
He seemd devote in prayers to spend the night
Leane flesh'd, his wattrie blood sweld vaines appeir
His ghostlie lookes still offerd death his right
Whoe pausing long with stedfast staering eyes
This salutation did at last devyse.
Peace be to thee my Lord and Prince sayd he
Whom great and mightie Ioue has hither sent
That thow might kno his mercies great by me
And of thy bad and by past life repent
The shame the foyle the losse that falles to thee
Is Ioues iust doome because thow gave consent.
Vnto thy will wrathe vengeance and defyld
His sacred house with sinfull blood so vyld.
Thy Nationes foyle their wrak and their distres
Thy countreis shame her woe her desolation
Thy subiects lose in care all confortles
Whom mightie Ioue has hade in detestation
For their great sinnes their faultes their cairlesnes
Of his soule feidding word ô wicked Nation
That still with folie blindnes pride abuse
Did sacred thinges apply to sinnefull vse.
Their filthie life their lewd lasciuious lust
Their walloweing in sensuall delight
Threattens a dreadfull storme e're long that must
Swellow them vp in their owne sinnes dispight
But leave we them and their affliction iust
And now behold this day succeding night
These burning balles to thee and thyne shall prove
Heavns for sight wisdome mercie grace and love
This counterfite of those bright orbs behold
The earth and sea but heavns of greatest wounder
Whose restles course about the poles is rold
With contrare motiones their first mobill vnder
The firmament with fixed starres vntold
Whoes various shapes and rare effects we pondre
Lynes tropickes circles Zones and Zodiack
Wherin Sol doeth the yeirs four seasones make
Almightie Joue whoe made heavns wondrous frame
Has made manes witt so rairlie excellent
That he can vivelie counterfite the same
And his great makers worke can represent;
With heavnlie furie: rap'd with sacred flamme
Of artles artes invention, noght content
Of his all working wonders heir below
But e'vne the heaunlie mansiones heir must show.
Lo where the Planets eche his sphere within
Keeps time and course with heavnes trew planets all
Forcd by their Primomobill for to rinn
In twice twelf houres about this earthlyk ball
And their owne course they end and they beginne
With heauns bright lampes for thus they rise and fall
Chast Phebes course iust in a month goes right
Now poore then wealthie of her Brothers light.
Mercure and Venus follows Phebus Teame
His tender wings her dows on him depend
Whose lead of light and life-reuiuing beame
Abowt a yeer his nat'rall course doth end
And Mars in twice twelf months resums his game
Saturns mild Sone in twelf twelf months rescend
Cold horie Saturns leaden coach that rins
In threttie years leau's aff wher he begins.
All these heavns azure cannabie surrounds
Sprinkled with eies spekled with tapers bright
Spangled with spangs throw all his boundles Bounds
Sowin all with glistring sparks of glansing light
Sett with gilt stoods and golden skowchand grounds
Powdred with twinkling starrs whoes kapring flight
Glanseth doun right and with their myld aspects
Works in th'inferior bodeis strainge effects.
Those sparkling Diamonds this ritche vaill contains
Whoes number numberles ar past account
Hath twalf that biasway's ouerthwart her lains
With pourfull virtue decks her glorious front
And those ar signes wheirin the Planets reignes
Whill they discend or rise or fall or mount
For they pertake in their swift revolution
From echo of those strenth, virture, force & motion:
Beside all those about the Polls yow sie
Figurs of what almost in earth is found
For the all-knawing-minde of maiestie
Before he fram'd this ritche embrowdred round
The plot in his Idea seemd to be
And forme of all his future works profound
Thus wirking in his spreit divin'lie rare
Long ere the world was made the world was their,
Vnfolding then that ritche and glorious Tent
He portrayd with a Pinsell most divine
Vpon the all enlightning firmament
Those tabfs of his future works in fine
Wheir lo behold thy braue most brave discent
That Sollie in the letter aige sall shine
Bearing Christs standerd and his Churche defending
Bounding their Empire with the worlds ending.
Eathniks not knowing God al provident
Haue names of eathniks to these forms assign'd
But lett it thee suffice and be content
That I heirin vnfold what Iove design'd
By these bright Portraits portreyd in the Tent
Of azur gilded heavins Pavilion sign'd
By his owne hand, and for him self their mark-it
For ew'r Immortaleisd for heavin Imbark-it.
Greate Architector of this wondrous frame
Raise vp my Spreit to thy celestiall Throne
Let my poore soule contemplat in the flame
Of thy all dazling beautie wheir allone
Thy glorious beams reflecting may ou'r quhelme
My waikned sight and more then Sun-like shone
On my poore soules all darkned Cinthi'as eyes
Mak her to earth ecclipst, cleir toward skyes,
Wheir with the Prophets face began to Shine
Hee suddanlie with Sacred furie glows
His Soule cleiv's throw the ten fold orbs in fine
And from sole Maiesteis bright Glorie drow's
Her all celestial Sacred food divine
A Sun like brightnes on his forehead grow's
A schining luster from his eies furth sent
A firie glance of goldlyke Blandishment.
First thow, said hee, the Rampand Lion tyis
Wha wandering from his Den goes farre a stray
Intrap'd in snaires and foraigne subtilteis
Whoe erst subdew'd all prays becums a pray
To craftie subtill Foes yet doth arise
With glorious Triumph to their greate decay
And hee whoe scornd a strainger sould command
Now yeelds his Neck to thy victorious hand.
Heir saillis the Schip wheirin thy young Sone sitts
Slyceing the vaus of Azur trembling plains
And wafts into a forren land that fitts
For greennish youth (wheir all delight Remains)
Whill heir sterne warrs remorsles furie fretts
And tears oure Bowells a shunder, strip's oure vains
Yet this blist bark oure Jason brings from Greece
And of sweit Peace brings home the Golden Fleece
But lo heir cums the loftie coach-man doune
That after him draw's furth suche lamps of light
Such Jems such Pearels and Jewells for the crune
Such Ornaments such onlie rare delight
That Sun like schyns with evir blest renowne
And all from Po to Gangis feiris their might
Yea and him self his chairge so weil discharges
Earths sole Impire Joue for his Seed enlarges.
Then cums that holie Prince Graue wife and old
That for his children murning still laments
Whoes spotles life heirby the Swans foretold
His thoghts and looks the Eagill still presents
For lo his Eies bent vpwards still behold
Fixt on his Phebus the one trine Essence
Hee for his children plains to Ioue abowe
Whoe shall regaird his looks his life his love.
Heir cums that Prince of wrongfull Boundage frie
Who that myld Uirgin iustice did releace
From that wild Monster raiging Tirannie
And sett her frie to all his happie race
Hee rewels the land with laues and equitie
In Whoes blist regne flous knawlege welth and Grace
Of Iustice in his hand hee holds the heid
Whois splender striks all malefactors deid
Heir mouted doth that valiant Prince advance
Whoes heavin-wrocht lance his enemies ov'r throuis
In whome shal schine pure virtues radiance
Rais'd vp on hie by Ioue gainst all his foes
The ravening wolf hee foilles with Temperance
And the trew Path to treew Religion shois
Moueing his subiects hearts their minds and all
Greate Ioue to feare and on his name to call.
Now in thy time quod he shall heir arriue
A worthie knight that from his natiue land
Shall flie becaus he brauelie shall deprive
In glorius fight a knight that shall with stand
Thy Praises deu whill he doth thee descriue
Yea ewin this knight shall with victorious hand
Come heir whoes name his Seid shill eternize
And still they virteus line shall sympathize
From this great man shall one far greater spring
Whom fortune fair and fate shall stil attend
Bellona fearce and Venus myld shall bring
Laurells from Mars but to greate loue shill send
A Garland ritche sprung from this worthie King
Whose royall Stem vnto the endles end
Of his greate line their Tempels sall adorne
With neuer setting ever rysing morne.
For lo the Daughter of this worthie Prince
Sall wed this knight this Lord of heigh renowne
Whose hight whose greatnes and whose excellence
Whose Schulders seims ane Atlas to the crowne
Of him shall come that mightie Lord whoe thence
Shall go and proud rebellious Danes beat doun
He to obey his Princes great commaud
Shall tak this bold and wightie chairge in hand.
An Armie and a Nauie he shall bring
ou're thetis glassie montans groundles Deip
Vnder his wings that disin throned King
Shall go: whose crowne rebellious Danes still keip
Ou're all these northern worlds his name sall ring
Terror in Eurie Ear: whill he doeth steip
His sword in their most valiant Princes blood
Whose might his all-commanding will gane stood.
And to his wounted height that King shall raise
And Inthroneize him in dispight of foes
With fame with glorie and with endles praise
He shall returne vnto his land but lose
When he hath spent in honors height his dayes
Fauord by heau'ne fred from vntimlie Woes
Of him discending shal a Greater ryise
And lift his Glorie farr aboue the Skyis.
He shall this land Gouerne Protect defend
From forangne force from home-bred Ciuill broille
And the Emperiall swey shall swetlie bend
Whill the right heyre is Yung in these great toille
Eune the most christian king sall seu in end
For his greate freindschip and his favor whills
To Dignitie aloft he shall him rear
Thus sall his greatnes schyn both heir and their.
Nor yet this Prince allone shall be the last
That shall surmount his Predicessors farr
But this great famelie shall spred so fast
As England shall in'uy that such a Starr
Schot from their sphere hath their cleir lichts surpast
And like a comet blazing blood and warr
Streams furth their beams that eche wheir purge from error
And warmis their freinds but burns their foes with terror
This famous line shall floorish more and more
Greate Columns faire rare Pillars of the crowne
Ritche ornaments that shall the land decore
Sune-glistring-lights with euer blisd renowne
Heaune blazing lamps whoes flame from virtues store
Brings oill wheirin they hell-bred Hydras drowne
But leave we them, and of thy royall race,
Show heavins-rare blessings, greatnes, hight, & grace.
Then comes that Serpent berar furth in view
In base borne venamous blood to much delighted
Our all the land their poysoned goir they spew
And all his weill borne subiects much affrighted
Wheirof greate harme greate vengance doth ensew
For those foull Beasts of eche so much dispighted
Shall be the caus of this greate Princes fall
Their Poison so infects heart minde and all:
And Archer like the nixt doth martche on foot
Amidst his armie rashlie to persew
His craftie fo'es whill his brave minde to stout
Shall scorne the Counsal of his subiects trew
Their shall vnwars this war-like Prince no dout
Be lost whoes want thow Scotland long shall rew
For lo too soone his sone of glorie Bright
Is chok'd with mists of feats vntimelie Night.
And heir behold that Magnanimious King
Most iust in peace most valorus in warr
his royall Scepter bravelie managing
Whoes glorious fame shall pears all Europs ear
From him fair Beuteis faerest floure shill spring
Whom heir you sie sett in a royall chear
And their her dangling golden locks intreyld
Much these have blist her but much more her child.