The beautie of the remarkable yeare of Grace, 1638 The yeare of the great Covenant of Scotland.

THE YEER OF GRACE , 1638. WHO'ill favour me with winges , that I may flee To glories Mount , where Laureat Poets bee ? Fill mee with sacred fire , You gentle Nine , Inspire mee with your Gaïties Divine , Tune my Theorbe , sweet sisters , stretch the string Yet higher , that she may more sweetly sing . Hence all you Soul-dividing cares , go hence , You heart afflicting griefs , and but dispense A little with your Captive , let mee play Within a paradise but one poor day : Remove your anger , your sad wrath forebear , Till I do sing the beautie of a year ; In which luxurious amarous , Heaven doth woe His Mistres Earth , with smiles upon his brow , And would invite each Gentle Sprite to be A Poet of this epithalamie . Heer all you smyling fancies , hasten heere You nobler raptures of Apolloes Lyre , And throng within my breast , all you Idees Within his Cabinet , come if you please And my poor soul enrich , come all which may Teach a young wanton bashfull pen to play . For now great HE , who streach'd the azure round About this hanging Ball , hath all things crown'd With his best blessings , willing men rejoice In libertie of soul with thankfull voice 'T is he that 's cloathed with light , and dwels in thunder , Displayes this gratious Year , great Year of wonder ▪ A yeare , which shall unto all nations be A common talk , This our felicitie Shall be the measure of their souls desire , And patter●● of their wishes , when th' aspire At such 〈◊〉 ●oy , peace , harmonie , and blesse As this Great year of our Great Covenant is In which are opened the eyes of Nations all . And fill'd with wonder , thus when our Nephews shall Ask at their fathers what this year did meane , ( For after yeares from hence shall date their tyme In Almanackes , and in our historie This year of joy gold letters shall descry ) The Sage and Eldrs shall their children teach How heavens the glade wings of their love did stretch Upon the humble earth , and they shall tell How in these blessed dayes the land was full With sweetnesse of the Lord , even as we see The waters great which covereth the Sea They shall informe them how contract did passe 'Twixt heavens , and earth , that so this great year was Year of the feast , in signe that there shall stand Betwixt them an Eternall Covenant ; And now each Soul is fill'd with joy , each Man To tell posteritie hath pen in hand , I wish to have as many souls and eyes T' admire and gaze , as stars are in the skyes ; And yet mine extasie would be but small In such excesse , to see this newborne All , The wearied rolling heavens , the exhausted earth Like to the Eagle hath renewed their birth And lookes , so young , so gay , as when of old Th' eternall King cast them in virgine mould , Or first came out of the eternall treasure , Embellisht with the riches of all pleasure . The heavens displayes a sweet and smyling grace , Without a wrinkle , or spot in their face : So do they shine , washt with a Christall flood , As then , before the first impostour woo'd The King of Creatures to taste the trie Of mistique fruit , thus teaching him to die : So white the world new-walled did appeare , Not stained with debauches of the aire As yet , and in their serene infancie Of winds and raines , knew note the luxurie . How thy embosome the enamour'd earth So kindlie now ? See how a gentle breath Doth feed all living things ? What sweetnesse ▪ In this so universall Amitie . O livelie brighnesse ! O the beautie rare ! O force of Sun , and moone ! O kindnesse deare Of favouring heavens ! And where then was your skill Till now , that would not make your court'sie kill Our feares and povertie , now you do show More sweetnesse then both Arabees do know : You have rain'd floudes of Manna , th' earth doth swell Pamp'red in richer balme . What time can tell Celestiall powers so strongly all combinde , As in this year wee wanton worldlings finde ? Heavens treasures have beene shut till now , but lo In golden floudes of pleasures now we flow , Powr'd from the cabinet of him who reignes ( Which this great year proclames ) above all Kings : With sublunarie pleasures drunk , wee see What Heavens can do , and what the Earth can be When she hath suckt best influence from above , Or when the Sun with crisped rayes makes love : When hote flame masculine doth him inspire , And makes th' earth pregnant with his vigorous fire . Tell me thou Gentle Planet of the day , Who through star-poudred Scarf of heaven dost stray , Who gilds the heavens , & paints the earth with flowrs , And flames of life through Neptunes bosome powres , Art Thou the same shyn'd in our Fathers dayes ? Hath any brighter soul given thee new rayes ? What new things hath this earthly globe reveald ? What from Thy sight till now hath it conceald ? What change discovers thou in naturall things ? That thus thou flies 'bout us with glader wings ? Indeed the Taper which we had before thee Was but a sparkling diamond to thy glorie ; Or like the thin squibes of thy Sisters face , When she the cold and silent vault doth grace : We must forsooth confesse ( Prince of the day ) Thou obleidges heaven and earth in a strange way : Thou hast daign'd to'unvaile thy face , and now we see Thy naked dy , which masked wont to bee . Ah gallant Sun , thy wanton dangling hair Provokes the Frolick Earth t'embalme the air , Where numberlesse golden atomes of the day Hath hanging at each one pearles to array Proud Flora , looking like a glorious Bride , Attyr'd with Majestie on everie side ; On which the Sun dartes many an amorous look , Reading his active beautie on Heavens Book , And dressing in Neptunes glasse his jollier haires , Each day courts hotlier , and more fine appeares : No more the Guelded Son of this blest Year Need now the anger of barbarous season fear , For his rebuke is taken away , and now Those fields to which retiring Sun did show His fainter face , do laugh as well as those , Who can boast of possession of the rose ; Nay this whole yeere's but a continued May , Luxurious in her pride , and best array ; And look how much the Heavens doe the fire Excell , or yet how much the tender Air Exceed the grosser Water , even so Each Tyme , each Thing surpasse their own kinde too ; The Cloudes weep no more , and forget to raine , The Sun to leave us , and to turne his waine ; The Southern Pole doth wonder at his stay , And 'gines to question what moves him to play So long within this artick circled clime , 'T is cause he 'ld see the great change of the tyme ; Which all the Elements do preach ; which are Not of so ley a mettall as they were . But more ennobled , and lesse discordant . For in this great year of the Covenant An all-embracing sweetnesse doth enlive Each place and season , now all things do thriv● A sweet calme influence every where wee see , As if each of the Stars had drunk a sea Of nectar , and inebriat every flower With their benigne aspects , and heavenly power . Where would you send your large enquiring eyes ? Would you them feast on th' earth , or on the skyes ? Or spring through th' air , where Bird briquils & playes , And sings to natures king , with natur'd layes , But every where you 's finde a strange beautie , And reverend sweetnesse kisse your conquered eye ; Each glorious object fils our curious soul , There 's nothing now which our desires controule : The smyling Heavens , flattering , seeme to praise The strong-beam'd Sun , with his refined rayes , The fethered voyces , Birdes , devoutly bends Their keene and learned bills , which nimbly indents Thousand of various checkred conquering noates , Darted from mignon prettie warbling throats : The stately trees where these sweet woodnymph lodge , ( These harmlesse painted Syrens , which disgorge Their mutuall flames ) being wounded with the joy , And sweetnesse of the espoused harmonie Did amber teares , weep , cause they could not know Either to dance or sing , els they 'ld do so And keep a part , yet look they gladlie shake Their curl'd topes , throwing blossomes to awake The sleeping Naides in their christall streames And joine their mirth with their natures athemes , Wherein each pittie nature courtes the great Their own discords , and passions do forget . The swelling angry winds , who whipt the Sea , The terrour of the woods which wount to be Rolling a lowring Horrour through the deep , Afrighting Mortals in their harmlesse Sleep , With soft and silken winges now gently creep , Solliciting the winter flowres to peep , And with authoritie as Heavens coole Fan Correcting proud Don Phoebus melting flame . Their spicknard breathes do laughing blossomes blow To our labouring trees , and fruites upon them throw , And gentlie call out from their cloistered gemmes Our Pestan Roses glorying on their stemmes . The Arabian winds which boasted that they were Composed not as other meteors are But made of Amber Spirits , now do give Their best elixer , and do murmuring strive , Which shall our flowres most kindly entertaine , And flatter Flora in an amourous straine : You pride of nature , glorie in the year , Swet flowres , what Genius bade you appeare In your best garments ? Would you be renownd 'Cause each of you is worth a dyamound . If Pythagorick transmigration could 'Mongst flowres , and trees establish'd be , I would Say that these lovelie soules this year are come To inhabite you from the Elezium , Your swet Sabean odours choak us now , You have Arabian perfumes stiffled too : Rare Beauties of rare Favour , whence be you , With your so prettie pride and uncouth hew ? I thinke you be descended from that race Of Floraes People , which did Eden grace , Your Pompe's unusuall , and yee seeme to come Natures Embassadours , for to tell some Strange glory of this age , t' assure the land Of Heavens acceptance of this Covenant , Which it hath sealed with our common King , This is belike the Sermon you do bring Your painted faces , and your pleasant light Makes of our Earth a constellation bright : Shine boldly Daughters of this blessed year ; Rejoice you glittering Troupe , and do not fear That Summers angry Heat , and fretting Cold Of your sadde enemie darre be so bold Zou to importune , or to robe your glorie Ne'er eare did heare , ne'er eye did read in storie Such yeare as this you 're come to celebrate , Appointed by deare Providence , not Fate , Wherein Heavens spheares do give a prettier dance , And the great Mover will have no offence Given to any sublunarie Creature ( Sweet trees and flowres ) but that your joy and pleasure , May be secure , and full , fred from the fear Of unkinde Sun , or injuries of the year . Put foorth aspiring Mountains these your lillies White as the snow in Salmon , you O valleyes , Which with your violets like a garment are Most proudly cled , and fragrant as the myrre , You likewise solemnize this happie yeare And stretch your carpets which embrodered are By natures hand , who with Sydonian dye Thrise drunk doth entertaine the danceing eye : Behold this is the year of our great feast , The world is beautified , and we 're opprest With riches and delights , which do as far Exceed before times , as the Idalian star Outshines the lay meteors in the air Or shrinking shrubes , o'retopes the Cedars fair . Those Heaven-beloved trees do drinke no more The vulgar vapors , as they did before , But feedes on Spirites of the Nobler Rose Alambiqued by the enquiring nose Of Phoebus steeds , who snaring flames and light Doe yeeld a rellish of a strange delight . Now intertwist good Trees your amarous armes , Freely possesse your self in those your charmes , No Shriv'ling winde dare now to teare your Hair Now doth your freiz'ld beruques sprusse appear , The incivile Zephyres who were wont to rove Amongst your treasures , rushing from the Cove , Who all your dainties riffled , and threw down Your Pride , your children humbled to the ground : Those winds which your yet tender fruit did make All orphanes , and your selfe did cause to shake For very fear , now they do no more so , But kindly taim'd more mercifully blow . If any of our forefathers should arise From natures cold bed , and lift up his eyes Behold the Heavens renew'd , the Earth refin'd The glory of all the Elements sublim'd The beautie of the never-lowring Sun , The sweetnesse of the ever-pleasing Moone , The riches of each tree , blush of each rose , The treasures which golden Ceres doth disclose , And that before her time , he shall straight smile And say , This must be sure the fortunat Ile Or the Hesperids , blessed with the dew Of Heaven , wherein most lavishlie did grow The golden aples ; or else he would conceave Both Roles , were changed , and the Spheres to have Some other motion , or the Sun to approach From Southerne people his eternall Coach , And us below the Equator for to ly , Where loftier Sun dartes his directer ray ; And where he doth dispense a prouder light From his sublimer Throne flaming more bright . This good oldman , reviv'd , which never saw But ordinarie yeares , would stand in aw To call this Scotland , nay , sure he would be Like One transported to sweet Arabie From some cold hungrie melancholick clime , To see the charge of season , place , and tyme . All other yeares being paragon'd with this ; Nor soul , nor life , nor beautie have , nor blesse ; And lookes but like a winter , when these dayes Doe glory in triumphing matchlesse rayes . Like as the hoastes of stars do shrink away ; When gentle Phebe cometh foorth to play , At whose appearing in her fuller grace Asham'd , like sillie people they hide their face , And doth retire to a distance , for if shee Approach too nie , drown'd with her glore they die : So other yeeres that were the lights of time The glory of Chronicles , must now think shame , And hold themselves but rags when this shall be A dyademe to all Eternitie . The former years to this were but Aurore , And served to usher foorth this great yeares Glore , Were but thin shades to that great Majestie Which now appeares cloath'd with felicitie . Nature hath spent her Spirit for to trime Her self with Buskings , and to grace the tyme , Strain'd all her Force and Riches for to show Unto the world what wonders shee can do , She hath taught heavens spheres to'utweave a year so fine That of this Twist they have no more behinde Which sweetlie doth erect it's statelie head , O'relooking other humble yeares as dead , Termines the Worlds hopes , who wondering gaze : And crownes it worthie of immortall Bayes . Who so the beautie of this yeare would show And paint it all exactlie , he must know First , how to outstare the Sun , with his faint eyes , Number the Sand , and Dyamounds in the skyes , For every Season , every Month and Day , Each blushing apple , at the Suns proud ray Each forrest , Garden , each embrodered Bray , Each rose , each lillie , each brave busked tree , Each of their leaves , each atome of the Sun , When he is newborne , or when he 's going down ; Each twinkle of a star , or her sweet smile , Who did the boy Endimion ne'er beguile Would be too thronged in a volume great ; And craves more lines then my poore pen can get , The Pagnim Poets who can magnifie A sillie rose , and base things deifie , Who nature rude thinke that they do obscure , Metamorphosing , violets in stars pure Can no more reach the glory of this time And seasons beautie , nor they can confine The boundlesse Ocean in their narrow quill , Or with few atomes all this All can fill ; Yet let 's admire what we cannot attaine ; And prattle as we may with thankfull , straine While that the rest of Nations all do burne With jealousie , holding themselves forelorne . You Mistres of the world , and Europes eye ; You Land , which doth in natures bosome ly ; And you , who never saw our Chairles-waine Lazie Bootes , and Cassiopea shine ; And you who looke alike to both the Poles , Whose double Summers no angry Heavens controlles , All you who thought Heavens spheres did roll for you , And you alone , be not offended now ; And spare your grudging , if we honoured be More by the Heavens , dearer to them nor yee . Stand by neglected Nations , Trouble not Our feasting , and our mirth , nor interrupt Our just conceaved joy , learne to admire Heavens power , and our felicitie this yeare : And you belov'd Indwellers of the land Crown'd with advantages , Come hand in hand Let 's shout till we do drown the Spheres in Heaven Arrest the Sun to stand , and Planets seven , And make the God of the fift Sphere throw'way His foolish sword , descend , and with us play ; Each thing within the Universe expresse A sympathie of our joy and blessednesse Come blow the trumpet , blow you heavens , rejoice , Be glad O Earth , Proud Sea , lift up your voice , Come with your olive garlands , come with palmes Or with Uranias flowres , and sing your Psalmes You Virgine daughters , come you damesells all , And Syons mountain enter shall the Ball ; Reach me my warbling lute , and I 'll accord Th' espoused vaines , sollicite every cord ; I 'll court the Ladie'f lyres , whose sacred wombe All Graces , all sweet Melodie doth entombe , Bring me my pleasant Harpe , my Gythare dear , And I will joine with you , I 'll strain an air So sweet , so full , as shall you Hilles entrance And make their Trees come laughing heer , and dance , So doth a Candle help the Sun to see , So doth a sillie Streame ingrosse the Sea ; So doth the Heaven in Arras work appeare , With every emprison'd Star and silent Sphere , As my Rash Muse hath now diffused her layes And whispered as shee could the great yeares praise Awaking highbred sprites that weare the Bayes , To stretch their numbers , their proud notes to raise . Sic erat in fatis . FINIS .