A congratulatory poem upon the noble feast made by the ancient and renouned families of the Smiths

A Congratulatory POEM upon the Noble FEAST Made by the Ancient and Renouned FAMILIES of the SMITHS .

Captaine IOHN SMITH somtime GOVERNOR of VIRGINIA Great Hero ▪ whose brave Sword in Martiaall field Could Reap fresh Glories to Adorn his Shield Whose Courage made the Turkish Crescents wane Three of their Champions by him singly slaine For which Exploits K : Sigismund ( who knew Honour a Tribute to his Valour due ▪ Three Pagans Heads in s Armes gave him to bear Iust Trophies of his Conguering sword and spear

YE happy Muses , who like Banckers sit Distributing that precious Sterling , Wit , Credit your Poet now with such a Store , That his plum'd thoughts to that vast heighth may soar Which all his Brethren ne're could reach before . A more then common Stock ought to Proclaim The Honours due to Smith's Immortal Name , A Name whose early glorys were so hurl'd About ev'n in the Non-age of the World , That other Families were hardly known When this had waded far in bright Renown , And by a Chain of Noble Actions bought That envy'd Fame which others vainly sought . Virtue and Valour , which at first alone Could draw from dark Obscurity Renown , In Ancient Smiths so pregnant did appear , As if not Art but Nature plac'd it there ; As if she 'd ta'ne a care to mould them so , They must be famous if they would or no. In Germany their Grandeur did appear Long before William , Britains Conqueror , And when that glorious Norman's Lucky Sword Had giv'n him all our Nation could afford , A noble Gratitude his Soul did press To thank one Smith for part of his Success , Whom that great Duke was often heard to own Mongst all his Captains , worthy great'st renown , ●nd in his private counsels held more dear Then any other Martial Officer . From thence if we proceed to that great Fight Caus'd by the Invasion made in Eighty Eight , Of none we read , excepting Mighty Drake , Than Famous Smith that made more fierce attaque ; He made the haughty Spaniards feel his pow'r , Giving them ruin on their Native Shore . But why on Worthies past dost thou proceed ? ●ond Muse , thou liv'st too long amongst the dead , Since , shouldst thou name them half , the sum would swell My Pigmy sheet into a Chronicle ; And make the wondring stranger , when he came To see so many Pages thatch'd with Fame , Conclude , I write of Nations , not a Name : 'T would be for thee more fit , for them more just , To let them slumber in their Sacred Dust , And ( with a reverend leave ) thy Theam pursue To give the Living , well as Dead , their due . Lift up thy long dejected head a while , And thou shalt see within this narrow Isle Thousands of their Successors who lay claim To their Fore-fathers Virtues , well as Name : Some thou wilt find whom their deserving Fate Has justly rais'd to sit at Helm of State : Others whose Loyalty did bright appear At Hogans Coast in the late Holland War : Some there are likewise whose presaging worth , Wanting occasion to be called forth , Dos yet in silent Characters Proclaim What Seas of bloud they 'd make to wade for Fame , Could they but face an Army which withstood Their Monarchs welfare , or their Countries good ; And by Heroick Actions fain would tie To their more Ancient , Modern Heraldry . For 't is not the least Trumpet dos proclaim ●mmortal honour to this deathless name , That they like other lazie Families Scorn on their Fathers Stocks alone to rise , Each branch of Smith's great Stem looks sharp about As soon as Sprung , to find new honours out , Which like the Eagle viewing of his Prey They fly full swoop at , and sweep clear away . Hundreds of ancient Arms at this day Crown This mighty Name for acts of high Renown , Which at the first from Foreign Toyls did rise , Blazond with ruine of their enemies . But hold hot Muse , let 's hear no more of War , Since all the signs of joy and peace are here , The Sermons just now done , the Brethren wou'd Not feast themselves , before they serv'd their God , When Heaven with so much Plenty men do's bless , They ought to have a Sermon for their grace . See how in friendly pairs the Stewards Men To the grave Stewards give their due esteem : See how the Stewards grandeurs do dispence , Bearing white Rods , the signs of Innocence , Which do not only their white thoughts imply , But have respect to all the Company . Bless me ! whose he comes here ? A Mighty Lord ; Can he from all his pleasures time afford To wast his minutes at a City Feast ? But he 's a Smith , and so the wonder 's ceas'd . See how in goodly order next do come Whole ranks of Knights , the Champions of the Town , Such heretofore in Romes warm Senate sate , When Carthaginians thundred at her Gate . A glittering train of Esquires next arise , Like Sun-Beams , and set bounds unto my eyes , Such who have often plow'd the Liquid Main , And rang'd through Lands unknown for honest gain ; But these being past , the next my sight invades Are worthy persons of Domestick Trades , Hundreds of Wealthy Citizens , who buy Their modest grandure with their Industry ; Men who in their narrow Shops can stand And call for all the good things in the Land , And have 'em brought them ; they can Till and Sow , And Reap , without the help of Land or Plow , Receive their Quarter , nay their dayly Rents , Although they own no Farms or Tenements , And yet behold how glorious they appear In modest Garments bringing up the Rear . HAving in short commented on them all My Phancy too shall dine at Drapers-Hall , Where it would feast a King methinks to see Splendor it self begilt with Decencie . Seav'n several sorts of Musick first advance , And put my trembling Muse into a trance . She well might fear that so much Art-full skill Would drown the softer Cantos of my Quill : But when she throws her lavish eye abroad , And sees that plenty almost Cracks each Board , Sees flaming Goblets by each Trencher set As convoy unto every bit they eat , Ready , if any dainty chance to stray , To run down after and direct its way , She recollects her self and fears no more But sings much lowder then she did before . Feast on , Renowned Smiths , methinks I spy Contentment dancing in each members eye , Nature and Appetite have now their due , They are contented both , and so are you ; There 's not a man but do's this truth assure By his so free donation to the Poor . The Widows thanks , and Orphans prayers discry In quaintest Rhetorick your Charity , Your needy names-sakes you do so prefer , They become richer then their fathers were : And when Maturity with age shall crown Their greener heads , and they to Trades-men grown , Why may not they gain Riches and Esteem , And do for others as you did for them : Thus by successive Charity you 'll bless Each other with a lasting happiness ; Ah! that this graceful Amity may prove The little Embleme of great Englands love . And you , grave Stewards who this day fulfil A Mighty Emperors Edict and Will , Bearing in glittering Flags those Turkish heads Purchas'd by Smith of Crudwells famous deeds , When 'twixt two Potent Armies he made fall The strong Turbashaw , Turkys General , And in the self same day , to crush the Pride Of all his followers , vanquish'd two beside , And brought their gasping heads besmear'd with gore To mighty Sigismund the Emperor , Who thinking nought enough for that brave man Who fought so stoutly for the Christian fame , To make his royal gratitude appear , Order'd three hundred Duckats ev'ry year To be allow'd this noble Captain , and Charg'd him by all the pow'r of his Command Never again to enter Martial Field Without three Turks-heads graven in his shield , And sign'd a patten that the same should be A Coat of Arms to his Posterity . But I have been too tedious , — yet permit Me to declare my wishes well as wit , May evry action of each member here To your successors bright as his appear , May this great feast continue still , and may Each year increase your Number , Wealth , and Joy , Long may you live , and when insatiate Death Shall call your bodies to perfume the Earth , May your Examples your young Children move To Rival you in Charity and Love .