A Congratulation, In Honour of the Annual Festival of the Lords, Knights, Esq and Yeomandry of the County of Hertford, at Merchant Taylors Hall, on Thursday Sept. 6. 1655.

WInged with zeal, and love, I hither bring,
Unto your Feast, an humble offering,
As a just Tribute, due to you that are,
The Columnes that sustain good Hertford-shire,
The union of your Country, the Cause that we,
Thus pay our vows to your Solemnity.
But whence should I assume Prophetick Rage
Rapt up in Sacred fury to Presage,
Your happy Omens, 'Tis your loves inspire
My humble muse with this Aetheriall fire:
My frosty soul; so as promaethian heate
Gives my cold Clay a warmth, or birth as great
As is my Countrys Crop; your Sun-like Eyes
First fir'd my heart offer'd you sacrifice.
Burning in zeal, better then pounds of Gumms
Or Altars smoaking with fat Hecatombs:
Which you (I hope) like Charity of Heav'n
Accept my grain of Incense, that is given
For to unite you, in this mutuall love
Equall unto those knowing powers above.

The true Description of the County of Hertford, with a Character of the People, their Manners, and Conditions, formerly written by some ancient Chronologers.

THe Country is Champion, the Aire temperate and healthful, the Soyle fertile, and very plentifull, Especially for wheat and Barly; it having 19. Market Towns, and 120. Parish Churches, One main River, (besides divers Rivolets) Bridges 24. Parks 23. The people of this County are generally of Noble dispositions, Courteous and generous, but chiesly noted for true heartedness, valour, and fidelity, Even by Julius Caeser himself who held them in great veneration, sufficiently having made triall of them in his warrs against the Picts and Scots and other invaders of this Nation. There have been 3 Bloody and Mortall Battels fought in this Country; The first at S t Albones, May 23. 1455. between Richard Duke of Yorke, and the Earl of Warick. The second at S t. Albones Feb. 17. 1461. by Queen Margaret against the Duke of Norfolke and Suffolke. The third, at Barnet 14. April 1477, between K. Herauld &c.

I hope you cannot think that there can be
In me (dear SIRS!) the seeds of flattery;
I were unworthy, if I would not sing
My Countreys Worth; and when I touch a string
Of my Phaebeian Lyre, Chast Daph [...] shall
Tender her Bayes to deck your Festivall;
Devoted to your merit, Bacchus then
Shall with his Richest Nector swelling pen
Indue mo, with such wine, as I do think
At least do wish, that you your selves may drink;
Then pray, that many years, your feasts made even
In mutuall love, you all may feast in Heaven.
Which are the Cordiall desires of your unworthy Country-man, JOHN CROWCH.

The Stewards mames for this present feast 1655. are these Gentlemen following,

  • M r William Thomson
  • M r John Berresford
  • M r John Ellis
  • M r Robert Thomson
  • M r Robert Waller
  • M r Josoph Sibley
  • M r Robert Brisco
  • M r Thomus Bateman
  • M r William Lee
  • M r Richard Mead
  • M r William Robinson
  • M r Robert Warner.

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