A CONGRATULATORY POEM On the R [...] Honourable S r. ORLANDO BRIDGMAN. Lord Keeper of th [...] [...] reat Seal of England.
My Lord,
TO You, as fast as verses feet can move
A Country Muse conveighs the Countrys love,
And though her Laureats Courtly sisters bring
From their rich Stones a noble offering,
Yet (sith the minde most makes the Sacrifice)
Your goodness will not meaner gifts despise.
She joyes the
Keeper, but more joyes the Seale
Lodg'd to th'advantage of the publiques Weale,
And the disposer too, whose prudent Choice
Is herein echo'd by the vulgar voice;
You are the happy Center, that unite
In one the Patriot, and the Favourite.
Rare Harmony! the musick of the Spheeres
Too seldome thus accords with vulgar Ears.
T'were easy to reflect, but that such wayes,
Are the low Topicks of a narrow praise,
Whence let your predecessors rest for me
His Libell here would your detraction be,
True Diamonds are by their own sparks declar'd,
And they're dull stones which shine not but compar'd,
Nor do you seek or need it, single Merit
Wonne you the Honour, Let that mighty wear it.
Mean while, we must our selves twice happy rate
Since peace and you, together blest the State;
Our fears i'th Wane, our joyes are in the Increase
Whiles we have such a Keeper to our peace,
And (but that Faction did the Terme devise)
Wee'd adde too
Keeper, of our
Liberties.
Were all your own Rolles search't, scarce should we finde,
That noble Seat fild with so fit a minde.
So brave a Minde, as basenesse ne'r allayes,
So great a Minde, as greatnesse cannot raise,
So just a Minde, as interest can't seduce,
So wise a Minde, as colours can't abuse
So large a Minde, as largest Trusts do crave.
So calme a Minde, as Equity should have.
High Courtships construed in the present tense
Lawes Oracle without perplexed sence.
A sober piety in a Virtuoso
And an
Orlando without Furioso.
Whose judgement doth with legall measures side
Yet moderate, where men differ, not divide.
That temper now must bless us, we're undone
T'wixt two extreams, all Liberty and none.
You have the happy mean, neither propense
To scalding Zeal, nor cold Indifference.
The Churches patronage, you do inherit,
Both by a Claim of Birth-right, and of merit
The Reverend prelate long since gone to rest
In after Annals shall be daily blest,
As Bishop first, and next as parent too
A Father both unto the Church and you.
Yea twice the Churches Father, whiles his care
Thereof descends on you, though not his Chayre.
Rome slander not our marryed Clergy, none
Of thy Popes Nephews matcht a Bishops sonne:
Muster up all the Tribe, and we'el outvy'em:
Although we have forgot how they came by'em.
Yea those who cryd down Prelates branch and root
May now repent each moyetie of their Vote
Sith howsoe'er the root displeasd they see
A Bishops branch may make a noble Tree.
And if such blossomes
Aarons rod will bare
T'would reconcile the Classis to the Chaire.
Nor is the law less honor'd, whiles it sees
Its Rigours softned, by your decrees:
For whiles no point thereof escapes your Eye
Its Guordian knots you cut not, but untye.
So doth the learned Churchman, in perplext
Scriptures, unravell, not tear up the Text:
Out laws the highest reason, 'tis confest,
Si'th now tis lodged in your learned Breast.
Your Court a Cou
[...]
[...]
[...]y
now,
You
[...] Judge in it, Conscience in you,
Advanced by you to their auncient fame
Chancery suites shall loose their Evill name.
Nor shall the Client drain'd by Bills and Motions,
With a new (Libera) charge his devotions.
Nor shall the title burth'nd with decrees,
Undoe the Heir, and spend his Fee in fees:
Or force him whiles he find's a suit in Taile,
To sell to his Lawyer, to make good his Sale.
But hold! me thinks I hear with what content,
Your learned lips harangue the Parliament,
So that whil's you Caress the learned throng,
Never King spake, by a more welcome tongue:
Spare us good Sir, with moderation crave,
Or w're undone, t'will be but ask and have.
Yea spare your worthyes Sir, lest Sons debate.
They give assent, and votes precipitate.
Whiles stormed by your Rhetorick, they dispense
With their own orders, and Enact the sence:
Enough my muse, pack up now and away,
To wait on's Lordship on next sealing day.
If askt thy business, tell, but e're he know it,
Get him to seal a pardon for his poet.
Then beg a grant, that though his name be Latent,
He may have leave to make his Letters Patent.
Licensed according to Order.
Printed for William Cadman at the Popes -head in the lower Walk in the New-Exchange near Durham-gate in the Strand.