To theMajestieof GreatBritaine,France, andIreland, theMost Illustrious King,CHARLES;And his excellently beloved, the mostgratiousQueeneMARY.

To theMajestieof GreatBritaine,France, andIreland, theMost Illustrious King,CHARLES;And his excellently beloved, the mostgratiousQueeneMARY.SSEv'n yeares are full expired, RoyallSir,Since last I kneel'd, an offring to preferreBefore your feete; where, now, my selfe I throwTo pay once more, theTributeswhich I owe.As many yeares are past, most beauteousQveene,Since witnesses, mine eares and eyes, have beeneOf those Perfections; which the generallFameHath sounded forth, in honour of yourName.And, both yourbeaming-splendors(oh yee faire,Thrice blessed, and most fitly-matchedPaire)Vpon each other, make such bright reflections;And have so sweetly mingled youraffections,YourPraise, yourPow're, yourVertues, and yourBeautie:That, (if preserving of mySoveraigne dutie,This may be said) you doe appeare, to me,Two Persons, in OneMaiesty, to be;To whom, there, appertaines (in venerationOf your largeWorth) the right of someOblationAnd, best, I thought, myHomagewould be done,If, thus, the tender were toBoth-in-One.Which, in this humbleGvift, myLovepresents;And, wisheth it may adde to your Contents.Perhaps it shall: For, though I dare not shewTheseFigures, as well meriting your view;Nor boast, as if theirMorallscouched ought,By which your sacredWisdomesmay be taught:Yet, I have humbleHopings, that, they mightProve, some way, an occasion of delight;Since, meane and commonObjects, now and then,Beget contentments in thegreatest-men.But, that before thisBooke, I should proposeYour praisefullNames, there is (as I suppose)A faire inducement: For, considering theseAreEmblems, whose intention is to pleaseAnd profit vulgar Iudgements (by the view,Of what they ought to follow, or eschew.)And, I well knowing, that yourMaiestiesSet foorth before myBooke, inEmblem-wise,Throughout your Lands, moreVertuesmight convay,Than manyVolumes, of theseEmblems, may;It seemedPetty-treason, to omitThis good occasion of endeavouring it.For, (if yourMaiesties, well heeded, were)Yov, double-treble-foure-foldEmblemsare;Which, fully to illustrate, would requireTheWitI want; or, meanes to raise, that, higherWhich I have gain'd; (and, which, as yet, hath flowneBy no incouragements, but by her owne.)Of all theVertuesOeconomical,OfDutiesMoralandPoliticall,YourLivesarePatternes, and faireEmblems; whetherConsidered apart, or both together.YourChildhoodswere brightMirrours, which did showWhat Duties,Children, to theirParentsowe:And, by the sequele, we now understand,That, they who bestobay'd, can best command.The gloriousVertuesof yourNvptiall-state,YourCourtiers, find so hard to imitate,That, they admire them, rather; and would sweare,(Had others told, what, now they see and heare)That, all the former Times, were not acquainted,With such aPaire, whenKingsandQueeneswereSainted.The chastestCupids, and the gamesom'stGraces,Are alwaies mingled in yourDeare-embraces.The mutuall enterchanges of yourLoves,May teach affection to theTurtle-doves:And, such as are, with goodly sights, delighted,May see inYou, allExcellenceunited.You,Sir, who beareIovesThunders in your Fist,And, (shake thisIlandsEmpire, when You list)Did never in yourOrbe, aTempestmove,But, by the BeautiousMistresseof yourLoveIt might be calm'd.And, in your loftySpheare,Most lovelyQveene, Your Motions ever, wereSo smoath, and, so direct; that, none can say,They have withdrawne his Royall-heart awayFrom IustDesignes; Which, loudly speakes yourPraise,And, intimates much more, than, yet, it saies.Yea, both YourSplendorsdoe so glorious growe,And, You, each other have out-vyed so,In these, and otherVertues; that, on You,Should I conferre what praise, I thinke, is due,MyLines, (which from that staine have, yet, beene cleare)Would Flatt'ry seeme, unto an envious eare.But, what needsFlatt'ry, where theTruthmay teachTo praise, beyond immodestFlatt'riesreach?Or, what needs he to feare asland'rous-mouth,Who seekes nomeed, nor utters more than Truth?Your PrincelyVertues, what can better show,ThanPeace, andPlenty, which have thrived so,Whilst You have raign'd that, yet, no people see,ARicher, or morePeacefulltime, than wee?YourCivill Actions(to the publike eye)Are faireexamplesofMoralitie,So manifest; That, if he Truth did sing,Who said,The World doth imitate the King;MyMusesdare, with boldnesse to presage,A Chast, a Pious, and a ProsperousAge:And, that, the stormes which, late, these Realmes deterr'd,Shall all be quite removed, or deferr'dTill you Ascend; And, future times have seene,That, your Examples have not followed beene.Thus, you are livingEmblems, to thisNation:Which being mark'd with heedefull speculation,May serve, as well, to helpe us how to seeOurHappinesse, As, what ourDutiesbe.And, if I might unlocke allMysteries,Which doe declare, how in afoure-fold-wise,Your Lives are usefullEmblems; I, perchance,Should vexe blindZeale, or angerIgnorance;And, teach well-temper'dSpirits, how to see,That, we, for Blessings, oft, Vnthankefull be.For, as you,Both, PrimeChildrenare of thoseTwoSister-Churches, betwixt whom, yet, growesVnseemelystrife; So,You, perhaps, may beAnEmblem, how thoseMothersmay agree.And, not by yourExample, onely, show,How wrought it may be; but, effect it so.Yea, peradventure,God, unitedYou,That, such a blessedVnionmight ensue:And, that, Yourliving-lovingly, together;Your Christianhopefullnesse, of one another;Your mildeforbearance, harsh attempts to proove;Yourmutuall-waiting, untillGodshall moveBy somecalme-voice, or peacefullinspiration,ThatHeartWhich needeth betterInformation;And, that, yourCharities, might give asigne,How, all theDaughters, of theSpovseDivineMight reconciled be; And, shew, that,Swords,Flames,Threats, andFurie, make no trueAccords.Godgrant a betterVnionmay appeare:Yet, wish I not thetollerating, here,OfPoliticke-Agreements; (further thanOur wholsomeLawes, and,Civill-vowesto man,WithPiety, approve) but, such, as mayMake up a blessedConcord, every way:Might it be so; yourVertues, would becomeA GloriousBlessing, to allChristendome:YourEmblemshould, by futureGenerations;Be plac'd among the famousConstellations,And,after-times(though, Mee, thisAgedespise)Would thinke, theseVerses, had beeneProphecies.What ever may succeed, myPray'rsandPowr'sAre this way bent; withHope, thatYouorYoursShallHelps(at least) become, thatBreachto close,Which, in theSeamles-Robe, yet, wider growes.So Be It: And, let bright yourGloriesbee,For ever, thoughYounever shine onMee.YourMaiestiesmost Loyall Subject,Geo: Wither.

SSEv'n yeares are full expired, RoyallSir,Since last I kneel'd, an offring to preferreBefore your feete; where, now, my selfe I throwTo pay once more, theTributeswhich I owe.As many yeares are past, most beauteousQveene,Since witnesses, mine eares and eyes, have beeneOf those Perfections; which the generallFameHath sounded forth, in honour of yourName.And, both yourbeaming-splendors(oh yee faire,Thrice blessed, and most fitly-matchedPaire)Vpon each other, make such bright reflections;And have so sweetly mingled youraffections,YourPraise, yourPow're, yourVertues, and yourBeautie:That, (if preserving of mySoveraigne dutie,This may be said) you doe appeare, to me,Two Persons, in OneMaiesty, to be;To whom, there, appertaines (in venerationOf your largeWorth) the right of someOblationAnd, best, I thought, myHomagewould be done,If, thus, the tender were toBoth-in-One.Which, in this humbleGvift, myLovepresents;And, wisheth it may adde to your Contents.Perhaps it shall: For, though I dare not shewTheseFigures, as well meriting your view;Nor boast, as if theirMorallscouched ought,By which your sacredWisdomesmay be taught:Yet, I have humbleHopings, that, they mightProve, some way, an occasion of delight;Since, meane and commonObjects, now and then,Beget contentments in thegreatest-men.But, that before thisBooke, I should proposeYour praisefullNames, there is (as I suppose)A faire inducement: For, considering theseAreEmblems, whose intention is to pleaseAnd profit vulgar Iudgements (by the view,Of what they ought to follow, or eschew.)And, I well knowing, that yourMaiestiesSet foorth before myBooke, inEmblem-wise,Throughout your Lands, moreVertuesmight convay,Than manyVolumes, of theseEmblems, may;It seemedPetty-treason, to omitThis good occasion of endeavouring it.For, (if yourMaiesties, well heeded, were)Yov, double-treble-foure-foldEmblemsare;Which, fully to illustrate, would requireTheWitI want; or, meanes to raise, that, higherWhich I have gain'd; (and, which, as yet, hath flowneBy no incouragements, but by her owne.)Of all theVertuesOeconomical,OfDutiesMoralandPoliticall,YourLivesarePatternes, and faireEmblems; whetherConsidered apart, or both together.YourChildhoodswere brightMirrours, which did showWhat Duties,Children, to theirParentsowe:And, by the sequele, we now understand,That, they who bestobay'd, can best command.The gloriousVertuesof yourNvptiall-state,YourCourtiers, find so hard to imitate,That, they admire them, rather; and would sweare,(Had others told, what, now they see and heare)That, all the former Times, were not acquainted,With such aPaire, whenKingsandQueeneswereSainted.The chastestCupids, and the gamesom'stGraces,Are alwaies mingled in yourDeare-embraces.The mutuall enterchanges of yourLoves,May teach affection to theTurtle-doves:And, such as are, with goodly sights, delighted,May see inYou, allExcellenceunited.You,Sir, who beareIovesThunders in your Fist,And, (shake thisIlandsEmpire, when You list)Did never in yourOrbe, aTempestmove,But, by the BeautiousMistresseof yourLoveIt might be calm'd.And, in your loftySpheare,Most lovelyQveene, Your Motions ever, wereSo smoath, and, so direct; that, none can say,They have withdrawne his Royall-heart awayFrom IustDesignes; Which, loudly speakes yourPraise,And, intimates much more, than, yet, it saies.Yea, both YourSplendorsdoe so glorious growe,And, You, each other have out-vyed so,In these, and otherVertues; that, on You,Should I conferre what praise, I thinke, is due,MyLines, (which from that staine have, yet, beene cleare)Would Flatt'ry seeme, unto an envious eare.But, what needsFlatt'ry, where theTruthmay teachTo praise, beyond immodestFlatt'riesreach?Or, what needs he to feare asland'rous-mouth,Who seekes nomeed, nor utters more than Truth?Your PrincelyVertues, what can better show,ThanPeace, andPlenty, which have thrived so,Whilst You have raign'd that, yet, no people see,ARicher, or morePeacefulltime, than wee?YourCivill Actions(to the publike eye)Are faireexamplesofMoralitie,So manifest; That, if he Truth did sing,Who said,The World doth imitate the King;MyMusesdare, with boldnesse to presage,A Chast, a Pious, and a ProsperousAge:And, that, the stormes which, late, these Realmes deterr'd,Shall all be quite removed, or deferr'dTill you Ascend; And, future times have seene,That, your Examples have not followed beene.Thus, you are livingEmblems, to thisNation:Which being mark'd with heedefull speculation,May serve, as well, to helpe us how to seeOurHappinesse, As, what ourDutiesbe.And, if I might unlocke allMysteries,Which doe declare, how in afoure-fold-wise,Your Lives are usefullEmblems; I, perchance,Should vexe blindZeale, or angerIgnorance;And, teach well-temper'dSpirits, how to see,That, we, for Blessings, oft, Vnthankefull be.For, as you,Both, PrimeChildrenare of thoseTwoSister-Churches, betwixt whom, yet, growesVnseemelystrife; So,You, perhaps, may beAnEmblem, how thoseMothersmay agree.And, not by yourExample, onely, show,How wrought it may be; but, effect it so.Yea, peradventure,God, unitedYou,That, such a blessedVnionmight ensue:And, that, Yourliving-lovingly, together;Your Christianhopefullnesse, of one another;Your mildeforbearance, harsh attempts to proove;Yourmutuall-waiting, untillGodshall moveBy somecalme-voice, or peacefullinspiration,ThatHeartWhich needeth betterInformation;And, that, yourCharities, might give asigne,How, all theDaughters, of theSpovseDivineMight reconciled be; And, shew, that,Swords,Flames,Threats, andFurie, make no trueAccords.Godgrant a betterVnionmay appeare:Yet, wish I not thetollerating, here,OfPoliticke-Agreements; (further thanOur wholsomeLawes, and,Civill-vowesto man,WithPiety, approve) but, such, as mayMake up a blessedConcord, every way:Might it be so; yourVertues, would becomeA GloriousBlessing, to allChristendome:YourEmblemshould, by futureGenerations;Be plac'd among the famousConstellations,And,after-times(though, Mee, thisAgedespise)Would thinke, theseVerses, had beeneProphecies.What ever may succeed, myPray'rsandPowr'sAre this way bent; withHope, thatYouorYoursShallHelps(at least) become, thatBreachto close,Which, in theSeamles-Robe, yet, wider growes.So Be It: And, let bright yourGloriesbee,For ever, thoughYounever shine onMee.

SEv'n yeares are full expired, RoyallSir,

Since last I kneel'd, an offring to preferre

Before your feete; where, now, my selfe I throw

To pay once more, theTributeswhich I owe.

As many yeares are past, most beauteousQveene,

Since witnesses, mine eares and eyes, have beene

Of those Perfections; which the generallFame

Hath sounded forth, in honour of yourName.

And, both yourbeaming-splendors(oh yee faire,

Thrice blessed, and most fitly-matchedPaire)

Vpon each other, make such bright reflections;

And have so sweetly mingled youraffections,

YourPraise, yourPow're, yourVertues, and yourBeautie:

That, (if preserving of mySoveraigne dutie,

This may be said) you doe appeare, to me,

Two Persons, in OneMaiesty, to be;

To whom, there, appertaines (in veneration

Of your largeWorth) the right of someOblation

And, best, I thought, myHomagewould be done,

If, thus, the tender were toBoth-in-One.

Which, in this humbleGvift, myLovepresents;

And, wisheth it may adde to your Contents.

Perhaps it shall: For, though I dare not shew

TheseFigures, as well meriting your view;

Nor boast, as if theirMorallscouched ought,

By which your sacredWisdomesmay be taught:

Yet, I have humbleHopings, that, they might

Prove, some way, an occasion of delight;

Since, meane and commonObjects, now and then,

Beget contentments in thegreatest-men.

But, that before thisBooke, I should propose

Your praisefullNames, there is (as I suppose)

A faire inducement: For, considering these

AreEmblems, whose intention is to please

And profit vulgar Iudgements (by the view,

Of what they ought to follow, or eschew.)

And, I well knowing, that yourMaiesties

Set foorth before myBooke, inEmblem-wise,

Throughout your Lands, moreVertuesmight convay,

Than manyVolumes, of theseEmblems, may;

It seemedPetty-treason, to omit

This good occasion of endeavouring it.

For, (if yourMaiesties, well heeded, were)

Yov, double-treble-foure-foldEmblemsare;

Which, fully to illustrate, would require

TheWitI want; or, meanes to raise, that, higher

Which I have gain'd; (and, which, as yet, hath flowne

By no incouragements, but by her owne.)

Of all theVertuesOeconomical,

OfDutiesMoralandPoliticall,

YourLivesarePatternes, and faireEmblems; whether

Considered apart, or both together.

YourChildhoodswere brightMirrours, which did show

What Duties,Children, to theirParentsowe:

And, by the sequele, we now understand,

That, they who bestobay'd, can best command.

The gloriousVertuesof yourNvptiall-state,

YourCourtiers, find so hard to imitate,

That, they admire them, rather; and would sweare,

(Had others told, what, now they see and heare)

That, all the former Times, were not acquainted,

With such aPaire, whenKingsandQueeneswereSainted.

The chastestCupids, and the gamesom'stGraces,

Are alwaies mingled in yourDeare-embraces.

The mutuall enterchanges of yourLoves,

May teach affection to theTurtle-doves:

And, such as are, with goodly sights, delighted,

May see inYou, allExcellenceunited.

You,Sir, who beareIovesThunders in your Fist,

And, (shake thisIlandsEmpire, when You list)

Did never in yourOrbe, aTempestmove,

But, by the BeautiousMistresseof yourLove

It might be calm'd.And, in your loftySpheare,

Most lovelyQveene, Your Motions ever, were

So smoath, and, so direct; that, none can say,

They have withdrawne his Royall-heart away

From IustDesignes; Which, loudly speakes yourPraise,

And, intimates much more, than, yet, it saies.

Yea, both YourSplendorsdoe so glorious growe,

And, You, each other have out-vyed so,

In these, and otherVertues; that, on You,

Should I conferre what praise, I thinke, is due,

MyLines, (which from that staine have, yet, beene cleare)

Would Flatt'ry seeme, unto an envious eare.

But, what needsFlatt'ry, where theTruthmay teach

To praise, beyond immodestFlatt'riesreach?

Or, what needs he to feare asland'rous-mouth,

Who seekes nomeed, nor utters more than Truth?

Your PrincelyVertues, what can better show,

ThanPeace, andPlenty, which have thrived so,

Whilst You have raign'd that, yet, no people see,

ARicher, or morePeacefulltime, than wee?

YourCivill Actions(to the publike eye)

Are faireexamplesofMoralitie,

So manifest; That, if he Truth did sing,

Who said,The World doth imitate the King;

MyMusesdare, with boldnesse to presage,

A Chast, a Pious, and a ProsperousAge:

And, that, the stormes which, late, these Realmes deterr'd,

Shall all be quite removed, or deferr'd

Till you Ascend; And, future times have seene,

That, your Examples have not followed beene.

Thus, you are livingEmblems, to thisNation:

Which being mark'd with heedefull speculation,

May serve, as well, to helpe us how to see

OurHappinesse, As, what ourDutiesbe.

And, if I might unlocke allMysteries,

Which doe declare, how in afoure-fold-wise,

Your Lives are usefullEmblems; I, perchance,

Should vexe blindZeale, or angerIgnorance;

And, teach well-temper'dSpirits, how to see,

That, we, for Blessings, oft, Vnthankefull be.

For, as you,Both, PrimeChildrenare of those

TwoSister-Churches, betwixt whom, yet, growes

Vnseemelystrife; So,You, perhaps, may be

AnEmblem, how thoseMothersmay agree.

And, not by yourExample, onely, show,

How wrought it may be; but, effect it so.

Yea, peradventure,God, unitedYou,

That, such a blessedVnionmight ensue:

And, that, Yourliving-lovingly, together;

Your Christianhopefullnesse, of one another;

Your mildeforbearance, harsh attempts to proove;

Yourmutuall-waiting, untillGodshall move

By somecalme-voice, or peacefullinspiration,

ThatHeartWhich needeth betterInformation;

And, that, yourCharities, might give asigne,

How, all theDaughters, of theSpovseDivine

Might reconciled be; And, shew, that,Swords,

Flames,Threats, andFurie, make no trueAccords.

Godgrant a betterVnionmay appeare:

Yet, wish I not thetollerating, here,

OfPoliticke-Agreements; (further than

Our wholsomeLawes, and,Civill-vowesto man,

WithPiety, approve) but, such, as may

Make up a blessedConcord, every way:

Might it be so; yourVertues, would become

A GloriousBlessing, to allChristendome:

YourEmblemshould, by futureGenerations;

Be plac'd among the famousConstellations,

And,after-times(though, Mee, thisAgedespise)

Would thinke, theseVerses, had beeneProphecies.

What ever may succeed, myPray'rsandPowr's

Are this way bent; withHope, thatYouorYours

ShallHelps(at least) become, thatBreachto close,

Which, in theSeamles-Robe, yet, wider growes.

So Be It: And, let bright yourGloriesbee,

For ever, thoughYounever shine onMee.

YourMaiesties

most Loyall Subject,

Geo: Wither.

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