LONDON

Honour and Joy salute thee, I am raised In comfort and in love to see thee, glad And happy in thy blessings, nor esteem My words the less, cause I a woman speak, A woman's counsel is not always weak. I am thy Mother, at that name I know Thy heart do's reverence to me, as becomes A Son of Honour, in whose soul burns clear The sacred lights of divine fear and knowledge, I know, that at this instant, all the works Of Motherly love in me, shown to thy Youth When it was soft and helpless, are summed up In thy most grateful mind, thou well remembrest All my deer pains and care, with what affection I cherish thee in my bosom, watchful still Over thy ways, Set wholesome and Religious Laws before The footsteps of thy youth, showed Thee the way That led thee to the Glory of this Day. To which (with tears of the most fruitful joy that cuer Mother shed) I welcome Thee. O I could be content to take my partly Out of Felicity only in weeping, Thy Presence and this Day is so deer to me. Look on my age (my Honourable Son) And then begin to think upon thy Office: See how on each side of me hang the cares Which I bestowed on Thee, in silver hairs. And now the Faith, the Love, the zealous Fires With which I cheered thy Youth, my Age requires, The duty of a Mother I have shown, Through all the Rites of pure affection, In Care, in Government, in Wealth, in Honour, Brought Thee to what thou art, thow'st all from me, Then what thou shouldst be I expect from Thee. Now to Thy Charge, Thy Government, Thy Cares, Thy Mother in her age submits her years. And though (to my abundant grief I speak it, Which now overflows my joy) some Sons I have Thankless, unkind, and disobedient, Rewarding all my Bounties with Neglect, And will of purpose wilfully retire Themselves, from doing grace and service to me, When they have God all they can, or hope for, from me, The thankfulness in which Thy Life does move, Did ever promise fairer fruits of Love, And now they show themselves, yet they have all My blessing with them, so the world shall see It's their unkindness, no defect in me; But go Thou forward (my thrice Honoured Son) In ways of goodness, Glory is best won When Merit brings it home, disdain all Titles Purchased with Coin, of Honour take Thou hold, By thy Desert let others buy't with Gold; Fix thy most serious Thought upon the Weight Thou goest to undergo, it's the joust Government Of this Famed City, ( Me ) whom Nations call Their brightest Eye, then with great care & fear Ought I to be overseen to be kept clear. Spots in deformed Faces are scarce Noted, Fair cheeks are stained if never so little blotted. Seest thou this Key of Gold? it shows thy charge, This place is the Kings Chamber, all pollution, Sin and Uncleanness must be locked out here, And be kept sweet, with Sanctity, Faith & Fear, I see Grace take effect, Heavens Joy upon her, It's rare, when Virtue opens the Gate to Honour, My blessing be upon thee, Son, and Lord, And on my Sons all, that obey my word. Thick Scales of Darkness in a Moments space Are fell from both mine Eyes, I see the Face Of all my Friends about me (now) most clearly, Religions Sisters, whom I Honour dearly; O I behold the work, it comes from Thee Illustrious Patroness, thou that madest me see In Days of blindest Ignorance, when this Light Was ee'n extinguished, Thou Redeemest my sighed; Then to Thy Charge (with Reverence) I commend That worthy Son of mine, thy virtuous Friend, Whom on my Love and Blessing I require, To observe Thee Faithfully, and his Desire To imitate Thy will, and there lie bounded, For Power's a Dangerous Sea, which must be sounded With Truth and Justice, or Man soon runs on against Rocks and Shelves to Dissolution; Then that thou mayest the Difference ever know, Betwixt Truth and Error, a few words shall show; The many Ways that to blind Error slide Are in the entrance broad, Hell-mouth is wide, But when Man enters far, he finds it then Close, Dark and Straight, for Hell returns no Men; But the One sacred Way which Truth directs, Only at Entrance Men Affection Checks, And is there strict alone, to which place throngs All World's Afflictions, Calumnies and wrongs. But having passed those, then thou findest a way In breadth, whole Heaven, in length, eternal Day, Then following Truth, she brings Thee to that way; But first observe what works she here requires, Religion, Knowledge, Sanctity, Chaste Desires, Then Charity, which Bounty must express, To Scholars, Soldiers, Widow's, Fatherless; These have been still my Works, they must be thine, Honour and Actium must together shine, Or the best part's Eclipsed, behold but this, Thy very Crest shows Bounty, here it's put, Thou givest the open Hand, keep it not shut; But to the Needy, or Deserving Spirit, Let it spread wide, and Heaven enrols that Merit; Do these, and prove my Hopeful Worthy Son, Yet nothing's spoke, but needfully must be done. And so led forward. Aeternities bright Sister, by whose Light, Errors infectious Works still fly my Sighed. Receive thy Servants Thanks; Now perfect Love Whose Right hand holds a Sphere, wherein do move Twelve blessed Societies, whose beloved increase, Stile it the Ring of Brotherhood, Faith and Peace, From thy Harmonious Lips let them all taste, The Golden counsel that makes Health long last. Before the Day sprang from the Morning's Womb I rose, my Care was earlier then the Light, Nor would it rest till I now brought Thee Home, Marrying to one Joy both thy Day and Night; Nor can we call this Night, if our Eyes count The Glorious beams that dance about this Mount, Sure did not Custom guide'em, Men would say Two Noon's were seen together in one day, The Splendour is so piercing, Triumph seems As if it sparkled, and to Men's esteems Threw forth his Thanks, wrapped up in Golden Flames, As if he would give Light to read their Names That were at Cost this Day to make him shine, And be as free in Thanks, as they in Coin, But see Time checks me, and his Sith stands ready To cut all off, no State on Earth is steady, Therefore Grave Son the Time that is to come, Bestow on Truth, and so Thour't welcome Home.