When that they thought all danger past which might themselves oppose to their designes, then were they made a spoile unto their foes. For ofttimes when we glory most in sunshine of delights, then winter stormes our ioyfull course with sharpe afflictions bites. Some of thes Turkes incenst with rage, not fearing this mischaunce, were mownted up into the shrowds their prowes to advaunce. When thirsting for to win renowne with all theire force and might, against the fury of theire foes maintaind an eager fight. But when theire fortune once declined, the Christians they forsooke, leaping into the brinish waves, and so their gallies tooke. But these drops that could their heat quencht not the burning fire of fierce revenge for theire disgrace, but more inflamed theire ire & wrathful rage: remembring that how much more hard the paine, so much more excellent shal be the triumph they obtaine. Thus armd with hope (for hope is swift & flies with swallows wings, of mighty monarchs it makes Gods, and meaner creatures kings) the seaventh time they did attempt although unto theire cost, to reobtaine from christians lands their former honnour lost. Then might you see the fiery balls like comits blazing bright, the dusky smoke of powdred shott, which dimd & dazd their sight. The moony targe advaunced on high from harme to guard their heds, The christians vallour in defence which nought their fury dreads. The fierce aspect on either part sufficient to afright and terrifie great mars himself, the dauntlesse god of might. For to conclude they came aboard, where entertain'd they were by these brave Brutes with martiall stroakes untill the former snare once more had disposest theire hopes the victory to winne constraining them (to get aboard their gallies) backe to swim. Amidst this fight one of thes Turkes thirsting to get renowne, ere that the Christians him descride had tooke their collours downe: wherewith unto the bowsper got, he leapt in the mayne, and tooke his gally with triumph of this his glorious gaine. The valliant hart which oure halth felt the utmost force & might, of envious fortune, corrage takes-and thrives in her despight. that by his resolution bowld he doth abate her ire, which sought to worke his overthrow, by famine sword & fire Euen so the Christians having once repuls'd this furious foe Whose first assalt might seeme to threat theire wrack & deadly woe: Their valiant harts were more inflamed by turks disgraceful toil, hoping theire trophies for to raise by those barbarian spoile: who 4 times twise did board their ship with loftie showts & cries and 4 times twice they were repulst from this their wilful prise : so that through feare discoraged they tooke themselves to flight, and left some of their braue consorts by Christians took in fight. Which captives brought before her grace, on bended knees did craue for mercy; which her Maiesty with pardon freely gaue. Lo here behold by this triumph, as in a mirror plaine, How mightie Joue against all foes our quarrell doth maintaine; confounding all their privy plots and close conspiracies, who for to undermyne our state against us doo devise. Their vaine attempts and bowndles thoughts returns to their decay entrapped in the self same snare, they did for others lay. For God which bounds the raging seas hath bounded theire desire, and turns to smoake their proud attempts, whereby their thoughts aspire. This brave exploit thus finished, the queene with all her traine attending on her princely Grace, to Court retorned againe. Here at court we gaue 2 vollies of shot at our parting. Where like Neptunians captive like thes Turks she saw return with lintstock, match, targs, oares in hand, in solemn march to mourne. Which being acted to the life so much her grace contents, as new varieties have force, mixt with strange complements. By this time Phoebus gan to hide his chariot in the west and each thing liuing tooke themselues unto their wonted rest. But when Philomell once began her sugred notes to sing, at faire Auroras first aproach, which pleasant comfort bring. By chasing hence the darksom night, with her deluding dreams, and bringing in the ioyful light by Sols all searching beames: When euery man with ioyful hart his sleepy bed forsakes and to his daily labour eke himselfe againe betakes. Tuesday. The utmost date expired was upon this present day, of our most gratious Queenes abode in Bristoll for to stay. Wherefore the reuerend councill came unto her princely court, for to attend her maiesty prepared in seemely sort. Whereas our Queene most gratiously vouchsafed to thank ym all both maior sherifes and aldermen, who on their knees did fall, and humbly kist her royall hand, such favor did she shew, and loue for loue, which to her grace in dutie they did ow and furthermore for to expresse her loue to loyall harts, and bountie by rewarding all according to deserts, a ring with diamonds beset most gratiously shee sent, unto the maior as a pledge of her most kinde intent. In ought shee could for Bristolls good in rightful cause obtaine, by suit preferd unto king James our gratious soveraigne. Such tender loue hath now possest her graces princely breast, that shee for Bristols weale would be for euer ready prest. For as the fixed starres moue not within the firmament, so lone by virtuous deeds obtained is always permanent. In solemn wise her farewell tooke through Bristoll streats shee past, where (as at her first entrance here) a worthy guard was plast; the maior with the councell graue before her grace did ride her courtly guard of worthy peeres, attended by her side: The streats on either side were prest with numbers infinite, who in her gratious countenance ́had fixed theire delight. Whose joyfull harts expressed were, when they beheld her face, and with lowd voices did cry out, the lord preserue your Grace. Thus rode they with her grace as far, as Bristolls bounds extend, where this theire ioyful iourney was compelld to take an end. In humble wise the maior then his loftie steed forsoke and of her on bended knees prostrate his farewell tooke. And all the rest her seruants true did seeme to change theire cheare and mourne her absence as the chield that looseth parents deare. The martiall bands in number three, by three brane peales of shott, exprest theire loue, that cursed hate might not theire honour blot. Thus have you heard impartially presented to your view, a pattern of most loyall harts unto theire soveraigne true: Who not alone in harts but hands haue manifested plaine, although that vertues neuer scapes thro' envy free from blame; Therefore let envy fret & fume & spit her poisoned bane, for vertuous deeds shall still enioy a neuer dying fame. Concerning the Author Ro: Naile. It is good to keepe aliue what would be dead, To fixe that fast, which otherwise would faile. finis. THE BRISTOL MEMORIALIST. 1823. General Communications. GRACE AT MEAT. ipsos Inscripsêre Deos sceleri. OVID. MET. xv. 127. To the Editor of the Bristol Memorialist. MR. EDITOR, IN the “London Magazine" there is an article respecting Grace at Meat; distinguished by that richness of illustration and peculiarity of humorous pathos, which justify the conclusion that the writer has studied, con amore, the Anatomy of Melancholy of the quaint, erudite, and inventive Burton. The shrewd artlessness, the pungent simplicity of this essayist, is not a little discouraging to any one who should venture to follow in the same track of observation; and I therefore set out with disclaiming all attempts at imitation. The writer's religious taste is offended at the custom of pronouncing a blessing on the meat without attention to place or circumstance. For instance, he thinks what is called Grace, (by which is meant originally an action of thanks, though it is frequently converted into an invocation of favor) comports well with the frugal table and innocuous viands of children. His feelings recoil only from this brief religious service at civic meetings, aldermanic banquets, or entertainments of deliberate and fore-intentioned conviviality, where the mysteries of gastronomy are celebrated and the palate tickled 'With dishes piled and meats of noblest sort And savour; beasts of chase or fowl of game It was to this effect, though not in the same words as far as I can charge my memory, (for I have not the paper before me,) that the London writer recorded his protest against what purports to be a religious ceremony, but what, if it be really such, and not an empty form, the remnant of the same superstition which blessed door-sills from witches, and imparted a magical holiness to fair water, must have often struck those, who have given the thing a moment's reflection, as out of season and out of taste. I am perfectly aware that the omission of this custom would subject a man to the imputation of heathenism: it would be said that he " crams, and blasphemes his feeder;" negatively at least: and any objection to the practice is calculated to excite prejudices, not of the most gentle kind, against the objector. *Thus in Albumazar, a comedy acted at Cambridge, 1615. "Boxes of white comfits, marchpanes," &c.; and to crown the banquet, "some dozen ounces of amber-grise as grey as can be got:" and in Marmion's Antiquary, 1641, a fat nightingale seasoned with pepper and ambergrease."-RBED's OLD PLAYS, vol. x. p. 78. where see the note.-Warton on Comus. 66 |