Britans Ensignes Poem by Francis Kynaston

Britans Ensignes



Say mighty King, why you your Pardes unite
Say mighty King, why you your Pardes unite
To the browne Lyon, Harpe, and Lillies white?
Pardes nimble lims, the Lyon shewes your fire
Of valour, Lillies mercie, temperance lyre.


Scotland the Lyon gives, England Pardes
Scotland the Lyon gives, England Pardes,
France Lillies, and your Harpe the Irish Bardes.
The Pardes and Lyons shewes you Mars his sonne,
As friend to peace Lyre, Lillies joynd in one.


The fowles that warlike Rome in shield did beare
The fowles that warlike Rome in shield did beare,
Of a fierce Prince and people ensignes were:
His quick, mild, learned minde is noble borne,
Whom Pards, flowers, Harpe and Lyon do adorne.


In shield and targe (most mighty King) you have
In shield and targe (most mighty King) you have
What may your Crowne adorn, delight and save;
Lillies adorne you, Harpes delight, and those
Wild beasts defend your Britan from your foes.


Cæsar, Ioves squire, you Charles bear in your crests
Cæsar, Ioves squire, you Charles bear in your crests,
Three great gods gifts, lillies, a harp, wild beasts,
Flora gave flowers, Phœbus his lire, a paire
Of noble beasts Diana gives you faire:
Lillies, harpe, beasts are signes of warre and peace,
To boast Joves fowles henceforward Cæsar cease.


Charles flower of men, & great'st of Kings, your armes
Charles flower of men, & great'st of Kings, your armes
An Vnicorne & Lyon shield from harms
Both these defend you from your enemies scorne,
One with his pawes, the other with his horne.


The Lyon, Vnicorne, sent from furthest East
The Lyon, Vnicorne, sent from furthest East,
Are Charles, the two supporters of your crest.
The Lyon 'gainst foes armes you, and to save
From poyson the rich Vnicornes horne you have.

Ireland, King Charles, a Harp on you bestowes
Ireland, King Charles, a Harp on you bestowes,
France gives you Iuno's beautifull faire rose.
Parthia gives Pardes, Getulia Lyons gives,
India th' Vnicorne that therein lives.
So the whole world doth to you tribute pay,
And the worlds end your scepter doth obey.


Your shields one halfe, greatest of Kings, to you
Your shields one halfe, greatest of Kings, to you
Belongs, the other to your Queene is due.
Your Lyons, Pards, presents you to a haire,
Of beasts a noble and a nimble paire.
Lillies and Harpe your Queene by right requires,
Whose white excels the Lillies, voyce the lire.


In deserts bred with endlesse bloody warre
In deserts bred with endlesse bloody warre
The Lyon fierce with th' Vnicorne doth jarre,
Their fiercenesse left they here in peace abide,
And Britans shield support on either side.
What manners ought men have under that King,
That fierce wild beasts doth unto concord bring?


A Buckler Pallas beares, arm'd with black snakes
A Buckler Pallas beares, arm'd with black snakes,
Which Gorgon in her brazen tresses shakes
Thou, Charles, beares silver Lillies, Harps of gold,
And thundring beasts we in your shield behold.
Buckler of brasse to gold and silver yeeld,
And Gorgons Hydra to your beasts and shield.


The Lyon fell, fierce Parde, the Lillies sweet
The Lyon fell, fierce Parde, the Lillies sweet,
Harps to sound wel, our ancesters thought meet.
Here Lyon, Pard, their native wonted wrath
Lay by, nor Lillies sent, nor Harpe sound hath.
Like to the Prince the Lyons gentle kinde,
And in the Parde you see a milder minde.
When the Queen opens her breast, or speaks, you see
The Lillies breath no sent, Harpes silent be.

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