Windsor the place; the day was Holy roode;
Saint George my muse: for be it understood,
For all Saint George more early in the yeare
Broke fast and eat a bitt, hee dined here:
And though in Aprill in redd inke he shine,
Know twas September made him redd with wine.

To this good sport rod I, as being allow'd

see the king, and cry him in the crowd; And all solemne meetings have the grace

To thrust

and to be trodde on, by my place.

Where when I ca. I saw the church besett
With tumults, as if athe Brethren mett
To heare some silenc't teher of that quarter
Inveigh against the order of Le garter:

And justly might the weake it grove and wrong,

Because the garter prayes in a strange tongue ; And doth retaine traditions yet, of Fraunce,

In an old Honi soit qui mal y pense.

:

Whence learne, you knights that order that have

t'ane,

That all, besides the buckle, is profane.

But there was noe such doctrine now at stake, Noe starv'd precisian from the pulpit spake: And yet the church was full; all sorts of men, Religions, sexes, ages, were there then: Whils't he that keepes the quire together lo

Papists and Puritans, the Pope and Kno

Which made some wise-ones feare,

nation,

at love our

This mixture would beget a eration; Or that religions should ited bee, When they stay'd serice, these the letany. But noe such hast, this dayes devotion lyes Not in the hearts of men, but in their eyes;` They that we see St. George, heare him aright ; For hee loves not to parly, but to fight. Amongst this audience (my lord) stood I,

Well edified as any that stood by ;

And knew how many leggs a knight letts fall,
Betwixt the king, the offering, and his stall:
Aske mee but of their robes, I shall relate
The colour and the fashion, and the state:
I saw too the procession without doore,

What the poore knightes, and what the prebends

wore.

All this my neighbors that stood by mee tooke,
Who div'd but to the garment, and the looke;
But I saw more, and though I have their fate
In face and favour, yet I want their pate:
Mee thought I then did those first ages know,
Which brought forth knightes soo arm'd and
looking soe,

Who would maintaine their oath, and bind their

worde

With these two scales, an altar and a sworde. Then saw I George new-sainted, when such preists Wore him not only on, but in their breasts.

Oft did I wish that day, with solemne vow,

O that my country were in danger now!
And twas no treason; who could feare to dye,
When he was sure his rescue was so nigh?.

And here I might a just digression make,
Whilst of some foure particular knightes I spake,
To whome I owe my thankes; but twere not best,
By praysing two or three, t' accuse the rest;
Nor can I sing that order, or those men,
That are aboue the maistery of my pen;

And private fingers may not touch those things
Whose authors princes are, whose parents kings:
Wherefore unburnt I will refraine that fire,
Least, daring such a theame, I should aspire
T' include my king and prince, and soe rehearse
Names fitter for my prayer then my verse:

"Hee that will speake of princes, let him use More grace then witt, know God's aboue his

muse."

Noe more of councell: Harke! the trumpetts

sound,

And the grave organ's with the antheme drown'd:
The Church hath said amen to all their rites,
And now the Trojan horse-sets loose his knightes;
The triumph moues: O what could added bee,
Save your accesse, to this solemnitye ?·
Which 1 expect, and doubt not but to see 't,
When the kings favour and your worth shall meete.
I thinke the robes would now become you soe,
St. George himselfe could scarce his owne knights
know

From the lord Mordant: Pardon mee that preach

A doctrine which king James can only teach;
To whome I leaue you, who alone hath right
To make knightes lords, and then a lord a knight.
Imagine now the sceane lyes in the hall;
(For at high noone we are recusants all)
The church is empty, as the bellyes were
Of the spectators, which had languish'd there: