Poetry Codex

Metaphysical & Cavalier

Henry Peacham

1576?–1643?

Henry Peacham was an English emblem writer, schoolmaster and author, best known for The Compleat Gentleman (1622), a guide to the education and accomplishments of a gentleman. He was educated at Cambridge, taught school, and travelled on the Continent; the dates usually given for his birth and death (about 1576 and about 1643) are uncertain, and some sources place his birth in 1578.

Minerva Britanna, or a Garden of Heroical Devices (1612), dedicated to Henry, Prince of Wales, is a book of emblems, each a woodcut or engraving with a Latin motto, English verses and Latin glosses, addressed to patrons, friends and public figures. Only the English verses are given here, under the Latin mottoes that head each emblem.

Poems (202)

  1. Nisi desuper: To my dread Soveraigne IAMES, King of great BRITAINE
  2. Initium Sapientiae
  3. Cui cedet
  4. Nusquam tuta
  5. Philautia
  6. Humanae traditiones
  7. Cui que et nemini
  8. The AEthiopian Princes at their feastes
  9. To sundry keies doth HILARIE compare
  10. Who takes in hand to turne this sacred booke
  11. Sic pacem habemus: To the High and mightie IAMES, King of greate Britaine
  12. The Thistle arm'd with vengeaunce for his foe
  13. In ANNA regnantium arbor: To the thrice-vertvous, and fairest of Queenes, Anne Queene of great Britaine
  14. Fatum subscribat Eliza: To the most excellent Princesse ELIZABETH, onely Daughter to our
  15. Auspice coelo
  16. To you great Prince, strong stay, and powerfull prop
  17. Par Archillis, Puer vne vinces: To the most renowned, and hopefull, Henrie Prince of Wales
  18. Sweete Duke, that bear'st thy Fathers Image right
  19. Is coelebs, Vrit cura: To the right Honovrable Robert, Earle of Salisburie
  20. His servire: To the Right Honourable and my singuler good Lord HENRY HOWARD Earle of
  21. Gloria Principum: To the right truely Noble, and most Honourable Lord WILLIAM, Earle of
  22. Who sits at sterne of Common wealth, and state
  23. His ornari aut mori: To the right Honourable, and most noble Lord, HENRY, Earle of
  24. Foelicitie by IVLIA once devis'd
  25. Doctrina
  26. Sine refluxu
  27. Yee Noblest fprightes, that with the bird of IOVE
  28. The fiery Coales, that in the silent night
  29. Rex medicus patria
  30. Protegere Regium
  31. The feircest natures; whome in youthfull prime
  32. Who thirsteth after Honor, and renowne
  33. Ex malis moribus bonae leges: To the most iudicious, and learned, Sir FRANCIS BACON
  34. Est hac almus honor: To the right worshipfull Sir Thomas Chaloner, Knight
  35. Virtus Romanaet antiqua: To the right worshipfull Sir DAVID MVRRAY Knight
  36. Sic vtile dulci
  37. Tandem divulganda
  38. Ope mutua: To the right worshipfull and my singuler good frend Mr: ADAM NEWTON Secretarie
  39. Salomonis prudentia: To the right worshipfull Sir DAVID FOVLIS Knight
  40. Vicinorum amicitia
  41. I fledd vnshamed: To the right worshipfull Sir Edmund Ashfeild Knight
  42. Proemio et poena
  43. Quae pondere maior
  44. Hibernica Respub
  45. Poenitentia
  46. Of simple looke, with countenance demure
  47. Crimina gravissima
  48. Virtutem aut vitium sequi Genus
  49. Vos vobis
  50. Sic opibus mentes
  51. Vndi que flamma
  52. Regia liberalitas
  53. In actione consistit
  54. Humilibus dat gratiam
  55. The burning glsse, that most doth gather fire
  56. Scripta non temere edenda
  57. Pulchritudo foeminea
  58. Nil inde insipidum
  59. Ni vndas ni vientos
  60. In alijs tempestivè consulentes non sibi
  61. Quicquid delirant Reges
  62. In timidos et iactantes
  63. Deos inprimis placandos
  64. Deus vltimum refugium: To the right worshipfull, Mr: D: Laifeild, sometimes my Tutor in
  65. Allah vere
  66. Nec te quaesiveris extra
  67. Fit purior haustu
  68. Tutissima comes
  69. In dilapidantes sibi credita aliena
  70. Patientia laesa furorem
  71. Te aspicit vnam
  72. Erit altera merces
  73. Cui candor morte redemptus
  74. Status humanus
  75. Cum severitate lenitas
  76. Sine pluma
  77. Vmbra tantum
  78. Vita tota dies vnus
  79. Divitiae
  80. Vnto his life, who lookes with heedie eie
  81. This Sword, a Symbole of the Law, doth threate
  82. In prodigos
  83. Te Duce
  84. In salo sine sale: To the Hon: and most worthy Ladie, E: L
  85. Vna dolo Divûm: To the most Honorable and worthie Ladie the Ladie Alicia D
  86. Paulatim
  87. Sic vos non vobis: To my worshipfull and kind frend Mr. William Stallenge, searcher of
  88. Tyranni morbus suspicio
  89. Innocentia muninem tutissimum
  90. Amor coniugalis aeternus: To my Louing and most kind frendes, Mr Christopher Collarde
  91. Temperantia
  92. Servire nescit
  93. Vis Amoris
  94. Vini vis
  95. Honos venalis
  96. Divinitùs: To the thrice famous and farre renowned Vniversitie of Oxford
  97. Atheôn exitus
  98. Sic et Ingenium
  99. Presidium et dulce decus
  100. Distantia iungo
  101. Nostro elucescis damno
  102. Ex Avaritia Bellum
  103. The glorious Sunne, that cheeres vs with his light
  104. Non invicta recedo
  105. Non Honos, sed Onus
  106. Quem timuisti, timet
  107. Eo magis caligat
  108. Piorum vita luctuosa: To the modest and virtuous minded, Mrs. Elizabeth Apsley, attending
  109. Coniugij Symbolum
  110. In eos qui cum amicis fruantur, vti nesciant
  111. Sic nos Dij
  112. Par nulla figura dolori
  113. Of Virgins face, with winges, and tallants strong
  114. Salomone pulchrius
  115. Soboles damnosa parenti
  116. Innocentiam iniurijs maximè obnoxiam esse
  117. Humanae miseriae
  118. Vireo tamen
  119. Dij laboribus vendunt
  120. Gloriae lata via
  121. Tu contra audentior
  122. Huic ne credere tutissimum
  123. Mihi gravato Deus: To the Honorable, Sir Thomas Ridgewaie, Knight, and Baronet
  124. Melancholia
  125. Sanguis
  126. Cholera
  127. Phlegma
  128. Ad Iesum Christum opt: Max
  129. Nec amicis, nec cognatis fidendum
  130. Matrimonium
  131. Sed frigida pulchra
  132. Veritas
  133. Etiam hosti servanda
  134. Iustitia militaris
  135. Regum Maiestatem non imminuendam
  136. Dolis minime fidendum
  137. Vigil vtrinque
  138. Vindicta Divina
  139. Eternitas
  140. Hei mihi quod vidi
  141. Sic audaces fortuna
  142. Et minimi vindictam
  143. Ex vtroque Immortalitas
  144. Icon Peccati
  145. Inconstantia
  146. In Amicos falsos
  147. Levitas
  148. Adhuc mea messis in herba
  149. Somniorum Dea
  150. Libidinis effecta
  151. Sors
  152. Inani impetu
  153. Secundus deteriora dies
  154. Silentij dignitas
  155. Vini Energia
  156. Nec igne, nec vnda
  157. While gentle Zephire, warmes the tender spring
  158. Ira Principum
  159. Vlterius durabit
  160. Pro Regno, et Religione
  161. Non Nubila tangant
  162. Ordo
  163. His graviora
  164. In vos hic valet
  165. Nitor in adversum
  166. Vanae merces
  167. Haud conveniunt
  168. Zelus in Deum: To my Father, Mr. Henry Peacham, of Leverton in Holland, in the Countie of
  169. Sanctitas simulata
  170. De Morte, et Cupidine
  171. The valiant mind that once had most delight
  172. Sine Cerere et Baccho
  173. Laboris effecta
  174. Gratis servire libertas
  175. Bid now my Muse, thy lighter taske adieu
  176. So quicke of sense as hath experience taught
  177. Negatur vtrum que
  178. Sorte, aut Labore
  179. Amicitiae effigies
  180. Nulli penetrabilis
  181. Vnum, et semel
  182. Exesse we loath, of want we most complaine
  183. Rura mihi et silentium
  184. Omnis a Deo Sapientia
  185. Divina misericordia
  186. Homo Microcosmus
  187. Vini natura
  188. Vnum alam
  189. Terminus
  190. Fortuna maior
  191. Nec in vna sede morantur
  192. Super terram peregrinans
  193. Ah pitie PALLAS, who hath thee enwrapt?
  194. Personam non animum
  195. The cheifest good, (ah would so good it were)
  196. The Laurel greene, that long in safetie stood
  197. Minimus in summo
  198. Nil viribus impar
  199. Sic bellica virtus
  200. Tantó dulcius
  201. Per far denari
  202. Aula

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