The Infancy of the World, Title page – Author to the reader
ΚΟΣΜΟΒΡΕΦΙΑ, OR THE INFANCY OF THE WORLD: With an Appendix of Gods resting day, Ed…n Garden; Mans Happiness before, Misery after, his Fall.
Whereunto is added, The Praise of Nothing; Divine Ejaculations; The four Ages of the world; The Birth of Christ;
Also a Century of Historical Applications; With a Taste of Poetical FICTIONS.
Written some years since by N. B. then of Eaton School;
And now published at the request of his Friends.
London, Printed for Robert Crofts, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Crown in Chancery Lane, under Sergea…ts Inn, 1658.
Basilius Seluciensis:
Deus cùm res creatas in morem scalae adaptaverit, per cas sui amantibus, ascensum ad se extruxit.
Sermone p…imo.
Basilius Magnus:
Deus fecit mundum: ut bonus, utilem: ut sapiens, pulcherimum: ut poten…, maximum.
Si haec didicerimus, nos ipsos agnoscemus, D…um cognoscemus, conditorem adorabimus, Domino serviemus, patrem glorificabimus, nutricium diligemus, benefactorem reverebimur, authorem praesentis et futurae v…tae colere nunquam desinemus. In Hexametr….
Augustinus.
Interrogavi molem mundi, dic mihi, esne tu deus meus? et respon…it voce forti: Non sum Deus tuus, sed per ipsum ego sum: quem quaer…s in me, ipse fecit te et me, et cum quaere supra te et supra me.
In solil…qūijs.
Pro. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself.
Pro. 3. 19. The Lord by wisdome hath founded the Earth, by understanding hath he established the Heavens.
Psal. 8, 1. O Lord our God, how excellent &c.
To the Right Honorable, FRANCIS ROUS, Esq; Provost of Eaton Coll. and one of the Council to his Highness the Lord Protector: N. B. wisheth encrease of grace, and peace, in Christ here; and everlasting glory hereafter.
Right HONOƲRABLE,
JT is now six years compleat, since I was through your favour, removed from my late reverend fathers side; and plac'd in that Famous, and flourishing School of Eaton: from whence, after somc continuance there, haveing not the happiness (nor was I alone) to be transplanted elsewhere, in a Colledg of the same foundation: whither want of learning, or somewhat else, as much (what if I say more?) look'd upon by many now adays, or both, were impediments? I shall not now stand to determine; but sure I am, though I could be so forward as the best, yet was I as ardently desirous after knowledg as the most, and happily, I may truely say of others, what I should blush to say of my self; that in them was verified that of the Poet Juvenal,
Haud facile emergunt quorum virtutibus obstat
Res angusta domi.
Can vertue be advanc'd? now, vertue's poor;
Thou bring'st nought (freind) goe get thee out of door.
Neither doth it now repent me of going into that Labyrinth, though I could not get out by the same clue: for I confess it hath much bettered my knowledg, in the finding out many difficult intricacies in the most useful tongues. And that I might not be ungrateful unto you by whome I have profited, I thought it not amiss (especialy knowing you to be affected with Poetry) to present you, for a new-years gift, these first fruits gathered at play-times there; they being the recreative condiments to my Philological Studies; humbly craving your Honors acceptance of them: And although they are not so fair, nor so ripe for your sake as I could wish them, yet are they as good as the third Lustrum of mine age was then able to produce, which I hope may render them the more pardonable, if they taste harsh and untoothsome. I cannot but say they are too mean to stand in competition with so great a favour; yet I conceive they may serve as well as the best, to testifie my unwillingness to stifle your name in the River Lethe, or to rake up the glowing embers of the encourageing bounty of my honorable Maecenas, in the ashes of Oblivion: My Muse therefore haveing nothing else, leaves these leafes with you as a concise Epitomie of the voluminous thankfulness own you by
Canterb. Dec. 29. 1656. Sir, Your Honours obliged servant, and dayly Oratour. NICH: BILLINGSLY.
To the Candid Reader,
Gentle Reader,
I Little thought when first I composed these few lines, that they should ever appeare in publique view; but thy kind entertainment of my first Pilgrim that adventured abroad into the world, hath emboldned me (my friends likewise, whome I have cause to honor) very much encouraging me thereunto, to thrust upon thee this second also, which how well thou wilt use I know not, for that I must stand to thy courtesie; But I tell thee this beforehand, thou must not expect here any strong lines, high tow'ri… fancies, and soaring inventions, which were (when I penned this) inconsistent with my boyish years. If the natures of Wells, Rivers, Fountains, Springs, Trees, Plants, Flowers, Birdes, Beasts, Fishes, Starrs &c. delight thee to know, thou hast them here set down as well as I could, and I wish they were better for thy sake then they are: although, I must needs say, I colected them for mine owne pleasure and profit: For the first I found no better remedy to rouse my selfe out of my dumpish malencholy (to which I was naturaly enclined) then a fit of Poetry. For the second I conceived that my digesting into a little roome what I found scatered here and there in divers Authors, touching this subject (which is so exceeding comprehensive) might be advantageous to my memory in the retaining of the several Species of things created, and that so my soul might rise up to a higher pitch, in admiring at the All creators glory. Thus (Reader) dost thou see how I aymed at mine owne ends in scribling this Tractate. Now my desire is thou maist find the same ends in reading of it, that the Lyricks words might be made good in me;
Aut prodesse volunt &c.
To profit or delight, Poets take care;
Or to doe both at once, delighted are,
Thy freind to serve thee if thou pleasest. N. B.
The Worlds Creation, sung by Mr. Nicholas Billingsly, at fifteen years of Age.
PEace to Du Bartas Ghost: no murthers here,
Or should we touch our deare dead Sylvester
Would vocal bloud out murther murther cry,
With witnesses in gules, 'gainst Billingsl…?
No, no great souls, your weeks all yeares out-run,
And like your world wait on C…nflag…ation.
At first divinest love with brooding wings
Made warme the worlds great egg, in which all things
Like Atomes slept untill th' Eternal one
Old nothing wakened to perfection.
Since when some wits at Mose… bush took light,
Enough to blind the dim▪ey▪d Stagyrite:
And by their numbers taught Philosophy;
How, when began the worlds E…iphanic.
Amongst the r…st our friend not past fifteen,
Who from his girdle upward's, epicene;
Apollo-like, without a beard, nor can
His doubtful chin betray him to be man.
This Cockrel-muse betimes in his owne morn,
Hath clap'd his wings, and sung the World is born.
Wl: Iacob. foreign
To my friend the Author of this Book cui Titulus est Κοσμοβρεφία
Non sat erat legisse semel, bis terque libellum,
Ipse quater legi, lectus & usque iuvat.
Dull Panigericks are not worth a rush,
Good wine will sell without an Ivy bush;
A well compacted Poem will invite
Each Readers pallate, whet the appetite:
A comely feature needs no paint, and where
Bright Sol doth shine, we need no Tapers there.
Then take this Nothing naked as it is,
A Metaphisick, Hymne, or Genesis:
Du Bartus first, (let Bartas have his due)
Imparted to us what Sylvester knew.
My learned friend well mounted, ergo bolder,
VponUpon Du Bartas and Sylvester's shoulder,
Did (Janus like) look backward and before
And saw as much as all the rest, or more:
Nay pregnant he, before his glass had run
Full fifteen winters, was the Muses Son;
Of nothing, he could something then indite,
To non-plus him that was the Stagyrite.
O cursed Heriticks! who dare to tell
A race of men, before the first man fell:
Read but this Book thou wilt beleeve as soon,
Phantastick world's created in the Moon.
Edvardus Browne Cantuar. Reg. Scho. Archi-didasc. Januar. 1. 5656.
foreign— —
God, the most great and mighty Architect,
Did all of nought, but his owne love, erect;
And by the pleasure of hi… free good will,
With wonderous works the heaven and earth did fill
And on each creature in this Ʋniverse,
Did strange and sundry natural gifts disperse:
His boundless power, the dead from ground can raise
And out of Sucklings mouths doth perfect praise:
VVisedome he gives to men of elder yeares,
And it in very young ones oft appear…:
VVitness the Author of this worthy Book,
VVho at his age of fifteen undertook
This his industrious and painful task,
Gods wonders great in nature to unmasque:
VVherein the reader may his soul delight
Of God himself in haveing some sweet sight:
VVhichWhich should the heart to be set on him move,
For his great goodness, wisdome, power and love.
By R. Cr. Reg. Scho. Cantuar. Hipo didasc.
Amic… suo Authore amore nec non affinitate conjunctissimo.
Ternis rem grandem verbis, includere dictus
Unus erat Patrum; sit tria verba liber:
Seria mira bonis ponis graviter que libelum
Musa dat; exiguum nec sale mole carens.
Tho: Wotton.
To my Son (in Law) upon his Poem.
A Silly Ass for some disaster,
Reprov'd the madness of his Master:
And shall not I speak now in season,
Who am a man endued with reason;
Especially when God appears
So merciful to tender years;
In that he would his praise be sung
By one that was exceeding young;
To teach us how to bless his name,
Who all-things did of nothing frame:
My prayers shall still to God be sent,
To bless his little instrument.
Iohn Stodder.
To my deare Brother the Author of this Book called foreign.
VVHat write so well as this, and but fifteen?
How ripe art thou in wit? in years how green?
In the Aurora of thine age, betimes,
How expert art thou in composing Rhimes?
My Muse (alas!) scarce ever could aspire
To make a verse; Apollo and his Lyre
Are strangers to me; on the forked hill
I never slumbred; never bath'd my Quill
In Hipocrene: but haveing read thy Book
Of the Worlds birth, my Pen in hand I took,
And went to write, indeed, I could not chuse
But make a verse, inspired by thy Muse.
I well remember what a deal a doe
I ma…e to fumble out a verse or two.
VVhen on Apollo, and the triple Trine,
I only did reply for Discipline;
VVorth's in thy Book, and what care I who know it,
Love wings my Muse; 'tis love makes me a Poet▪
John Billingsly.
To my good friend Mr. Nicholas Billingsly in Honor of this work, penned by him about the fifteenth yeare of his age.
GOd that did all things out of Nothing raise,
And hath from mouths of Babes ordain'd his praises
When thou wast nothing but a suckling Muse.
The Chaos of a man, he did infuse
His grace so in thy heart, that thou in verse
Didst portray out his glorious universe:
To sing his praises, he did make thy Pen
Distil celestcal Nectar: yea, and when
Thou wert a stripling he did then adorne
Thy fruitful head with th' Amalthean horn.
Thou like another Grand-seir, to each creature
Hast given a name according to its Nature:
Of Trees, Plants, Stones, their secret mysteries
Of Beasts, and Birds thou writest plaine Histories:
Whiles others af thine Age mispent their times
In toys and pastimes, thou in sacred Rhimes
Applid'st thy self to celebrate the praise
Of God that first hath lent unto thee days:
And if such fruit thy tender buds bring forth,
In riper age admir'd shall be thy worth.
Jo: Swan. Cleric. Ian: 20. 1656.
To my friend the Author, on his Poem intituled foreign,
WHen I survey thy well-composed piece
I stand amaz'd at thy rare Artifice
Thy curious Pencil guided by a hand
More skilful then Apelles could command,
Hath, to the gre…test Artists emulation,
A stately Landskip of the Worlds Creation,
Drawn to the life: my friend each polish'd line
Is guilded o're with eloquence divine:
VVhichWhich feeds with loftier Ayers, juditious ears
Then those causd by the motion of the Spheres.
I'le only aedd, by way of approbation,
Thy serious work's an heavenly Recreation,
Francis Taylor. Cant. Jan. 1. 1656.
To his very loving friend, M…. Nicholas Billingsly, on his acurate Poem.
ATomes, say some, by chance together thrown
The world was made of: sure had they but known
Of this its nobler birth, not one would dare
To say that chance could make it half so fair.
Here Epicurus who i…s Picture drew,
…n lines like his opinion seldome true,
In this composed piece, might at one sight
Have seen to set both verse and judgment right▪
Thus Sir, takeing the blot from Poetrie,
In this you make both it and truth agree.
D. R. Col. Mert
In amici sui opus exquisitum Κοσμοβρεφίαν.
foreign
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foreign,
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foreign;
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Jo: Cox. E Coll. Mer…▪ O …on nuper Et…nens…▪
In Amici sui meri…isim…: Nicholas Billingsly amaenam Κοσμοβρεφίας Synopsin Carmen Encomiasticon, Januar. 16. 1657.
In nova fert animus Lector? novus iste libellus
Mira quidem dictu, sed nova sacra tenet.
Protulit ex nihilo divina potentia cuncta:
Infantem Mundum, Musa tenella canit;
Musa diu la…itans haec, Etonensis Alumni,
Proripit in lucem; dant tria lustra senem.
Accipias lectu dignissima carmina; fructus
Si ribi; & Authori laus; honor atque D…o.
On the same:
Those various Species which thine eye may look
VponUpon i'th' Volumne of the worlds gr…at Book,
Six days was Midwife too; and then God ceas'd
From working, yet from working doth not rest:
For he it is supporteth all things still,
By the Eternal purpose of his will.
My friend (kind Reader) sends thee nothing less
Then all-things pressing, from the sweating Press:
A worke, some years agoe by him compil'd,
At fitfteen years of age, a very child:
The Muses nurst him on Parnassus tops,
And fil'd his Quill with Heleconian drops;
Which if thou mind, I make no question of it
But thou wilt find pleasure co-chaind with profit.
Tho. Carter. Cleric.
In Amici sui meritò Charissimi Mundi Cunabula siue Κοσμοβρεφίαν.
Carmine si molli vafrum traducere Ulyssem,
Divorum{que} Ortua, truculenta{que} Cesaris arma
Dicere Apollineis dignentur frondibus altis:
Ab Jove principium prima{que} ab origine Mundi,
Rerum primatias versu diducere causas,
Quae laus? quod decus est aeterno marmore dignum?
Scivimus Iliadas angusta in nuce coarctus;
Ast hic in parvo cernendus Cortice Mundus;
Omnia nempe tuo Serventur clausa libello;
At nè cuique nihil justè videretur abesse,
Et nihil extremum merito superadditur ipsum;
Talia si scribas aevo miranda Minori,
Q…anta suis tandem seris speremus ab annis.
Jo. VVind Interi. Templi alumnus et nuper in Coll: VVad: Comm…ns.
Deo Ter Opt. Max.
OH from thy Radient Throne above
Look down on me, Great God of love:
With sacred Light my Soul infuse,
And wing, for flight, mine unfledg'd Muse,
That she may like the morning Lark
Mount up and sing: Lord I'me a spark;
But if thy Bellows please to blow
Me up, Oh then I needs must glow.
My God to me a Being gave,
To use those little gifts I have;
Oh may I then to after days
Make known my All-Creators praise;
As by instinct the Loadstone draws
The iron, as the Amber, straws;
So let thy grace mine heart attract,
Dear Lord! O make me have respect
To all thy righteous Laws, begin
To purge out all my dross: my Tinn
Remove far from me; Oh inflame
My frozen Spirit, to praise thy Name.
Let Heaven fill me to the brim
Above the world, Oh may I swim.
And (as it were) my soul divorce
From Transient joys: Oh steer my course
According to thy compass: Guid
My reeling Pinace, make the Tide
Tranquil, and let the milder gale
Of thy sweet Spirit, stuff my Sail,
Ʋntil I safely am arriven
At the desired Haven, Heaven;
Where I shall see the God of nature,
And always praise the worlds Creator.