THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND MOUNT CAB URN. P o E M- Humbly Infcribed to Her GRACi- The Dutchefs o^Ke'wcaftle, By W I L L I A M Hay, Efquire. Ille terrarum mihi prater omnes j4ngulus ridet. H O R. LONDON: Printed for J. Stagg, in Wefiminjler - HaJL M. DCC. XXX. [_ Price 15.] c ■^■. :1 [ 3 ] To Her Grace The Dutchefs of NEWCASTLE. MADAM, Poem, which is honoured with Your Grace's Name, fliould abound in Your own fubliniie Sentiments, and be faultlefs as Your Character. Therefore, if it is an Error to publifh a bad Piece to the World, it is certainly a much greater to infcribe it to Your Grace. The Reader may very jurtly be difpleafed with my Compofition, but he will have more Reafon to be offended with my Dedication. In the firft he can onlv cenfure me for want of Genius 5 but in the laft he may condemn me for Excefs of Vanity. I can only fay, That the lefs I de- ferve, the more I ftand in need of Your Grace's Protection. This is the only Claim I can make to it. The following Lines owe their Birth to a Country, which You often honour with Your Prefence; and the Scene is laid on thofe Hills, of which You are an Admirer. I fliould be happy, if the Poem had as many Beauties as the Landfcape, and if You could find an equal Entertainment in both. When I fubmit it to Your Grace, I know that I fubmit it to the mod favourable Judae 5 not lefs indulgent to the Failings of Others, than infenfible to Perfections, which are peculiarly Your Own : which would render the Ge- nerality of the World Vain and Arrogant, but only teach Your Grace to be more Humble and Obliging. But, as I fhould efteem 859G95 4 D E D I C^ 110 N. efteem it the greateft Misfortune to incur Your Difpleafure, I [hall forbear to expatiate on a Character, which adorns one of the firft Stations of Life, and does Honour to the Faiy Sex. I only wifli, that the Ladies of the Age were as ready to follow Your Grace in Your Great and Good Qualities, as they are to . imitate Perfons of Your high Rank and Birth in Things of no Moment : For I am perfuaded it would be no Difadvantagc to any Lady, that is a Subjed of Great-Britain, to be like the Dutchefs of NEWCASTLE. The following Piece is the Amufement of fome vacant Hours 5 and was writ with no other View than to celebrate my Native Country. Mount Caburn is a fpiriclefs Imitation of Cooper's Hill, a bad Copy of the nobleft Original. This Profpedl does not afford a Thames, a Windsor, or a London, which are the peculiar Embcllifhments of the other, and Subjects worthy the great Poet who fung them : But it affords a fuffi- cicnt Foundation, on which to have raifcd a fine and lafting Superftrudture, if the Work had fallen to the Share of a more skilful Artift. I WILL trouble Your Grace no longer with my Profcj for I am fenfible You will be too much tired with my Poetry, I BEG Leave to fubfcribe myfelf, with the greatefl Veneration, MAI) AM, Tour Grace's Moji Obliged, And moji Obedient Servant^ WILLIAM HAY. [ 5 ] MO UKT * CAB UR K O E M 'OETS, who mean to foar no common Height. From fome afpiring Mountain take their Flight. Each rifing Step prefents a Scene that's new 5 And Fancy flill enlarges like the View. When Cooper's Hill receiv'd the tuneful Throng, Sublime as was their Station, was their Song. Me never fliall the Mufes tempt from Home, O'er H^MUS, or o'er Pindus Top to roam 5 My Native Mount affords me more Delight, Surpaffing thofe in Beauty, as in Height : And, were my Powers but equal to my Will, Parnassus fhould not be a nobler Hill. * A Hill, Part of the South Downs near Lewes in Sussex, from which there is a very extended Profpeft. B From 6 MOUNT C A BURN. From this proud Eminence the ravifh'd Eye Sees Earth with Heaven, and Heaven with Ocean vye, To form a fecond Edek. Nature's Face Wrinkled appears, but yet with youthful Grace. Hills, fmiling, court the Sky 5 the Vales below, As with their Streams, with Plenty overflow : Beauty and Plenty, dancing Hand in Hand, At once confpire to deck and blefs the Land. Beneath me, all around the happy Soil, I fee a Thoufand fturdy Mowers toil : Each feems, from hence^ fmall as the labouring Ant, And, like him too, provides for Winter's Want. With bellowing Herds the neighbouring Mountains ring : Corn flands fo thick, the Vales and Peafants fing. When Autumn turns the ripening Ear to Gold, Gathering their Store, the ruflick Tribe, behold, Swarm thro' the fultry Fields : the grateful Land Anfwcrs the Reaper's Wifh, and fills his Hand. But earn'd by Labour, he defpifes Gain, When he looks up, and fpies the happier Swain Stretch'd on the Mountain Top 5 ( the common Fate To envy Men of more exalted State ) To thofe beneath, whom Care and Toil deprefs, He feems a God in Height and Happinefs: Above the Clouds appear his fleecy Care, Andj with the Ram, coelefl:ial Honours fliare. Thrice happy Mountains ! which no outward Storm, Or foul Eruptions from within, deform. No ^^ P O E M. No Rocks, like Rags in Poverty, they wear ; But a rich verdant Mantle thro' the Year. Where moft irregular, they pleafe us moft, As Forms in graceful Negligence when loft. No Refuge yield to Bird, or Beaft, of Prey 5 Safe o'er them Flocks, with Swains as harmlefs, ftray. The Flocks fo numerous, which they fuftain. They cloath the Mountain firft, and then the Swain. Here, Britain, view thy native Wealth, the Fleece 5 As rich as that, which Jason brought to Greece : This as much fought for now, as thac of old 5 And, tho' not Gold irfelf, produces Gold. But now, my Mufe, conducted by my "Sight, Down to the ^ Wild directs her aery Flight. Where Earth, the Emblem of her Mafter's Fate, Both in his happy, and his fallen State, Naked, like Innocence, here views the Light, Like confcious Guilt, there veils herfelf from Sight. Nought we can here admire, or firft, or moft. But in the gay Variety are loft. Nature and Art, uniting, yet at Odds, Together blend the Works of Men and Gods. Houfes and Trees, and Towns and Forefts vye. Which moft fhall charm, and moft retard the Eye, The Heath in Red, the Meadow clad in Green, And Silver Stream, diverfify the Scene. * The Low Inciofed Country. iJiU Temples, ■).V/-, 8 MOUNT CABURN. Temples, their Founders Piety proclaim ; And Caftles fpeak their impious Thirft of Fame. Here Ceres promifes a full Increafe, Pleas'd in a Land of Liberty and Peace : SylvamuSj there, tempts to his dole Retreat, Shdter'd from WiisTRi Storms, and Summer's Heat. This Scene, how different in its priftine State I ( What Fame reports, well may the Mufe relate ) . ^ All was one wild inhofpitable Wafte ; Uncouth and horrid, defart and untrac'd ; Hid, by rough Thickets, from the Face of Day j The folitary Realm of Beafts of Prey : After the weaker Kinds the Foxes ran, Themfelves not yet purlu'd by craftier Man ; The Wolf, fince banifli'd, rul'd with lawlefs Might, And, howling, added Horror to the Night. 'Till Man, at length, their fecret Haunts explor'd. And taught the Savage Race to know their Lord. Then Induftry, Earth's Handmaid, threw apart Her rude Attire, and drefs'd her Charms with Art : From fecond Chaos Order did produce, From ufelefs Things Things of the nobleft Ufe. Her bufy Hands, firft, from the Cavern tore -j" The rugged Oar, for Ages hid before. * Suppofed formerly to have been Part of the Foreft of Anderida. Vide Camden in Sussex. t There are many Iron Works in this Part of the Country. This y^ P O E M. 9 This Vulcan purges, and the Cyclop's Care, Forms into Implemerits of Peace and War. As doth one Bufli the Rofe and Thorn afford, So the fame Mine the Plough-fhare and the Swords Britons may reft fecure from all Alarms, Whilft native Valour here finds native Afms. Gifts, fuited to each People, Nature gave, Gold to the Vain, and Iron to the Brave : , - Such Metals are the Treafure of our Soil, As guard our Perfons, not our Morals fpoiL Nor, Mifer-like, doth Earth her Wealth intomb ; Her Surface is more fruitful than her Womb. Here ftands the ^ Oak, which long hath Time defy'd j The Work of Ages, and the Foreft's Pride : The Nobleft of his Sons, and moft his Care, Doth o'er the reft His leafy Honours wear : We fee in him, fo proud, fo ftrong, fo high, An Earth-born Giant that invades the Sky : His Top, amidft the Tempeft's fell Debate, ' Like Fortune waves 5 his Trunk as fix'd as Fate. In his Great-grandfire's Shade did Druids d\yell : His Grandlire with the Roman Empire fell : Himfelf a Sapling, when his Father bore Victorious Henry to the Celtick Shore. Here, like a Friend and Guardian, doth he ftand, At firft to Grace, and then Protect the Land : * The Growth of this Country is the moft efteemed for the Ufe of the Navy. C . For, ,o MOUNr CJBURN, For, when Face fummons, from the long-known Wood, With Honour he defcends into the Flood j Bears Britain's Warlike Youth the Globe around, And brings them back with Wealth or Glory crown'd. But here my Fancy doth my View prevent, Firfl launching on that Azure Element, Which feems, from hence, to the miftaken Eye, Part of a brighter Cloud, or darker Sky. Stupendous Cliffs, whofe Heads Olympus greet, Frown on its Waves, which humbly bathe their Feet. Albion, high rais'd, looks like the Soveraign King, To whom the Seas Homage and Tribute bring 5 The Seas, which cut him from the Continent, His Bound, his Empire, Guard, and Ornament. Divided from the World, united ftand Within thyfelf, thrice potent happy Land : To Hell drive Party-Rage, and Fadion foul j As one compadted Body, be one Soul. I F Fame fpeak Truth, ere mighty Julius came, Or fabled Brute, or Britain had a Name, Here a high chalky ^ Ifthmus Paffage lent From this our World into the Continent. , Over this Bridge, from Gallia, did repair All that from Eaftern Climes firfl harbour'd there : * Vide Camden in Ke?it. ^ Verpgan, Cap. 4. MaBy ^ P O E M. n Man, with a numerous Train of every Birch, That ftately walks, or lowly creeps the Earth. They came 5 but never to return again ; For foon the potent Ruler of the Main, Indignant longer fuch Reflraint to bear, Or round cold Orkney's Coaft to drive his Carr, With his huge Trident cleft the mafly Pile, And in his Arms embrac'd his favourite Ifle : Gave her to rule the Deep, as far as flow His briny Waves, or angry Winds can blow. And now her dreaded Fleets, at her Command, Herfelf acccflefs, vifit every Land 5 To every Nation make her Prowefs known, And all the Produft of the World her own. Not greater Treafure Ocean's Bofom hides. Than in her Veflels o'er its Surface glides. Here have I feen, when Difcord Europe rent, ( Bellona raging on each Element ) So many Ships, teeming with foreign Stores, Steering their Courfe unto Augusta's Shores, As hid the liquid Plain : to diftant View Their Mafts appear like Woods, where firft they grew : Their Guardian Convoy, freighted for the War, High o'er the reft exalts himfelf in Air 5 With Flags difplay'd, and with his Canvas ftrung, Rides like the Silver Swan amidft her Young. Then might Leviathan, with vaft Surprize, A Creature fee, of more enormous Size, ^ Move 12 MOUNT CABURN, ?^tove in the Deep, whofe pregnant Womb doth hold More Warriors than the Trojan Horfe of old 5 Who from a hundred Mouths in Thunder roars, Burfts the furrounding Clouds, and frights the ecchoing Shores, « How dreadful is the Combat on the Main! In ghaftliefl: Shapes where Death and Horror reign 5 Where Men with fiercer Elements confpire, Joining their Rage to that of Seas and Fire. Nor Flight, nor Valour, from Deftru6tion favc, One Lot involves the Coward and the Brave. Sometimes one fatal Blow decides the War ; All fink in Waves, or mount on Flames in Air, The Ship their Funeral Pile, or elfe its Womb, As once their Habitation, is their Tomb. Often in Crowds thcfe confcious Shores have feen Our Fleets engaging in this awful Scene : Have feen fecure • but did the Waves upbraid, That ftopp'd their Valour, and their friendly Aid : While thofe, who in the Toil and Glory fliare, To Britons fhew, what Britons only dare : Viewing their native Land, they fcorn the Grave, Ready to yield her back the Life flie gave : Their Friends to witnefs their bold Actions call, Pleas'd in their Sight, and in their Caufe to fall. Had ancient Britons thus been skiird in Fighc, Thev had reftrain'd the Roman Eagle's Flight 5 Ambitious ^ P O E M. 13 Ambitious CjESAR ne'er had reach'd this Shore, And fliewn his Troops a World unknown before. F A R to the Eaft, but almofi: in my View, There is the Place where firfl; thofe Eagles flew : Where naked rBkiTONS did his Power oppofe, And fliew'd ari^i'd Legions no inglorious Foes : Then mighty C^sar miglit relate at Rome, He came, he faw, but could not overcome : For Liberty long refolute they ftood, And were the laft the Romam Arms fubdu'd. Look where I will, fome Marks yet rife to Senfc, Of Roman Valour and Magnificence. ! Square Camps difcover ftill the Scenes of War ; Caufeways theix Zeal for publick Good declare : Struck with Amazement, doth the labouring Hind Their Arms, ^nd their Mosaic Pavements find 5 Urns, which have long their facred Afhes kept ; And CiESARS, which on Coins have Ages flept. But Time, which fets all worldly Things their Date, To GoTHiCK Rage gave up the Roman State j Then barbarous Saxoks did this jfle invade. And conquer'd thofe, whom they engag'd to aid. Scarce in the Eaft had Hengist fix'd his Power j When Warlike Ella landed on this Shore. D Far, 14 MOUNT CABURN, Far as my Eye can reach, his Sword fubdu'd, Unjuftly dy'd in harmlefs Britain's Blood: A fecond Kingdom did his Arms procure, Which bore a ^ Name for ever to endure. H A 1 But when he vifited thefe blefl: Abodes, i tuy.^ . He banidi'd Truth, and brought in his falfe Gods : Temples no more refound th' Almighty's Praife3 To Thor and Woden every Altar blaze : His Pagan Rites did Ella's Zeal advance; Great was his Power, and great his Ignorance. From that Time Cissa, potent Ella's Son, Long rul'd in Peace the Realm his Father won : Weftward his Seat of Empire and of Fame He chofe, where ftill the ^ Town preferves his Name. B u T in the Times fucceeding to thefe Reigns, Contending Saxons, and invading 1)a?ies^ Whofe Law was Force, whofe Property was Spoil, With War and Rapine vex'd this fertile Soil. Where is the Field, the Foreft, or the Wood, But ftill is richer with our Father's Blood ? Where is the Sea, the Fountain, or the Rill, But flows ftill confcious of fomc mighty 111 ? This Mount to Mind domeftick Difcord brings ; For in a Saxon Camp my Mufe now fings. * The Kingdom of Sussex, or South-Saxons, the Second of the Hep- tarchy. t Chichester. The ^ P O E M. 15 The Hills high Tops fad ^ iNTonuments remain, And rife ftill nearer Heaven with Heaps of Slain. Why Graves fo eminent did Warriors choofe ? Was ic Tome ufeful Precept to infufe ? Would they their Sons with Martial Glory fire ? Or by their Death more peaceful Thoughts infpire ? The curious Antiquaries with Surprize View their odd Armour, and Gigantick Size, And us their Modern Pigmy-Race defpife. TuRNiKG my Face unto the Morning Light, An Antique \ Pile falutes my roving Sight : Whether of Roman, x)r of later Date, Remains a Secret, which the Learned debate. Once a fair Port inrich'd the fam'd Abode 5 But Herds now graze, where Royal Navies rode : For, like ambitious Princes, Earth and Main Contending, make each other's Lofs their Gain. Here with his Powers the haughty Norman came 5 Conqueft his View, the Diadem his Claim : The Will of Edward his pretended Right j But his befl Title was fuccefsful Might. Scarce flood his Soldiers on the promised Land, But their great Leader, by a bold Command, * The Bergs or Burying-Placcs, to be feen on the Summits of many of the Hills, Vide Verstegan, Cap. 7. t Pevensey Castle. Aiming i6 MOUNT CABU RN, Aiming a defperare Courage to infpire, Bid them look back, and fee his Fleet on Fire 5 Shew'd them their Hopes in Vi^Story alone 5 And that his Lot miift be the Grave or Throne. By eafy ^Tarches to the ^ Town he came, Which from the Danish Pirate takes its Name 5 ( Firft of thofe Sifter f Ports, which fince arofe The Nation's Guard againft in\ ading Foes : Whofe Naval Services, in Ages paft, Kings paid with Honours, which fliall ever laft) Harold, whofe Sword yet reek'd with Nor v>f ay's Gore, Crown'd with frefii Laurels pluck'd from Humberts Shore, Found here the other P>.ival of his Fame, The fame his Caufe, he hop'd th' Event the fame.' '' ^ Bloody the Strife, nor fmall the Vi<^or's Gain 5 .;;.» i They fight a Crown to guard, or to obtain. But Heaven and Fate determin'd near this Place, To end the Glories of the Saxon Race : Still the proud Ruins of the t Abbey tell, Where William concjuer'd, and where Harold fell. This Fabrick on the Spot the Vi<^or built, T' appeafe juft Heaven for Blood unjuftly fpilc. But may his Piety this Offering claim ? Or did it fpring from Love of worldly Fame ? Since the fame Work, that fhould his Guilt attone, A Trophy ftands to make his Glory known. * Hastings. f Cinq^ue Ports. ^ Battle Abbey. Oh y^ P O E M. 17 oh Vanity ! can the fame Deed be thought Impious and Brave, an Honour and a Fault ? Or by our Gifts can Heaven's eternal Will, Like Judges brib'd, be taught to wink at 111 ? Oh Ignorance of thofe deluded Times, That thought Saints Prayers could expiate Sinners Crimes ! But now my Mufe, by quick Poetick Flight, Doth leave thefe Ruins, and on nearer light : Where a fam'd ^ Abbey, of a later Date, But the fame Order, fliar'd her Sifter's Fate. ( Nor thefe alone, but each Monaftick Cell, Sunk, when their Parent Superftition fell. ) Wide o'er the Vale its rude Remains are fpread : Above, the Caftle rears his aged Head 5 As much decay 'd 5 his Origin the fame : Each is a Monument off Warren's Fame. Thefe the great Founder hop'd, but hop'd in vain, Should fafe, whilft flow'd the neighbouring Stream, remain. The Scream, which through the verdant Paftures ftray'd. The rifing Fabricks then with Pride furvey'd : Paffing the ruin'd Dome, and linking Tower, Now mourns the faded Glories of his Shore : Whilft his own Current ftill the fame doth laft 5 So much Man's Works by Nature's are furpafs'd. * Lkwus Abbey. t The firft Earl of Surrey. Vtde Camden in Surrey and Sussex. E The i8 MOUNT CABURN. Tlie Caflle, once its mighcy Lord's Abode, PrelTes the Mountain with .a ufclels Load j Dreadful its iiigh-rais'd broken Walls impend, Thrcat'ning to crufh the Town they did defend 5 And o'er the People fuddcn Ruin fpread. Like Infants by their Nurfes overlaid. And lo ! the Monaftery's facred Wall, A Neil to Ravens, and to Herds a Stall. In this Recefs the hooded Fryar lay, Diflblv'd in Eafe, a,nd numbering Life away : Luxurious far'd, his Mattins duly faid 5 Sung o'er the Dead, and on the Living prey'd : The fupple Layman treated as he pleas'd, Tortur'd with Penance, or with Pardon eas'd : To Poverty the Gates of Heaven were barr'd 5 But for the Rich to enter was not hard j Brokers in Sin did their Afliftance lend j Who paid the Monks, never could God ofFcnd : They to Religion blind, but worldly wife, For Lands and Houfes barter'd Paradife : Unlearn'd, and skill'd in pious Frauds alone. They gave us Heaven, to make the Earth their own. • s ■ ' ' ' To them thefe fair PofiTeffions Warren gave, Referv'd a Pardon, and a fainted Grave. But long the Pile hath been by Time o'erthrownj His Tomb is vanifli'd, and the Place unknown. He, J? OEM. 19 He, whom th' adjacent Trads did once obey, Here lies a Piece of undiftinguifll'd Clay : How is his Glory fled, who now is grown Part of the. field, which once he call'd his own ! O all ye Rich, ye Fortu.na.te, ye Great, Can ye be proud, and' think of Warren's Fate ? ■ r Far happier thou of Denmark's Royal Race, Whofe great Remains a neighbouring ^ Temple grace! Where the informing Stone ftill takes a Pride To tell thofe Virtues, which you ftrove to hide : Who from the World did prudently retire. And all that Grandeur which the Vain admire j And to high Titles, Dignity and Blood, Prefer the nobler Praifd of being Good : _, ^ To watch thy Urn may Angels never ceafc ! T or! 1" And may thy honoured Duft long reft in Peace I Beyond : the Hills an even f Carpet fpread. Tempting their Sons to fport upon their Head. See! the light Riders on the well-bred Horfe Spring from the Goal, and urge the rapid Courfe : So inftantly they gain upon the Way, That Time itfelf flies riot Co fwift as they : The Silver Mew, . which skims the nether Air, Seems tardy on the Wing,' when they are near : .1- * St. John's Church, iit •which" is to be feen the Monument of a Danish Prince, whefe Epitaph is recoTtled in Cami>en. ^ , ,. .t, The Horse-Course. "^!f' - Forward 20 MOU NT CABU RN. Forward chey prefs, while Shouts afcend the Clouds, 'Midft Chariots, neighing Steeds, and gazing Crowds. Different the Conteft was, the Place the fame, ( The ^ Place, which bears the Captive Monarch's Name ) VC'hen haplefs ^ Henry, too imperious Lord, Here loft his Liberty, but ours reftor'd. Thence firm the long-contefted Charter flood 5 Which England purchas'd with her Noblcft Blood, And ever will eftecm her Nobleft Good. The greater Edward did this Grant approve, And fix'd his Empire in his People's Love. He knew ( as all recorded Times have fliown ) Invading Subjedls Rights, Kings lofe their own. X Still may we blefs the Day, when on this Plain The Tyrant broke his Rod, the Slave his Chain. Then Liberty did higher Thoughts impart, And with more generous Courage fire the Heart. Then Property, ador'd by every Swain, Advanc'd with laughing Plenty in her Train. Juftice prevail'd, Oppreffion fled the Field; . Law was a Curb to Might, to Right a Shield. The refcu'd Nation fmil'd, whilft all around She faw the foreign Realms in Fetters bound; Nor thought (lie did too dear thofe Bleffjngs gain, Which file enjoys fecure in George's Reign, * Called Mount-Harry. t Henry the Third. :t See M. Rapin's Remarks on this Event in his Hiftory of England. Which A P O E M. 21 which Frederick's Virtues promife long fliall laft, And future Times be happy as the paft. But if this Hill one King did Captive fee, A neighbouring ^ Town fince fet another free. When to her Shore, Charles, like a Hart purfu'd, Fled from the Hounds late flefli'd with Royal Blood. By Stratagem efcap'd his Father's Fate, Transform'd from regal to a low Eftate : For furious Storms the (lately Oak o'erthrow, Whilft humble Shrubs beneath in Safety grow. Here, from the kind Protedllon of the Wood, He came, imploring Mercy from the Flood : Bear m.e, he cried, from that inhuman Band To foreign Air, and a lefs guilty Land : Meanly difguis'd the Royal Exile went 5 And foon th' offending Nation did relent 5 The injur'd Prince, whom they expell'd before, Recaird in Triumph to his native Shore : So from the Eclipfe breaks the returning Light 5 So fets the Sun, to rife again more bright. Returking thence, behold a mould'ring f Towef Receives my Mufe, and claims one Labour more: Whofe Walls the myftick Buckles ftill adorn, A Royal Spoil from Gallia's Monarch born. * Brtghthelmston, from whence CnARLEs-the Second efcaped after the Battle of Worcester. t Laughton, the ancient Seat of the Pelhams, Vide Camden. It now gives the Title of a Baron. F Whoe'er 22 MOUNT CABURN. whoe'er did thus the ancient Scrucfture grace, What could he hope more Noble from his Race? Little he knew, that as the Pile fliould fail, Its rifin2 Titles fliould o'er A