# A Panegyrick upon Oates

From Brotherton Collection MS Lt q 52, "Collection of loose sheets containing predominantly English poems, much of it political, compiled by John Gibson.", c. 1623-1711, page f.36r
A PANEGYRICK UPON OATES.
Silvestrem tenui musam meditemur Avena.
Of all y$^e$ Graine our Nation yields In Orchards Gardens or in Fields There is A Grain w$^{ch}$ tho tis com̄on Its Worth till now was known to no man Not Ceres cicle ere did crop A Graine with eares of greater hope; For why? some say the earth n'ere bore In any clime such seed before. Yet this Graine has (as all must own) To Grooms and ostlers well been known; And often has without disdaine In musty barne and manger laine As if it had bin only good To be for Birds and Beasts the Food: But now by new inspired force It keeps alive both man and horse. Speake then, my Muse, for now we guess What Graine it is thou wouldst express. It is not Barley, Rye, or Wheat, That can pretend to such a feat Tis Oates, bare Oates, which is become The Health of England, Bane of Rome, And Wonder of all Christendome.$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ And therefore Oates has well deservd From musty Barne to be preferd And now in Royall Court preservd$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ That like Hesperian Fruit Oates may Be watchd and guarded night and day; Which is but just Retaliation For having guarded A whole Nation. Hence every lofty Plant which stands 'Twixt Barwick walls and Dover sands, The Oake it selfe, which well wee stile The Pride and safe guard of our Isle, Must wave and strike its lofty head, And now salute an Oaten Reed For surely Oates deserves to be Exalted far 'bove any Tree. The Egiptians once (tho it seems odd Did worship onions for A God And poore peeld Garlick was with them Esteemd beyond the greatest Gemm. What would they done, had they, think yee, Had such a blade of Oates as wee? Oates of such known Divinity!$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ Since then by Oates such good wee find, Let Oates at least now be enshrind, Or in some sacred Press inclosd Be only kept to be exposd; And all fond Reliques else shall be Deemd objects of Idolatry. Popelings may tell us how they saw Their Garnets Picture on A straw Twas a Great miracle wee know To see him drawn in little so, But on an Oaten stalk there is A greater miracle than this A visage which with lively grace Does twenty Garnets now out face, And like Twigg of Dodona's Grove Ev'en speaks as if inspird by Jove. Nay to add to the wonder more, Declares unheard of things before And Thousand misteries does unfold As plain as Oracles of old; By which wee steer affairs of State And stave of Brittaines sullen Fate. Lets then in honour of the name Of Oates enact some solemne Game, Where oaten Pipe shall us inspire, Beyond the charms of Orpheus Lyre; Stones, Stocks and every Senceless thing To Oates shall dance, to Oates shall sing Whilst Woods amazd to the Ecchos ring.$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ And as (that Hero's names may not When they are rotten be forgott) Wee hang Atchievments o're their dust, (A Debt to their great merits iust;) So if deserts of Oates wee prize, Let Oates still hang before our eyes: Thereby to raise our Contemplation Oates being to this happy nation, The mistick Embleme of Salvation.$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$
FINIS.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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