But he beheld appearing on his side, Princes, whose Faith and Loyalty were try'd; Such as no base or sordid ends could move, Who did his Father and their Country love. In the first rank of these did _Nashon_ stand, None nobler or more loyal in the Land. Under the King he once did _Edom_ sway, And taught that Land the _Jews_ good Laws t'obey. True to his Word, and of unspotted Fame; Great both in Parts, in Vertue, and in Name. His Faith ne'r touch'd, his Loyalty well known, A Friend both to his Country and the Throne. Base ends his great and noble Soul did scorn, Of loyal, high, and noble Parents born. His Father with renown and great Applause, For _Joash_ di'd, and suffer'd for his Cause. Of great _Aminadab_ who would not sing, Whose glory shin'd next to the martyr'd King? From him his Son true Loyalty understood, Imprest on's Soul, seal'd with his Father's Bloud. The grave, religious, wife, rich _Helon_ too, } Much honoured by every zealous _Jew_, } Appear'd a Patriot, to his Country true. } In the _Jews_ Laws, and strict Religion bred, And _Baal_'s curst Rites did much abhor and dread. His Son _Eliab_, in the _Sanhedrim_, With courage had oppos'd _Eliakim_: A man whose many Vertues, and his Parts, Had won upon the sober Peoples Hearts. From every Faction, and from Envy free; } Lov'd well the King, but hated Flatterie; } Kept _Moses_'s Laws, yet was no _Pharisee_. } He went not to their _Synagogues_ to pray, But to the Holy Temple every day. With piercing Judgment saw the Lands Disease, And labour'd onely for the Kingdoms Peace: Loyal and honest was esteem'd by all, Excepting those who strove to set up _Baal_. For an ill Action he ne'r stood reprov'd; But's King, his Country, and Religion lov'd. No Taint ere fell upon _Eliab_'s name, Nor Hell it self found cause to spot his Fame. _Pagiel_ with honour loaded, and with years, Among this Loyal Princely Train appears. None _Pagiel_ tax'd, for no one ever knew That he to _Amazia_ was untrue. A Fame unspotted he might truly boast; Yet he had Foes, and his gain'd Favours lost. _Zuar_, a sober and a vertuous Prince, Who never gave least cause of an offence. _Elishama_, at once both sage and young, } From noble and from loyal Fathers sprung, } Shone bright among this sober Princely throng. } _Enan_, a Prince of very worthie Fame; Great in deserved Title, Bloud, and Name. _Elizur_ too, who number'd with the best In Vertue, scorn'd to lag behind the rest. _Abidon_ and _Gamaliel_ had some sway; Both loyal, and both zealous in their way. And now once more I will invoke my Muse, To sing brave _Ashur_'s praise who can refuse? Sprung from an ancient and a noble Race, With Courage stampt upon his manly face; Young, active, loyal; had through Dangers run, And with his Sword abroad had Honours won: Well-spoken, bold, free, generous, and kind, And of a noble and discerning mind. Great ones he scorn'd to court, nor fools would please, But thought it better for to trust the Seas. He thought himself far safer in a Storm, And should receive from raging Seas less harm, Than from those dangerous men, who could create A Storm at Land, with Envie and with Hate. And now got free from all their Trains and Wiles, } He at their hateful Plots and Malice smiles, } Plowing the Ocean for new Honour toils. } These were the chief; a good and faithful Band } Of Princes, who against those men durst stand } Whose Counsel sought to ruine all the Land. } With grief they saw the cursed _Baalites_ bent To batter down the _Jewish_ Government; To pull their Rights and true Religion down, By setting up a _Baalite_ on the Throne. These wisely did with the _Sanhedrim_ joyn; Which Council by the _Jews_ was thought divine. The next Successour would remove, 'tis true, Onely because he was a _Baalite_ Jew. Ills they foresaw, and the great danger found, } Which to the King (as by their Dutie bound) } They shew'd, and open laid the bleeding Wound. } But such who had possest his Royal Ear, Had made the King his Loyal Subjects fear; Did their good Prince with causeless terrour fright, As if these meant to rob him of his Right. Said, They with other Rebels did combine, And had against his Crown some ill designe: That the wise _Hushai_ laid a wicked Train, And _Azaria_ sought in's stead to reign: That the old Plot to ruine Church and State, Was born from _Hushai_'s and the _Levite_'s Pate: That _Pharisees_ were bold and numerous grown, And sought to place their Elders in his Throne. No wonder then if _Amazia_ thought These Loyal Worthies did not as they ought; That they did Duty and Obedience want, And no Concessions from the Throne would grant.