Miscellaneous works of George Wither

I am inform'd, by men of good report,
That, there are Noble Pers'nages in Court
Who hate Injustice, and, are of their Tribe,
Who love not baseness, flattery, or a Bribe;
And, that, should I my self to these Adresse,
I might perhaps obtain a quick release.
'Tis possible; But, I may much indanger
Their Quiet; and, am now grown such a stranger
To Courtship, that I cannot Complement,
Or, act effectually, to that intent;
Nor think it prudence (were I mov'd that way)
To seek a Needle, in a Trusse of Hay.

'Tis not my Principle (though other while
I have been over-ruled, to beguile
My understanding) that course to endeavour;
And, having found it unsucesful ever
Resolve now (be it for my gain or loss)
To signifie my Cause, to them in grosse,
In open Courts, to whom it doth belong,
To be my Judges of what's right or wrong:
For, if impartially, they will not hear
My cause at large, and do me Justice there,
I will not be oblig'd to any one
To do for private ends, what should be done,
For Justice-sake; because, where one man shall
Be so corrupt, it may corrupt them all;

And in each Case, by turns, for unjust ends,
They may Bribe one another for their Friends
As heretofore they did, and, as they may
Hereafter, whatsoever I do or say.

Not much esteem of any thing I make,
Which other men, can either give or take.
Nor Safety, Wealth, or Honour pleaseth me
But that which will inseparable be
From me; and which I may attain unto,
And, also keep, whether men will or no.
Vertue's the Fountain whence true honour springs;
Not Popes, Grand Segniors, Emperors or Kings,
For, what they give to make men Honourable,
To me appears to be so despicable
That, though most men, do their chief darling, make it
If they would give it me, I would not take it:
What, is there likely for me to be done,
By those, who such-like Baubles dote upon?
I, never hitherto, a kindness had
By any Friend, which I my self have made;
But, by such onely, as God had inclin'd
(Without a by-respect in any kind)
To do me Justice, or to shew compassion,
Mov'd by their own Heroick inclination:
And, to that end, GOD, often heretofore,
Hath from among meer strangers, rais'd me more
True Friends at need, my cause to undertake,
Then I deserved, or had pow'r to make;
And, as it me contented much the better
So, thereby, was their honour made the greater.
Most seek the Judge; but, I believe his word,
Who said, The Judgement cometh from the LORD;
And, unto me, it seems an indirect
Aspersion, or a Symptom of suspect,

A Judge, in private to preoccupate,
And, him by Friends, or Gifts to captivate;
For, in great Counsels, men should nothing do
In love to Friends, or hatred to a Foe.

I have observed, that, Judicial Courts
Whether they be of good or bad reports,
(Or, whether, what is actually there done,
Seem just, or to the wrong of any one)
Are guided by a Spirit, which directs
To what is alwayes Righteous, in respects
Unto GOD's Justice, though perhaps it may
A Humane Righteousness infringe some way;
Or, though they, to whom Judgement is refer'd,
Through Ignorance, or Wickedness, have err'd.

Ile therefore, make no Friend, nor fear a Foe,
But, when the COMMONS call me I will go
To hear their Charge, for which I have begun
To suffer, er'e 'tis known what I have done;
That, least I break or die before the time
In which I must make payment for my crime,
(If crime it prove) they, rather, overweight
May lay; then, that, which is a Dram too light;
For, punishments are usually well paid,
Though other debts till Dooms Day are delay'd:
And, Innocence, is oft pursued further
Upon suspect, then real Theft or Murther.

In that, for which unheard, some precondemn
My Person hither; I, TO GOD and them
Whom it may most concern, Appeals have made
Whereon, I ought a Tryal to have had
Before I suff'red. My Appeal prefer'd
To GOD, hath betwixt him, and me, been heard
Within his Court of Conscience in my heart;
And, there am quit of what may on his part

Be brought against me for what I have writ.
He sees it, though the world concealeth it;
And, read it must be by the Commons too,
Ev'n quite throughout (if Justice they will do)
Before they censure it: Needless it were,
If just and conscientious men they are,
To Court them to their Duties; and so strong
No Charm of mine can be, whereby a wrong
May be prevented, if to take that ill
They be resolv'd, which flowed from Good-will.
At all aduenture, wholly to the Laws,
And to their Conscience, Ile refer my Cause;
Alleage for my defence, what I can say,
And bear that, which will follow, as I may.

University of Virginia Library

A short Excuse, rendering some Reasons why this Prisoner makes no Adresses for his Release, to great Persons for their Favour in his Cause.