University of Virginia Library

I am no Person who confederates
With home-bred male-contents, or Forraign states
Either to get revenge for wrongs received
Or that some gain may be thereby derived
Unto my self: For, whatsoere it be,
That which best pleaseth GOD, best pleaseth me;
And having no designments of mine own
Can wait with patience till his will be shown.
I, being one who having oft fore-seen,
And fore-told things that have fulfilled been,
Endeav'ring to prevent the prosecutions,
Of wicked actions and rash Resolutions,
Am by a power which I dare not oppose
Once more stir'd up, to preadmonish those
(As heretofore) who now seem rushing on
In that Career, as other men have done,
Which tendeth unto that end which befell
To those, who sleighted, what I did fore-tell:
And, I to speak again must not forbear;
Vouchsafe therefore to me a patient ear,
Be wary, that your Avarice and Pride,
Prove not to be a motive to divide
At this time, though when you divided last
Your likely hazards were soon over-past,
And plagues remov'd ere any penitence
Had testifi'd remorce for your offence,
Lest, greater evils follow, and the trouble
Removed then, returns upon you double,
For, Nations to expose to wars unjust
Meerly to satisfie a private Lust,
And those inforce the greatest weight to bear,
Who no way guilty of transgressing are
Of that which in a War ingages them,
Is questionless, a sanguinary crime
From which, no temporary priviledge
Can vindicate, before a Righteous Judge:
But, it will bring down Vengeance in due season
From him whose Justice cannot be call'd treason
Although your High Priests, and some others too,
The boldness may assume to term it so.
If wrongs be done, let all good means be us'd
To judge between th'Accuser and Accus'd
E're sentence pass; and do not then prolong
Due recompence to them who have had wrong;
Lest by delaying what you should restore,
Instead of righting him, you wrong him more.
Ere battail you begin, let peace be offer'd,
Accept a good expedient, when 'tis proffer'd.
Remit small faults where you find penitence:
Upon the same terms, let the great'st offence
Be pardoned also, when the perpetration
Of wrong, exceeds all means of expiation;
In that, you'l imitate the King of heaven
Who often hath such Crimes to you forgiven.
Make not the Sword your Umpier, till you see
A remedy, no other way can be.
Your just Rights to preserve, do what you can,
But, fight not to inslave another man;
Nor venture your own Countries to inflame
That you may get a fruitless aiery fame;
Much less to grasp a power, which when acquir'd
Will in your hands, be like Granados fir'd;
Yet, to avoid the mischief and the Curse
Of War, make not a Peace that shall be worse.
Nor when you are at rest provoke his wrath
Who, quietness to you vouchsafed hath,
By cheating them of their just expectations
Who truly wish the welfare of both Nations,
Adventuring their persons and estates,
To save what to your interest relates;
And then intrusted you with their defence,
Thereby, but as a second consequence.
If you would keep Rebellious men in awe,
To ev'ry one his birth-right due by Law
Preserve impartially; and unto none
Deny that which is due to ev'ry one;
Lest, whilst abroad ingaged you become
In warfare, there may be worse fraies at home:
For, that Allegiance which is in all Lands
'Twixt Prince and People, upon two feet stands,
So, that if th'one fails in what it should do,
In equity, so will the other, too;
Men who are much oppressed against reason,
Will not much fear to act what you call Treason;
And, then, from questioning, on whom there lies
The greatest guilt; small profit can arise.
Which way soever, therefore, GOD shall daigne
To make you Friends, and give you Rest again,
With moderation, and with Justice use
That Mercy; for if you the same abuse
This, without question, will ensue thereon;
Both, shall one way or other be undone.
The conquer'd shall inslaved be; and they
Who conquer, be made slaves another way.
Make not your Rest to be a snare or Stale
As Fowlers do, to cath Birds there withall.
Nor means, your selves with such vast power to arm,
As helps not so much, to do good, as harm;
For GOD will heed it, and you shall be caught
Ev'n in those Traps, which your own hands have wrought,
And as old Rome was you shal be at length
Orewhelm'd and destroy'd, by your own strength.