University of Virginia Library

This Time is critical; The wayes be ruff,
And many of those Chariot-wheels fly off,
By which your Marches expedited seem'd,
And lost Advantages must be redeem'd,
Lest when you think that they are come to hand,
Your main Expectances be at a stand,
Or, put so far back, that you may survive
Your hopes, and your own happiness outlive.
I wish it otherwise; and know it may
Be as I wish, if you the means assay,
Not giving ear to those, who will withstand
Your Good, & that which GOD hath now in hand.
I have discharg'd my Conscience; and so shall,
VVhatever for so doing doth befall,
In hope that will not wholly be dispis'd,
Which now shall be in faithfulness advis'd.

To those men do not over-much adhere,
Who think all Wisdom lies within their sphear;
For, Honours, Riches, and self-Interest
Have made wise-men as brutish as a Beast.
Heed otherwhile, what Common Fame doth say.
Aswel as what your Courtiers whisper may;
Lest you be ignorant of many things,
Whose cognizance is pertinent to Kings.
Make no man your chief Confident, but he
That's both discreet, and honest known to be;
Lest he deceives your trust, and in the close
Destroyes your old Friends, or begets new Foes.
Let Justice be your Scepter, let your Crown
Be Mercy; and, if you would keep your own,
Give that to others, which to them belongs,
And free the Poor and Fatherless from wrongs:
Especially, your main Endeavours bend
To make and keep your Sov'reign Lord your friend.
And if you would be setled on your Throne,
Take care that His usurped be by none.
Enjoy your Conscience, whatsoere it be;
So other men may have their Conscience free;
And, hang me for a Traitor, if thereby
You then enjoy not more Security,
Than what your Strength by Sea and Land now gives,
And all that humane Policy contrives.
Let Truth and Error fight it out together,
Whilst Civil Peace disturbed is by neither;
Which may be so provided for, that none
Shall justly be displeas'd with what is done;
Nor you hereafter be (for evermore)
Disturbed, as you have been heretofore.

If You neglect this, and I disobey,
Twill be with much grief, and no other way,
But only passively, and whatsoever
I suffer, will your Welfare still endeavour.
To be of this mind, thousands are believ'd,
VVho are not into favour yet receiv'd:
And whilst they are excluded (though in peace
They live) suspitions daily will encrease;
And from their Malice, who nor GOD, nor King,
Much care for, some ill consequence may spring,
By which You may have trouble, and they blame,
VVho shall be no way guilty of the same.

Your taking timely Opportunities
Now offred (and, of what before You lies)
May render You a blessed Instrument,
In making passage to that Government
VVhich Tyrants fear; more glorious make Your Throne
Than ever any King yet sate upon:
And make Your Name a terror to all those
VVho to that Kingdom shall continue Foes.
Herein I've spoke according to my creed,
Wishing my just hopes may thereon succeed;
And that upon Your heart it may work more,
Than what I've spoke to others heretofore.

But GOD's time is at hand; within his pow'r
Are all mens ways; yea, both your hearts & our;
And I will patiently subject unto
VVhat either He or You shall please to do,
Not asking (whatsoere I seem to want)
Ought more, than you spontaneously shall grant:
For, what I may expect, if you denie,
So far as need shall be, GOD will supply.

These words, when I was young, my Motto were,
I neither have, nor want, nor do I care:
So are they now I'm old; yea, somewhat more
Essentially than ever heretofore;
And thereof I will not abate one Letter,
Till GOD and You dirrect me to a better.

The Liberty I covet to enjoy,
Is that which no man living can destroy.
The Wealth I aim at, is nor less, nor more,
But to be well contented, Rich or poor:
And, if I had a mind my Wits to strain,
That I to earthly Honours might attain,
I should to no such common heights aspire,
As now are objects of most mens desire;
Or, to a stile of so mean consequence,
As is an Earl, a Marquess, Duke or Prince;
Or, to be call'd your Cousin: For, no less
VVould satisfie my large Ambitiousness,
But so much worth, at least, as did commend
His Loyalty, whom David call'd his Friend,
And wit enough to make a parallel
Of ev'ry Traytor, with Achithophel.
For, then you should in very short time see,
That no man more deserves esteem'd to be
Your Majesties loyal Subject
Than, Geo. Wither.