Miscellaneous works of George Wither :: :: University of Virginia Library

Opobalsamum Anglicanum:

AN ENGLISH BALME, LATELY Pressed out of a Shrub, and spread upon these Papers, FOR The Cure of some Scabs, Gangreeves and Cancers indangering the Bodie of this Common-Wealth; and, to whom it is now tendred, by the VVell-affected English, in a Double-Speech, disjunctively delivered, by one of their Fellow-ship, both to the Faithfull, and Malignant-Members of the Representative-Body of this Kingdome.

Penned, by the Author of Britaines Remembrancer Geo: Wither Esquire.

Let the righteous smite me, and it shall be a kindnesse; and let him reprove me, and it shall be an excellent Oyle, which shall not breake my head, &c,

VVhen their Judges are overthrowne in stonie places, then they shall heare my words, &c.

Psalm: 141. 5. 6.

The Preface.

Great hopes I had, of perfecting, e're this,
My Vox-Pacifica, and songs of Peace:
For, Fairfax, with his Victories, begun,
So stoutly, and successefully, went on,
That, neither Summers heat, nor Winters cold,
Brigade, nor Army, Fortified Hold,
Nor Force, nor Policy; No, nor their wiles,
Who did oppose, in secret, all the whiles,
Could bring his brave procedeings to a stand;
Till he had marched quite throughout the Land,
As in a Tryumph; And, had brought ev'n those
Presuming, and proud Bragadochean-Foes,
(Who had despis'd, and sleighted his beginnings)
To be the sad Spectators of his winnings;
And, to be prostrate-suiters, unto them,
For Life, and Mercy, whom they did contemn.

Our Brethren, also, and their Generall,
If, we impartially consider all,
From first to last (and, mar not things, in making,
By rashly misbelieving; or mistaking)
Have greatly added, to the hope of that,
VVhich, I, and all good men have aymed at.
At least, I thinke so; and will so believe,
Till I shall know, that they my hopes deceive;
For, I my duty, shall discharge the better:
And, if they faile, their shame will be the greater.

Our Parliament, hath also, done, what they
VVith so distempered a Body may,
(And so dismembred) labouring about
The Publike-welfare; and, in working out
Her Saving-Health, against those interruptions
VVhich are without; and all those hid corruptions
Within her Members, hindring the successe
Of their Designes, and our desired Peace:
And, I have waited, now, a compleat-Yeare,
To heare that Voice proceed, which I did heare
So long agoe; and, which, had then proceeded,
If Justice had been done, and Mercy heeded

But, all this time, though oft aside I, went
(And, many an houre my best endeavours bent)
To harken out, and bring unto this Nation,
The long'd for Newes of Reconciliation,
No sound, I had thereof; yet, ev'ry day,
I heard those Rumours, wherewith others may,
And, do delude themselves; and, must, perchance,
Till they repent their wilfull-Ignorance,
And take that course, which Avarice, and Pride,
Hath made them wave, and, hither to deride.

As when a Surgeon, who hath vndergone
A Cure, and, therein, his endeavour done
According to the Art by him professed;
VVhen, he, the sore hath searched, clens'd, and dressed,
VVith Tents, and Plaisters proper thereunto,
(And, all things els, befitting him to do)
If, on the Wound, his Medicine worketh nought
Of that effect, which, thereby hath been sought;
But, keepes it at a stand, or, makes it worse:
He, presently, begins another course;
And, if that, also, failes him, growes assured,
It is a Cancer, hardly to be cured;
And, may become a Gangreeve, which will slay
His Patient, if it be not cut away.

So, I, observing well, how many wayes
The healing-hand of Providence, now, layes
His Plaisters on our wounds; and, yet, how far
Our Maladies, from perfect healing are:
I, searched for the Cause, and, quickly found
There was Malignant-matter in the Wound,

Which would into a Cancer, be corrupted:
And, peradventure (if not interrupted,
By timely care) into a Gangreeve grow,
Which, will effect the Bodies overthrow:
Or, els (beside much trouble, griefe, and cost)
Occasion many Members to be lost.

Which, when I had discover'd; my true zeale,
(Although I may have little thanke to deale,
In such a Cure) provoked me unto
That, which, most Friends and Strangers use to do
When one is fallen sicke: That is, to tell
VVhat, they believe or know, may make him well:
And, I conceiving somewhat to that end,
VVould now, performe the duty a Friend.

A dangerous Disease brookes no delay:
I will not, therefore, trifle time away
In uselesse Prefaces: but, with what speed
Is possible, will, to the Cure proceed.
And, lo; the Simple, whence we will inforce
A Balme to cure it, shall be this Discourse.

The Wel-affected, having suffred wrong,
By some, too soone intrusted, and too long,
About those Cures, for which, with joynt-consent
Our State-Physitians call'd a Parliament:
And, they well knowing, that, this Double-Colledge,
Hath neither been, through want of Care or Knowledg,
Defective in their duty, or unjust;
(Although some Individuals faild their trust)
VVere studious, how, a course they might invent,
To have the Trust-infringers roundly shent,
Yet, all their Faith-full-Friends, kept free from blame:
And, Providence did thus effect the fame;
(By meanes of one among them, who intends
To lose himselfe, e're they shall misse their ends)

Upon a time (which I remember not)
The Well-affected-Partie, had the lot,
To meet with (but, I know not where it was)
The Members of both Houses, in one Place;
And, finding some occasion of their stay,
(I know not how) till they their minds might say;
They, having, intellectively, collected
The Worthies, from the Persons-misaffected;
And, with humilitie, attention pray'd,
First, to the Faithfull-Members, thus they said.

The Speech of the VVell-affected-English, to the Faithfull Peers, and to their constant Trustees, being Members of the honourable House of Commons.

Starres, of the great, and lesser magnitude;
Behold us not, as if we would intrude
Upon your Orbs; nor think, this Throng appeares
To interrupt the motion of your Spheares;
To hinder your aspects; or, take offence
At any late effect, or influence,
Derived from your Power; or, at ought done
By you, in both; or either House alone,
When, violence their motion suffers not,
Whereby prodigious things may be begot:
For, so heroick, and so noble, ever,
Hath been your prudence, and your stout endeavor,
To keep upright the wheeles of Charles his waine;
And, ev'ry harmfull Vapour to restraine,
Exhald by Meteors, to the wrong of them,
Whose habitations are within your Clyme;
That, we confesse, with praise, and admiration,
Your constant Labours, in the preservation,
Of this distracted Empire; and, present
All humble, and all due acknowledgment,
For persevering, through those many stops,
Obstructing the fruition of our hopes.

We are not ignorant how many Feares,
How many reall-mischiefes, Rubs, and Snares,
Great hazards, hardships, murm'rings, calumnies,
Scoffes, and almost-Impossibilities,
You, with untired constancy have past,
In hope, to wrestle out, for us, at last,
The Blessing we desire: And, we confesse
You, are the means of what we, yet, possesse

We do ascribe, as to the Second-Cause,
The preservation, of our Lives, our Lawes,
Our Conscience, Liberties, and of what e're
To us, or ours hath been esteemed dear,
To be from you: And, we confesse, likewise,
That, in your Honour, and your safetie, lyes
Our safety, and our Honour; and, that, we
In your well-being, judge our VVeale to be;
And, ev'ry danger, and disgrace of your,
To be a danger, and disgrace, of our.

Excuse us therefore, if the Double-due
Of what, we owe, both to our selves, and you,
Produceth an Attempt and an effect,
Which you do nor imagine nor expect;
And, drew us to the pardonable Fault,
Of making this unlooked-for Assault
Upon your patience; since, the thing we do,
Is that, which we appear oblig'd unto;
And, tends to nought lesse, then the preservations
Of you, of us, and all the British-Nations.

Suspect not, our assembling, thus, together;
Nor look upon us, as if we were either
Of their Confederacy, or their Condition,
Who come to raise an uproare, or Sedition;
Or, to compell you forceably, to do
What our wild Fancie hurried us unto:
But, rather, pleased be to understand,
That, we are of those people in the Land;
Who are most peaceable; and, well content
To be obedient to that Government,
Which doth preserve the Freedomes of the Nation,
Continuing firmly on the first Foundation;
And, free from Superstructures, which pervert
The works of Nature, by the Quirks of Art.

We are no Partners, with those Factious-Fellowes,
Who bring the fewell, or, who blow the bellowes
Of Civill-Discords: nor, of those, that, Dary
Their Principles, when their Designes miscarry:
Nor of their Creed, who will believe no more,
Then, what they have believed heretofore:
Or, what their Grandsires did believe, of old;
Or, what shall by their Priest, to them be told:
Nor are we of their mind, who, therefore do,
What they have done, because, they have done so:
But, we are men, who, good advisement had
Of what we do (though some, yet, think us mad;)
Men, that, have all our best endeavours vow'd,
To loose no Freedome Reason hath allow'd;
Men, who resolve to seek a perfect way;
To walk it, as uprightly, as we may;
To keep unchanged, God's and Natures Lawes,
And, change all other things, as there is cause.

Sirs, we are they, who, for the Common-right,
Began to speake, e're we began to fight;
Some of us, are well known to be the men,
Who, with the Purse, the Person, and the Pen,
Engag'd our selves, this Quarrell to defend,
Before we had an Armie, or a Friend,
To ayd, or second us. We did expose
Our selves, against the violence of those,
Who exercise Oppressions of all sorts,

In Monopolies, Arbitrarie-Courts;
And upstart Offices; although it cost
Our liberties, and our preferments lost,
Whilst they, who such rewards to us afforded
Were for their Villanies, enricht and Lorded.

And, we are they who, but a while ago,
When Tyrannie did so presumptuous grow,
(And, to such impudency, as to dare
Improve wrongs-private, into open-warre)
Who did oppose it: yea, when Superstition
Was, to oppresse us, joyned in Commission
With Tyrannie, and these came both together
So furiously, and boldly marching hither,
That, justly, you began to be a fraid
Of Publike-Ruine, and call'd out for ayd;
We were the men; ev'n we, who first of all
Came in, to your Assistance, at your call.
And, when we came, we came not backward, in,
Or, as if we insensible had bin
Of your, as our own dangers: But, came flying,
As if we heard our Wives, or Children crying,
Come helpe, or we are murthred! without stay,
Our Callings, and Estates we flung away:
Our Plate, our Coyne, our Iewels, and our Rings,
Armes, Ornaments, and all our Pretious-things,
To you we brought as bountifully, in,
As if they had old rusty horshooes bin:
Yea, (God is witnesse with us) we, our lives,
Our Parents, our dear Children, and our wives,
Have often valued at so low a rate,
And, so neglected them to serve the State,
At your Command; as if they had not seemed
Things, worthy to be any whit esteemed.

Through heat and cold; through dangers & through Fears;
Through wāts & woūds; & thorow swords & spears.
Yea (which is worse) through their neglects & scorn,
For whom (in part) we, all these things have born,
We have adventur'd; that, we might uphold
Your Honour, to the uttermost we could.
Which we repeat not, to derive from thence,
Selfe-praise; but, to beget a confidence

In you, this day, that, we appeare as Friends
With our first-love, and with as loyall ends
As when we first came in to offer to you,
The services, we able were to doe you:
And, we are still resolv'd, if need appear,
To be as free, and forward as we were,
Your Dignitie, and Honor to maintain;
Yea twice more, yet, and three times thrice, again.

If you (which we suspect not) shall goe on,
With faithfulnesse, to doe the worke begun;
And, shall nor faint, nor faile, in your pursuite
Of what, you are about to execute:
We do ingage, with you, to fall or stand;
To give assistance, both with heart, and hand,
To all your just Designes; and, settle them
In spight of those, who shall our hopes contemn.
Yea, whether your Antagonists are they,
Who, here at home, your Counsels would betray;
Or, Enemies who, from abroad, shall dare
Invade our Freedomes; we resolved are
To stand the shock, of all their threats, & powers,
Be they States, Prelates, Kings, or Emperours,
Or, altogether: For, what, hard can be
To these three joyned? God, and You, and Wee?

But, You, and Wee, (as reasonable men)
Must, to God's helpe, adde our endeavors, then;
Or else, both You and VVee, in vaine presume
That, God our Coadjutor will become.
Our best endeavours, too, must be imployed,
Where we most likely are to be destroyed;
Which, otherwhile, he better may discerne
Who trims the Sails, then he that Guides at Stern,

You are the Braine, the Liver, and the Hart
Of this great Bodie, and the Vitall-part
Which gives it motion: But we are the Hands,
Whereby it Acts; The Feet whereon it stands;
The Bulk and Bones which must the burthens bear:
And, VVee with You, may claime to have a share
In all the senses; and, without offence
In that, which hath been cal'd the Common-sence.

By us together, therefore, and alone,
Our Duties must respectively be done,
According to the Common-Interest,
(And to the Faculties, by us possest,
Vnited, and a sunder) with such care
To heed each others counsels, doubts, and Feare,
And with such mutuall readinesse to add
All comforts, all good helpes that may be had,
And all endearements, which may knit together
Our Forces, and our Loves to one another,
That, none may come between us; or, find way
To mixe with us, our Counsels to betray.
This last, will more endanger us, then all
The strength of Spain and France united shall,
If we prevent it not: And, there is need
That, hereof, at this present, we take heed:
For, of this Evill, to our griefe, we view
Both symptoms and effects; yea, not a few.

Most honor'd Peers & Comons; whilst you wake,
And watchfull are, that we no harmes may take,
We sleep not so supinely, as to sleight
Our own securitie, or, that which might
Indanger You: And, by this meanes, our eyes
And Eares, have made some late discoveries,
Which, your imployments for the Publike-weale,
(Or trust-abusing friends) from you conceale,
With such faire guildings, that, both You and wee
Are lost, unlesse they quickly heeded be;
And, heeded so, that, likewise, you provide
A remedy, and see the same applide:
For, we have good Provisions, oft, and many;
But, little execution made of any.

Your Courage, and your wisdome we confesse,
Your Piety, your Care, and watchfulnesse,
In your own Persons; and, that, you oppose
With good successe, your most Malignant Foes
Which are abroad; by meanes of that dispis'd,
(Yet valiant Armie) lately modelliz'd,
In Gods own time: But, noble Sirs, there be
Worse Foes within, then those abroad you see:
And such they be, as doe require you should
As much reduce your Houses, if you could,
As you have done your Armie: For, we feare
Disguised Foes do lurk among you there,
Which need a Privy-search; & one to show them,
Who by their Spots & secret marks, doth know them
Foes, that, have put your Friends quite out of grace;
Plead Priviledge of Person, and of Place:
Such, as by some well-doing, now and then
Have done more harm, then Troops of fighting men,
And Private-Priviledges, have enjoyd,
Till Publike-Freedomes, are almost destroyd.

Hîc Dolor, Worthies! all our doubts are here;
Hence, is our greatest Grievance, and our Feare.
We sleight as Trifles, all the Frights and Foes,
Which, some, for our discouragement propose
To be considered on. We sleight all that,
Wherewith we have been menaced of late;
Aswell the threats of open-Foes, at home;
As those, which from beyond-Sea hither come.
The Cavaleers, who swagger up and downe,
And mixe among us, now, in every Towne,
And Country village (with their foolish brags)
We fear no more, then when their Feather wags.
Although the King should frowardly be bent
Against the Propositions you have sent,
Or, by delaying his assent, delay
That Blessing, which we look for every day;
It would not startle us: Nor, do, we fear
Those Inconveniences which may appear
Drawne on us, by the Prince his running from
The Kingdome, whereto he was praid to come,
To make a misadventure into France:
Nor, how, the Queene her Projects may advance
By that occasion: For, God's providence
Hath, for our good, it may be, sent him hence:
And, we may find, when all accounts are cast,
Their Losses, will be greatest at the last.

Our hearts it not a whit discourage can,
That some have hopes, the Hollander or Dane,
May by perswasions, their own fingers burne
To do their Neighbours, here, an evill-turne,
Which, (ere the Cup, now filled, hath gone round)
Unto their own destruction may redound:
Nor feare we those Alliances, with which
Great Princes, one another doe bewitch,
And, knit themselves together in a band,
Which binds, them like a Cable made with Sand.

Nor are we frighted, with the Leagues of those,
Which have been old confederated Foes
Against this Kingdome, though we often heare
Of mighty men, who, in their Cause appear;
And, of great sums, rais'd by their Munks and Fryers
(Whose brats, men say, sit by their neighbours fires)
Though Fame reports of many Horse and Men,
Which they will set aflote (they know not when)
With Ships and Armes, and other things in hope,
Beside the Curse and Blessing of the Pope,
We feare them not: for God, before they come,
May, peradventure, find them work at home;
Or they will (as of old) but make a crack,
And funck, and smoke a little, and fall back:
Since, they who act their Catholick-Designes
Observe the Principle, Selfe-Love injoynes,
As men do here; and will no longer drive
Their neighbors Car; then they thereby may thrive:
Yea, we our selves, by dear experience, know
That, Ayd soone promis'd, is in comming, slow.

Nor fear we, that, our Armie, or the Citie,
(As they who more suspitious are then witty,
Suspect of late) will any thing assay,
But, that, which they with your good liking may,
Whilst firme to your own Principles you stand;
And, act not with your left-malignant hand.

Nor do we fear a breaking with the Scot;
For, greater cause of fear they give us not,
By ought we see then some of us have given
To them, of late; So, we and they are even,
In giving Cause; as, we hereafter shall
In ruines be, if we asunder fall.

Nor fear we (though reviv'd among us are,
Old-Prophesies, which put Young-fooles in fear)
That they who do with Ireland, now, begin,
Shall not give off, till England they do win:
For, till our wickednesse doth here increase
To equall us with them, in barbarousnesse,
(And bloody crying-sinnes) there is no dread,
Of being, by those Blood-hounds conquered,
Or, any other; if we will prevent
The threatned Plagues, by being penitent;
And, ere it be too late, some course foresee
To scape those Foes, that mixt among us be.

These are the Foes, whom most of all we fear,
And, those, of whom we wish you to beware.
For, without these, all other, outward Foes,
Would prove like ragges, set up to scar the crowes;
And, harme us, by their furiousnesse, no more,
Then Paper-guns discharg'd against the shore.
Nay, other Foes would be occasion, rather,
To make us prudently more strength to gather;
Arme us within, against our Foes abroad;
And, make us sly unfainedly to God.

But, these, if long conniv'd at, will be able
To make the meanest Rascals formidable,

That shall oppose us: These, will skrew into us,
If suffred) Principles, that, will undo us
VVithout another Foe, and draw us, on,
To trust in our own wits, as they have done;
And leave our Faith and confidence in God,
To seek our happinesse, in flesh and blood:
These, have, already, made us, grow afrayd
Of those, that are our Friends, and bring us ayd;
Yea, fearfull of our selves; nay, of our shade,
And, things, by meer imagination, made.
These, will deprive us, e're perceiv'd they are,
Both of the Bones and sinewes, of the VVar;
Steale from us, to be Factors for their ends,
Our Wives, our Children, and our bosome-friends;
Enfeeble, by degrees, the publike-strength,
And, altogether, ruine us at length.

That, you may know, we speak the truth of these;
Observe it, now, in practise, if you please:
For, you your selves, have seen with lamentations,
Their practises, and their prevarications.
Behold, your Friends and servants are disgrac'd;
Malignants, in Authority, are plac'd;
They, who inform you, how we are abus'd,
Are for Suborners, shamelesly accus'd,
And, voted such, without due proofe or hearing;
Or, any probability appearing.
They, who came, first, our Freedomes to redeem,
Are set among the hindmost, in esteem:
Even by their prevalency, who, conceale
Their disaffections, to the Common-weale.
These, by their cruelty, injustice, pride,
And wicked practises, have justifide
All Courts and Persons, that corrupt have bin,
Before this Reformation did begin:
And, these, by fooling some, and failing more;
By making Villaines rich, and good men, poore;
By sleighting others; by oppressing many,
And, seldome doing Justice unto any,
Have so displeased, and inraged so,
The generalitie, that, mad they grow;
And, are upon the point, if none prevent,
Of shewing symptoms of their discontent.

And, upon whom, do your Malignants lay
The blame of this? who, do these (think you) say,
Is cause of all our Troubles, and distractions?
Of our oppressions, and our large exactions,
But, ev'n this Parliament? nay, many a one,
VVho for this Parliament, hath said and done,
And suffred much; begins to think the same:
And, that, the best among you are to blame,
In most that is amisse: because, they see
Their known Oppressors, kept among you be.

VVhat would this come to, if the many cryes,
Of men opprest, should make the People rise?
And, like a furious whirl-wind, hurry hither,
Newters, Malignants, Friends and Foes together,
In such a posture, as a Multitude
Disordered comes? how, could it be withstood?
VVhat, could be done or said, that, might asswage
The roarings, of such Waters, when they rage?
Then, what, your packt and false Committees vote,
VVould not be valu'd at an old crackt groat:
Nor would the people, in their fury hear you,
Although both Houses, should assent to clear you.
None, would be able to distinguish, then,
Betwixt the Faithfull, and the Faithlesse men,
VVho, had occasion'd this: But, while you have
Their Company, their sins to you will cleave;
And, nothing will be able to prevent
Your sharing, in their shame and punishment:
For, these, we fear, would hardly be so tame,
As He, who, but to seize Five Members came.

Or, if th'offenders, who, now home are brought,
Should practise (as tis likely some are taught)
To work upon the peoples discontent,
And, so much their distempratures foment,
As, that, they should withdraw away from you,
Their former Love; or, their obedience due,
To your Commands: or, make them colder, in
Their zeale, then they, in former time, have bin
How, would it all our present hopes indanger?
How would it hearten an invading-stranger?
How would it please, and reincourage those,
VVho seem your Friends, but, till they may be Foes
And, then, how nimbly would your False-ones prove
That mischiefe, for their purpose, to improve?

How quickly, then, would many turn upon you,
VVho, hitherto, have outside-service done you?
How many scandals, would there, then, be rais'd,
From actions, which are, at this present, prais'd
How many flatring Priests, who, now applaud
Your courses? and, ascribe the praise and laud

Which you deserve; would say as much for them,
VVhose practices, both you, and they condemn?

And, then, what will it profit those among
Your Members, who delight in doing wrong,
That they when an apparent wrong they do,
Shall add a greater injury thereto,
To cleare themselves of what they were accus'd?
What, will it profit them, to have abus'd
The well-affected, by unjust proceeding,
And false reports, the Parliament misleading,
To cast a heavy censure upon those
As wilfull Malefactors, or, as Foes,
Who, if impartially they had been heard,
Instead of punishment should have reward?
VVhat will it them availe, by saving, thus,
Their credit for, a while, by wronging us,
If they at last, be to those Judges turn'd,
By whom their power and censures will be scorn'd?

Excuse us, if our love and faithfull care
Compell us, plainly to expresse our feare,
By these Expostulations; and to vent
Our councells thus, beyond all president:
For, neither have our dangers, nor our crimes,
Had any president in former times;
Nor can we think our selves, from treason free,
If, in these perills, we should silent bee.

Oh! let us not be judged to exceed
Our Bounders, at a time of so much need;
Nor, suffer us, who seek but to maintain
Your honour, and your lives, to speak in vain:
But, rather, purge, or cure, or cut away
Your Gangreev'd-Members, with what speed you may.

If, you suppose there are no such among you,
As we suspect; that, thought wil greatly wrong you.
And, bring you all in danger, by degrees,
Of dying without sense of your disease.
You know, there have been breakers of their trust,
And, many Members heretofore unjust
In both your Houses: And, why may not there
Be such among you, as aforetime were?
Nay, who can think there are not, who doth see
What oppositions, yet, among you be?
For, where much disagreement, see you shall,
There, out of question, some are naught, or all;
Since bitter Factions, rarely have been made,
But, where are to be found, both good, and bad,
Or all corrupted. And, the man who sayes
That, none, among you, walks corrupted wayes,
Is, doubtlesse, one of those, who hath deserv'd,
To have his wayes and walkings well observ'd.

Are none of those, think you permitted, yet,
In either House of Parliament, to sit,
Who, when the City should have been betray'd,
Did know of it? think you, when VValler say'd,
(To strengthen his Confederates) that, he
Knew many, who therety, would aiding be
In either House? think you, he should have had
His pardon; if none fear'd he could have made
The saying true? Or, that, he naming none,
Should, into banishment, so cheap have gone,
Unlesse, because, he could have named so many,
That, if the Houses should have questioned any,
It might have brought upon us, at that season,
A danger, almost equalling the Treason?

VVhat ere ye think, we think, this was the cause,
VVhy he, who was in breaking of the Lawes,
The Principall, escap'd with life, when they
That Accessaries were, their debts did pay:
And, are we bound to think now VVallers gone,
That, here, of his Confederacie are none,
VVhile we perceive Delinquents so defended,
As yet, they are, and we so ill befriended?

VVho, in both Houses, would have scorned more
To hear such questions asked, heretofore,
Then Strafford and the Prelate, who, are now
A headlesse paire? And, which is he of you
Among the Commons, who injoy'd a name
More honourable, and a fairer fame
Then Hotham had? which of you stood so strong
A charge as he? and, held it out so long
VVithout recoyling? Or, ingag'd this Nation
Unto him, by a greater obligation,
Then he did, for the time? And, yet, at last,
You saw he fell; because, he had not plac't,
The Structure, (though 'twere strong) upon those rocks,
That could abide reiterated shocks.
And, if men, in desert so eminent,
(Till we discover'd in what path they went)
Fell from that bravery in resolution,
And, so much constancy in execution,
Then well may we distrust that, some of those
VVho, at this present make faire seeming showes.

May possibly be false? At least, when they
Have trodden heretofore beside the way,
And, are at present probably suspected;
Though, they in some things, faithfully have acted?
Since, we have oft, experience had, that, none
Have to the Common-wealth, more mischief done,
Then some, who, for a while, have, had the fame
Of Patriots; and, did but play that game,
Till they had opportunity, to catch
That grace at Court, for which they lay at watch.

And wherfore should it seem to wrong the rest,
If, we have jealousies of some exprest,
Who gave us cause? (And, if no cause there be)
What mean those symptoms, which, thereof we see?
Wherefore, do some of you, yourselves bewaile,
As if you felt some limbs of your to faile?
VVhy do you halt, somtimes, and are so slow,
At other times, when you should faster go?
And, find defects among you, now and than,
VVhich frustrate good designs, do what you can?
VVherefore, so frequently, do you divide,
As if you had a Palsie, on one side?
And, often, have so much ado to stay
Your Votes, from running on the left-hand-way?
Yea, wherefore, do the best among you find
Some failings, of your fellowes, in this kind,
If none be questionable? Or, if we
Offend, in saying such among you be,
Why, are there daily, strivings in your wombe,
As if Rebecca's twins, again, were come
To be new born? and, to afflict the Mother,
By strugling how, they may supplant each other?
Why, are complainings, if no wrongs be done?
Who can Oppressors be, if, there be none
VVithin your Houses? Or, if none of your
Corrupted-members, have abus'd their Pow'r?
Since, all Oppressors, ev'ry other where,
May have, or, ought to have, redresses there?

As Samuel said to Saul; if none are spar'd
Whom God condemns, whence are these bleatings heard,
Which fill our eares? How, come th'Amalakites
To be so jocund, and the Israelites
So much dis-heart'ned? VVhat mad-men are they,
VVho bring Petitions, almost ev'ry day,
Against your Members? And, wherefore do some
(Although, they pris'ners for it are become)
Still prosecute their charge, and Plaints, as far
As men imprisoned enabled are,
Against those men; if, really they be
From Guiltinesse, and just Suspition free?
And, why, are not Accusers dayly hear'd,
That, knaves may punish'd be, and good men clear'd
If, all are in their actions so upright,
VVhy do not they, on whom aspersions light,
Offer themselves to tryall by the Lawes,
According to the merit of the Cause,
VVithout respect of Persons; that, the greev'd
May in their suffrings duly be releev'd?
The mouth of clamour stop'd, if she hath made
An out-cry, when no cause, at all, she had?
And, that, all men who truly guiltlesse are,
May not in scandalls, with men guilty, share?

VVhy should you, like the Benjamites connive
At wickednesse, untill Gods Justice drive
The much incensed-people, of the Land,
To come, and to require it, at your hand?
Nay we draw nearer: VVhy, have you so long,
Pursu'd the King, because he did us wrong,
To keep from censure, those, who merit blame;
If, you your selves, have done the very same?
VVhy, may not we as justly question them,
VVho break their trust to us; as, you do him?
And, hope, that, GOD will find us out a way,
VVereby, the Common-wealth deliver may
Her self from those, that, her Trust-breakers be,
(In most convenient time) aswell as he,
Gave us this Parliament, ev'n when else, none,
Knew how, without Rebellion, to have done,
VVhat, now, we do? although the King had broke
That Trust, wherewith, the Crown he undertook.

Consider this; and, keep your selves, and us
From straights, and courses, which are hazzardous
Least you both loose the glory you have got,
And, feel a mischief, when you fear it not.
For, if you do not wicked men protect;
Yet, while their prosecutions you neglect,
You may incurre the curse of their offence,
VVho do the work of God, with negligence;
And to destruction, all your friends expose,
By beeing too indulgent to your Foes.

Let GOD, or Baal be serv'd: For, hate we do
Those, that are alwaies halting between two.
All they, who in simplicity of heart,
Adhere to one, though to the worser part,
Are, so far in the way of walking right,
That, those we hate not, though with them we fight.
Nor shall we fear, when reconcil'd these be,
But, that, they will be found as true as we.

Take not we pray you, this free-powring out
Of Gileads Balm, as if we went about
A needlesse Cure: Or, would have men believe
VVe did annoint, when blowes, & wounds, we give;
Nor think, we rub too hard: For, we are friends
(VVhat ere we may be thought) whose love intends
Your honour with your weal: And, having found
How to advance them, do as we are bound.
VVe are no Mountebanks, who would endear
Our Surgery, by putting you in feare
Of greater dangers, then indeed are found:
But, we would search the bottome of the wound;
Because, we cannot perfectly be heal'd,
Till all our kown corruptions, are expel'd.
VVe know no means of saving you, and us,
But, by plain dealing; and, by speaking thus;
That you may take some wise, and speedy course,
To stop this mischief, ere it groweth worse.

The Common remedies, are at a losse;
The Sanctuary gold, is mixt with drosse;
And, there's no meanes to part them, which wee know
But, by attempting that, which we do now:
Nor can you save your honor, (though you save
Your selves) if long, you ill companions have.
For, what your evill Members, have mis-done,
Upon your score, is ev'ry day set on,
As well as your best deeds: and, in your faces
Their dirt is hourely flung, to your disgraces.
Those Resolutions which conduce unto
The Publike-weale, want but a Voice, or two,
Somtimes, of being lost: Such are their wiles,
Or, such their number: And, if otherwhiles
They carrie on a Vote, in your despight,
That seems not to advance the publike-right,
You beare the blame thereof, as much as they:
Yea, to the Parliament, the People lay,
Not onely, that which is concluded on
In either House, although the same were done
By some unjust contrivance: But, it beares
The faults of ev'ry Member, too, of theirs,
Whose life is scandalous; yea, it pertakes
In blame with him, for each known scape he makes.

For, when abroad the Common-people heare
A Member of your Houses, lie, or sweare,
Or, some of them, no conscience make to pay
Their long due debts; when, well enough they may;
Or, see them reeling out of Tavern doores;
Or, impudently, courting of their Whores;
Or some such way imployed: Oh! how quick,
They shoot at you their Arrowes! and, how thick!
Some say in scorn; and some, in discontent;
These, are the Members of our Parliament:
These, ase those Worthies, that, must set us free
From Tyrannie: These, our Deliv'rers be:
These are the Chosen ones, who to this Nation
Must bring the blessing of a Reformation:
Yea, these, whom here you thus debauched see,
Pertaining, to the Honest-party be,
Or to the Godly; the Malignant sayes:
And, on them, descants many other waies,
With such like scoffings, as no modest ear
Can without grief, or indignation heare.
All which, reflects on you, who are the best;
And, so it will, till you reforme the rest.

How can you be insensible of this?
And, since an injurie suppos'd it is,
To let aspersions, on one Member fall;
Why brook you them, who scandalize you all?
Why keep you those unquestion'd, who are thought
Blame-worthie; till, the blame on all is brought?
If you seem all concerned, though but one,
Be some way toucht, as if he had misdone;
How much more are you scandaliz'd if they
Who justly do accuse, have cause to say,
They could not have their Informations heard;
Nor legall-tryall; nor, their due regard?
How doth this scandalize you, if, when we
(As by our Covenant injoynd we be)
Have Informations brought, which closely touch,
On what concernes the publike-safety, much,
We have, not onely, waited with submission,
And hearing sought by Speech, and by Petition;
But, persevered, also, weeks of dayes,
Nay, months and years; and, then, tir'd with delays,

Gave off, because, we none, that while, could find,
To heed our Cause, or, bear the same in mind?
How scandalous is this? 'Tis either true,
That, in your Houses, there be very few
Affecting Justice; or, they hardly found;
Or, that in their employments they abound;
Or, else, that they perceive the question'd-crime,
Would come to tryall, in an evill time.

This saves your Credits: For, God hath a season
For every thing: and (though you see no reason,
Of such, and such obstructions, or delayes)
Doth all things timely; and walks prudent wayes.
And, peradventure, he will now, begin
To do, what hath so long deferred bin.
VVork you, with him; as, also, we intend;
And, he shall give our hopes, a happy end.

Take not thereat offence, as if, we wrong you,
VVhen we affirme there are false-men, among you.
VVhy seemes the scandall, any whit the more,
To have this spoken at the Senate-doore,
Then, to be made the common talke, of all
VVho travaile through the streets, or walk the hall?
VVhat are men lesse dishonored, though none dare,
In print, to publish, that, they traytors are?
If ev'ry man, almost, who hears their names
Thinks, knowes, & speaks of their deserved shames?
And, wonders, that, no Member, no Committee,
No County, Corporation, Towne, or City,
Takes thought to question them? or, forth to learn
The truth of that, which doth so much concern
The Common-Peace? For, 'tis no work for one,
Except for him that meanes to be undone:
So chargeable, so troublesome, they make it:
So long; so dangerous, to undertake it.

These things, we mention not to be the least
Detraction from your dues, or interest;
Or, from your Honour: or, because, we grudge
You, or your Houses any Priviledge
That may preserve your Persons, or that Power,
VVhich may be for the Publike-weale, with your:
But, we would only mind you, to have care
No other, make them larger, then they are,
Both to th'indamaging of Vs and You;
VVho know, that, all the Priviledges due
To Publike Persons, were, at first, bestowne
More for the Publike-sake, then for their own,
And, presently, are forfeited; if, used
Beyond their bound, or, any way abused.

VVhen Cato, that great Senator of Rome,
VVhose dignity, it did as well become,
As any mans here living, to have claym'd
Those Priviledges, whereat, some have aym'd:
Although his Innocence was oft abus'd,
And, He, no lesse, then fifty times accus'd
By false Informers; and, though, thereupon
The Senate, thought to have decreed, that, none
The boldnesse should assume, in future time,
To charge a Senator, with any crime,
Not sully prov'd against him; Cato, rose,
And, their intention, stoutly, did oppose.
By this Edict, said He, we should deprive
The Common-wealth, of that preservative,
VVhereon her Safe-subsistence, much depends:
This, would secure her Foes, destroy, her Friends
And, make it faser, Treason, to commit;
Then, to endeavour, for preventing it.

He, that shall give occasion of suspition,
Hath, so far, forfeited the true condition
Of one in Innocence; that, he must bide
The rubbings of the Test, till he be tride;
And, cannot, justly, say, it is a wrong
To beare, what to purgation, doth belong:
Since, ev'ry man is bound, as well to shun
Appearances of Ill, as, evill-done:
Else, to submit (for giving of offence)
Unto the tryall of his Innocence.

Suspected-men, therefore, if innocent,
VVith noble Cato, rather, are content
To stand accus'd; and, guilty to appear
Some space, then, willingly, to leave a fear
Upon the Publike; or, to countenance
A Custome, which might Treacherie advance;
Or, bar a needfull, or, a just-proceed,
Against those men, who guilty are, indeed.

But, faulty-men accus'd (if, still, they find
Their power continue) fee'l another mind.
Unto their guiltinesse, they malice add;
They grow revengfull, mischievous, and mad,
Plunge, in the toile, strive, strugle, scratch and tear
Rage like a Tyger, roar out like a Bear;
And are so netled, that, you may behold
Their guiltinesse, before the same is told;

Yea, and by hearing them, e're them you see,
May know what Vermin, and, what Beasts they be.

These things consider, with a serious thought,
And, let to triall, ev'ry man be brought
Who hath deceiv'd his trust; or, ought, neglected,
Or done, whereby, false-dealings, are suspected.
If you intend, in safety to remaine;
Hear all, who, reasonably, to you complain:
And, judge with Righteous Judgment, that, God may
Delight to be among you, all the day;
That, all your Members, may be men approved;
And, Iealousies and grudgings, be removed;
So, you shall strengthned be, in one another,
And, knit, with such assurances, together,
That, there shall neither be, in all your actions,
Frauds, failings, fears, repentings, or distractions.
So shall the Peoples hands with you be strong,
And, we in hope, of that which doth belong
To our just Rights. Then, all your open-Foes
Their greatest strength; their greatest hope shall lose,
And, all their new-designes, and jugling plots,
With Vs, the French, Danes, Hollanders, or, Scots,
Shall come to nought; or, by preventing-grace,
Redound unto the welfare of this place.

Then, you shall get Confederates, and Friends,
Who, heeding, with your just, and prudent ends,
That power and Counsell, timely, you provide;
Will think, they in your Friendship, may confide.
And, then, we, likewise, whom you oft have tride,
Will, firme, to you, at ev'ry need, abide;
Still, freely hazard all our lively-hood,
Our Limbs, our Lives, and our dear Childrens blood,
To vindicate our Birth-rights, and our Lawes,
In spight of all th'opposers of our Cause.
Yea, if the much desired Reformation,
Of those, who are the Chosen, of our Nation,
You shall begin; we, will to you adhere
So closely, that, you shall not need to fear
Effecting it; although, of Trustie-men,
There were not, in both Houses, five times ten:
For, we are confident, halfe of that number,
Well rouz'd, would wake us all, out of our slumber:
Strike terrour, into all the hearts, of those
Who dar'd, that undertaking, to oppose;
And, make (when their Foundation they had laid)
Malignancie, and Tyrannie, afrayd.
We are as confident, (and, to this Nation,
We dare assure it, on our Reputation,
And, on our Lives) that, if, you shall go on,
To do this Work, as, yet, it may be done;
You should, not only, shew the VVordly-wise,
How far, just-dealing, out strips Policies;
But, also you shall honestie reduce
To practice; bring true Pietie in use;
And, build up such a Fabrick, in this Land,
Of Prudent-Government; that, it should stand
To be a pattern, for all Christendome;
And, flourish, till the Son of God, shall come.

But, if you hear us not, with such respect,
That our just-motion, may have due effect:
Then, know fró us (for, 'twill be worth your knowing)
That, down the Hill of ruine, you are going;
That, all things you shall order, or ordaine,
Vote, or debate on, will be done in vaine:
That, by our Contributions, and our Ayd,
Destruction, shall be, for while, delayd,
But, not prevented: That, the Hypocrites,
Shall do you, for a while, as great despights,
As have been, lately, done unto you, here,
By our prophane, and, Godlesse-Cavaleer;
And, that, God shall give back again these Lands
Into this Kings, or, some worse Tyrants hands;

Till, his Avenging-power, hath rooted hence,
All those, who, without either care, or sense,
Of publike miseries; of private woes;
Of their own fall; of others overthrowes;
Of either God or man; of heav'n or hell;
Have spurned, at the way, of doing-well.
For, let us not suppose, that, we may trust
Upon our Cause, though, that be very just.
The Iewish-cause was good: yet on them, fell
Destruction, for not handling of it well,
And, for Injustice; wherein, we offend
So grosly, that, unlesse we soon amend,
God will put off (if we can truth presage)
The VVorke now doing, till the following age:

And, then, shall rise another Generation,
And make compleat, that work of Reformation,
Which now is hindred, by the cunning sleights
Of Tyrants; Hypocriticall-deceits;
Selfe-seekers; and the Avarice and Pride,
Of some, who seem to take the better side.

And, that, which hath by Iehu, been begun;
Shall, by Elisha perfectly be done.

But, we, no longer, Noble Senators,
Will tempt your patience, or oppresse your ears
With our bold pleadings; left, by speaking much,
We unawares, upon some strain may touch,
Which by our ill expression, or mistake,
Us, to miscensures, liable may make.
What e're we say, be pleased to believe
We, would not, willingly, occasion give,
Of your displeasure; or, of discontent
To any Member of this Parliament
That, maketh conscience of his publike-trust;
Much lesse, would we in any thing, disgust
The whole, conven'd together; or, forget
Our selves so far, as to dishonour it:
Or, draw one Line, that really, might shame
Or, shadow, any Glory of the same.

To witnesse, that we mean the thing we say,
The faults now found, our purpose is, to lay
On those, with whom we found them, and with whom
To chide a little, we, are hither come.
On those, alone, to whom reproofes are due;
On those, whose falshoods, have dishonour'd you,
By thrusting in, among you; Ev'n, on those,
The burthen of our Speech, we will impose:
And, (by your Favour) as we cause do find,
Speake, now, to them, a parcell of our mind.

“The Welaffected, when they ended had
“This Speech, unto the Faithfull-Members made,
“Paws'd, for a while; to mark, if an assent
“Were likely to be granted, with content,
“To their desire of Leave, to speak their thought,
“Of, and to those, by whom, our Woe is wrought;
“And, ghessiing (by their grave, & gracious smiling)
“Them, to that motion, not to be unwilling;
“They made a low obeysance: Then, withdrew
“A little back; and, taking into view
“The Trustlesse-Members, fixt, on them their eyes;
“And, with a Speaking-frowne; spoke, in this wise.

The Speech of the Wel-affected, to their perfidious-Trustees, dishonouring the Parliament, by deserting the same, or, by not acting cordially therein.

Stand off, ye Traitors; that, me may not smutch
A Blameles-Member, whilst your faults we touch:
Stand further off, we say; lest, whilst we speak,
Some Foolish-fellow may our words mistake;
And, think; we have a purposed intent
To lay aspersions on the Parliament.
Stand, yet a little further, from among them;
That, every man may see we would not wrong them,
But, rather, do them honour by assayng
To helpe prevent their scandall and betraying,
By making, ev'ry wronged Subject know
From whom, their troubles, and oppressions flow.

So; being singled out, as you are, now,
None, but a Brainlesse-Foole, or, some of You,
Can be so impudent, as to apply
Our Checks, to that High-Courts indignity;
Or, seem displeas'd, because, our minds we say
As fearlesly, as honest Freemen may;
Since, we presume no further, then to do,
That, which necessity compels us to;
And, that, which being longer time delayd,
May come too late; and, quite in vain, be said.

When first this Parliament conveen'd together,
Who cal'd for such as you? How came you hither?
Confesse the truth; are not you some of those,
Who made the Burgers drunk, when you were chose?
Or, bribed them, with hopes, that, when you dye,
You would bequeath their Towne a Legacie?
Or, be, at least, so neighbourly unto them,
As none of those discourtesies to do them,
Which, must, undoubtedly, have been expected,
If, they your profer'd service, had neglected?

Though now you look upon us, as if we
Your Vassals, and your slaves, e're long should be;
Are not you some of those, who came, and went
And spake, and wrote, and su'd for our consent?
Were not you they, who trotted up and down,
To every Inne, and Alehouse in the Town,
To gain a Voice? Did not you, for your ends,
Crouch to your equals; importune your Friends;
Court your Inferiors; scrape acquaintance, with
Meer Strangers; Feast, the Cobler, and the Smith?
Nay more; upon the drunken Tapster fawne,
And, leave your word and promises in pawne
With Chamberlaines, and Hostlers, that, they might
Be Factors for you, being out of sight;

To move the Customers, who had a Voice,
To make you Objects, of their servile choice?
Sure, you are some of them, although we see,
A Metamorphosis in you to be,
Which puts great distances, 'twixt what you are,
And, what, but some few years agoe, you were:
For, we, that were your equals, or your betters,
Are, to your courtesie, no common debters,
If you will condescend, to let us know,
We do not out of your acquaintance grow;
Which we shall hazard, too, unlesse we seem
To have your wisdome in most high esteem;
And in your sayings, doubtlesly, confide;
Although, you know, we know, your Worships li'd.

When, first, your Fellowes left us, you, are they
Who, having not the grace to run away,
Abode behind, to see that service done,
Which, had been mist, if all the Knaves had gone.
For, (give the Devill his due) had you not staid,
Our Counsels, and our Cause to have betrayd,
This Warre, whose date, as yet, we do not know,
Had quite been ended, nigh four years ago:
Which, whilst such Vipers, we, among us, cherish,
Will have no end, till You, or VVe, shall perish.
Heare, therefore, now, a sober word or twain,
Lest, you repent your wilfulnesse, in vain.
Stop your Career, before it be at height,
And, face about, ye Madmen, to the right.
We wish not your destruction or your shame,
Nor, take we pleasure to divulge your blame,
Though you maligne our weal: Take therefore, heed
To what we say; and, wherein you proceed.
Be not so overdaring in your sin;
Let, such your pay be, as your work hath bin.
Or, lest, you rowle your selves, if you persever,
Down to that pit, whence no man can deliver.
For, though you think your walkings are conceal'd;
Your secret paths and courses be reveald.
Your private Aymes, your Avarice, your Pride,
Your fraud, and double-dealings are espide;
And, we perceive the guildings, and the paint,
Wherewith, your cursed Projects you be-saint.

Though some of you, your selves have falsly nam'd
The Godly; and some other of you sham'd
The Honest-partie, by pretending to
What, you had never, yet, the thought to do,
Your grand Hypocrisie, the people notes,
Both in your Vowes, and selfe-denying-Votes;
And how you cheat, delude us, and oppresse
With mock-showes, of dissembled Holinesse.
They mark, how you perform your Declarations;
Your Orders, Covenants, and Protestations;
And, when your turnes are served, with what pride,
You cast your Promises, and Friends aside.

They have observed, what Designes you drive;
Whose game you play; whose profit, you contrive;
How, though with with faces toward us you row,
Quite from us, your intentions are to go:
And, by the preparations, for the Scœne,
We finde what, you to put in action mean.
It is observ'd, how, some of you desire
'Twixt us and Scotland to renew the fire;
And, how you wish occasions may be given,
That, they by force of Arms might hence be driven,
Whom you invited in: As if, God tooke
No notice, when your Covenant were broke
In wishes and desires, whilst you are free
From breaches of your Faith that actuall be:
Whereas, in vain an outward Truth, you shew;
Unlesse, the purpose of the heart be true.

They have observ'd, how, some of you, as wide
From Moderation, on the other side,
Have by pretending fairly with the Scot,
Endeavor'd how those plagues may be begot,
Which in appearance, you would fain prevent;
And, how, you sow the seeds of discontent.
You work upon the weakest of both Nations,
By secret ties, or open Aggravations
Of those discouragements, which they have had;
Or, of those failings, which by them were made,
By those Decoyes, which best can use the wing,
The foolish Ducks into your snares ye bring;
And, whatsoever way your Grandees go,
Your Party takes, like Wild-geese, in a row.
It is observ'd what mischiefes you intend,
By seeming friendlie, where you are no Friend;
By slandring of their Pietie and Zeale,
Whose valour, hath preserv'd the Common-weal;
And, by contriving, and dispersing lies,
To breed distrusts and softer Jealousies.
Apparent are, your Projects on the City;
Your Arbitrarie straines, in each Committee.

To worke the people into discontent,
And bring an Odium on the Parliament.
'Tis seen, how, needlesly, you oft protract
By long delayes, what, you with speed, might act.
'Tis seen, how, to accommodate each other,
Ev'n you that are at odds, can joyn together
Against the publike, and exchange as friends,
Your curtesies, to further private ends.
How, in Petitions, you confound and cumber
Your selves, and us, by taking without number,
Or order, Causes in; and, heeding neither
Right wrong or method, shuffle all together
Into a Chaos; where, we find our grief,
Increased, by endeavouring for relief.
And, otherwhile, your malice doth make void
Those Orders, too, whereby might be injoy'd
The Parliaments intentions, to relieve
Those, whom the Foe, or, our own Party grieve;
And, by pretending justice, dares abuse
The justice, and the wisdome of the House.
For, when their order shall concern the right
Of any man, to whom you bear a spight,
'iTs but an Order (sleighting it) you say,
Got from the House upon some busie day,
Without Commitment, or Report thereon,
As if, all right were at Committees done:
Or, as if you impli'd, that, times there are,
Or, opportunities, (if watch'd they were)
In which, your Houses well considered not,
VVhat we petitioned, or what they vote:
Whereas, indeed, there's nothing done amisse
In Parliament, but that which granted is
On those Reports, which false Committees make:
For, every man almost, doth notice take,
How, they are managed; how, they are made,
By those, who are Crafts-Masters in the trade:
How, they are brought to meet, or keep away,
As, this, or that man, it advantage may:
And, how, when their debates are at an end,
You can, when up Reports are drawn and pen'd,
Insert a sentence, word, or circumstance
VVhich may' the Cause mar, hinder, or advance
As you shall please: And, by this cunning way,
The Parliament, to scandalls you betray,
VVhen manifold affairs compell them to
Commit some, to such hypocrites you.

VVe likewise more then jealousies have had
That some of you, have Agents here been made,
For Royalists: And, that, you had at Court,
Your Factors, and your Leagers to report
Your services, for them performed here;
And, to the King, your persons to endear.
We hear, whose peace was made; who also made it,
VVith what respect, and on what terms he had it;
VVho did his lodging at the Court provide;
And guesse we do, why here he doth abide.
VVe could declare, which of you had intentions
To fly to Oxford, and, by what preventions
You stayed, when you purposed to have went,
VVe know who raised horse; who, money sent;
And who did other services which you
Are loath to heare of, least we prove them true.
For, of such things, you guilty know other;
In private, you discourse of them together;
And, hear them spoken of from day to day,
Yet question not the speakers; nor give way
To those that would; except, it may be, there,
VVhere, you who are accus'd permitted are
To hear, examine, and debate the cause,
Contrary both to conscience, and the Laws:

By which means, some have traitors been so long,
That, now, to question them, it seems a wrong,
Because, they were not question'd heretofore;
As if that 'took off guilt, which makes it more;
Or, as if 'twere a clearing men from sin,
To let them live unquestioned, long, therein.
But, doubtlesse, if the blood of one man spilt
Ten years ago, makes nothing lesse his guilt,
Who did the murther; we no reason see
How, they, who traytors, to the publike bee,
Excusable, or innocent should grow,
By having many years continued so;
And, who by scaping their just doome, so long,
Encrease our private, and the publike wrong.

Can ever we have hope, that such as you,
VVill to the Common-Liberties be true;
VVho, to infringe our Freedoms did begin
Ere into Trust, you had admitted bin?
And screwed your selves into it by those wayes,
Which neither are our profit, nor your praise?
You thought it not enough, that, you had got,
(By practises, which Law alloweth not)

Your selves, made Members of this Parliament;
But, also, for the better settlement,
Of your Designes; you seek to bring in those
Who in your purposes with you may close:
And, to that end, intrude upon the right,
Of other men, with all your wits and might.
You ride, and send; you promise and intreat;
Feast some; speake others faire; some others threat;
And, many other diligences use,
The soon deceived people to abuse;
That, you may draw them to confer their Voices,
On men, who are not their, but your own choices.
From which high impudence, and bold intrusion,
We make this undeniable conclusion;
That, now, the ordring of the Common-Cause,
Our Liberties, Lives, Liveli-hoods, and Lawes,
Is in the power of many, who were chose
Not, by our Countries friends; but by her Foes;
And, such as had nor wit, nor care to know,
On whom, the Publike-trust, they did bestow.
And, if in this proceeding you go on,
What can we hope will follow thereupon?
But, that, if long this Parliament should sit,
Your Members, still, new-members would beget
On ev'ry Corporation, Shire, and Towne,
Till they had made their Members so their own,
That, our free choise were generally lost,
As at this present day it is almost.

For, on the VVrits injuriously you seize;
You put them back or forward as you please;
And, whereas, if they had come forth together,
And, been within some little time sent thither
Where choise was to be made; more satisfaction,
It would have given us; and drown'd that Faction
Whose manifold corruptions made you doubt
Those new Elected-ones, would purge them out:
But you contriv'd it so, that they must come,
By one and one, or else by some and some,
That they the better may be prepossest
(Before they know the publike-Interest)
By you to your advantage; who intend
By making show, of a Religious end,
And holding up two Factions to abide
The safer; till, you better can provide.

And, you are they, who when you in are taken,
Had rather three whole Kingdoms should be shaken
Then your least Priviledge dispens'd withall,
What reasonable barre soe're befall.
No men are halfe so zealous in that cause
As you, by whom our liberties and Lawes
Are most infring'd. Oh! how you, ride and run
And plot, when Informations are begun
Against a Member! Be it right, or wrong,
How you consult together! how, you throng,
To that Committee, whither they are brought!
How speedily exceptions, forth are sought
Against th'informers? what severity
Are they examin'd with? how partially
Are proofes considered? how slur'd and sleighted!
How, are the persons wronged and despighted?
How, inhumanly, are they, oft reviled?
How, of their Liberties are they dispoiled?
How are they scandall'd by false imputations,
Of base Conspiracies, and subornations?
How frequently are spread, to their disgrace
(By men of seeming gravity, and place)
Injurious rumors? which ev'n they who speak them,
Know to be false; because, they first did make them?

Thus you have used us; and, drawn in some
Your partners, in injustice, to become,
Because they thought you good, and, us as bad
As by your fly deportments, we were made:
And, by these practises, with many moe,
(VVhich, we by dear experience, come to know)
You have almost improved them so far,
That, men may be as wicked as you are
VVithout reproofe: Because, but few or none
Dare, now, to speake, of what you have misdone.

These things, with wrath, and scorn, the people heed;
And, how in other matters you proceed,
To that High-Courts dishonour, which, in show,
You seem to serve, but, seek to overthrow.
They notice take, with whom you do comply;
VVhat Stars and Compasse you have steared by;
For whom, you oftnest at Committees are;
Against what Persons, you do most appear;
VVhat great Rewards, and Titles you propose
To pay a debt, which King nor Kingdome owes;
How, you accompt; and, what Accompts you take
VVhom you displace; whom Officers you make;
On whom the richest places you confer;
How, to your selves, Delinquents you endeare;

And, how you vexe them, with affronts and braves,
Who, have preserved you from being slaves.

The People, your indulgence, likewise, marks
To your dependents, and malignant Clarks;
To what a height of pride, and wealth they clime
By serving the corruptions, of the time;
To what a vastnesse their estates are growne,
By that, which hath the publike, overthrowne;
What Priviledges, are by some, enjoy'd,
Whilst they who suffred for them, are destroyd;
Whilst they are sleighted, and without regard,
Whose better service, merits best reward;
Whose Bountie, hath enabled you to give;
Whose valour, was the means, by which you live;
And, by whose perseverance, you possesse
The hopes of all your earthly happinesse.
For, 'tis by them, whose blood you cast away
That, you have bread and rayment, at this day;
And, that within your Parlers, you may sit
Of all your braveries, unplunder'd, yet,
Whilest your Deliverers are like to sterve,
Through want of what you wast, and they deserve.
It is from you, whence all these mischiefes come,
Which, to this Nation, are so troublesome.
The Priviledges upon you bestowne
For publike ends, are used for your owne.
The Duties, which have been injoyn'd unto us,
Are made, by you, but engines to undo us,
Or, to betray us, to the spight of those,
Whom, for the publike safety, we oppose.
The Power, which we to save our Freedomes, gave,
You have imployed, Freemen to inslave;
And, would, should others act as you have done,
Set many Tyrants up, instead of one.

But, You, and Hee, whose wilfull ignorance,
Of our just Rights, hath made him follow France
In his Designes; and, hope in imitation,
Of that French-Tyrant, who inslav'd his Nation,
To bring our English-necks to that base Yoke;
Ev'n You and Hee, shall know you much mistooke;
And, that, if too sharpe curbs, our courses check,
We, shall go neer to break the Riders neck.

Our Nation much can bear; and, now and than
Brook somewhat more, then at all times it can;
But, tread not on us: For, you will not find,
In English-Yeomen, your French-Peasants mind.
Our Citizens, have served to be free;
So born our Nobles, and our Gentry be:
And, though French-Spaniels fawne, when they are beat
Our true-bred English-Mastives, scorne it, yet.

We hated Tyrannie, though in the King;
And, will not brook, in you, the selfe-same thing
Presume; not, therefore, to provoke too far,
Abused patience, lest, deceiv'd you are.
By Iustice, and by Kindnesse, you may take us;
But, e'er by force, you bend us, you will break us.
To keep us Freemen, we have you elected;
Our rights we claime; and, more is not expected
Nay, so far are we from desiring more,
That, we, will, freely, back again restore
What e're you give us, if it shall be known
You give us any more then is our own.
It is not our desire, that, for our sake,
You, ought that is the Kings, from him should take
Or any Trust of our, but, what abused
By him hath been; or, what may be misused,
Both to his harme and our: nor are we bent
Either to keep, or change the Government,
But, as God pleaseth, and shall move the Nations
To do, hereafter upon just occasions;
And, as it seemes expedient: For, we see
Things-lawfull, inexpedient, sometime, be;
Especially, when we shall snatch at them,
Before they either have stood out their time,
Or, we are fitted for them: This, rash course,
Instead of mending; maketh matters worse:
And, therefore, till, God, plainer shall disclose
Those purposes of his, which no man knowes;
We seriously, endeavour, and desire,
Our King, unto his people, should retire;
And, by Repenting, burnish up that Crowne,
Which, for our sinnes and his is rustie grown.
For, though our Cause be better; yet, since we
Are in our selves, as blameable as he;
And, unto God-ward, in Offences even;
We could as well forgive, as be forgiven.

But, in this point, your hearts are not upright
Yea, and among your selves, you differ quite;
For, some of you, mistaking the intent,
And, loyall purpose of the Parliament,
(Who leaves no means untride, whereby, it may
Reduce the King unto the regall-way,)

Have, out of Policy and (and, hope of that
Which we were ever, far from ayming at)
Appear'd desirous to contrive it so,
That, he, and we might more asunder go,
Untill our differences might increase
Into impossibilities of Peace.

Some other of you, to the King adhere,
Not out of loyalty, but, out of fear,
To whether side, you may most safely go,
To save your selves; still, staggring, to and fro,
Inconstantly, from th'one, to th'other side,
According to the Current of the Tide;
Not caring, whether Partie thriveth best,
But, as it may advance your interest.
And, this, hath made you otherwhile, assay
How, you might either Him, or Vs betray.
Whereas, if you were faithfull to that end,
Which, outwardly, to favour you pretend;
And, in the means, with patience, would await
Gods leisure, without wav'ring, or deceit;
(Endeavouring, as we have truly done,
That, Hee, and We might meet againe in one)
God, who, at pleasure, turnes the hearts of Kings,
And, light, out of the greatest darknesse, brings;
Might make this Breach, a means, perhaps, become,
To knit a True-Love-knot through Christendome;
Occasion give, to make this King endeavour
To banish Tyrannie, from hence, for ever;
And, be the first of Kings, who, truly, shall
Lay down his Crowne, his Dignitie, and all
At Christ his feet; and, take them up again,
To act his will; and by his Law to raigne.

For, though the Kings late failings do exceed,
And, though God, peradventure, hath decreed,
To cast both him and His, down from the Throne,
Or, do to him, as justly he hath done
To many Kings and Tyrants; yet, this Nation
Hath hitherto, receiv'd no Revelation
Of such a purpose; nor command, that they
Should cast him, of their own accord, away.
And, therefore, very wisely doth our State
Gods own proceedings seek to imitate,
In prosecuting him, and his offences,
As, God doth us, in our impenitences:
That, if the King, still frowardly go on,
He, by own Designes, may be undone,
And, God himselfe remove him: So, shall we
Of our own suffrings, no avengers be,
Ought further, then good conscience, and our lawes,
May justifie our progresse in the Cause.

For, by this patient waiting on his will,
VVhether God bring him back, or let him, still
Proceed and fall; yea, whether unto him,
Or unto none, he give that Diadem
VVhich he abus'd: God, shall so bring to passe
VVhat, for his glory, pre-ordained was;
That, it shall likewise, to our VVeal, redound,
And, we with David, shall be blamelesse found
Of hastning our deliverance, e're the day,
According to our own devised way,
As some have done; and, thereby mixt the Blessing
VVith many bitternesses, in possessing.
This patience, and this prudence would bring on
That work, which is desired should be done.
And, here should be that look't-for Kingdome then,
VVhich will advance, all good and honest men.
A Kingdome, wherein, they who are unjust;
VVhere Parasites; were they who faile their trust,
And men of wicked hearts, and shamelesse faces,
Shall have nor credit, Offices, nor Places.

This, this is that, ye Rebels which ye fear;
This, makes you so enraged as you are:
This, makes you, in vain projects to persist,
And, drive a Factorage for Antichrist;
VVhilst you are persevering, to fulfill
The fleshly longings, of your private will.

But, know, that, on your paths God hath an eye;
An open-eare, to ev'ry poore mans cry:
An able-hand, a stretcht-out-arme, to fetch
Your Policie and Power within his reach:
And, that though for a season you may thrive,
In acting what you wickedly contrive;
Yet, e're it shall befall as you fore-think,
The Floods shall rise, and make the Mountaines sink.

Then, turn back to your Vowes, e're 'tis too late;
By Justice, help repaire this ruin'd state;
Unite your selves, unfainedly, to those,
VVhom, seeming to assist, you, still, oppose.
Be warn'd oh Judges: and oh King be wise,
And, sweeten so your daily sacrifice,
VVith Justice, and with Mercy, that, God may
From these three Kingdomes, turne his wrath away:
That all the long-long sufferings he hath daign'd;
That all the victories we have obtain'd;
That all the counsels, vows, cries, prayers, and tears,
Of trusty Commoners, and faithfull Peers,

And all that wealth, and blood, this cause hath cost,
May not, through want of unity, be lost.
Make not this Parliament, without effect,
By which, our greatest good we did expect.
Permit not that, which our chief praise hath had,
A scorn, by your corruptions, to be made.
Sad not their hearts, who in their trust are true;
VVho had ere this, prevailed, but for you;
VVho, undeservedly, share, now, among them,
The blame, wherewith, your guiltines doth wrong them,
And, wil do so, til Justice, forth shal thrust,
The wicked, from th'Assemblies of the just.

Make not more Breaches: For, alas! there are,
More then enough, already, ev'ry where:
And, yet perhaps, no more then shall promote
GOD'S glory; who, can presse an Antidote,
Out of those poisonous fruits, and banefull things,
VVhich forth from our corrupted nature springs;
And, teacheth us oft times, ev'n by offences,
The knowledge of approved Excellencies.

That Independent-Presbyterian-Ginn,
Which of Divisions hath occasion been,
Shall never move to propagate that end,
VVhich many fear, and many do intend:
For, by his providence, and grace preventing,
GOD, shall at last, extract from our dissenting,
A wholsomer production, to these Nations,
Then, yet, arides the vulgar expectations:
Unlesse; a crying Epidemick-sin,
To mar the blessing, cast some poyson in.

Good-men, to both opinions do belong;
Truth, is in both, with error mixt among;
The face of both opinions, you put on,
Or off, as your designs are to be done.
Somtime, an Independent-Garbe you chuse;
Somtime, you Presbyterian-vizards use,
Untrue to both: and, when they see your scope,
They, will become as uselesse, to your hope,
Whom you deceive; as, to their hopes you are,
Of whose opinions, you, a while appeare.

We, who the WELL-AFFECTED, termed be,
Are they, who in the Common-Cause agree,
Although our judgemens varie; we, are loath
To quarrell, to the ruining of both
Opinions; or, the ruining of all,
For differing, but in points dogmaticall:
Lest, whilst for chaffe, and straw, we make a Fray,
Our neighbours come, and steale the corn away.

Some of us like one Party; some, the other;
Some of us, are not much in love with either;
Nor so displeas'd with either, as to joy
In ought, which their due comfort may destroy.
For, Patriots with both of them are found;
Both, build their faith, and hope, upon one ground
And, we believe, that, when GOD, from our eyes
Hath scrap'd the scales, purg'd out our maladies
(And, brought us by his grace, to treat together
VVithout prejudicating one another)
VVe, then, who, (being somwhat out of tune)
Do, for the present, harsh divisions runne;
Shall, when our notes, are tim'd, and rightly plac'd
Joyne in a Diapason, at the last:
Which, to our great contentment, will disclose
That Perfect-Musicke from some discords flowes

VVe, therfore hope, (though yet your fraud prolongs
Our jealousies, & multiplieth wrongs)
That, all your Engineers, and cunning plots
Shall nor divide the English, from the Scots;
Nor separate those English from each other,
VVho by their Covenant are knit together;
Till they have done their work, and you are pai'd
VVhat they deserve, who have their trust betrai'd
Or, else, till they or we commit that act
VVhich totally disso veth our contract:
And, woe to them, who, shall unjustly take,
Or, give the cause, that cursed Breach to make.

But, whatsoever Blessing my ensue,
No portion of it, can belong to you,
In this estate: For, plainly, we descry,
That, in the gall of bitternesse you lye;
VVe see, although we cannot hinder it,
VVhat you pursue, whilst in the House, you sit,
VVhat things abroad, you practise, and allow;
VVhat, you in secret, favour and avow;
And, to effect, your purposes to bring,
How, you abuse both Parliament, and King.

We know the means, by which you entred in
Upon what Principles, you did begin:
What course you took, before you were elected
What fame you had; of what you were suspected
In what base projects, you a hand have had;
How poor some of you were; how rich, now mad
By publike ruins; and, what follow must
If you be long continued in your Trust.

We have observ'd, though many crooks it hath
The turnings, and the windings of your path:

How you divide the Clergie, by your sidings;
How your divisions, and your sub-dividings,
You multiply, and manie waies foment
To work destruction to the Government
In Church & Common-wealth; and, how, your tricks
(Extracted from the Jesuits politicks)
Do shake the Fundamentalls, whereon stand
The safety, wealth, and honour of the Land.

We see, although we cannot, yet prevent
Or, well expresse the same, how you have spent
The Publike-Treasures; how the Publike Pow'r
Is brought, it self to weaken, and devour:
How, you oppresse the Countrey without pity;
How, you abuse the Bounty of the City;
Her valiant sons, how you have wrong'd and sleighted;
Their faithfull service how you have requited;
And, what, unlesse both you and we amend,
Will be our portion, and your later end.

Yea, we grow sensible, with what delay,
Our suits are trifled off, from day to day:
How long we wait, to have Petitions heard;
And, when committed, how you dis-regard
Our charge, by keeping witnesses in town;
Our tedious pains in trotting up and down,
To wooe for meetings; that our time and cost,
In seeing Clerks, and Councell, be not lost:
All these, with other hind'rances, unnam'd,
(For which, the Houses are not to be blam'd)
We suffer, to our bitter discontent,
And, to the scandall of the Parliament
Through your defaults; who, have, by sitting long,
Learn'd new contrivances, for doing wrong;
And, such obstructive, and destructive waies,
As were to us unknown in former daies.

GOD, be your speed, as your designes are just:
Els, let them thrive, as we believe they must.
Our hope, you were; but now, our Fear, you be:
And, kept, by you, as lambs by wolves, are we.
Regardlesse, of our wellfare, you are grown;
Gods cause pretending, you pursue your own;
Increasing, by the Common-wealths decrease;
Improoving, by the ruin of our Peace;
And, making to your selves, ev'n as you list,
A Priesthood, Lawes, a Gospell, and a Christ.

We that have been your first, and fastest friends,
(If, ever, you had honourable ends
In order to the publike) have, of late,
But serv'd your turns, in serving of the State.
This, having, for our forwardnesse enjoy'd,
That, we are most opprest, and first destroy'd:
And, through your fault, are griev'd by their neglect,
Whom we most honour, and do best affect.
Nay, which is worse, you who on us have brought
This mischief, must, the Publike-friends, be thought,
And we Delinquents; for no other cause,
But seeking execution of the Lawes;
Or, for endeavouring how to break ope
Some necessarie passage, to our hope,
VVhen we are almost stifled in the throng
Of miseries, which have opprest us long.

If, as our VOW injoyns us, we accuse
Your Fellowes, who, have seemed to abuse
Their Publike-Trust; Though, by our Information,
VVe, only, seek the Kingdoms Reformation;
Yet, such is your injustice, that, instead
Of suffering us to have a faire proceed,
(According to the merit of the Cause,
The Subjects Priviledges, and the Lawes)
You fall on us, as if that we were they
VVho were accus'd, the Kingdom to betray:
At leastwise, we are us'd, and look'd upon,
As if some great offences we had done.
The men inform'd against, you do permit
In their own cause, Examiners to sit;
To hear debates; our witnesses to see,
And speak with them, ere they examin'd be;
To act as Judge and Party; To enlarge,
The guilty; to condemn, without a charge,
Us, that are innocent; and to pursue us,
As, if unquestionable Rogues, they knew us.

And, if you were not, yet, more impudent,
It might be borne: But, to the Parliament,
You seek to make us odious; and to leave us
Nor friend, nor bread, nor ought that ease may give us.
And, which is worse then this, by having thus
Thus impudently, made a scorn of us;
(Whose good affections gen'rally are knowne)
The people so discouraged are growne,
That, had not some, a love unto the State,
Which will out-live your tyranny, and hate;
The Parliament, would be deserted so,
And their Just-Quarrell so defamed grow,
That Traytors would be traitors without feare;
And, none be bold to say, they Traytors are.

A multitude of other wayes you grieve us,
Through misinforming them, who should relieve us,

Through mis-reports, and making outward showes,
Of better fruit, then on your dunghill growes:
And, we have little hope of gaining ease,
Till GOD himself, by miracle shall please,
(Or, by some extraordinary way)
To change your minds, or root you quite away:
For, our most just-complaints, do nought asswage,
Your cruelty, but, more encrease your rage.
Our Patience, no repect at all hath won us,
But, rather, makes you more insult upon us;
Yea, and the more, your wills we stoop unto,
The more we have to suffer, and, to do.

If we seeme forward for the Common-weal,
With popularity, you brand our zeal.
If we contribute more then some of you,
With enviousnesse, our bounty you pursue.
And, whereas, we should favour'd be, therefore,
You do not only make our burthens more
Then other mens, when ablenesse have we,
But, lay them on, when we unable be;
And, for our being first in contribution,
Intend to make us last in restitution.
Nay, some of us, have cause to be affraid,
Well-doing, shall with evill be repay'd:
For, we, whilst you proceed; as yet you do,
Have more then symptoms that it will be so.

If want, compell us for our own to pray,
With empty hands you send us, oft away;
With long delayes, our patiences are tri'd,
Ere we can get our suits heard or deni'd;
And, then, lest too much grace, you should afford,
You seldome, give us one respective word;
But, looke upon us, with such pride, and scorn,
As if to be your vassalls, we were born.

Meanwhile your Favourites, forsooth, and they
That, humour you in your imperious way,
Are, for small merits, largely gratifi'd:
(Or, such as nearly are to you alli'd)
Their suits (if they petition) are preferr'd:
If they complain, ere long, they may be heard:
And, (though it were by chance) if well they do,
They get for trifles, thanks, and money too.

If nearer pinch'd, our suits, we do renew;
And, being sleighted, some distemper shew,
Your zeale, one hasty word, of ours, more heeds,
Then all our good, and well-deserving deeds;
And, well we scape, if to an empty purse,
You adde not somwhat else, that shall be worse.

Thus, we with our poor children, and our wives
Are forc'd to live uncomfortable lives;
Whilst you, and they, whom open foes, we call,
Piece up, your tatter'd fortunes, by our fall.
For, of one Moity, they have us bereft;
And, you, have robbed us, of what they left.
By our opposing them, we shall be sure,
Of their despight, ev'n whilst our lives endure:
By persevering, to our Country, true,
We are in danger of the like from you;
And so, which side soever shall prevaile,
We have a mischief on us, by intaile
To us, and to our heirs. For, you in heart
United are; though, corp'rally, apart;
And, joyn, by close compliances, in one,
In hope to finish, what you have begun;
Which is nor worse, nor better; but, to raise
Your houses, both by good, and evill wayes;
And, for this end, to ruine, you would bring
Law, Gospell People, Parliament and King;
But, ere your hopes effected you shall see,
Hark Traiters, what your destinie shall be.

Hark, and observe it: For, it is the doome,
That, shall, without all peradventure, come
Upon their heads, who have their trust betray'd
Oppressions on their faithfull servants laid;
Or, multipli'd their wealth, with greedinesse,
By preying on their Countrey, in distresse.
And, it is this; He that such wrongs requites,
Shall give you portions with damn'd hypocrites:
Your pride, by shame, shall suddenly be follow'd;
You shall spew up the gobbets, you have swallow'd
Your way shall perish: you, shall quite be thrust
Forth, from that Congregation of the Just,
VVhich you pollute: GOD, in your steads will place
Men, rich in wisdom, honesty, and grace:
Such, as are truly called, duly sent:
Such, as befit an English-Parliament:
And, able, then, that Senate shall become,
To curb their Foes abroad; and, Knaves, at home

So, having utter'd what we had to say;
Now, you among the Faithfull-members may
Go shrowd your selves again: For, pleas'd are we
You should be thought, as honest, as they be,
If, you will yet, repent; and, justly, do
The Publike-worke, which you are call'd unto.

We, likewise, could be very well content,
That, none shoud say, or think, these lines were meant

Of any one, within the Senate-doore,
If, cause there were, of no such thought before,
As we do intimate: For, we are come
Not with a sword, but, OPOBALSAMUM
To cure your Vlcers, and to make you clear
From all those Blots, which, now, on you, appear.

VVe, no man, individually, disclose,
But, speake, what almost ev'ry Reader knowes;
And, whereof each man tattles to his friend,
(It may be) to a lesse commodious end.
VVe speak in Generalls, that, men to blame
Might be reprooved, without open shame;
And, by themselves, in private, take occasion
To seek their safety, with our preservation;
And, these things, to their own amendment marke,
Before those Mastives bite, which, yet, but bark.
We charg you, here, with nought, but what we know,
And, what is known to many thousand moe:
Nay, here is nothing mention'd, but what you
And, your own Consciences, do know is true.
VVe were advis'd hereof, before we spake it;
VVe are not ignorant, how some will take it;
Nor, with what secret malice, and despight,
They will pursue it, to their utmost might:
For, some of us, already, though unheard,
Are censured; nay, many have not spar'd,
Of one yet living, publikely, to say
He executed was; and, nam'd the day.
Yet, we resolved were, Elihu-like,
Without respect of Persons, truth to speak.

If you desirous be, that none should lay
These matters to your charge; your surest way,
Is not, to rage; or, furiously to turne
Upon the Writer; or, the Booke to burne:
But, rather, to repent; and make a show
That, of these free reproofes you do allow;
And, of our setting thus before your eyes,
A perfect draught of your deformities.
Yet, best of all your shame would be prevented,
If, order you procure, to have it printed,
And, some Reward, bestowed upon those,
Who have character'd thus, their Countries Foes:
For, none can think, that they, who guilty be,
To such a motion, ever would agree;
Or, that, a prudent-honest man will frown,
To see the wickednesse of Knaves made known.
However it succeeds; we say, and swear,
We neither for your frownes, or favours care:
Which protestation, if you think untrue;
Make tyrall; do your worst, and so adieu.

Thus, ended they their Speech; But, e're 'twas done,
A sullen murmuring, began to run
Throughout the guiltie-party; yea, they all
With anger looked either red, or pale.
Some snuft, some puft, some grin'd; the mouth some wride;
Some bit their lips, some hung their heads aside.
Some, jeerd, some fleerd, some rag'd; and they who had
Least honesty and wit, appear'd most mad.
Some, ran into the Hall, in discontent,
To see, if they had put their Speech in Print:
Some, home; some, to the Taverne walked back,
(From whence they came) and drunke a quart of Sack.
Some, swore; and cursed all the Well-affected:
Some threatned him whom justly they suspected
To be the Penner of it, and they swore
If they could helpe it, he should write no more.
Some, did advise to apprehend, and call him,
To some Committee, and, there soundly maul him,
That, others may take warning, how they dare
Speake truth to them, who love no truth to heare.
But, others minding what a Vote had past,
On that Committee, which abus'd him last,
And, being fearfull, that his good intent,
Would e're long time, unto the Parliament,
So evident be made, that their despight
Would rather on their heads then his alight;
They waved that, and, being at a stand,
In thinking, what they best might take in hand,
At length; Come let us smite him with the tongue,
Said one of them, who knew what doth belong
To deep revenge; and let us daily strow,
Some scandals of him, wheresoe're we go.
Another of them, wiser then the rest,
(In earnest, partly, partly too, in jest)
Perswaded much, to let him quite alone,
And mend, what they themselves amisse had done.
A few, approv'd the Motion; but, not all:
VVe therefore, know not, yet, what will befall.
But, you shall heare, within a day or two,
(If you have patience) what they meane to doe.

Here, thought I, to conclude, conclude; but, hear, ye, now,
Before we part, a word or two, to you,
Ye Worthies of both Houses; and, all ye
VVho, VVell-affected to this Kingdome be.
Now, heare Him, for himselfe, who, hath not spared;
To speake for your availe; nor been out dared

By any danger, to declare his mind,
According as our Cov'nant hath enjoynd.

He is not ignorant, how great a Stake,
He hath among you: Nor, how, course to take
To thrive, as others doe. But, he disdaines,
For any hope on earth, to take the paines;
To vary from his heart, in Word, or Action,
To humour any man, or any Faction.
Be pleased to consider, that, all this
Was penned, for no private end of his;
Nor can procure him ought, save their despight,
Who, in the wrong of harmlesse-men delight;
Unlesse, you faithfully to him adhere,
As by our solemn-Vow, engag'd you are;
Which, doth obliege, that, firme you stand to those,
VVho doe their best, Delinquents to disclose;
And, likely meanes, and lawfull wayes invent
To bring them to deserved punishment.

Thus, I, (as heartily, as any One)
According to my Faculties, have done;
And shewne these Times, and, those, perhaps, to come,
That, Poesie, may have an usefull Roome,
In great Affaires; and Poets, fill their place,
VVhether, the times, be generous or base.
Though I no Patron find, assur'd I am,
This VVork, would not have done the Author shame,
In better times: Nay, if an Irish-Bard
Had sung thus much, to them, they would have heard
His Numbers with respect: and many things
Bestow'd; beside a Harp with silver strings.
But, I shall think my game hath well been playd,
If I, with mischiefe, shall not be repayd
For my Good-will; nor, left, when I have done,
To bear the burthen of dispights, alone.

For your own sakes, take heed, I humbly pray,
It be not so; lest, you repent it may,
VVhen you, by One, and One, opprest shall be,
And, then, forsooke; as, you deserted me.
I am not, for my selfe, of ought afraid,
VVhich can to me, be either done, or said:
For, what my Foes can take, I, well can spare;
And, nothing have to lose, for which, I care.
Ther's VVealth in want, ther's Honour, in Disgrace,
And, Life in Death, for him, that's in my case.
I ask of you nor Riches nor Reward;
(Though, those things, I, sometime, too much regard
Let where you please, your Bounty be bestown;
So I may have, what, justly, is mine own;
That, will suffice, to set me fully free,
From all Engagements, now, oppressing me;
And, leave to those, for whom, I should provide,
Enough, to keep them, both from want, and Pride

I ask no Honours: For, no hope I have
Of honour, here, till I am in my grave:
And, if to me, some share be, then, allow'd,
It will be best; for, 'twill not make me proud;
Nor in my life time, those Corruptions nourish,
VVhich, make of men in honour, Beasts that perish

I ask not for my selfe, the smallest thing,
VVhich, meerly, to my-selfe, may profit bring;
But, all I shall desire, is, these two Boones,
(Which, I conceive, are just, and equall ones)
First, this; that, I, whose credit, now, appears
To have continu'd seven and fifty yeares,
Without reproach (except it be among
That crew, who cannot slander with their tongue
May not, with you, a Good-opinion lose,
Though that Report, which, my malicious-Foes
Have latelie made to my disreputation;
(By laying to my charge a Subornation)
Till, fully, and impartiallie, you heare
How, I shall make their impudence appeare,
Who have traduc'd me; & what streights the pass
(What open injuries, and what disgrace)
Who, in a conscionable path, shall go;
And, to the Publike, would their duties do,
As I have done: They judge, as cause appears
And, let him perish, that, Right-Judgement, fears

This, not for mine own honour do I crave;
But, that, your honour, may no blemish have;
And, that, by taking my repute away,
The Divill, (who such plots doth often lay)
Disparage not the Truths, that I have told,
To make them ineffectuall, if he could.
To this end, only, I your Justice crave,
That, now, (with yours) my honour I may save
And, to no other end: For, 'tis to me,
Honour enough, an Innocent, to be.

And, yet, who knowes, but, GOD, may look upon
The wrongs, which have to me of late beene done
Who knowes, but that ere long, receive he may
The Ports of Haman, and of Mordecai?
Or, make, what seems my shame, to be my glory
When future Ages, read this Ages story?

My next (oh! Noble Friends) and last request
Is this; that, if I should be so opprest

As is intended, you, would think upon
Those, whom, by serving you, I have undone;
That, Halfe of Me (who, had a share, in that,
VVhich I adventur'd freely, for the State)
And, those, Branch'd from us, who thereby are left,
No meanes of Bread, or Breeding; but, bereft
Of all their outward-helpes: Oh! let them find
More grace, then yet I do: yea, be so kind,
That, unto them, may truly payed be,
What, on the Publike-Faith, you owe to me,
In Debts, on faire account, due from this Nation
By private, and by publike Obligation.

My Naturall-Affection, makes me fear
This Motion needfull. Therefore, have a care
You sleight it not; For, doubtlesse, if you do,
God will require it; and, requite it, too
Yea, if you shall forget what I prefer,
God, will remember, your Remembrancer;
And, when your Children shall with hunger pine,
Provide abundance of good-things for mine.

Thus hopes, and thus believes,

Geo: Wither.

Fiat Voluntas Dei.