Distressed Sion Relieved Or, The Garment of Praise for the Spirit of Heaviness. Wherein are Discovered the Grand Causes of the Churches Trouble and Misery under the late Dismal Dispensation. With a Compleat History of, and Lamentation for those Renowned Worthies that fell in England by Popish Rage and Cruelty, from the Year 1680 to 1688. Together with an Account of the late Admirable and Stupendious Providence which hath wrought such a sudden and Wonderful Deliverance for this Nation, and Gods Sion therein. Humbly Dedicated to their Present Majesties. By Benjamin Keach |
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But what approaches? Hark! methinks I hear,
A dreadful noise! What is it? Ah! I fear,
All is not well; A Lyon seems to Roar,
The Eccho comes too from the Eastern shore;
Dear Children wake! Rouze up and look about,
Guard all the Coasts with speed the Land throughout;
My very heart does tremble, Ah! I quake,
What shall I do! Ah! what course shall I take?
The Lyon of the North; I doubt 'tis he,
That is foretold in ancient Prophecy,
What! in the midst of all my Jollities,
Must I meet with this terrible surprize,
And into such amazement now be thrown,
Just when I thought that all had been my own?
A dreadful noise! What is it? Ah! I fear,
All is not well; A Lyon seems to Roar,
The Eccho comes too from the Eastern shore;
Dear Children wake! Rouze up and look about,
Guard all the Coasts with speed the Land throughout;
My very heart does tremble, Ah! I quake,
What shall I do! Ah! what course shall I take?
The Lyon of the North; I doubt 'tis he,
That is foretold in ancient Prophecy,
What! in the midst of all my Jollities,
Must I meet with this terrible surprize,
And into such amazement now be thrown,
Just when I thought that all had been my own?
Oh blessed Virgin help! Ah pity show,
Scatter my fears, my enemies overthrow;
St. Patrick, and St. Andrew, George and all,
Unite your strength! Oh now prevent my fall,
Oh haste, make haste, or I am quite undone,
What shall I do? Oh whither shall I run?
Scatter my fears, my enemies overthrow;
St. Patrick, and St. Andrew, George and all,
Unite your strength! Oh now prevent my fall,
Oh haste, make haste, or I am quite undone,
What shall I do? Oh whither shall I run?
Romes Angel Guardian, I do thee invoke,
To save our Church, and to divert this stroke;
You Saints and Martyrs who at Tyburn dy'd,
Pray the blest Virgin to be on our side;
To save our Church, and to divert this stroke;
You Saints and Martyrs who at Tyburn dy'd,
Pray the blest Virgin to be on our side;
O mighty Neptune, with an angry brow,
Upon my Foes thy utmost vengeance show,
That this proud Pharaoh, whose ambitious mind
To ruin Mother Church hath now design'd,
May ne'r prevail; From landing, oh! him keep,
Let all his hopes be buried in the deep.
Why are the Sea's so calm? will they consent,
Him to preserve, to my sad detriment?
Ah! raise your boistrous winds and swelling waves,
And in your bowels let them have, their graves,
Break all their Ships, let them sink down like lead,
And in the raging Seas be buried.
Look out you English Heroes, hoist your Sails,
Cursed be he whose heart or courage fails;
Fight valiantly, and then I need not fear,
That Eighty Eight will be a fatal year.
Upon my Foes thy utmost vengeance show,
That this proud Pharaoh, whose ambitious mind
To ruin Mother Church hath now design'd,
May ne'r prevail; From landing, oh! him keep,
Let all his hopes be buried in the deep.
Why are the Sea's so calm? will they consent,
Him to preserve, to my sad detriment?
Ah! raise your boistrous winds and swelling waves,
And in your bowels let them have, their graves,
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And in the raging Seas be buried.
Look out you English Heroes, hoist your Sails,
Cursed be he whose heart or courage fails;
Fight valiantly, and then I need not fear,
That Eighty Eight will be a fatal year.
Ah! heark; He's landed, that's bad news if true,
And in the West, I dread what will insue,
What cursed Star bears Rule? Ah! cruel Fate,
The Sea, and Seamen both now shew their hate,
What! none t'oppose, none that will them withstand?
What! suffer such an Enemy to land?
Are all the Gods asleep on whom I call?
No they have heard me; and on him will fall.
Though he has scap'd the Seas you'l soon perceive,
Vengeance much longer will not let him live.
And in the West, I dread what will insue,
What cursed Star bears Rule? Ah! cruel Fate,
The Sea, and Seamen both now shew their hate,
What! none t'oppose, none that will them withstand?
What! suffer such an Enemy to land?
Are all the Gods asleep on whom I call?
No they have heard me; and on him will fall.
Though he has scap'd the Seas you'l soon perceive,
Vengeance much longer will not let him live.
Chear up my gallant Souldiers; you I trust,
Will never fly; Therefore with speed you must,
Be all in readiness, and do not fear,
But fierce as Lyons, 'gainst your foes appear;
Though he pas pass'd the Seas, yet let your rage
Declare, he greater dangers must ingage,
In glittering Armor now march bravely on,
Fight but like men, and then the day's our own;
You'll be Invincible, none can you oppose,
For you in Number, Courage, Skill, your Foes,
Do far exceed, I likewise do depend
Much on my Forreign Allies who will lend
Both Money, Men and Council, for the Cause;
Then down go all the Hereticks and their Laws,
Their Houses, Lands, their Gold and Silver too,
We'll Seize, and then distribute them to you.
Will never fly; Therefore with speed you must,
Be all in readiness, and do not fear,
But fierce as Lyons, 'gainst your foes appear;
Though he pas pass'd the Seas, yet let your rage
Declare, he greater dangers must ingage,
In glittering Armor now march bravely on,
Fight but like men, and then the day's our own;
You'll be Invincible, none can you oppose,
For you in Number, Courage, Skill, your Foes,
Do far exceed, I likewise do depend
Much on my Forreign Allies who will lend
Both Money, Men and Council, for the Cause;
Then down go all the Hereticks and their Laws,
Their Houses, Lands, their Gold and Silver too,
We'll Seize, and then distribute them to you.
Hah! What's the matter; What bad news again!
How are things carried pray, at Salisbury Plain
How are things carried pray, at Salisbury Plain
We hear the Enemy is coming on,
With mighty force, and is oppos'd by none,
Our damn'd Heretical Army do declare,
That they to Popery sworn Enemies are;
With mighty force, and is oppos'd by none,
Our damn'd Heretical Army do declare,
That they to Popery sworn Enemies are;
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Some to our Foes are gone, and more will go,
Heav'n pity us; Alas! What shall we do?
Nay more then that, the worst is still behind,
Most of the Greatest Peers with them are join'd.
We hear they are an hundred thousand strong,
And we much doubt they will be here ere long,
All things against us now seem to combine,
As if our ruin all men did design
Such pannick fears our senses do affright;
We neither strength nor courage have to fight,
Such Giants, as we hear, our Enemies are,
Whose Men and Horses both do armour wear
Their frightful Whiskers and two handed Swords
No little terror to our men affords,
One of these Brandenburghers sure will be
Able to cut off many such as we.
Heav'n pity us; Alas! What shall we do?
Nay more then that, the worst is still behind,
Most of the Greatest Peers with them are join'd.
We hear they are an hundred thousand strong,
And we much doubt they will be here ere long,
All things against us now seem to combine,
As if our ruin all men did design
Such pannick fears our senses do affright;
We neither strength nor courage have to fight,
Such Giants, as we hear, our Enemies are,
Whose Men and Horses both do armour wear
Their frightful Whiskers and two handed Swords
No little terror to our men affords,
One of these Brandenburghers sure will be
Able to cut off many such as we.
But silence! Heark! Another Post! What now?
Bad Tydings still?—Alas I scarce know how,
Or what to tell you, but most certainly
Our Army does before the Enemy fly;
All, All is lost, Ah! Where now shall we run?
Shift for your selves, sad times are coming on,
Sure so unfortunate none ever were,
Oh see how th' Hereticks do laugh and jeer!
So great an Army scattered and gone,
Who soon might have a glorious Conquest now!
Had they resolv'd to face the enemy,
We quickly should have got the Victory.
Bad Tydings still?—Alas I scarce know how,
Or what to tell you, but most certainly
Our Army does before the Enemy fly;
All, All is lost, Ah! Where now shall we run?
Shift for your selves, sad times are coming on,
Sure so unfortunate none ever were,
Oh see how th' Hereticks do laugh and jeer!
So great an Army scattered and gone,
Who soon might have a glorious Conquest now!
Had they resolv'd to face the enemy,
We quickly should have got the Victory.
But Stay! Stay! Stay! Here's more ill news I fear,
A Post from Reading I see drawing near,
Well what's done there—Alas the Town is taken,
I doubt that all our Saints have us forsaken:
Some were there slain, and others put to flight;
The Teagues are kill'd; The Scots refuse to fight,
Nay which is worse, The King this night is gone,
Ah now my heart fails quite! w'are all undone:
Alas! must I be tamely forc'd to yield,
Must I thus cowardly forsake the Field,
Must all my hopes be blasted in a day?
Let Vengeance fall on those, who did betray
The cause I've carryed on from age to age,
With deepest policy, and fiercest rage.
Fly Children for your lives; Oh! search about,
And strive to find some place of refuge out.
A Protestant.
A Post from Reading I see drawing near,
Well what's done there—Alas the Town is taken,
I doubt that all our Saints have us forsaken:
Some were there slain, and others put to flight;
The Teagues are kill'd; The Scots refuse to fight,
Nay which is worse, The King this night is gone,
Ah now my heart fails quite! w'are all undone:
Alas! must I be tamely forc'd to yield,
Must I thus cowardly forsake the Field,
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Let Vengeance fall on those, who did betray
The cause I've carryed on from age to age,
With deepest policy, and fiercest rage.
Fly Children for your lives; Oh! search about,
And strive to find some place of refuge out.
See how they look, and with what dread and fear
These guilty wretches now fly here and there,
To hide their Heads? and skulk in holes alone,
And dare not now themselves for Papists own;
They post away, and hurry to and fro,
To Dover, Portsmouth, and Gravesend they go,
Their Priests and Jesuits are in great despair,
Throw off their Gowns, and run they scarce know where;
Their Judges too that lately gave their Votes,
So learnedly from their dispensing Throats,
Who, what Rome would have done, durst ne're deny,
But to all Arbitrary Power did comply,
Are routed now, and forc't in haste to trudge,
Each wishing he had never been a Judge:
The Chancellor, that Mighty Man of sence,
Is nonplust now, how to escape from hence;
That Loyal Soul, that zealous Slave to Rome,
The Wappingers on him pronounce his doom:
He that to them did always malice bear,
By providence, at last was taken there,
Others were seiz'd that strove themselves to save,
Who in short time may their demerits have.
These guilty wretches now fly here and there,
To hide their Heads? and skulk in holes alone,
And dare not now themselves for Papists own;
They post away, and hurry to and fro,
To Dover, Portsmouth, and Gravesend they go,
Their Priests and Jesuits are in great despair,
Throw off their Gowns, and run they scarce know where;
Their Judges too that lately gave their Votes,
So learnedly from their dispensing Throats,
Who, what Rome would have done, durst ne're deny,
But to all Arbitrary Power did comply,
Are routed now, and forc't in haste to trudge,
Each wishing he had never been a Judge:
The Chancellor, that Mighty Man of sence,
Is nonplust now, how to escape from hence;
That Loyal Soul, that zealous Slave to Rome,
The Wappingers on him pronounce his doom:
He that to them did always malice bear,
By providence, at last was taken there,
Others were seiz'd that strove themselves to save,
Who in short time may their demerits have.
Great Nassaw, like the rising Sun, appears,
Whose warming influence drys up all our tears,
Marching to London with his Noble train,
Whereby our dying hopes revive again:
But let us hear what Sion now does say,
Who seem'd o'rewhelm'd with grief the other day.
Whose warming influence drys up all our tears,
Marching to London with his Noble train,
Whereby our dying hopes revive again:
But let us hear what Sion now does say,
Who seem'd o'rewhelm'd with grief the other day.
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“Ah! I am still perplext; although I stand
“Amaz'd to see these wonders in the Land,
“I know not yet how things with me may go,
“Nor what my gracious God intends to do:
“Whether my Foes are absolutely slain,
“Or whether yet they may not rise again,
“Whether my Children shall have equal share
“Of favour and protection, without fear,
“And whether those who did our Rights betray,
“And for a mess of Pottage, sold away
“Our dear bought Freedoms, shall now trusted be,
“As Conservators of our Libertie.
“Amaz'd to see these wonders in the Land,
“I know not yet how things with me may go,
“Nor what my gracious God intends to do:
“Whether my Foes are absolutely slain,
“Or whether yet they may not rise again,
“Whether my Children shall have equal share
“Of favour and protection, without fear,
“And whether those who did our Rights betray,
“And for a mess of Pottage, sold away
“Our dear bought Freedoms, shall now trusted be,
“As Conservators of our Libertie.
“Yet let things go as the great God shall please,
“(I must rejoice in this my present ease,)
“Who by his Glorious and Almighty Pow'r
“Sent us relief in a most needful hour,
“Whereby my dreadful and most cruel Foe
“Received an amazing overthrow.
“(I must rejoice in this my present ease,)
“Who by his Glorious and Almighty Pow'r
“Sent us relief in a most needful hour,
“Whereby my dreadful and most cruel Foe
“Received an amazing overthrow.
“But yet I find some strugling in my Womb,
“Another Birth I do expect to come,
“That God who hath this gracious work begun,
“Will greater things effect ere he has done;
“I intermissions have, now ease, then pain,
“Sometimes I soar aloft, then down again.
“Another Birth I do expect to come,
“That God who hath this gracious work begun,
“Will greater things effect ere he has done;
“I intermissions have, now ease, then pain,
“Sometimes I soar aloft, then down again.
Having thus spoke she bow'd, and with her tears
Bedew'd the parched Earth; when straight appears
A comforter by pittying Heav'n then sent,
To raise her drooping Spirits almost spent,
And his approach unto her having made,
In most obliging terms thus to her said.
Bedew'd the parched Earth; when straight appears
A comforter by pittying Heav'n then sent,
To raise her drooping Spirits almost spent,
And his approach unto her having made,
In most obliging terms thus to her said.
“Distressed Church, I fully know thy grief,
“And as thou hast received some relief,
“So God will hear thy sighs and fervent Pray'rs,
“And suddenly will wipe away all tears
“From thy wet Eyes, and all thy griefs expell,
“And in sweet peace and safety thou shalt dwell,
“My Grand Design I've publickly made known,
“Each part whereof in time thou shalt see done,
“Wait but with patience; I, for Englands good,
“Think nought too much; No not my dearest blood
“And as thou hast received some relief,
“So God will hear thy sighs and fervent Pray'rs,
“And suddenly will wipe away all tears
“From thy wet Eyes, and all thy griefs expell,
“And in sweet peace and safety thou shalt dwell,
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“Each part whereof in time thou shalt see done,
“Wait but with patience; I, for Englands good,
“Think nought too much; No not my dearest blood
“I equally my favour will extend
“To all whose Faithfulness shall them commend,
“Unto my service; and appear to be
“Lovers of Englands Ancient Liberty.
“All Protestants I jointly will respect,
“And equally my People will protect.
“But yet the best deserving Men I will
“Imploy; and chiefly them incourage still.
“My subjects Hearts I would unite together,
“That nothing might divide them more for ever.
“I none but treacherous Papists will disown,
“Or such as are sworn Enemies to my Crown.
“To such (they must expect) I shall appear,
“(As Justice leads me to it) most severe.
“The Good and Virtuous I shall always cherish,
“That Truth and Goodness in my reign may flourish.
“To all whose Faithfulness shall them commend,
“Unto my service; and appear to be
“Lovers of Englands Ancient Liberty.
“All Protestants I jointly will respect,
“And equally my People will protect.
“But yet the best deserving Men I will
“Imploy; and chiefly them incourage still.
“My subjects Hearts I would unite together,
“That nothing might divide them more for ever.
“I none but treacherous Papists will disown,
“Or such as are sworn Enemies to my Crown.
“To such (they must expect) I shall appear,
“(As Justice leads me to it) most severe.
“The Good and Virtuous I shall always cherish,
“That Truth and Goodness in my reign may flourish.
“My coming was design'd to cover all,
“That Persecution upon none should fall
“In these poor Kingdoms; But that now at last
“Forgetting all the mischiefs which are past,
“Whereby ill men contriv'd, to bring about
“their Plots, and root the true Religion out,
“Not only here, but likewise in each Land,
“Where it establisht is by Christs right hand;
“I now resolve, if God will prosper me,
“All Protestants shall safe and happy be,
“And live in perfect Love and Unity.
“That Persecution upon none should fall
“In these poor Kingdoms; But that now at last
“Forgetting all the mischiefs which are past,
“Whereby ill men contriv'd, to bring about
“their Plots, and root the true Religion out,
“Not only here, but likewise in each Land,
“Where it establisht is by Christs right hand;
“I now resolve, if God will prosper me,
“All Protestants shall safe and happy be,
“And live in perfect Love and Unity.
| Distressed Sion Relieved | |