University of Virginia Library

These things I have observ'd: let us therefore
Trust to our selves, or other men no more;
But, wholly leave to GOD our grand affairs,
Lay by our Swords: betake us to our Pray'rs,
And learn to use such Weapons which will shatter
Such Fortresses, as Canons cannot batter;
Lest, else, as lately, we do fight again
Our selves, out of one mischief into twain;
Which into twenty more may be improved,
Before it shall be totally removed.
A Conquest by the Sword we lately had,
But, that, our sins and follies frustrate made:
We were by GOD's aid made victorious then,
By letting forth the blood of other men:
But the next Victory to be bestown,
Must purchas'd be, by shedding of our own:
Yea (mind this well) it to the Saints pertains,
To bind in fetters and in iron chains
Both Kings and Peers, and that these also may
Break off those bands, and cast those cords away:
If to assume that pow'r the Saints begin
Unseas'nably, or lose it by their sin;
Or, if they shall pursue the will of GOD
With carnal weapons, in a carnal mode,
Seeking their own ends, when they his pretended,
For, with sad Sequels those ways are attended.
And, they will worthily be then corrected,
With that, which must upon them be inflicted.
But, when Repentance, and a fleshly doom,
Hath purifi'd them, they shall overcome
By being vanquisht, and prevail much more
By loosing, than by winnning heretofore.
Men have their failings; but a fiery Tryal
VVill purge the dross, which want of self-denial
Within them left; and when thats fum'd away,
They will be Gold refin'd without allay.

In our own places, let us truly do
VVhat duty to Superiours calls us to.
(An absolute Obedience unto none
My conscience ows, save unto GOD alone;
Yet, to what Soveraign power adjudgeth fit,
I'le actively or passively submit)
Let souldiers fight; give Pilots room to steer;
When we move, let us move in our own sphear,
Our safety, from henceforth, expecting, from
No Mountain, but from that, whence it must come.
VVe had ere while a Power, which to our cost
We misemploy'd, and therefore now tis lost.
VVe, lately, active were ev'n unto blood;
But, now such activenesse will do no good,
And, we must passive be, till GOD shall please
Our sins to pardon and to give us ease:
And he will shew us then what must be done,
If him with patience we attend upon.
What we desired, he did not deny us;
And, by what we desir'd, he now will try us.

We have a King again: and since God gave him
Upon such terms, as most desired to have him,
VVe ought not to repine, or to receed
From that which we to him have promised;
For, we our duties are oblig'd to do,
VVhether he keeps his promises, or no.
Leave him, unto that Cov'nant which was made
'Twivt GOD and him, when he admittance had:
For, GOD, on our behalf, when that was done,
Premised terms, though we our selves made none,
(Ev'n such, as long ago upon record
Expressed were, in his revealed word)
And, if he keep them not, 'twill worse succeed
With him, then if his sign'd and sealed Deed
He should to us infringe (though Dispensations
He had, from all the Prelates in these Nations,
And Rome to boot) which, I should fear to say,
If somewhat did not warrant me I may.

His power now is great; yet, had been more
Then ever English King had heretofore,
(As I conceive) had he content remain'd
VVith what was providentially obtain'd
Not looking backward, to hedge in the time,
VVhich will be no advantage unto him.
Had he not sought his Honours Reparation,
By building it upon the old Foundation
On which it stood; not thought it best to own,
That Interest, which GOD had overthrown,
(And Humane Policy inclin'd him to)
He might have done more then he now can do.

For Conquest giveth rather more then lesse
Then he did by Inheritance possesse;
And his Re-entry was equivalent
To Conquest, though gain'd by assent:
For Free Assent was given by no more
Save those who were of his own side before;
Until they saw he had that power supreme
VVhich warranted Allegiance unto him;
And that he had acquired interests
In what they claim, by plowing with their Beasts:
For, where WAR is, till peace, renew'd shall be
In terminis, a Conqueror is he,
VVho victory by Stratagems hath gain'd
As truly, as when by the sword attain'd.
And his Admittance (whatsoe'er is thought)
VVas by none else, but his own party wrought
Through GOD's permission, who, befooled them
VVho had been false unto themselves and him.
It is a Conquest, which the LORD of Hosts
Confer'd on him (although no blood it costs)
And they who do admit, without condition,
A Foe profest, can challenge no fruition
Of any right, which was enjoy'd before,
But that which he is pleased to restore;
Till for Omissions, or for things misdone,
GOD takes from him again what he had won,
As, but a few months past from them he did,
Who in this Government did him preceed:
And, this point I insist on to declare
That (since of us our Trustees had no care)
How much to GOD we shall obliged be,
If from our hazards he shall set us free
By moving this Kings heart, us to restore
To those enjoyments which we had before.

When first the Norman by the sword came in,
A part of what the peoples right had been
Was by contract secur'd: when Solomon
Was dead, although the Kingdome to his son
Fell by inheritance; yet, maugre that,
The Israelites came to capitulate
With Rehoboam, and (as it appears,
The Kingdoms, and his Fathers Counsellers
Advis'd admittance of Capitulation,
As no less needful for his Confirmation,
Then to content the people: but, he leaves
Their counsel, and to giddy Fellows cleaves,
Companions of this youth, by whose Bravado's
(Exprest with insolent Rodomontado's)
He lost ten Tribes of twelve. But, no man thought
Our Cause (it seems) worth speaking for, or sought
To save our Interests, though we had those
Impowr'd, who to that intent were chose,
And much confided in. And, GOD did thus
For his own glory pre-dispose of us
That we might see the vanity of them
In whom we trusted, and trust more in him.
It had not else been so; for through the Land,
There was not sword nor spear in any hand
But what we thought our own: nor pow'r appearing
For Charles without it, which was worth the fearing,
If Providence had not transfer'd this pow'r
Into his hand, which we supposed our.
So, all our freedoms, Life, Lands, goods and treasure,
Were actually to this Kings will and pleasure
Resigned up: for, nothing doth appear
That we of any thing secured are,
Save by his Grace, though some a pow'r then had
To get Conditions usual to be made
In such like cases: which, if they had done,
They had not thereby well discharg'd alone
Their pubiic Trust, and, rather more then less,
Might thereby have advanc'd the common peace;
But, sav'd unto the King much labour too,
Which now he must be forc'd to undergo,
Yet, peradventure when that he hath done
The best he can, please very few or none:
For tis impossible the blessed fruit
Of perfect peace without pow'r absolute,
Should be produc'd, as we are now distracted,
And as things will in likelyhood be acted;
'Cause such a Flow'r (as most wise men do know)
Upon a single Root, doth always grow;
And that, nought perfect Vnity can breed,
Save that, which from one spirit doth proceed.
If, as he from these Kingdoms was expel'd
By Conquest, he re-entring, them had held
As by Re-Conquest (which he might have done,
Consid'ring how Affairs were carried on)
He might have brought most things to good conclusions,
Without those interruptions and confusions
Which will ensue; for, he obliged then
By none, but GOD's and Natures Laws had been;
And should have had a large means to express
His Mercy, Piety, and Righteousness,
By prudent modelizing and contriving
(Restoring, adding, giving and forgiving)
As need required, without such restraints,
Or giving these occasions of complaints,
As now occur: whereas he coming in
By that Right, which before had claimed been,
(As interrupted only) he seems bounded
By those Laws, whereon formerly 'twas founded.
And (as at present it appears to me)
So dubious Laws and Parliaments now be,
That by the course intended to be taken,
The peace we hope to settle will be shaken
When we suppose it fixt; by failings, found
Hereafter, in some Principles unsound;
Or else, because some actings will appear
Not homogeneous to those Laws that are:
And, as things are, with us 'tis little better
Then if we conquer'd were, for, we are debter
Unto the King, for all in our possessions
By his spontaneous Act, and Free Concessions;
And whatsoever we can do or say,
If, now he will be Absolnte, he may.
There be enough who for their private ends,
Will drive on whatsoever he intends,
Whether it be to do us right or wrong;
And thereunto, our sins will make them strong,
Till GOD again deliver us, who hath
Now made us, justly, Objects of his wrath.

For, if they are our Trustees duely chose,
Who, now of us and our Affairs dispose,
(And us into the Kings hand wholly gave
Without Reserve) then, ev'ry thing we have
Is his; and more it boots not then a Rush
Now to deny it: for, within a bush,
We shall our Heads but like the Woodcock hide,
VVhom by his Tail, the Fowler hath espide.
VVe are reduc'd unto a conquer'd State,
Though we our selves are pleas'd to wink thereat.
The CUP pretended stolen to have been,
(By whose device soere it was put in)
Is found within our sacks; and we this day
Like Josephs brethren, to the King must say:
We are thy servants: Providence Divine
Hath for our sins made our possessions thine:
For, we can challenge nothing as our own,
But what of thy free Grace hath been bestown:
Or what thou shalt be pleased to afford
Upon Request: or, of thine own accord.
This we must say, how loth soere we are:
And, without scruple, this affirm I dare,
That, till the self same Providence, or He,
Or both together, joyn to make us free:
(Which will vouchsafed be, with, or without
His will, when our probation-time is out)
We never shall be freed; but, without rest,
Be more and more inslaved, and opprest.

Then, let none think I wrong this Nation, tho
I say 'tis conquer'd: nor, by being so,
Fear they so much will disadvantag'd be,
As, by a vain suppose that they are free;
Since, by not making this acknowledgement,
GOD, of due thanks and glory we prevent:
For, had the King assum'd the Sov'raign pow'r,
(As being made by him, a Conquerour)
With no worse purpose, then to constitute
A righteous throne (to which Pow'r Absolute
Is so Essential that without the same,
Less Power, in great Confusions will be lame)
He possibly might have effected that,
Which to attempt, now 'tis perhaps too late.
This, was the mind of GOD (as I believe)
When he to him did that advantage give;
And, I am hopeful, he will bend that way
The Pow'r that's left, as far forth as he may:
For, he is neither Heathen, Jew or Turk,
Impow'red to do only his own work;
Nor we, I hope, as were the Canaanites,
To be destroy'd, nor those Amalekites
With whom GOD purposeth a War for ever,
Unless we in impenitence persever,
To make us liable to such a doom
As did on that and other Nations come.
But, by this King, GOD rather doth intend
Our much depraved Manners to amend:
And deals with us, as he hath always done
With his own people, since the world begun.
When they by murmurings for Flesh provokt them;
He, in displeasure gave them Quails, & choakt them:
And he with us in some things parallel
Thereto hath dealt, if we observe them well.
When he by Moses them from bondage brought,
(To lead them back again) they had a thought
To chuse another Captain; for which crime,
He kept them in the Desert a long time:
Ev'n till all that Rebellious Generation
Was quite worn out for that prevarication.
This, let us well consider of, and learn
How much (and in what) it may us concern.
A King like other Nations they would have,
And what they askt, GOD, with a vengeance gave:
Yet, by his mercy from his wrath did save them,
And plagues & blessings therewith mixed gave them.
When by the Sword of Nebuchadnezzar,
The Jews were subjugated (as we are
For our transgressions) though their Conquerour
Was not of their own Nation, as is our:
(Or, of their Faith, so much as a pretender,
Either to be Professor or Defender)
GOD, by Him, and by his Successors brought them,
Not only to be humbled till they sought him;
But also, gave them favour in their sights;
Made some of them their chiefest Favorites:
Yea, to repair enabled them, at last,
Their Temple and their Cities, which lay wast;
And to possess again that Land, from whence
They were ejected by impenitence.
VVhy then should we not hope, since to these Nations
Our present King hath manifest Relations:
(The same Faith holds, and of his own accord
To be propitious, hath engag'd his VVord)
That, GOD, by him, will, at the least, restore,
All that, which he possessed heretofore?
Why should we not believe, that God's intent
Is to be gratious in his chastisement?
And may apply unto us Lenitives
By this King, when he hath with Corrosives
First made us curable; somewhat I declar'd
Among such other things (without regard)
Now, thirty five years past, that doth appear
Upon Record in my Remembrancer,
Which now, perhaps, beginneth way to make
For what my Britains Genius did fore-speak;
And, GOD, in Judgement, mindeth us, as yet,
In Mercy, though his kindnesse we forget.
Yea, if our sins make not his purpose voyd,
That, whereby some now fear to be destroy'd,
Shall save us from that mischief which we fear,
VVhen unavoydably it seemeth neer.
For, notwithstanding, for their sins and our,
Our former Governours did lose their pow'r;
Though they, and we, have justly forfeited
Those Freedoms which we lately challanged,
And did possess (when after our Appeal,
VVe were impowr'd to form a Commonweal)
The change which now befals will be of use,
Hereafter, better sequels to produce.
VVe have but onely lost, upon the wheel
A broken pot, and workmen without skill.
GOD, hath not wholy, us of Grace bereaved,
Although, to Grace, the King he hath received;
Nor hath he at this present brought him home
At our cost, (without bloodshed) to become
A Tyrant, but our King, and unto us
To be as gratious, as to him, he was,
In thus restoring him with Conditions,
Unto his late lost Honour and possessions.
GOD, hath from Mesech lately brought him hither
Not that this People should be forced thither;
Or that their Burthens he should more increase,
Now that's removed which did him oppresse.
GOD, did supply his wants, and him restore
To Riches lost, not to make others poor;
Nor from afflictions him redeem'd, that he
Should for past injuries, avenged be;
Or have a Kingdom here, like one of those
VVhich Satan on his Homagers bestows.
But, such a Kingdom, that his people might
Submit unto them, with a true delight,
And worship their Creator without fear,
In holinesse, and in uprightnesse here.
And, if his Pow'r be not this way imploy'd;
The best mens hopes, will be a while made voyd:
And his for ever (though he should recover
Ten times more strength, and gild his acting over
VVith quaint pretences, and the fairest Paints
Of Polititians, or dissembling Saints.)
For, though the Rabble, who were yesterday
His open Foes, now make professions may,
Of being loyal, and to morrow should
Swear to become his slaves, they frustrate would
His best hopes: for, they are a flood that flows
This way, and that way, as the next wind blows.

The Essence of a Kingly interest
Doth in, and by the Common good consist,
Ev'n in the whole, and not in any part,
(Although as noble as the Head or Heart)
And to indulge ought further then it shall
Tend really unto the good of all;
Destroys the whole, turns Royalty to Faction,
And breeds at length a general Distraction:
For, when the limbs, the head or heart surpasse
Their due proportions, they make others less;
And all the body will not onely grow
Deformed, but unserviceable too:
So, likewise, Kings, if liberty they grant
To any part to be exorbitant,
Or in themselves be so, 'twill quite destroy
That compound being, which they shall enjoy.
They further should promote no interest
Then with the publick good it may consist;
And that each individual, without wrongs,
May that possess, which to the same belongs.
By Justice he should cause a Restoration;
Of all Incroachments made by Usurpation;
And recompence for ev'ry Injury
Sustained by Supreme Authority,
How ere acquired, if the Sufferer
In conscience, thereunto obedient were;
And no way active in that innovation,
Which was the former Pow'rs Eradication.
No party or profession whatsoere,
Neither the Prelate, Priest or Presbyter,
Or other Sect, nor King nor Parliament
Should be indulg'd to common detriment;
For, that would be destructive to that end,
VVhereto all Constitutions ought to tend,

'Tis mercy, and performing righteous things
That strengthens Kingdoms, and preserveth Kings;
And they are their best Subjects who adhere
To Piety, and sound in manners are:
Not they who think the glory of a Throne
Consisteth in the Guilding laid thereon:
Or, in such Vanities as did begin
To spring up when the King first entred in:
For, though those Fools (who such enjoyments crave
Assoon, as of prevayling, hopes they have)
Insult, Jeer, brag, and insolently brave it,
Cry, Now it is as we our selves would have it,
And run out into that Licentiousnesse
VVhich evidently may to all express
VVhat they desire; he, that, on such relies,
Himself, with Snow-balls only fortifies;
And will by their assistance be at length
As old Rome was, opprest by his own strength.
And, if abus'd, the Grace now offer'd be,
Some, yet may live another change to see:
For, One unheeded sits above our heads,
Who mens Phanatick vanities derides;
And Judgements in dark Clouds concealed are,
Which will surprize us, ere we be aware,
Unlesse we with more prudent moderation
Shall from henceforward manage that occasion
Which GOD hath given of a happy close
Betwixt them, who have over-long been foes,
For, to that end (though not well heeded yet)
The King and we are in this posture met.

If, he be now King by the Grace of GOD,
(As we entitle him) sent for our good,
And not in wrath: if, as his Title saith,
He be a true Defender of the Faith,
(Which is my hope) he, seriously will heed,
How in his cheif concernments, men proceed:
And, if he then finds, that, more in despight
To those whom they hate, then do him right,
Some things by some are acted: and the spoile
Of others rather aim'd at, then this Weal,
(By prosecutions over-violent
To his dishonour and indangerment)
'Twill bring forth an unlooked-for effect
To those, upon whom he without suspect
Doth yet depend; and make him plainly see,
That from thenceforth, his confidence must be
In GOD, and in those, who, with him partake
For GOD's, for Justice, and for conscience sake;
And not in those who value not those things
VVhich most essential are to Sov'raign Kings;
Though they pretend to suffer for GOD's, cause,
And his; or, fain obedience to his Laws;
Much less trust them, who did assist the Boys
VVith Shouts, Drums, Guns and Squibs to make a noise
About their bonfires, hemmed in with Dances
Scarce modest, and sometimes with petulances
As scandalous, as if those men had best
Their Loyaltie and Gratitude exprest,
Who, when he was proclaim'd, most rudely swagger'd
Drunk to his Health, until they spew'd & stagger'd;
Consum'd that, on one beast, which to the poor
Distributed, might have refresh'd a score:
And, when they should have prais'd GOD, for the grace
To them vouchsaf'd, blasphem'd him to his face.

If such prevarications do presage
A setled pow'r, or a Reformed Age,
I am deceiv'd; and wholly had despair'd
To see our Breaches in my time repair'd;
But that the King hath given hopes, of late,
By some proceeds, that he doth aim thereat;
And by his Proclamation startled them
From that, which many did expect from him:
Yea, I had feared, that I might have liv'd
To see all Heath'nish Vanities reviv'd.
(With all old Superstitions) and, I pray,
This fear may wholly be remov'd away:
For, what some have expected all along,
And, from what Root, their zeal to King ship sprung,
By many 'twas fore-shown, who did aspire
To publick trust. That, which they now desire
Confirms it also; and perhaps it may
Be manifest to all another day,
When they shall either miss their expectations,
Who welcom'd him with loudest acclamations,
Or else, when they enjoy them; which to see,
I should be griev'd, and, so I hope would he.
But if to those things, which do now begin
In ev'ry place already, to flow in,
He puts not stop, ere further they proceed,
His pow'r, herhaps, it shortly will exceed;
And, we shall here behold (with new additions)
Prophaneness, and exploded Superstitions,
Not only countenanced without aw
Of GOD, and Men, but setled by a Law:
For, this (or I am much deceiv'd) is that
Which is by very many aimed at.

It was not (as these did pretend) to bring
From his late banishment, their lawful King;
Nor love unto his Person, or his Cause,
Or zeal to true Religion or the Laws,
VVhich made so many, who had actiue been
To drive him out, make hast to fetch him in:
Nor, that they could better be content
VVith Kingship or some other Government,
Or persons, then with those that rul'd before:
But some did hope to have enjoyed more
A Liberty, whereby, without controul
They might in bruitish lusts at pleasure roul.
Some had a hoping of raising their Estate;
In some hope sprung from Envy or from Hate,
Conceiv'd against those persons who acquir'd
Those Honours or some profits they desir'd;
And, not a few, who were at no expence
In this Kings service, or to make defence
Of Him or his Cause, hopefull were to get
(By suing to him, and pretending it)
Repair of those consum'd Estates, which they
Had either drunk, or whor'd, or gam'd away.
Some, other, thereby, hoped for fruition
Of their beloved Mistress, Superstition;
Freedom, to sweare GOD damn them, without awe
Of Magistrate, or mulct impos'd by Law;
To wast, the day and night, in drinking, gaming,
In cheating roaring, whoring, and blaspheming.
Without reproofs. Some looked for encrease
Of Trading, or of making Taxes less;
And, othersome (another way affected)
Together with a King, returns expected
Of Masks and Revels, Turnaments and Plays,
May-poles, Wakes, Church-ales, and those Holy-daies,
Wherein young men might have permitted been
As heretofore, to dance upon the Green,
With such-like liberties as may be us'd
Sometimes (if soberly) and not abus'd:
And, some, it may be, had an expectation
The Lords day, should a day of Recreation
Be made again; and preaching twice a day,
By some new Canon would be took away;
That all men (as they have internal motions)
Might have time, for their pleasures or devotions.

These were strong motives to some late Expresses
Of loyalty, as also to th'addresses
Subscribd not long before by many a one
To OLIVER, and likewise to his Son,
Whom quickly they deserted, though they had
To live and die with them professions made
Without enforcement, at the first, to make them,
Or at the last, so tamely to forsake them.
As much they magnifide them in their Lyricks,
Heroick Poems, Odes, and Panegyricks,
As they extoll the King. No flatring pen
Could more ascribe to any mortall men:
And, though such dawbings cannot keep from shame
their persons, nor from infamy their name,
(As now appears) yet, this Magnificat
The world still sings. This common strain is that
Which most men do affect, and in this wise
Flattry still sings to all Stars when they rise:
Yea, all her Songs unto this present day,
Are but the same, new set another way:
And, their Composers do deserve no more
Then begging Fidlers begging at the door.
Who if it might their servile ends advance,
Would, to the same tune play the divel a dance.
Such, are too many, who do make a show
Of loyalty by their Expresses now.
As little worth regarding is their love;
And, doubtless very sickle it would prove,
If GOD should be provoked to estrange
His favour, and permit another Change.
They who against one party lately cride,
Hang, hang the Rogues; against the other side
Would then cry out as loud, Hang, hang them all:
And, those whom they now praise, as much mis-call.
For, what their chiefest expectations are,
They make it evidently to appear
By Words and Deeds; and there are symptomes too,
What things, if cause were given, they would do.
Hornets and Wasps, begin to shew their stings.
The butterflies display their pointed wings
In every Garden, and there, spawn the seed
Which Palmer worms, and Caterpillars, breed.
They, who were lately Maggots are growne Flies,
In our eares buzzing fleering in our eyes;
And up were set, the worlds Gods altogether
As soone as ere the King approached hither;
Who, probably, in Flanders had remain'd
If, otherways, their ends they could have gain'd,
And Dick, perhaps, GEORGE, Jack, or any thing,
With popular applauses had been King.

But, these Insecti, though they greatly swarme,
Can do the King not so much good, as harme:
Nor can those who through want of wit and courage
Will sell their birth-rights for a Mess of Porredge,
To this establishment contribute ought,
Till they be better disciplin'd and taught:
It is not they in Linen Ephods, neither
Those Chimerims who now conspire together;
Nor those vain and fantasticall baboons
Who jet in feathers and in Pantaloons,
VVho fix a King; but those grave men among
Our Nobles. and the civil vulgar throng,
VVho love the Publick peace, and do profess
A Loyalty in truth and soberness,
VVithout regard of any Interest,
Save that, whieh may with other mens consist.
The rest (if well consider'd) are a number
Of animals, which more confound and cumber,
Then settle Governments; and are to Kings
But troublesome unprofitable things.
I have observ'd them well: and long ago
(Perceiving what they likely were to do,
Who know the way, as often as they please
To bring to pass, their own Designes by these)
Upon Occasions given, was so bold,
That what I pre-conjectur'd, I foretold;
And how these acting singly, or together,
To Publick Damage, made use of each other.
This oft I did before the Parliament
Became their self-destroying instrument)
In plain terms, or Ænigma's; as the times
Would bear it; and as well in Prose as Rimes.
I did the like to him, and to his son,
Whom GOD permitted to usurp the Throne,
(As two addresses, which I did prefer
To their own hands, yet extant may declare)
And whereby, such advantages I got
As usually they get who flatter not.

During the last pow'r (in an oblique way)
As touching him, who reigneth at this day,
I hinted that, which now is come to pass
In such wise, as I might in such a case
At such a time as that; with what Events,
To his beginnings would be consequents,
If on the Giddy Vulgar he depended,
In prosecuting what should be intended:
Or, if he sought a Kingship to erect
Like what meer earthly Princes do effect,
Wherein, although I had no worse Designe
Then with the publick weal to wrap up mine;
I am, for my plain dealing, as a Foe
Both scandalized and oppressed so,
That all the Mercy some vouchsafe me would,
Is Life deprived of all things that should
In me and my Relations Life uphold.
Which is a cruelty, and such a way,
Of killing men a hundred times aday,
That, GOD with due avengement will repay:
For, though men are not so, yet he is just;
The measure, which they gave, receive they must.
Yea, measure running over, and prest down,
Unless God shew more grace then they have shown.

I have not much deceived been, in ought
Which with Pre-meditation I fore-thought,
And heretofore divulg'd relating to
These Nations, in the things they ought to do;
Or, unto that, which would require their heed,
How therein they go backward, or proceed.
I, lately pre-conjectur'd and fore-told,
That London was a Mount whence issue should
A wind, which hither likely was to blow
A change, that of our greatest weal or woo,
(As likewise of her own) would be the cause:
And, by her aid, that Change is come to passe.
Let her so mind it now, that GOD may bless
Her future Actings with a good success;
For, that to them, this Caveat give I may,
Thus purposely I stept out of the way.
My Muse once more shall here likewise recal
What I presag'd would to my self befal;
Yea, though I toucht upon it heretofore,
I will illustrate it a little more.
Me therefore, to insist thereon permit,
For as it me concerns to mention it.
It may concern you to, and doth declare
That poor mens wrongs by GOD observed are.
Upon my heart I strong impressions had,
That I, should of their fall a signe be made;
Who for my faithful service me opprest;
And, they, who last the Supreme pow'r possest,
This day, both see, and feelingly perceive,
That's come to pass, which the would not believe
To them I told, both joyntly and apart,
(But seem'd to speak to men without a heart)
That, they in reason had good cause to fear,
If they should offer still, a Deaf-man's Ear
To my Complaints, a very sad reward
Would be the sequel of their Dis-regard.
Yet, though with humblenesse, I them implor'd
By ev'ry means, which those time, did afford,
(Save bribes and flatt'ry they would seldome hear
Ought which concerned me, except it were
An accusation; or to grant an Order,
Which more my Ruine, then Relief did further;
Or, do me Justice during my Oppressions,
Nigh eighteen years complain'd of by Petitions,
And, by addresses, tender'd unto them
(Not seldome, by some hundreds at a time)
Nor to me their Ingagements made they good;
Nor those discharg'd by which ingag'd I stood
For them; nor for their Debts detain'd from me
Three times six years, although made due they be
By Ordinance and Orders: nor would they
Vouchsafe as much as interest to pay,
By them allowed; (though I much did need it,
Both to relieve me, and preserve my Credit.)
Nor could I that enjoy, which I had bought,
And they that sold, (as I in Justice ought;
Till my Estate and Credit was o'erthrown
By them, through their neglecting of their own;
Though they were not alone oblig'd unto it,
But likewise had both power and means to do it.

A single foe, could do me in one hour
More injury then all my Friends had pow'r
To right whilst they reign'd, though I seem'd befriended
Of many, who to Righteousness pretended.
Though early at their dores, and also late,
As at Bethesda-pool the Cripple sate)
I waited on them, I, went ev'ry day
Both without Help,, and with small Hope, away;
No more prevailing, then if still I had
To blocks or statues, my Petitions made.

These Grievances, increasing ev'ry year,
Rais'd at the length, my Damages well near
To twice five thousand pounds; and so increast,
My debts, by troubles, suits, and interest,
That, wants, thereby, still multiplying more,
I was, at last, made somewhat worse then poor:
From seven hundred pounds per annum, brought
To be some hundred pounds less worth then nought,
So loosing my repute, with my estate.
(Which many new perplexities begat)
To ev'ry wrong, I liable was made,
When no means left for my defence I had.
And, most men then perceiving that the Doom
Which I fore-saw would come, was then nigh come,
And likely to destroy them, in whose hands
Lay all my whole Estate in Debts and Lands,
And, that the Title which therein I had,
Would, as they stood or fell, prove good or bad;
My Creditors grew thereby so afftaid,
What I then ow'd them, never would be paid,
That, more to pay one debt, then would pay two,
Was thereby (maugre all that I could do)
Streight torn away: and, I could neither set,
Nor sell, nor borrow, neither payment get
Of what was due, to buy things necessary,
Or save my credit till it did miscarry,
By forfeitures and burthens, cast upon me
So mercilesly, that it hath undone me,
As to the world; unless GOD shall prevent
That, which now threats a further Detriment:
For, then the CURS which did before but bawl,
(As when you see a hunted Stag doth fall
By abler Dogs) immediately fell in,
And from the flesh began to tear my skin.

To make Complaints, I saw it was in vain:
For, none I know to whom I might complain,
With hope of help; and certainly perceived,
That, though by men, I seem'd to be bereaved
Of my Estate,, yet GOd's hand was therin,
And, that the Judgement which doth now begin
At his own House, did mark me out for one,
Upon whom Execution must be done:
Therefore, forthwith, examining my heart,
And, finding that far less then my desert
Was brought upon me; to his Chastisement
I humbly do submit, and will present,
Ere I proceed, this my Confession,
With Praises intermixed, and Contrition.