University of Virginia Library

Refreshed by these pertinent Digressions,
VVhich fortifie my faith against oppressions,
I will proceed to make an application,
Of what pertaineth to my last Narration.
The main breach made upon me (and which drew
Those mischiefs that did afterwards ensue)
To me did happen some few days before
That Parliament was last shut out of door,
By whom those Grievances on me were brought,
And, then that fell on them, which I fore-thought
And did fore-tell; perhaps, that others may
Be wary, how they needlesly delay
That Justice which to poorest men belongs,
VVhen much oppressed by continued wrongs;
VVhich GOD will execute, at first or last,
Hereafter, as he hath done in times past.

In this Relation, I, nor Poetize,
(As some may fancie) nor Hyperbolize;
But, here, in simple plainnesse have set down
The naked truth, that when it shall be known,
GOD may be better praysed, and these Nations
Thenceforth take heed of wilful provocations.
For, greater mischief then to most appears,
(And very many complicated snares)
Intangle thousands, who destructively
Oppressed are this day, as much as I:
To whom the grace intended can derive
Nought else, but such a life as I would give
Ten times away, to free them from Oppression,
Who suffer with me, by my sad condition;
And, whose complainings, and soul-piercing words,
Lie pricking at my Heart, like Darts and Swords.

How GOD hath fore-determin'd to dispose
Of me, from this time forth, he onely knows;
And, his will shall be mine: but, if this change
Brings good to me, it will be very strange:
For, men prophane esteem'd, would then appear
More just, then they who saints reputed were;
My foes, much kinder, then they who profest
To be my friends, and whom I served best.
As yet, he hath retain'd me in their power,
Who day and night, are hunting to devour;
And, letteth loose upon me such a Herd
Of brutes, as David heretofore compar'd
To Dogs, Bulls, Lyons, Serpents, and to those
From out of whose mouths, Adders Poyson flows;
VVhose throats are like devouring graves; whose tongues
Are Mints of slanders & oppressive wrongs;
In secret, on a sudden shooting words
More sharp then arrowes, or two-edged swords;
And, were these onely Foes profest, their scorn
Or malice, might with much more ease be born:
But, some of them, are those who many days
Walk'k with me friend-like in the self same ways;
And, Neighbours and acquaintance do begin
To be to me, as his to him had been:
My love to them, with hatred they requite;
For kindnesses, returning me despight.
Of me, their scurrile Songs the drunkards make,
With whom the scoffers in their Jeers partake.
They, who as yesterday, pretended had
Some kindness, are malitiously grown mad,
Combining and conspiring, how they may
My Life, Estate and Credit take away;
As if until I wholly were destroy'd,
Their expectations could not wholly be enjoy'd:
Although I know no good that can arise
To them, by what against me they devise:
Or why such wrongs by them to me are done,
Except it be, because I did them none:
Or else, for that, their wayes I look into,
More, then they are well-pleased I should do.

For, be it known, they who are thus inrag'd,
Are not of those who formerly ingag'd,
In that cause which I lately did oppose;
No, no, so justly, these are not my Foes:
But, men, (if they deserve that name) whose base
Dissembling Heart, false Tongues, and steeled Face,
Inclines them to make shew, as if they never
Did any thing against the King endeavour:
Whereas, a chief of that debauched crew,
With his drawn Sword the late King did pursue;
And boasted heretofore (with his own breath)
Of personal assistance at his death:
Another of them, that he might endear
Himself to those who last inthroned were,
Made Headless this Kings picture; vowing then
So to have done to him, had he there beeu.

These are my persecutors; these are they
VVho help spread snares and mischiefs in my way:
And, some of those who yet in pow'r abide,
(By playing fast and loose on either side)
Are their abettors; for no cause to me
Yet known, unless they know I see
Their Jugglings; or perhaps, because they fear
I may hereafter make them to appear.
Whereas, I rather (for my Countries sake)
To GOD, for their Conversion, prayers make,
That, timely, they their malice may repent,
Their own, and our perditions to prevent;
And that by our malitiousness they bring
No Damage to these Realms, or to the King,
To supersiede that Mercy, which I find
GOD, to confer on us, is now inclinde,
Because our weal and wo will be invoul'd
Within each others, as we are resolv'd,
And, as for time to come we shall persever
In Union, or neglect a good endeavour.
Though by your sins, and by the sins of those
VVho were acknowledged (however chose)
For our Trustees, our late immunities
Are wholly forfeited, whilst GOD shall please;
There is an open Gate, through which I view
A better way, then we do yet pursue,
To re-obtain them, and to settle that
Desired peace which we have aimed at.
There is a hope, this King will be so just
(VVhen those in whom the common people trust
He thorowly hath tride) to let us see
That, he shall prove at last our best trustee,
Next under GOD, and for us do much more
Then all our Parliaments did heretofore,
Or will do now; for, they often do those
Resemble so, by whom they have been chose,
That, we in probability shall never
Accomplish that for which we do endeavour,
Till GOD shall other instruments provide
To do his work, and throw all these aside.
He, those that are in being, doth permit
To be therein with him, Co-workers yet:
And there's a course that may with ease be taken
To build a Throne, which never shall be shaken:
For, if that be performed, whereupon
The King is re-admitted to the Throne;
And, if due glory to the King of Heav'n
Shall for the mercy now vouchsaf'd be giv'n,
His Chastisement (now twice so many years)
Continuing as Nebuchadnezzars)
Will make way in this day of probation,
To much more, then was by that Restoration
Vouchsaf'd to him; for, he establish may
A Throne to last until the Judgement day;
VVhereby, shall be continu'd (so far forth
As may concern Christs Kingdom here on earth)
The Majestracy and the Ministry,
(If we lose not this opportunity)
Reform'd and vindicated (in short time)
From those contempts which have been cast on them.
Yea, if this King neglect not now to do
That, whereto providence doth prompt him to,
And would assist him in; the more he found
At his Return confusions to abound,
The more he shall be mangnifide thereby,
If, by his wisdome and his industry,
With GOD's assistance, he stall to restore
Those Pow'rs, that they may interfere no more:
For, then they shall apart, and both together,
Be active and a strengthning to each other,
To those good ends for which they were ordain'd;
VVhich was, that wickedness should be restrain'd;
And that each other men might not oppress,
But, in uprightnesse and in holinesse
Live lovingly, and serviceable here
To GOD, and to each other, without fear.

My Genius many times inclineth me
Of these things his Remembrancer to be:
But, I have neither place to undertake
That Office, nor a fluent tongue to speak;
And should I write, I have so often tride
That course and found my writings cast aside,
(Though want of will, or leisure to peruse them,
Or else referr'd to those who did abuse them)
That, seldome times, the good effects they wrought,
VVhich by them I have rationally sought;
And they have not alone been often scorn'd,
But also to my advantage turn'd.
Beside, Kings will not easily forgo
What they resolve to act, or not to do:
So wedded are they to their Policies,
And so bedazzled are their Carnal Eyes
VVith that bewitching splendor and false glory
VVhich Satan puts on Kingdoms transitory,
That, as to Jeroboam it befel,
Though I should with a threefold miracle
My words confirm; a sequel might succeed
As ineffectual as at that time did.
But, to neglect ought which I think (in reason)
Tends to secure the King, may be high Treason:
On his behalf therefore, to GOD in Prayer,
(To whom I can more easily repair)
I will address my self, without delay,
In words both weigh'd and measur'd for him pray,
And spread thou on that Paper, to remain
For those that will to pray them o'er againe;
Till that which I on his behalf have prayd,
Shall some way to his knowledge be conveyd.