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University of Virginia Library

Miscellaneous works of George Wither

Wither, George (1588-1667)

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1.

FIRST COLLECTION

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To the ENGLISH.

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What Peace to the wicked?

Carmen Expostulatorium:

AMYGDALA BRITANNICA, Almonds for Parrets.

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A single SI QVIS, and a quadruple QVERE, with the Occasions of them, presented to the Members of the honorable House of Commons, touching a Petition, with certain Verses annexed, and lately layd at their feet in the said House of Commons, by Major G. W.

The SI QUIS, and the Occasion of it.

The quadruple QUERE, and the Occasion of it.

VATICINIUM CAUSUALE. A RAPTURE Occasioned By the late Miraculous Deliverance OF HIS HIGHNESSE THE Lord Protector, From a Desperate Danger.

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Epistolium-Vagum-Prosa-Metricum:

[When I was young, these Words my Motto were]

[Though very much, and long, I have endur'd]

VERSES Intended to the King's Majesty,

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2.

SECOND COLLECTION

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The meaning of the Frontispice.

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TO THE KING, PARLIAMENTS, AND PEOPLE, OF These British Isles.

The Contents of the severall Canto's contained in this Volumne.

Carmen Eucharisticon:

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A Suddain Flash

A Preoccupation, relating to this Title.

To his Highnesse, the Lord PROTECTOR.

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A Suddain Flash

A Prologue, to him, who shall behold, or hear, this Flash.

A Cause Allegorically Stated,

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To that Member of Parlament, who takes up this Paper, with the Petitions inclosed.

A Postscript to the Preceding Verses.

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A Triple Paradox:

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A Triple Paradox;

For an INTRODUCTION, the AUTHOR flings this Express to the WORLD.

Confinement is more advantageous than Liberty.

SLANDER is more Beneficiall than PRAISE.

Poverty is more profitable than Riches.

A Word on the behalf of Mr. Zachary Crofton Prisoner in the Tower.

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A Proclamation In the Name of the King of Kings, To all the Inhabitants of the Isles of Great Brittain:

I.

I. To those Friends, unto whom this Author hath been scandalously mis-represented in private, by some false Brethren and others.

II.

II. A causual Meditation on Faith, Hope, Fear and Love.

III.

III. To those who enquire, why this Author is now imprisoned in Newgate?

IV.

IV. A Hymn of Thanksgiving, for deliverance from a dangerous and sharp Sickness, during his Imprisonment.

V.

V. To them who say, or suppose, that a vain desire of Fame, was this Authors principal motive, to the Composure of what he hath written and published.

VI.

VI. A Meditation, occasioned by considering the manifold Temptations to distrust in GOD, whereby his best Servants are otherwhile proved and exercised.

VII.

VII. Another Scrap, to them, who carp at this Author's frequent writing.

VIII.

VIII. An Eccho from the Thunders, in the celestial Temple, reverberating, in part, the effect of what was uttered by their Voices.

IX.

IX. A brief Reproof of them, who take pleasure in Scandalous Invectives, whereby others are personally defamed.

X.

X. A Disclaim, by way of Advertisement, of a Paper, falsly imputed to this Author.

XI.

XI. To them who object it as a fault, that this Author hath written several Poems, since he resolved to write no more.

XII.

XII. Of Governours and Governments; and how we ought to demean our selves toward them.

XIII.

XIII. A Scrap added to the former, since the sending of the Authors Remonstrance to the house of Commons.

Verses written by Mr. George Wither upon three Trenchers with Oker, during his close-Imprisonment, and carried to the Lieutenant of the Tower by the said Prisoners Keeper.

Hearing it reported, that the Diurnal women cryed the news of his Impeachment for Treason, he composed this Epigram.

Ingenii Largitor Venter.

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3.

THIRD COLLECTION

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THE TWO INCOMPARABLE GENERALISSIMO'S of the world, with their Armies briefly described and embattailed, visibly and invisibly opposing each other.

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The dark Lantern,

TO THE PARLIAMENT, AND PEOPLE OF THE Commonwealth of England.

A DARK-LANTERNE,

The Perpetuall PARLIAMENT.

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WESTROW REVIVED.

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WESTROVV REVIVED.

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1.

The first CANTO.

2.

CANTO the second.

3.

The third CANTO.

4.

The fourth CANTO.

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AN IMPROVEMENT Of Imprisonment, Into Real Freedom; Of Disgrace, Into Honest Reputation; Of Poverty, Into Perdurable Riches; Evidenced in a few Crums & Scraps Lately found in a PRISONERS-BASKET AT NEVV GATE;

[HE, who, five thousand hungry Souls had fed]

THE AUTHOR OF THESE Fragments, TO THE Humble, the Poor in Spirit, and to all those Afflicted-Ones, who disdain not these CRUMMS.

George Wither, to his Friends, who have inquired after him, since the late seizure of his Person, Books and Papers.

George Wither, His first Meditation, upon his Commitment to Newgate, Aug. 22. For his Poem called Vox Vulgi, neither Published nor Finished.

To the City of London.

Another Meditation, (or Ballad as the World perhaps, will call it) composed by the same Prisoner since his Commitment to Newgate.

A Return, in Answer to some of them, who sent to know how it fares with me in my Imprisonment.

A Pass-By, in Relation to those, who seem offended at my Frequent-Scriblings, as they call them.

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George Wither's Appollogy for composing the Poem called Vox Vulgi; being a Welcome home from the Counties, Citties and Burroughs, to their Prevaricating Members; saving the honour of the House of Commons, and of every faithfull and discreet Individual member thereof; which Poem was surprised before quite finished.

Another Meditation in Newgate, somewhat alluding to this old verse in Seneca, Nunquam non Potest, esse Virtuti locus. Which implies, that no Place, or Time can disadvantage an Honest-man.

A Meditation, occasioned by the same Prisoners calling to mind, Jeremies Prophecie to Ebed-melech, the Blackmore, Jerem. 39. 15.

An Antidote against Fear, composed upon the Citizens being unexpectedly in Arms, Sept. 28. 1661. at night.

A short Excuse, rendering some Reasons why this Prisoner makes no Adresses for his Release, to great Persons for their Favour in his Cause.

A Composure, for his private Refreshment made by the same Prisoner, upon considering the sad outward Condition of his Dearest Relations in the Flesh: after which is added the Narrative of a sudden distemper thereupon ensuing.

Another Spiritual Song composed, by occasion of the last mentioned Distemper.

A Meditation whilst he was taking a Pipe of Tobbacco.

A Hint, of that, which may hereafter (if not despised) conduce to the Setling of Peace and Concord in Church and State.

A Hymn of Thanksgiving to Almighty GOD;

A Penitential Hymn, composed by occasion of a Dream the 19th. of Octob. 1661. about Midnight.

A Requiem to the Soul.

A Meditation upon the many Prodigies and Apparitions, which are mentioned by Publick writing, or common Fame.

A Riddle for Recreation, not impertinent to this Place.

A Proclamation made by this Prisoner, with the advise of his Privy Counsel, the Muses.

A Concluding Epigram.

A Post-script to the Readers.

An Appendix in Relation to what concerns his Wife.

The Authors Dream, the night before the Imprinting of this Book, and (as he believes) the true Interpretation thereof.

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A Hallelujah, alluding to the 150 Psalm.

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Sigh for the Pitchers:

[My Sighs concern you all, throughout this Nation]

Sighs for the Pitchers.

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4.

FOURTH COLLECTION

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Prosopopæia Britannica:

[For ev'ry thing, which is below the Sun]

To the meeke ingenuous Reader.

To the scornfully Censorious.

PROSOPOPOEIA BRITANNICA.

To the Parliaments.

Aliquid ex improviso

Faults escaped.

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Salt upon Salt:

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SALT upon SALT:

The Result, occasioned by the preceding Theam.

Sarcasmus Ænigmaticus.

A bitter-sweet Passion of the Soul, Expressed in A HYMNE to GOD.

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The Prisoners Plea:

Jamq; Opus Exegi.

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A Memorandum to London,

A Seasonable Memorandum

A Warning-Piece to London,

[The meek, and humble to advise]

A SINGLE SACRIFICE,

June 15. 1665. A PRECAUTION Relating to the time present.

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The Authors Epitaph.

A Petitionary Meditation on the behalf of F. S. The Authors much Honoured and Charitable, Friend then visited by a Languishing Sickness.

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Vaticinia Poetica.

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Vaticinium Poeticum:

Hic , desunt nonnulla

Hîc deest multum.

[Last Midnight, many things to minde were brought]

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Three Private MEDITATIONS, Which being, for the most Part, of Publick Concernment, are therefore Published, by their Author, Geo. Wither.

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A Private THANK-OBLATION, Consisting of Three Hymns,

The first Hymn, is a Preparatioon of the heart to the Duty intended.

The second Hymn, being an imperfect Narrative and Confession to Gods glory, of what he hath done for us in the late Ingagement; how little we have merited the mercies vouchsafed, and how merciful GOD hath been to both Nations.

The third Hymn, proceeds to a thankful Illustration of GOD's deserved Praise, by acknowledging his Almightiness; his observing what hath been openly and secretly done in every part of the World, by both the said Nations, and that no praise is justly due to either of us, but shame rather, for ought performed in the said Ingagement.

A Sacrifice of Praise & Prayer

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5.

FIFTH COLLECTION

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Opobalsamum Anglicanum:

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

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

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THREE GRAINS of Spirituall Frankincense,

[If Scorners term these Ballads, 'twill not much]

1.

2.

3.

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Furor-Poeticus (i.e.)Propheticus.

Furor-poeticus,(i.e.)Propheticus.

A Postscript to Mr. R. Hamon, Merchant.

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Speculum Speculativum:

To the KING'S MAJESTY, If this Considering-Glass comes accidentally to his View.

[George, wer't not fit, ere from thy hands it pass]

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SPECULUM SPECULATIVUM:

Opobalsamum Anglicanum, Page 20.

See Fpistolium Vagum-prosa-metricum Page 20

In the Book last mentioned, Page 24.

In these words, Page 47.

These were my words:

A HYMNE Of Confession and Praise.

Another Meditation relating to the Authors present Condition.

The Contented Mans Morice.

A POSTSCRIPT In answer to some cavilling Objections, made against the Author of this Considering-Glasse, since the composing thereof.

THE Shepherd of BLEDONHAM HIS CASE.

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6.

SIXTH COLLECTION

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Fragmenta Prophetica.

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A PREFACE to the following REVIEW, offering somewhat therewith considerable.

[GOD's Promises and Threatnings, unto all]

[Though Lot a while in Zoar stai'd]

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A Review of Neglected Remembrances.

An Interjection, occasioned by a sudden Ejaculation, whilst this Review of Neglected Remembrances was transcribing; which shall here stand inserted, thought it be no part of what was heretofore expressed, or intended to be hereunto added.

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A THANKFUL RETRIBUTION,

Page the Second.

BONI OMINIS VOTUM:

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A Si quis, or Queries, with other Verses annexed.

These Verses next following, were upon the same Occassion presented to several Members of the House of Commons, repairing thither the 23d of December 1648, being the next day after their Humiliation, with an Imprinted Petition thereto annexed.

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These Verses next following, were upon the same Occassion presented to several Members of the House of Commons, repairing thither the 23d of December 1648, being the next day after their Humiliation, with an Imprinted Petition thereto annexed.

They who at Rich mens thresholds begging lye,
(Though long neglected) wil prolong their cry
Till they an answer get, and so will I.
I know it is not Eight and thirty year
Since first I was an humble Suiter here;
And yet to me it seems as if it were.
Dayes, Months and Years I sadly waiting stand,
Yet no man speaks a Word, none lends a Hand
To help me, though but Justice I demand.

150

And therefore, such as know me, and my Case,
Observe it to the scandal of that Place,
Whose guilt I blush for, as my own disgrace.
But now I hope the Pool which heretofore
Cur'd some days none, or one, (and few days more)
Is mov'd so, that one day will cure a score.
And that he prosecutes not his Affairs
Unseasonably, who to a Means repairs
New sanctified, with Fastings and with Prayers.
Excuse me then, that thus I do forelay,
And (as it were) arrest you in the way
Unto the House of Parliament this day.
And (whatsoe're this morning is design'd
To be debated there) some minutes find
To hear that Prayer which is herewith join'd.
Yea, spare a little time to do him right,
Who (having serv'd you with a heart upright)
Seeks but his own, that you enjoy it might.
For, 'tis a loss to you, that he or they
Who could, and did for you lend, give and pay,
Should scarce have bread sufficient for the day.
And 'tis to your dishonour too, that such
Who to secure you, Goods nor Lives did grutch,
Should want, whilst your betrayers are grown rich.
If you in your Grand Work the worse succed
For doing of this Charitable deed,
Leave me hereafter quite out of your Creed.
Or, if they long thrive, who as heretofore
Shall still defer to hear and help the poor,
Kick me and my Petitions out of door.
'Tis now within your Walls, and I expect
It will be there this day with good effect,
Though some should think it merited neglect.

151

For, of that Crisis 'twill a ground-work be,
Whereby I shall undoubtingly foresee,
What will become of other men and me.
Things present at some points of time foreshew
Things future; and unless mistake I do,
That which this day produceth, will do so.