 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
What Peace to the wicked?
OR, An Expostulatorie Answer TO A Derisorie Question, Lately made CONCERNING PEACE.
BY A Free-man, though a Prisoner.
1
One, who hath, seldome, in his daies,
From Fools, or Knaves, had love or praise;
And, who, throughout this Isle, is knowne,
With cheerfulnesse, to have bestowne,
His Wit, Paines, Person and Estate,
The Publike-Rights to vindicate,
A long imprisonment hath had,
For calling of a Spade, a Spade;
Which (if a Court-Card) might have been
Next to the King, except the Queen.
From Fools, or Knaves, had love or praise;
And, who, throughout this Isle, is knowne,
With cheerfulnesse, to have bestowne,
His Wit, Paines, Person and Estate,
The Publike-Rights to vindicate,
A long imprisonment hath had,
For calling of a Spade, a Spade;
Which (if a Court-Card) might have been
Next to the King, except the Queen.
As He, in his confinement lay,
Some asked him, the other day,
When he suppos'd this Warre should end,
Or what successes would attend
Our hopes of Peace: which Question, tho
From Levity it seem'd to flow,
Or, scoffingly, to be exprest,
Receiv'd this Answer, not in jest.
Some asked him, the other day,
When he suppos'd this Warre should end,
Or what successes would attend
Our hopes of Peace: which Question, tho
From Levity it seem'd to flow,
Or, scoffingly, to be exprest,
Receiv'd this Answer, not in jest.
Why ask ye when this Warre will cease?
Or, when this Kingdome shall have Peace?
As if you thought, I could fore-shew
What things hereafter would ensue:
Or, as if when the Truth were told,
You value, or believe it could;
Who, nor esteem, nor use have made
Of those Fore-warnings you have had?
Or, when this Kingdome shall have Peace?
As if you thought, I could fore-shew
What things hereafter would ensue:
Or, as if when the Truth were told,
You value, or believe it could;
Who, nor esteem, nor use have made
Of those Fore-warnings you have had?
They that will know what shall succeed,
Must of Things-past take serious heed;
And, gleane Instructions, whilst they may,
From Actions of the present-Day:
For, past, and present Time declares,
What, for the Future, God prepares;
And, till these quicken their fore-sights,
Men sit in darknesse, till he smites.
Must of Things-past take serious heed;
And, gleane Instructions, whilst they may,
From Actions of the present-Day:
For, past, and present Time declares,
What, for the Future, God prepares;
And, till these quicken their fore-sights,
Men sit in darknesse, till he smites.
If to this Question, you would know
An Answer, which the Truth shall show,
And, not (with Ahab-like-Desires)
Wish all your Prophets would be liers;
Then, ask your Consciences, and they
Will tell, what things expect you may:
For, let my Troubles never cease,
If ever some have other Peace
Then what their Consciences fore-see,
Though King and Parliament agree.
An Answer, which the Truth shall show,
And, not (with Ahab-like-Desires)
Wish all your Prophets would be liers;
Then, ask your Consciences, and they
Will tell, what things expect you may:
For, let my Troubles never cease,
If ever some have other Peace
Then what their Consciences fore-see,
Though King and Parliament agree.
But, lest the Conscience may be sear'd;
Or, lest Delusions have appear'd,
Which promise Peace, when she is fled,
(And Vengeance hangeth over-head)
Ask your own Feares, and humane-Reason,
What they conjecture of the season:
Ask them, what signe it is of Peace,
When wickednesse doth more increase;
What may be hop'd for of that Nation,
That sleights her dayes of Visitation;
That mendeth not for words, nor blowes;
That, in reforming, worser growes;
That suffers them who serve Her best,
To be most wronged, and opprest;
And, on her Face, all tokens hath
Of desolation, and of wrath.
Or, lest Delusions have appear'd,
Which promise Peace, when she is fled,
(And Vengeance hangeth over-head)
Ask your own Feares, and humane-Reason,
What they conjecture of the season:
Ask them, what signe it is of Peace,
When wickednesse doth more increase;
What may be hop'd for of that Nation,
That sleights her dayes of Visitation;
That mendeth not for words, nor blowes;
That, in reforming, worser growes;
That suffers them who serve Her best,
To be most wronged, and opprest;
And, on her Face, all tokens hath
Of desolation, and of wrath.
When this is well inquired out,
If still you shall remaine in doubt,
What we may seem fore-doom'd unto;
Let me perswade you thus to do.
Get information, when the King
Intends a Palinode to sing;
When he will their ill-counsells leave,
Who are deceived, and deceive:
What setled peace we can devise,
Whilst Irelands-blood for vengeance cries:
Whilst they, who sought to have begot
A Schisme betwixt Us, and the Scot,
Have Trust, or Power: or, els, whilst they
Escape unblam'd, who scandals lay
Upon that Army, by whose hand
God, hath from Thrall, redeem'd this Land;
Both to the grief, and shame, of them,
VVho, their beginnings did contemne.
Or, whilst the person of the Prince,
(VVhich traiterously was sent from hence)
Is kept in France, to have some fine
New-foolish-mischievous Designe
Rais'd thereupon; for, who can tell,
But, that, he there so long may dwell,
As, his due birth-right to recover,
And, bring his Peasant-Subjects over,
To help perswade with us, that we
VVould, here, be slaves, as, there, they be.
Now, if this be the plot, I feare,
It will be long, ere Peace be here.
If still you shall remaine in doubt,
What we may seem fore-doom'd unto;
Let me perswade you thus to do.
Get information, when the King
Intends a Palinode to sing;
When he will their ill-counsells leave,
Who are deceived, and deceive:
What setled peace we can devise,
Whilst Irelands-blood for vengeance cries:
Whilst they, who sought to have begot
A Schisme betwixt Us, and the Scot,
Have Trust, or Power: or, els, whilst they
Escape unblam'd, who scandals lay
Upon that Army, by whose hand
God, hath from Thrall, redeem'd this Land;
2
VVho, their beginnings did contemne.
Or, whilst the person of the Prince,
(VVhich traiterously was sent from hence)
Is kept in France, to have some fine
New-foolish-mischievous Designe
Rais'd thereupon; for, who can tell,
But, that, he there so long may dwell,
As, his due birth-right to recover,
And, bring his Peasant-Subjects over,
To help perswade with us, that we
VVould, here, be slaves, as, there, they be.
Now, if this be the plot, I feare,
It will be long, ere Peace be here.
VVhat Peace can we expect, whilst they
Who spoiled us, not onely may
Finde mercy, (which we could allow)
But, so imperious, also grow,
As, to reproach us to our Faces,
Ev'n in our priviledged-Places?
Who, once, thought better fruits would come
By that which we have parted from:
But mark the end; and judge what Peace
VVill follow, when your friends decrease;
VVhen more Malignants are return'd;
VVhen they who love the State, are scorn'd;
And some, who serv'd it, heretofore,
Are growne as mad, as they are poore.
Who spoiled us, not onely may
Finde mercy, (which we could allow)
But, so imperious, also grow,
As, to reproach us to our Faces,
Ev'n in our priviledged-Places?
Who, once, thought better fruits would come
By that which we have parted from:
But mark the end; and judge what Peace
VVill follow, when your friends decrease;
VVhen more Malignants are return'd;
VVhen they who love the State, are scorn'd;
And some, who serv'd it, heretofore,
Are growne as mad, as they are poore.
If, yet, you cannot well discerne,
VVhen Peace will back again returne,
Get knowledge, with all speed ye may,
VVhat game Malignants have to play;
How farre they have, as yet, to run
In that wild Course, too soone begun;
VVhen they are like to call to minde
VVhat lies before them, and behinde;
VVhat future-plot it may advance,
To let so many passe to France,
On their bare words, who carelesse are
Of what they either say, or sweare:
VVhat can be hoped-for, of those
VVho are, irrationally, Foes:
VVith safety, what we can propound,
VVhere, little, save deceit, is found:
Or, what good Harvest can be mowne,
VVhere, onely, mischiefe hath been sowne:
And, when these things are truly weigh'd,
You'l thinke as much as may be said.
VVhen Peace will back again returne,
Get knowledge, with all speed ye may,
VVhat game Malignants have to play;
How farre they have, as yet, to run
In that wild Course, too soone begun;
VVhen they are like to call to minde
VVhat lies before them, and behinde;
VVhat future-plot it may advance,
To let so many passe to France,
On their bare words, who carelesse are
Of what they either say, or sweare:
VVhat can be hoped-for, of those
VVho are, irrationally, Foes:
VVith safety, what we can propound,
VVhere, little, save deceit, is found:
Or, what good Harvest can be mowne,
VVhere, onely, mischiefe hath been sowne:
And, when these things are truly weigh'd,
You'l thinke as much as may be said.
If not; then, next, inquire, how long
Divisions will be rais'd among
The Lords and Commons; and, when we
Shall finde both Houses so agree,
That, to the publike detriment,
Nor House, nor Member shall dissent,
Or be united; but, insist
Upon the common-interest;
And, Priviledge, nor Custome, straine,
An Innovation to maintaine,
VVherby they may invade each other,
Or, separate from one another:
For, you have heard what lot betides
A House, or Kingdom, that divides;
And know, what's likely to succeed,
Till our Peace-makers are agreed.
Divisions will be rais'd among
The Lords and Commons; and, when we
Shall finde both Houses so agree,
That, to the publike detriment,
Nor House, nor Member shall dissent,
Or be united; but, insist
Upon the common-interest;
And, Priviledge, nor Custome, straine,
An Innovation to maintaine,
VVherby they may invade each other,
Or, separate from one another:
For, you have heard what lot betides
A House, or Kingdom, that divides;
And know, what's likely to succeed,
Till our Peace-makers are agreed.
If, wast, Jerusalem was made,
VVho, therein, but three factions, had;
This Island, how may we deplore,
VVherein are three times three, and more!
VVho, therein, but three factions, had;
This Island, how may we deplore,
VVherein are three times three, and more!
Some, with the Parliament partake;
Some, for the King a party make,
As he is King: And, some, that, He
A Tyrant might become to be:
Some, would a Popular-estate;
Some, Aristocracie create:
Some, are a faction, for the Pope;
Some, to maintain the Prelates hope;
Some, for the Presbyterians vote;
Some, Independency promote,
Some, strive for this, and some for that,
Some, neither know, nor care for what,
So Wars go on, and get they may
Free-quarter, Plunder, and their Pay.
Some, fight their Liberties to save;
Some, that they others might inslave;
Some, for Religion, and for CHRIST;
Some, that, they may do what they list;
Some, for the Common-wealths availe;
Some, for themselves, with tooth, and naile;
And, they that have the basest end,
As fairly, as the best, pretend;
Not caring, whether their desire
Obtained be, by sword, or fire;
By truth or lies, with love or hate;
By treachery, or faire debate.
Some, for the King a party make,
As he is King: And, some, that, He
A Tyrant might become to be:
Some, would a Popular-estate;
Some, Aristocracie create:
Some, are a faction, for the Pope;
Some, to maintain the Prelates hope;
Some, for the Presbyterians vote;
Some, Independency promote,
Some, strive for this, and some for that,
Some, neither know, nor care for what,
So Wars go on, and get they may
Free-quarter, Plunder, and their Pay.
Some, fight their Liberties to save;
Some, that they others might inslave;
Some, for Religion, and for CHRIST;
Some, that, they may do what they list;
Some, for the Common-wealths availe;
Some, for themselves, with tooth, and naile;
3
As fairly, as the best, pretend;
Not caring, whether their desire
Obtained be, by sword, or fire;
By truth or lies, with love or hate;
By treachery, or faire debate.
This is our posture; and, whilst we
So foolish, false, and factious be,
Or whilst affaires continue thus)
Who knowes what will become of us?
Or, when the man, who these lines pen'd,
Shall find good usage, or a friend?
So foolish, false, and factious be,
Or whilst affaires continue thus)
Who knowes what will become of us?
Or, when the man, who these lines pen'd,
Shall find good usage, or a friend?
Ask those who now of peace do dream,
Who, shall procure the same, for them,
If many are become their foes,
Whom they to be their Champions chose:
If these our substance have bestown,
To make new fortunes, of their own;
If they the publike wrongs encrease,
To gain themselves a private peace;
If yet, the people doubtings have,
What to refuse, or what to crave;
If they unsetled, yet, abide,
And constant unto neither side;
If, scarcely, they resolved are,
Whether, they would have peace, or warre;
Or, whether re-admit they shall
Charles to be King, or none at all;
For, doubtlesse, if these matters go
As honest men much fear they do,
A wise man needs not break his brain
To search what peace we shall obtain;
Since, whilst thus blind, and mad we be,
What will ensue, a foole may see.
Who, shall procure the same, for them,
If many are become their foes,
Whom they to be their Champions chose:
If these our substance have bestown,
To make new fortunes, of their own;
If they the publike wrongs encrease,
To gain themselves a private peace;
If yet, the people doubtings have,
What to refuse, or what to crave;
If they unsetled, yet, abide,
And constant unto neither side;
If, scarcely, they resolved are,
Whether, they would have peace, or warre;
Or, whether re-admit they shall
Charles to be King, or none at all;
For, doubtlesse, if these matters go
As honest men much fear they do,
A wise man needs not break his brain
To search what peace we shall obtain;
Since, whilst thus blind, and mad we be,
What will ensue, a foole may see.
Ask of our Lords, that, were the skreen
Which, anciently, did stand between
The King, and Commons, what th'intaile
Of titles, without power, availe
To such an use; And, how the shade
Of what their Predecessors had
Shall find sufficiencie to do,
What, oft, the substance reach'd not to:
And, having weigh'd what they are now;
What they have been; what they may grow,
And, what we feare, till fixt they are,
As honourably, in their spheare,
As heretofore: Or, till the State
Shall all her spheares anew create,
And place them so, that, neither Orb
Each others motion shall disturb;
Think, what we justly may expect
Those clashings will, at last effect,
Which now obstructive are; and may
Destructive prove, another day;
If some new mischief should begin
Without our circle, or within,
Before the feinds appeas'd are grown,
Which, we have almost conjur'd down:
For, by consid'ring things like these,
You may conjecture, if you please,
(Without a new Prognostication)
What will befall this Generation.
Which, anciently, did stand between
The King, and Commons, what th'intaile
Of titles, without power, availe
To such an use; And, how the shade
Of what their Predecessors had
Shall find sufficiencie to do,
What, oft, the substance reach'd not to:
And, having weigh'd what they are now;
What they have been; what they may grow,
And, what we feare, till fixt they are,
As honourably, in their spheare,
As heretofore: Or, till the State
Shall all her spheares anew create,
And place them so, that, neither Orb
Each others motion shall disturb;
Think, what we justly may expect
Those clashings will, at last effect,
Which now obstructive are; and may
Destructive prove, another day;
If some new mischief should begin
Without our circle, or within,
Before the feinds appeas'd are grown,
Which, we have almost conjur'd down:
For, by consid'ring things like these,
You may conjecture, if you please,
(Without a new Prognostication)
What will befall this Generation.
Yet, least presumptions may arise
(To foole you with false hopes and lies)
Observe the Commons, if, of them,
None serve two Masters at a time:
Nay, search if none among them be
Who, servants are, this day, to three,
And false to all: Observe, of those
Whom we for publike-service chose,
How many fail'd the Common-trust;
How vile some are, and how unjust:
How perilous, and hard a taske
It is, those Members to unmaske
That, in affection, are unsound;
How much more hard when they are found
To cut them off: what mean effect
The faithfull party must expect
Concerning peace, while such as they
The cunning Ambodexters play;
And what small hope there is of rest,
While we have Cancers in our breast.
(To foole you with false hopes and lies)
Observe the Commons, if, of them,
None serve two Masters at a time:
Nay, search if none among them be
Who, servants are, this day, to three,
And false to all: Observe, of those
Whom we for publike-service chose,
How many fail'd the Common-trust;
How vile some are, and how unjust:
How perilous, and hard a taske
It is, those Members to unmaske
That, in affection, are unsound;
How much more hard when they are found
To cut them off: what mean effect
The faithfull party must expect
Concerning peace, while such as they
The cunning Ambodexters play;
And what small hope there is of rest,
While we have Cancers in our breast.
Ask them, who sit to take Accounts,
To what their two years paine amounts;
Or, what the Common-wealth it betters,
When they have found who are her debters;
If, when their guiltinesse is known,
And published throughout the town,
A cheating-Sharke may raile at them
Who justly have convicted him;
Yea, be employed as before,
Where he may cheat the State of more;
And be as confident, as tho
He merited by doing so.
Aske, if they have not power to call
Aswell the great ones, as the small,
To give accompt; Those, whom we heare
Cum Privilegio (as it were)
Have plunder'd, at an easie rate,
Coyne, Jewells, Houshold-stuffe and Plate;
And if you find they have not leave
To question all men who deceive
The Publike-Trust, know, we are yet,
For Peace with Righteousnesse, unfit.
To what their two years paine amounts;
Or, what the Common-wealth it betters,
When they have found who are her debters;
If, when their guiltinesse is known,
And published throughout the town,
4
Who justly have convicted him;
Yea, be employed as before,
Where he may cheat the State of more;
And be as confident, as tho
He merited by doing so.
Aske, if they have not power to call
Aswell the great ones, as the small,
To give accompt; Those, whom we heare
Cum Privilegio (as it were)
Have plunder'd, at an easie rate,
Coyne, Jewells, Houshold-stuffe and Plate;
And if you find they have not leave
To question all men who deceive
The Publike-Trust, know, we are yet,
For Peace with Righteousnesse, unfit.
Then search, if you have eyes to see
Paths, that so blind, so crooked be,
What courses those Committees take
Which, every where, such rumblings make.
Marke seriously, if they appeare
Such, as the people say they are;
So false, so proud, so insolent,
So carelesse whom they discontent;
So scandalous unto the State,
In prosecuting private hate;
So bold, from Equity to varie,
By courses meerly Arbitrarie;
And if you finde them to be such,
You need not then to question much
What will befall this harrowed Land,
VVhile these Authorized shall stand.
Paths, that so blind, so crooked be,
What courses those Committees take
Which, every where, such rumblings make.
Marke seriously, if they appeare
Such, as the people say they are;
So false, so proud, so insolent,
So carelesse whom they discontent;
So scandalous unto the State,
In prosecuting private hate;
So bold, from Equity to varie,
By courses meerly Arbitrarie;
And if you finde them to be such,
You need not then to question much
What will befall this harrowed Land,
VVhile these Authorized shall stand.
Then, mark what favours now some have
Who sought these Kingdomes to inslave;
How well-befriended, some appeare,
Who Neuters were, and worse now are;
How, some exposed be to scorne
Who, of this warre, the heat have borne;
What scandalls are of them devis'd;
How their deserts are under-priz'd:
And, having heedfully survey'd
How good, with evill, is repay'd;
Mind well the Doctrine, and the use,
And think, what these things may produce.
Who sought these Kingdomes to inslave;
How well-befriended, some appeare,
Who Neuters were, and worse now are;
How, some exposed be to scorne
Who, of this warre, the heat have borne;
What scandalls are of them devis'd;
How their deserts are under-priz'd:
And, having heedfully survey'd
How good, with evill, is repay'd;
Mind well the Doctrine, and the use,
And think, what these things may produce.
Enquire, moreover, how you find
To workes of mercy, men inclin'd;
How, their poor wives and children fare,
Who for their Countrey slaughter'd are;
How, honest causes are preferr'd;
How speedily your suits are heard;
How Offices conferred be;
And if some have not two, or three,
Who for the publike, neither spent,
Nor gave, nor hazzarded, nor lent,
Ought worth regard, whilst they have none,
Who in your service, were undone.
To workes of mercy, men inclin'd;
How, their poor wives and children fare,
Who for their Countrey slaughter'd are;
How, honest causes are preferr'd;
How speedily your suits are heard;
How Offices conferred be;
And if some have not two, or three,
Who for the publike, neither spent,
Nor gave, nor hazzarded, nor lent,
Ought worth regard, whilst they have none,
Who in your service, were undone.
Observe, how equally men share
Those Pensions which allowed are:
How little Best-deservers get;
How many of them, nere a whit;
How conscionably, and, how well,
Rewards, and Punishments, we deal,
Which are the Pillars, whereon stand
The Peace, and Honour of the Land.
Observe, if when we spend a day
In praises, or to fast, and pray,
If preaching tend not more to strife.
Then to sound-Doctrine, or good-life;
If more we seeke not to fulfill
Our sev'rall humours, and our will,
Then to performe a Thank-oblation,
Or, duties of Humiliation;
Or, if the worship we professe,
Be not an out-side holinesse,
No deeper rooted then the tongue;
Forc'd fruit, that fades as soon as sprung:
For, as it proveth, when you see
These things to tryall brought shall be,
You may without much failing, ghesse,
What likelihoods we have of Peace.
Those Pensions which allowed are:
How little Best-deservers get;
How many of them, nere a whit;
How conscionably, and, how well,
Rewards, and Punishments, we deal,
Which are the Pillars, whereon stand
The Peace, and Honour of the Land.
Observe, if when we spend a day
In praises, or to fast, and pray,
If preaching tend not more to strife.
Then to sound-Doctrine, or good-life;
If more we seeke not to fulfill
Our sev'rall humours, and our will,
Then to performe a Thank-oblation,
Or, duties of Humiliation;
Or, if the worship we professe,
Be not an out-side holinesse,
No deeper rooted then the tongue;
Forc'd fruit, that fades as soon as sprung:
For, as it proveth, when you see
These things to tryall brought shall be,
You may without much failing, ghesse,
What likelihoods we have of Peace.
Then, if you be not some of those
Who slight what other men propose,
How probable soere it seem,
(Unlesse it may advantage them,
Or propagate the private ends,
Of their Confederates, and Friends)
An eare, and eye, pray somtime have ye
Upon our Armies, and the Navie:
An eye, securely to behold,
An eare to heare what hath been told,
Of some, who much intrusted were
With Armes, and with provisions there;
Or, had Commissions to array,
To furnish, fortifie, or pay
Ships, Forts, or men: And, those in chief,
Employ'd for Irelands first relief,
And our first Armies; Ev'n, when all
Did lye at stake, and seem to call
For faithfull, stout, and honest men:
Observe, how they discharged, then,
The trust repos'd; how, some were made
Commanders; pay, and titles had;
But scarce a man: how, others, now,
Have us'd the Commonwealth, and you:
And, if in any, you shall find
Deceit, in this accursed kind,
Forgive them not; yea, when at last
Acts of Oblivion shall be past
For open foes; no grace provide
For men untrue to their owne side,
Least, as our Peace they have defer'd,
They marre it, likewise, afterward:
But, as occasions offered be,
Find them, although you mind not me:
For, where, in favour, such are found
Then peace is made, 'twill not be sound.
Who slight what other men propose,
How probable soere it seem,
(Unlesse it may advantage them,
Or propagate the private ends,
Of their Confederates, and Friends)
An eare, and eye, pray somtime have ye
Upon our Armies, and the Navie:
3
An eare to heare what hath been told,
Of some, who much intrusted were
With Armes, and with provisions there;
Or, had Commissions to array,
To furnish, fortifie, or pay
Ships, Forts, or men: And, those in chief,
Employ'd for Irelands first relief,
And our first Armies; Ev'n, when all
Did lye at stake, and seem to call
For faithfull, stout, and honest men:
Observe, how they discharged, then,
The trust repos'd; how, some were made
Commanders; pay, and titles had;
But scarce a man: how, others, now,
Have us'd the Commonwealth, and you:
And, if in any, you shall find
Deceit, in this accursed kind,
Forgive them not; yea, when at last
Acts of Oblivion shall be past
For open foes; no grace provide
For men untrue to their owne side,
Least, as our Peace they have defer'd,
They marre it, likewise, afterward:
But, as occasions offered be,
Find them, although you mind not me:
For, where, in favour, such are found
Then peace is made, 'twill not be sound.
Enquire, (if you can tell of whom
To make enquirie) what's become
Of all the publike Protestations,
Engag'd for private Reputations;
What, of that Vow, which did expresse
A mutuall-aid, in all distresse;
What of the selfe-denying Vote,
Which godly hopes in us begot;
What of those Orders, whereupon
Some trusted, till they were undone;
What of the publike-Faith, in which
We thought our selves exceeding rich,
Though all were lost, so that remain'd
Unviolated, and unstain'd:
Enquire (I say) throughout the Land,
In what condition these now stand;
For, when of these you have obtain'd
That certaintie, which may be gain'd,
It will, undoubtedly, appeare
What we may either hope or feare.
To make enquirie) what's become
Of all the publike Protestations,
Engag'd for private Reputations;
What, of that Vow, which did expresse
A mutuall-aid, in all distresse;
What of the selfe-denying Vote,
Which godly hopes in us begot;
What of those Orders, whereupon
Some trusted, till they were undone;
What of the publike-Faith, in which
We thought our selves exceeding rich,
Though all were lost, so that remain'd
Unviolated, and unstain'd:
Enquire (I say) throughout the Land,
In what condition these now stand;
For, when of these you have obtain'd
That certaintie, which may be gain'd,
It will, undoubtedly, appeare
What we may either hope or feare.
Inquire yet further, (least you may
Expect perhaps a Sunshine-day,
And meet a storme) in what good mind
That sort of people you shall find
Ycleep'd the Clergie: For, the Stem,
Of all our mischiefs was in Them.
Their faction, avarice, and pride,
Did, first of all, this Isle divide.
From them, at first, the Fireband came
That set this Empire in a flame;
When 'twas nigh quench'd again, they blew
Those coals, which did the fires renew,
They did the Nations re-ingage;
The peoples vexed minds inrage,
By fained showes, and false pretences,
Abusing tender consciences.
The course, by them, at first, begun
Is, to this day, continued on:
And, therefore, take this Truth from me,
For, you shall find it true to be:
That, till you see these more estrang'd
From what they were; their posture chang'd;
Yea, till they better their condition;
Confine themselves to their Commission;
Leave off to jangle, fool, and fiddle
With what they shuold not intermeddle;
And, be as pious, and as wise
As they are outwardly precise;
(And, as those few among them are,
For whose sakes God abates the war)
Nor King, nor Peers, nor Commons neither,
Nor these united altogether,
Shall able be that Peace to make
Which their contentions will not shake.
Expect perhaps a Sunshine-day,
And meet a storme) in what good mind
That sort of people you shall find
Ycleep'd the Clergie: For, the Stem,
Of all our mischiefs was in Them.
Their faction, avarice, and pride,
Did, first of all, this Isle divide.
From them, at first, the Fireband came
That set this Empire in a flame;
When 'twas nigh quench'd again, they blew
Those coals, which did the fires renew,
They did the Nations re-ingage;
The peoples vexed minds inrage,
By fained showes, and false pretences,
Abusing tender consciences.
The course, by them, at first, begun
Is, to this day, continued on:
And, therefore, take this Truth from me,
For, you shall find it true to be:
That, till you see these more estrang'd
From what they were; their posture chang'd;
Yea, till they better their condition;
Confine themselves to their Commission;
Leave off to jangle, fool, and fiddle
With what they shuold not intermeddle;
And, be as pious, and as wise
As they are outwardly precise;
(And, as those few among them are,
For whose sakes God abates the war)
Nor King, nor Peers, nor Commons neither,
Nor these united altogether,
Shall able be that Peace to make
Which their contentions will not shake.
Make one inquirie more, to see,
And search, what most of these men be,
On whose endeavours you depend
To bring your troubles to an end.
Mark, how their Duties they attend
In private, how their time they spend:
VVhat company they most frequent;
VVhat matters give them best content;
VVhat conscience of their debts they make;
What wrongs they do; what bribes they take;
What by their neighbours they were thought
Til they obtained what they sought;
And, to what purpose they employ,
The power, and places, they enjoy.
And search, what most of these men be,
On whose endeavours you depend
To bring your troubles to an end.
Mark, how their Duties they attend
In private, how their time they spend:
6
VVhat matters give them best content;
VVhat conscience of their debts they make;
What wrongs they do; what bribes they take;
What by their neighbours they were thought
Til they obtained what they sought;
And, to what purpose they employ,
The power, and places, they enjoy.
Then cast an eye upon the Rabble;
And, taking view (if you be able)
Of all together, great and small,
Mark well the Tantamount of all.
Mark, if we be not like an Hoast
That's routed when the battell's lost;
And, if we deale not gifts, and blowes,
Like madmen, both to friends and foes:
Mark, how those hypocrites, that here
Promoters of the truth appeare,
VValk in their masking-suits abroad,
As if they thought, to cozen God,
As they do men. Mark too, that crew,
VVhich is prophane in open view,
How boldly, and how daringly
(Ev'n when Gods thunderbolts do fly)
They do offend; and, whether we
May not to those, compared be,
VVho, sawing are those planks asunder,
VVhereon they stand, when Hell is under.
And, taking view (if you be able)
Of all together, great and small,
Mark well the Tantamount of all.
Mark, if we be not like an Hoast
That's routed when the battell's lost;
And, if we deale not gifts, and blowes,
Like madmen, both to friends and foes:
Mark, how those hypocrites, that here
Promoters of the truth appeare,
VValk in their masking-suits abroad,
As if they thought, to cozen God,
As they do men. Mark too, that crew,
VVhich is prophane in open view,
How boldly, and how daringly
(Ev'n when Gods thunderbolts do fly)
They do offend; and, whether we
May not to those, compared be,
VVho, sawing are those planks asunder,
VVhereon they stand, when Hell is under.
VVhen these inquiries you have made,
To see what light may thence be had;
And when you know, as well as I,
Those hindrances, and reasons, why
That VOICE of Peace, yet goes not on,
VVhich this time twelve moneth was begun;
And, shall observe, with due regard,
VVhat hath been formerly declar'd;
I will disclose a great deal more,
Then I have told you heretofore:
But, not till then: yet, least you may
Despaire, or faint, before that day;
I will deliver, ere I go,
A comfortable word or two.
To see what light may thence be had;
And when you know, as well as I,
Those hindrances, and reasons, why
That VOICE of Peace, yet goes not on,
VVhich this time twelve moneth was begun;
And, shall observe, with due regard,
VVhat hath been formerly declar'd;
I will disclose a great deal more,
Then I have told you heretofore:
But, not till then: yet, least you may
Despaire, or faint, before that day;
I will deliver, ere I go,
A comfortable word or two.
There may be PEACE, ere long, though yet
We nor know how, nor merit it:
For, GOD oft shewes great mercies, where
The greatest of all sinners are;
And if self-seekers be descri'd,
Before this Isle they more divide;
If Factions, VVrongs, and Discontent
Indanger not this Parliament;
And, if the Faithfull-Members can
But cast out from them now and than
A trouble-house: And, timely swage
The vexed peoples rising rage;
Offer, three more, such peace-oblations
As that was of th'EXAMINATIONS;
And out of Counties, Towns, and Cities,
One Hecatombe of their Committees;
And, by their prudence, worke it so,
That honest men esteem'd may grow;
That, Priest and People, down may lay
Their works of stubble, and of hay,
Their names, and terms, of SEPARATION,
And meekly seeke the preservation
Of TRUTH, in LOVE; if, in one yeare,
Peace be not firmely setled here;
My loanes, and losses, yet unpaid,
(With my Arrears, three years delay'd)
Ile forfeit wholly to the State;
And, live still, as I've done of late,
By swallowing wrongs, by empty Aire,
And, patience, kept, through faith, and prayer
We nor know how, nor merit it:
For, GOD oft shewes great mercies, where
The greatest of all sinners are;
And if self-seekers be descri'd,
Before this Isle they more divide;
If Factions, VVrongs, and Discontent
Indanger not this Parliament;
And, if the Faithfull-Members can
But cast out from them now and than
A trouble-house: And, timely swage
The vexed peoples rising rage;
Offer, three more, such peace-oblations
As that was of th'EXAMINATIONS;
And out of Counties, Towns, and Cities,
One Hecatombe of their Committees;
And, by their prudence, worke it so,
That honest men esteem'd may grow;
That, Priest and People, down may lay
Their works of stubble, and of hay,
Their names, and terms, of SEPARATION,
And meekly seeke the preservation
Of TRUTH, in LOVE; if, in one yeare,
Peace be not firmely setled here;
My loanes, and losses, yet unpaid,
(With my Arrears, three years delay'd)
Ile forfeit wholly to the State;
And, live still, as I've done of late,
By swallowing wrongs, by empty Aire,
And, patience, kept, through faith, and prayer
Thus, to the Question made, you have
That Answer, which our Prisoner gave;
VVho, other Tales will tell, if He
Much longer, shall imprison'd be.
A Spaniel beaten, at your foot will lie:
That Answer, which our Prisoner gave;
VVho, other Tales will tell, if He
Much longer, shall imprison'd be.
An English-Mastive, at your face will flie.
Take this, and consider of it, till more comes.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |