Miscellaneous works of George Wither

Yes; now Ile write againe, and neither care
Though nor Apollo aid me, nor the NINE:
Nor whether Mars or Mercury appeare
Crosse; or in Sextile, Quadrine, or in Trine.
Nor carefull am I whether HEE, or SHEE,
Be pleased or displeased with my Muse:
For, none to sooth or vexe my Musings be;
But, now I write, because I cannot chuse.

To answer each mans curious expectation
Who asks why thus I said, why this I do;
Is not the scope of my determination,
Though somwhat here conduces thereunto.
The Sword hath had his turn, and now the Pen
Advanced is to play her part agen.

The naked Svvord and Pen my Cornet bears;
Pro Rege, Lege, Grege thereupon
To be my Motto for the Field, it wears;
And shewes for whom this Warfare we begun.
But, Rymes and Reason growing out of date,
And Pens (lesse modest now then heretofore)
Such lies and railings have divulg'd, of late,
That I once thought to touch my Pen no more.
Besides (with griefe) I have observ'd in those
Whose judgments have most need of Reformation,
That there is left no pow'r in Verse or Prose,
To make them wise, or move to reformation.
For Wisdomes Charmes, and Reasons best conclusions
Beget but Furies, and inlarge Confusions.

Yet since my muzings when I shall be dead,
(And lie unactive in a loanly roome)
May peradventure to good use be read,
By men reserv'd for better times to come:
And, since it will not onely be an ease
To mine own heart, my num'rous thoughts to vent,
But also may some honest Readers please,
Ev'n in these times of gen'rall discontent.
Yea, lest malignant censures passed on
My late ingagement for the publike peace,
Should (if I silent to my grave had gone)
Have caused false-opinion to increase,
My Pen I re-assum'd, in hope, to shew
My practice never prov'd my words untrue.

My Pen I re-assum'd; and (full of matter)
Sate down to write: but, ere I ought exprest,

The Trumpet sounding, all my thoughts did scatter,
And gave me, since that houre, but little rest.
Destructive times, distractive muzings yeeld,
Expect not therefore method now of me,
But such as fits Minerva in the Field,
Where Interruptions and Confusions be.
Like or dislike, I somwhat now shall say
Which must be heard; and heard to purpose too;
At least in gaining heed, or making way
For what (if need require) is yet to do.
When sin and self-conceit befools the wise,
They must be taught by those whom they despise.

For, let not these Field-muzings be suppos'd
The fruitlesse flashings of a Giddy-wit,
Because in measur'd-words they are compos'd,
Which many judge for serious works unfit:
Nor let them counted be a sleight invention,
Though souldier-like blunt complements I use,
That I may draw those fools to give attention,
Who will not els perhaps regard my Muse.
He that hath matter that concerns the King,
Comes not and ringles at the doore with feare;
But knocks, untill he makes the pallace ring,
And spurns it open, if they will not heare:
Ev'n so do I; and think I have done well
To make my language like the tale I tell.

If I shall mention what some would not hear,
The fault's not mine; for, if men madly do,
I am a thing which once in twenty year
Shall seem to be a kind of mad man too.
And though mean-while my Calling I pursue,
(Seeming to heed the times as they do me)
Yet I am alwayes mindfull of my kue,
And act my part when I my time shall see.
One while I chide; somtimes faire words I give
To praise men into what I fain would have them:

And when those Favours I misplac'd perceive,
I call them backe, and am asham'd I gave them.
When thus I faile, my Fancie prompts me then;
But, now another Spirit guides my Pen.

I will not blame the Times, though bad they be,
Nor to the jeering world bemoane my Lot:
For, to these dayes my God appointed me,
And guards me so, that mischiefe hurts me not.
My Birth I had in blest ELIZA'S reigne;
To JAMES, I blaz'd the sins of wanton Peace,
For those rewards which Truth will ever gaine,
Where Nobles rise by Pieties decrease.
To CHARLES I shew'd what Plagues were drawing neare,
And, saw them come, e're I beleefe could gaine.
And, when they came, I saw the chiefest care
Was, how each Foole his Bable might obtaine.
For, warnings are on wilfull sinners lost,
Till honour, pleasure, life and soule it cost.

SIN not repented, (but augmented rather)
The Violl, poured forth, began to spread;
The spreading mischiefe still more strength did gather,
And, every day new Plagues the poison bred.
Divisions then arose, which did increase,
And, into Sub-divisions branch about,
Which overthrew the Pillars of our Peace,
And, drove good Order, Law, and Iustice out.
These Evils, with my Pen, I long withstood,
And, bold reproofes in Tyrants faces threw;
But, when I saw my Pen could doe no good,
With other Patriots my Sword I drew:
For, who that weares a Sword needs feare to draw,
To save the King, the People, and the Law?

I drew it not in rage, or private hate,
Or to incroach on Prince or Peoples-right,
Or to recrute a ruined estate;
But, that both Prince and People guard it might.

I was not arm'd to violate the Crowne,
Or please the fancies of a fickle braine,
To set one up, and pull another downe,
Or Schisme, or Superstition to maintaine:
But, fought our Fathers honour to defend;
Our Mother, from his jealous rage to save;
To bring their base abusers to that end,
Which Traiterous-flatterers deserve to have:
And he that armes himselfe to this intent
Shall ne're be shamed, though he may be shent.

I therefore boldly marched to the Field,
Not unresolv'd, or stagg'ring in the Cause.
I made my Pray'rs my shot, Firm-faith my shield;
My Breast-works are Good-Conscience, and the Lawes.
I stood not off, when I was called on,
To mark what Peeres or Commons led the way;
To think I might be made, or quite undone,
Or whether side was like to get the day.
But of the Publike Ruine was my feare,
Or, of those Plagues for which the Sword makes roome;
And of the barbarousnesse which every where
Is like to follow, where his followers come.
And could have wish'd it had as easie bin
To drive out mischiefes, as to fetch them in.

The cure propos'd, though very sharp it be,
And threatens losse of members, and of blood;
Before it was adventur'd on by me,
Appeared needfull for the Common-good.
According to my Fortune and my Place
I therefore further'd it, not discontent,
Though others had the publike thank and grace
For that, which I in private did invent.
Where I then liv'd, I was the first of those
Who did contribute to my Countries aid;
And (though it may be censur'd by her Foes
An evill signe) I joy to heare it said

That in those parts I was the first of all
To whom a totall Plunder did befall.

And sure it was for good it so befell:
For, he that is inrowled for the Wars
Shall never prosecute that Calling well
If he intangled be with other Cares.
Affaires of Peace effeminate the Minde;
A Barne well filled, and a house well fraught,
Are not with ease, for poverty resign'd
Till they from us, or we from them are caught.
For, who those things can willingly forsake,
Of which, he feeles he may have daily need?
Who can to wants and wounds himselfe betake,
That may at home, with ease, on Plenties feed?
Or who can fight that's clog'd with Carts and Ploughs.
Books, Houshold stuffe, Teems, Oxen, Sheep and Cows?

Such things as these did ne're affect me much,
But for their sakes, of whom I must have care:
Nor did their losse my heart so nearly touch
As their neglects, who thereof Causers were:
For, if my Counsels had beene duly heeded,
And my Presages timely beene beleev'd,
The Rage of War had not so far proceeded,
As me to Rob, and others to have griev'd:
Yea, had the Castle (to my care committed
Without supply of mony, meat, or Men
Save my halfe Troope) been well and timely fitted
With what was needfull, and long sought, e're then,
I should not sure, from thence have called bin,
To let the Kingdomes foes come safely in.

Nor to their dammage, or their detriment,
Who me to that command had freely chose,
Had I unto another place been sent,
Exposing them, unarmed, to their foes:
Nor (when a Groundwork I had also laid,
Which had, not onely, probably secur'd

Those parts, from that whereof they were afraid,
But, also, to the Bordering Shires assur'd
Good likelihoods of safety) should my Care
And Propositions, have been quite neglected,
By those, to whom they first proposed were;
If they, the Cause, or Me, had well affected:
Nor had so ill (thereby) our Partie sped:
Nor had our Foes, by that meanes, gather'd head.

Nay, if an Envie of the place I had,
Or some designe of theirs who brake their Trust,
Had not the way for my removall made
To let in mischiefe, at a nick so just,
So many had not mustred been, so soone
(Of my Malignant Neighbours in that Shire)
To force my House; my Goods to ceaze upon,
And, shew such malice, and such fury there.
Nor had I met affronts in other kindes
As I have done; But that among us, be
Some, that doe walk our wayes, with other mindes,
With other hopes, and purposes, then we:
But, let them take their course, my Course is weigh'd;
And, Words nor Deeds, shall make my heart afraid.

What I resolv'd on, hath had firme foundations,
Not laid in sands, or built upon with sticks,
Nor garnished with vaine Imaginations,
Or kept repair'd with Fallacies and tricks.
I was not frighted by the Proclamations
Penn'd by abusers of the Royall-Name:
Nor startled by those tedious Declarations,
Which with more Wit then Truth, full fraughted came.
I knew how Lawyers and Divines had cheated
The World ere then; and when the holy-Text,
Or Lawes were misapply'd or misrepeated,
Or, with false Comments wrested, or perplext.
And, falshood moves not me, although it brings
The Votes of Doctors, and the threats of Kings.

My heart, the storms of danger did not shake,
Faire promises (which have so many caught)
On me, the least impression could not make,
Though where I serve I scarce worth heed am thought.
Nor was I moved much to see, that some
(Who Stars appear'd) in their first Love did faile,
Because I knew the time was fully come,
Which tryes our firmnesse by the Dragons-taile.
Nor start I at their Censures, who have said,
That, what I counsell'd, I have left undone;
That, from my owne Predictions I have straid,
And made them erre, if they amisse have gone.
For, they that have mistaken Truth-divine,
And, wrest Gods Word, may soone misconstrue mine.

To say in Words, that so, or so, I meant,
I thought not halfe so pow'rfull as to show
By active proofes, the truth of my intent,
And teach by Deeds, which way men ought to goe.
When therefore that great Counsel call'd for aid
(With whom the King-ship alwayes doth reside,
In whose Commands, the Kings are best obey'd,
From whom, the King cannot himselfe divide)
To serve the King and Parliament, I came
So loyally, that, if it Treason be,
I will not ask a pardon for the same;
Nor thanke him for it, who shall give it me:
But laugh at him, who should that Trifle bring,
Disdaine to live; and dye, and be a King.

For, no man honours; no man loveth more
The Soveraigne-Person, then I did, and doe.
For him, I therefore feared, long before,
What Ill-advisers now have brought him to.
I told him when he was but newly crown'd,
(As plainly as my Warrant gave me leave)
Those things which He and We too true have found,
Yet still misinformations Him deceive.

Yea, though the stile of Rebell now I beare,
My Prayers for him, have before the LORD
Stood eighteen years; and, yet before him are,
(To testifie my love) upon

Brit. Rememb. Cant. 1.

Record,
And all his Captains, Armes and Armies too
Secure him not, as those my Prayers doe.

That which I prayd for then, and pray for yet,
I fight for now: Because, I held this, ever,
That, whatsoe're to pray for should be fit,
For that we are obliged to endeavour.
I know thrt by Allegiance I am bound
To what effentially thereto pertaines;
Not to bare Complements, or to the sound
Which of that Duty, lying flattry faignes,
Much lesse to that which totally destroyes
This Virtues essence; and whereby the King
Our loyaltie against himselfe imployes,
And to destruction, his owne House may bring.
Such mischeeves, therefore, that I might prevent,
I sided for Him, with his Parliament.

Thereby to serve two Masters I assaid,
Till I by their Divisions was undone:
And saw three Kingdomes by some Acts ill plaid,
In danger to be neither two nor one.
I sided not, but as a Stander-by,
Who hath two friends at ods, and loving either,
Feares that in one, the losse of both may lye,
And (in those two) of all his joyes together.
If either I oppose, I doe it more
To save then wound: and to prevent that blow
Which, he that gave it, in his heart had bore,
If through that other, we had let it goe.
And, he that thinks this duty doth him wrong,
May finde a Friend, but shall not keep him long.

I moved not thus far, but by Command
Of Soveraigne-Pow'r, whereto if it be Treason

To yeeld Obedience, we must understand,
They Trayters are, who walk by Law and Reason.
The Soveraigne-Person may command that thing
For which, the Soveraigne-Pow'r, if I shall doe it,
Me to the Gallowes for my paines may bring.
And hang me with my Pardon when I show it.
Because when Soveraigne-Pow'r doth ought command,
Therein, the Soveraigne-Person is contain'd
So fully, that by Law, no deed can stand
In opposition thereunto maintain'd.
And, he by whom this Truth is not beleev'd,
Is taught by Fooles, or else by Knaves deceiv'd.

Nor King nor Parliament doe I affect
For private ends; nor did they e're bestow
On me, the least appearance of respect
More then what they to all men use to show:
Nor can I hope that what I doe or write
(Till men grow better) an effect shall bring
Sufficient to preserve me from despight
Though favour'd both by Parliament and King:
How then, or by what bait have I been caught
That I for Balams wages have been said
To contradict the

Brit. Rememb.

Messages I brought?
And from my owne good Counsels to have straid?
Or who can say whose tongue it shall become,
That my Allegiance I have swerved from?

As elsewhere I have writ, so write I here,
No hand against the King, that is, no hand
We should against his Royall-Person reare
Though he injoyn'd a tyrannous command.
Nor should a private-man, or private-pow'r
Take armes against him, though he should intend
Them, in their innocencie to devoure,
Not meerly their owne persons to defend.
For should each petty member of a State
Be armed at his pleasure, for Offence,

Their breaches of the peace would ruinate
Themselves, the whole Republicke, and the Prince.
And, should a King from violence, not be free,
Till God shall strike; none so unsafe as he.

Yet, when by wicked Counsellers misled,
A King, shall his whole Kingdome so oppresse,
That, he, therewith appeares indangered;
Me thinks, it were a Tenet reasonlesse,
To say, there were not in a Parliament
Such, as is our (or if no such we had)
No powre in his Liege-people, to prevent
The hazard of a consequence, so bad:
Or, that they might not lay upon their King
A charitable, and restraining-hand,
To stop him from pursuing that rash thing,
Which might undoe himselfe, and all the Land:
Or, that there were not nat'rally a right
In Them, against his will, for Him, to fight.

When by the fawnings of some cunning-whore,
A nat'rall Father shall be so misled,
As that he beats his children out of doore,
And causelesse drives their mother from his bed,
Beleeving they are bastards, she unchaste;
And, fir'd with jealousies, attempteth further,
To burne his house, to lay his dwellings waste,
And, with his family, himselfe to murther:
As, then, that Family, with an intent,
Him, from his ill-advisers, to withdraw,
(And his and their destruction to prevent)
May lay restraining hands, by Natures law,
On such a father, and yet therein be
Preserv'd from breach of houshold-duties, free.

So, when the Father of our Country, shall
By Flatteries, be drawne to such a course,
As may produce his owne and Kingdomes fall,
Vnlesse we intervene, by timely force;

And, when, so loyally, the same is done,
That, to our utmost powers, we still assay
Not how to save his life, and rights, alone,
But, how his honour, too, preserve we may;
The Lawes of God, of Nature, and of Reason,
Will, doubtlesse, warrant it, in their despight
Who brand it with Rebellion, and with Treason;
By shamefull Termes, from lawfull deeds, to fright;
Els, cut-throat Parasites, are onely they
Whom for the truest Liege-men, count we may.

That, we have thus ingenuously proceeded,
Nor waging war, nor our distrusts revealing,
Till our affaires those actions highly needed,
(And, made each Grievance fully ripe for telling)
Our conscience assure us; though the flanders
Of our Opposers, have our Truths beli'd,
And led the people through those dark Mæanders,
Which our faire dealings, and their frauds, may hide.
And, therefore, should the King, by wilfull stay
Among that crew, miscarry in the fight,
(Which to prevent, we still shall watch and pray)
Vpon our heads the blame should not alight;
For, who that woes the Plague, hath health assur'd?
Or, who can save, what will not be secur'd?

I came (as I professe) with single heart,
To stay the mischiefe, which I saw begun;
And, entred, with my Sword, to act that part
Which, without blame, I knew not how to shun.
For, when God cals for blood, and will not heare
Our pray'rs, untill (his Justice to appease)
Those Beasts, among us, sacrificed are
Whose life prolong'd, prolongeth our disease;
'Tis time we should observe, that we, like Saul,
Those Flocks, and those Amalakites, have spar'd,
Whose preservation may become our Fall;
If his commands no better we regard.

'Tis time, thought I, that in the gap we stand,
To stop the breach, that els will drown the land,

The Red-horse then appear'd; and thereupon
That Rider forth advanc'd, at whose command
Those bloudy executions must be done,
Which both defile and purge, a sinfull Land.
A mixed multitude made up our Traine,
Which God, for divers ends, together brought:
Some, to avenge his cause; some, to be slaine;
Some, that Repentance might in them be wrought.
Our Army being rais'd, the Trumpet sounds;
The Colours are displaid, the Drums do beat:
To make a passage, thorow bloud and wounds,
For Iustice, Truth, and Peace, we forward set.
And, whilst we marcht, my heart, with thoughts confus'd,
Was over-fild; and thus I sadly mus'd.

Those dreadfull Tragedies, must I, O LORD!
Must I, not onely now survive to see.
Which were so long time fear'd, and so abhor'd?
But live, in them, an Actor too, to be?
Is that abused Peace which we injoy'd,
So many years (whilst ev'ry other State
Was plagu'd with war, and some nigh quite destroid)
In these our Islands, now, grown out of date?
Have we prolong'd Repentance, till the Flame
Which from the neighb'ring Countries did appeare
(Like Beacons, given warning of the same)
Spreads, and devoures, with no lesse fury, here?
And, is the time now come, in which this Nation
Must pledge them in thy Cup of indignation?

Who did so much as dreame, some years agoe,
To see the Devill so, prevailing here,
To conjure up to ev'ry man a Foe
Among those Friends that in his bosome were?
Who thought to see so many brothers rage
Against each other? Fathers, without griefe,

To ruinate the Pillars of their age?
So many sonnes, to seeke their fathers life?
Who could have, then, beleeved this; that, friends,
Familiars, neighbours, kinsmen, mothers, daughters,
Should have, so madly, sought each others ends?
And mention, without teares, their wounds & slaughters?
And, finde this hellish poyson, to be shed
Almost in ev'ry village, house, and bed?

Who did suspect, that men who dote on wealth,
And make a God of Pleasure and of Ease?
Esteeming highly, safetie, limbes, and health;
Should madly foole away their part of these?
And side, and quarrell so, about those things
Which most of them, regarded not a whit?
For, what their duties were to God, or Kings,
Or Commonwealth, it troubled not their wit.
Nor doth it now, if their discourse and life
May shew what Conscience of such things they make:
And, from this observation, I, with griefe,
Infallibly, may this Conclusion take;
That nothing else, this mischiefe did begin,
But, universall ripenesse of our sin.

How could there else, so soone, so many be
So hardned in the cruelties of war?
And, multitudes so forward as we see
For Rob'ries, Rapes, and Murthers, as they are?
Who did a while agoe suspect he had
Acquaintance, neighbours, houshold servants too,
So wicked, so malicious, and so bad,
To put in act, what now we see them doe?
War hath occasion given, to disclose
What ev'ry man affects. And, ev'ry one,
As opportunitie he gaineth, showes
What things his heart is truly set upon.
Oh! if Wars entrance with such guilt begins,
Before it ends, how great will be our sins?

Observe, aud credit this which now I say,
(Though I perhaps not worth regard may seeme)
Lest you repent it else another day,
And, finde too late, my words were worth esteeme.
If Peace we seeke not, and pursue it too,
Before there be too great an obduration,
Ere long, so hardned men in sin will grow,
That on his neighbour, none will have compassion.
But, ev'ry one, according to his powre,
Shall only labour his owne Will to gaine;
And shall corrupt each other, and devoure,
Till wealth, nor wit, nor honestie remaine.
Nor ought, but such a raskall Generation,
As merits Gods, and good mens execration.

How happie had we been, if we had fear'd
Before these feares had ceaz'd us? and how blest?
Had we with penitence those warnings heard
Which notice gave, of this unwelcome ghest?
But, now the Breach is made; the Floods break in,
And, we with miseries, are overflowne.
We shall be losers, though the day we win.
When spoiles we take, the losse will be our owne.
Because, from forraigne foes, we fear'd no harme,
God, for our sins, hath rais'd us foes at home.
Our selves, against our selves, we strongly arme;
And slaught'rers, of each other, are become.
An universall Ruine is begun;
And, he that was most rich, is most undone.

Behold, the Plough, by whom we are all fed,
Is throwne into the ditch; Our Herds decay:
Our Shepheards, and our Husbandmen, are fled:
Artificers, may shut up shop, and play.
The Labourer, must either starve, or fight;
The Gownman, must a Swordman, learne to be;
Nor Magistrate, nor Lawes, can doe us right;
The Creditor, and Debtor, may agree.

The Glutton, must be glad of homely fare;
The Drunkard, must drink water, or be drie;
Old lowsie rags, Pride, must be faine to weare;
Our idle Dames, in vaine, for bread shall crie.
And, they who late, in finest linnen lay,
Shall scarce have leave, to lodge in straw, and hay.

How are our goodly buildings overthrowne!
How are our pleasant arbours hackt, and hew'd!
How bare and rude, are those neat places growne,
Where fruitfull Orchards, and faire Groves, we view'd!
Through Walks and Fields, which I have visited
With peacefull Mates, and free from fear of harmes;
Yea, there, where oft Faire-Ladies I have led,
I now lead on, a Troupe of men in Armes.
In Meadowes, where our sports were wont to be,
(And, where we playing wantonly have laine)
Men sprawling in their blood, we now doe see;
Grim postures, of the dying, and the slaine.
And where sweet musique hath refresht the eare,
Sad groanes of ghosts departing, now we heare.

In ev'rie Field, in ev'rie Lane, and Street,
In ev'rie House, (almost in ev'rie place)
With Cries, and Teares, and Loud-complaints we meet;
And, each one thinks his owne, the saddest case.
But, what are private Losses, while we view
Three famous Kingdomes, wofully expos'd
To miserable Ruine, and so few,
Lament that plague, wherewith we are inclos'd?
My selfe, and my estate, I shall contemne,
Till we, in freedome, sing our Syon-Songs;
Till we have peace, in our Ierusalem;
And Church, and State, have what to them belongs.
For, what to these, are Oxen, Sheep, and Kine?
Or, any losse, that is but your, or mine?

But, how should we have Peace, or Consolation?
Whence can it come? whilst, each of us neglects

The meanes, of such a blessed expectation?
And from bad Causes, looks for good effects?
Who yet repents? who, all alone, bewailes
His private sins? Or, since this Tempest rose,
Hath taken downe, one furle of his proud sailes,
That we the publike Vessell might not lose?
Few of us, yet, have truly laid aside
Our Self-conceit, our Envie, or our Spleene,
Our Avarice, our Wilfulnesse, or Pride,
And, doubtlesse, whilst among us, these are seene,
In vaine, we hope, our miseries will cease;
In vaine, we, look for Comfort, Truth, or Peace.

Give me, Oh God! give me those moving teares,
Those deep-set sighes, and those prevailing groanes,
Which may have powre to pierce through all the Spheres,
And fetch downe Pittie, for distressed ones.
Give me enough for one, that would deplore
The sins of three great Nations; and, lament
For his owne share, a little world-full more,
Which he too long deferred to repent.
Give me those Teares that acceptable be;
Such, as on Syons evill day were shed;
Such, as in bottles are preserv'd by thee;
Such, as were dropt, when Lazarus was dead:
Such, as if Teares might so much virtue have,
May three great Kingdomes, from destruction save.

Help us to that Peace-Offring, whence, may fume
Into thy nostrils, that sweet-smelling savour,
Whereby, thy Majestie may re-assume
These Kingdomes, once againe, into thy favour.
With holy Charmes, thou hast delighted bin;
For, when in mournfull Elegies, to thee
The Son of Iesse did bewaile his sin,
From all his guilt, thy grace did set him free.
Why may not, then, to me, for whose example
Thy Spirit hath his pietie recorded,

(Having within my heart, thy Inner-Temple)
Compos'd a Song, like mercie, be afforded?
In hope it shall, to thee, O Gracious-God!
My Spirit groaneth forth this mournfull Ode.

Alas! how darkesome be!
How gloomy, and how dim!
Thy Privie-lodgings, LORD, in me,
Which, Ioy was wont to trim?
What Ghosts are they that haunt,
The Chambers of my breast!
And, when I sleep, or comfort want,
Will give my heart no rest?
Me thinks, the sound of grones,
Are ever in mine eare:
Deepe-graves, Deaths-heads, and Charnel-bones
Before me, still appeare.
And, when asleep I fall,
In hope to find some ease,
My dreames, to me, are worst of all,
And fright me, more then these.
Ah me! why was I borne
So late? or why so soone?
To see so bright, so cleare a Morne,
So blacke an Afternoone?
What in my youth I fear'd,
What was long since foretold,
And, oft with scornes, and sleightings heard,
Fulfild, I now behold.
The Queene of Europes Iles,
The Princesse of her Lands,
(Late happy, in thy loving smiles)
Now, neare to ruine stands.
For, by their Crying-sins,
Prince, Peeres, and People too,
Have brought their feet into those Gins,
Which no man can undoe.

Our Cunningst-wits have tride
To help untwist the Snare;
But, when they thought the cords would slide
They more insnarled were:
And, since it is not words,
That can our Peace restore,
We now betake us to our Swords,
And make the mischiefe more.
How great is our distresse!
How grievous is our sin!
That ev'ry thing doth more increase
The Plague, that we are in!
There is yet, LORD, in thee,
A meanes of ease and aid,
Whereby, we sav'd from that might be,
Whereof, we are afraid.
O God! thy helpe command;
(For humane helpes are vaine)
And, in compassion to this Land,
Returne thou, once againe.
And, if so much regard,
May to my suit be showne,
Let me behold this Tempest clear'd,
Before my Sun goe downe.

O Lord! returne with mercie to these Lands;
Give not thy Glorie over to the Foe.
Leave not thy Churches, in their bloodie hands,
Who seek, in this, thy Kingdomes overthrow.
Returne, before our Spoilers hand have laid
On ev'rie pleasant, ev'rie pretious thing.
Before the Lions on thy Lambs have preyd;
Before they shall thy Flocks to ruine bring.
Before our habitations doe appeare
Like heaps of Rubbish, or the ploughed earth:
Before our pleasant fields, and gardens, are
Like Fornace-Fels; or, Highlands in the North.

And, e're our Palaces, late neat and trim,
Are made the walks, and haunts, of Zim, and Iim.

Once more! once more, oh God! in mercie heare
These miserable Iles, of whose neare fall,
Their neighb'ring Foes in expectation are,
And, to behold it; on each other call.
Thy foes they are, oh Lord! as well as our;
Oh! give not therefore, way to their despight.
Let not their malice, nor our sins, have powre,
Vpon our Tombes, to build up their delight.
Though they Divide, permit them not to Raigne;
But, let our Head, and Bodie, so accord,
That we, the stronger, may be knit againe,
And, in their bosome, sheath our angrie Sword:
For, our blest reconcilement, further shall
Thy Churches triumphs; and, their Babels, fall.

Their date is neare, if I aright have hit,
The meaning of that Number, which by thee
Was left, to trie the strength of everie wit,
Which longs the fall of Antichrist, to see.
To Them, I turn my speech; and thus dare say,
His Friends and Helpers are now moving on,
The cunningst plot, that they have left to play;
And, when that's past, their game will quite be done,
Some SAINTS, their policie will so beguile,
That, they to their Designe shall furth'rance bring:
Yea, they shall help it forward, for a while,
Who favour nor the Persons, nor the Thing.
But lest your hearts may faile, through long delay,
Give eare, and heed, what, now, my Muse will say.

That yeare, in which ROMES long-liv'd Emperie,
Shall from the day, wherein it was at height,
Sum up, M, D, C, L, X, V, and I,
In order, as these Letters here I write:
That Yeare, that Day, that Houre, will be the date
Of her continuance; preserving neither

Top, Root, or Branch of that accursed State,
Nor Head, nor Bodie, Limb, Horne, Claw, or Feather.
For, here are all the Numerals of ROME
In order, as they are in valuation;
Which cannot make a lesse, or greater sum,
Without Disorder, Want, or Iteration.
Nor can she longer stand, or sooner fall,
If I mistake not Him, who governes all.

By Number, Weight, and Measure, worketh He,
Allotting to each thing the Bound, and Season,
Which may both correspond with his Decree,
And, somewhat, also, suit, with Humane-Reason.
In Ægypt, thus a certaine time of stay
Was to the seed of Iacob, there assign'd;
Thus likewise, to a fore-appointed day,
The raigne of Baltashazar was confin'd.
Thus, from the time of Daniels supplication,
Till Christ should come, the time foretold appeares
To be, a pre-ordained limitation,
Vntill the date, of Seventie weekes of yeares.
And, thus ROMES declination may, no doubt,
Be numbring, till her NVMERALS are out.

Two famous Numbers, are in them contain'd;
The first, declares that length of time, wherein
The Devill was, by Powre-Divine, restrain'd
From setting up, the Mysterie of Sin.
The later, is the Number of the Beast;
Which, when the Let was taken quite away,
(Whereby he was a thousand yeares supprest)
Doth number out his Kingdome, to a day.
It is the number of the Name, or Powre,
Ev'n of a Man (of that mysterious-Man)
By whom Sin-mysticall is to this houre,
Continu'd; and, by whom, it first began.
And, he that can begin the thousandth yeare,
Shall finde the Number of the Beast, is neare.

To search out that, it seemes not hard to me,
Since I beleeve, that when of her chiefe sin
ROME to be guiltie, did first prove to be,
Her Declinations did then first begin.
And, sure, of all her sins, the greatest Crime
Was crucifying of the Lord of life ;
And, in unjustly persecuting them,
Who tendred Saving-Truth, to their beleefe.
Then, therefore, I presume ROMES fall begun,
And that GOD, measur'd, weigh'd, and numbred hath
How many backward Rounds, her wheele should run,
When she had gain'd her glorioust height on earth:
So, in those NVMERALS, which are her owne,
(And all she hath) her Fate was written downe.

To bring this work to passe, there is a Let
To be remov'd, of no meane consequence:
The op'ning of it cannot, well, as yet
Be borne, among us, without much offence;
And, warrant I have none to make my heart
So bold, as to disclose it: neither may it
With wisedome be revealed, till that Part
Be furnished with Actors, fit to play it.
And, of this Mystery, perhaps, the Key
Must be delivered by some Abler-one,
Who shall have powre to doe, as well as say,
What, God, hath fore-appointed shall be done.
They first must take the Works, without the Walls,
And then, the great Malignant-Citie falls.

Then, with exceeding infamie, and scornes,
The BEAST, which yet so dreadfull seemes to some,
Shall lose his Heads, and moult away his Hornes,
And, to the world, a laughing stock become.
Then, many things, that have been long conceal'd
(And which, to blinde the carnall Readers eie,
In seven darke Mysteries, were closely seal'd)
To ev'ry faithfull soule shall open lie.

That Kingdome, which the Iew did long agoe
Mould out, according to his erring braine,
And whereof, many zealous Christians too,
Vnwarrantable fancies, dreame, or faine,
That Kingdome, whereof, yet, but types we heare,
Shall to the world, essentially appeare.

Be patient, therefore, you that are opprest;
This Generation shall not passe away,
Till some, behold the downfall of that Beast,
Which, yet, among us, with his Taile doth play.
Then, will the Lambe of God begin to take
The Kingdome to himselfe: And, ev'rie King
That on his rights, doth usurpations make,
To judgement, and to ruine, he shall bring.
No Kingling, then, assume the boldnesse shall,
Blasphemously (for know it is no lesse)
To stile himselfe The King-Catholicall,
As if Earths universall Globe were his:
For, though another hath usurp'd thereon,
That Title, doth belong to Christ, alone.

And, tis no marvaile if the Potentates,
And Princes of this world, shall now combine,
By policie, to strengthen their estates;
And, with the Beast, and Gog, and Magog, joine:
No marvaile, if enraged they appeare,
Through jealousies and doubts, of losing that,
By which, their pride and lusts, maintained were,
And, which, base Feare, and Flatt'rie first begat:
For, all those Kingdomes, and those Emperies,
Throughout the world, which their beginning took,
By humane wit, fraud, force, or tyrannies,
Shall passe away, and vanish into smoake.
An Armie, whereof yet there's little hope,
Shall wrest the Scepter both from Turke, and Pope.

Religion, and meere showes of Pietie,
Have beene so long the masks for base designes:

The great Vice-gerents of the Deity,
Have made such Polititians of Divines;
And these together have so fool'd and cheated
The consciences of people well inclin'd,
That, of all Freedomes we are nigh defeated,
Belonging to the Body and the Mind.
Yea, GOD they so have mock'd; and on his Throne
And his Prerogative, so farre incroach'd,
That, of his honour he is jealous grown,
And, will no longer, be by them reproach'd:
But, to the Saints, their liberties restore,
And, give those Kings their Portions with the Whore.

D'ye startle at it? as if I had spoke
High-Treason? or, as if what now I say,
Without a Warrant, I had undertooke
To certifie? Perhaps, you think, I may.
Know, therefore, that, I had this information
Not from a private Spirit; but, from his
Known and unquestionable Revelation,
Which, to the world, long since, revealed this.
Those Kings, which, to the Lamb their crowns resigne,
And shall (the Beast opposing) be content
To raigne, according to the Discipline
Which Christ commands, shall keep their Government:
The rest shall weep, and waile, and curse their birth,
With wicked Kings, and Merchants of the earth.

Christ, and his Law, shall then beare all the sway,
By Governments, resembling that, perchance,
For which the Iewes Gods Yoke did cast away,
The King-ship, of the Gentiles, to advance.
And, as Gods people, foolishly did crave
Instead of his mild Scepter, to obtaine
That Heathnish-Monarchy, which doth inslave
And seek, by Arbitrary-Powre, to raigne:
So, shall all people, then, desire to leave
Their Ethnick-Chaines, and, with his holy-Nation,

Christ's precepts, and his discipline receive,
And, be partakers too of their Salvation.
And, when this glorious Kingdome shall begin,
The Fulnesse of the Gentiles, enters in.

God, hath so long deferred the possession
Of that great Blisse; because, our worldlinesse,
Hypocrisie, and discord, keepes the Blessing,
From ripening into such a Happinesse.
Some, in unrighteousnesse, the Truth retaine,
And, make the same thereby, the lesse beleev'd.
Some, by an Outward-holinesse doe gaine
The meanes to have their Heresies receiv'd.
While some pursue the Antichrist, without them,
An Antichrist, ariseth up within them;
Which, if they look not warily about them,
New work for Reformation, will begin them:
But, God will finish what he pre-ordain'd,
When Penitence, and Sin, their heights have gain'd.

Oh! that I could expresse what glorious sights,
My soule hath glimpses of, by contemplation,
And to what brave and unbeleeved heights,
They screw me, by an unperceiv'd gradation!
That blessed Kingdome, which, by faith I see,
And know shall come; me thinks, doth now appeare
Described by a Patterne unto me,
As if it painted, in dim Landskip, were:
And, my unbounded soule, runs rambling over
So many objects, that, if she should give
Account, of ev'ry thing she can discover,
I should relate, what few would yet beleeve;
And give to fooles occasion, one time more,
To scoffe me; as they have done, heretofore.

Whilst thus I muz'd, behold, the foe came on
And to possesse the bord'ring hils began;
My Colonell, experienc'd Midleton,
A valiant Scot, that day led up the Van.

A Troupe that flankt him on the left I led:
The word was ordred forth; the souldier shouted.
Our martiall musick them incouraged,
And, each from other, fears of danger flouted.
Our forces joyn'd in clouds of fierie smoke;
Whence many whizzing thunder-bolts were shot:
Our glittring swords, like flashing lightning, stroke
Each others eyes, and bloudy showres begot;
Enough, whereby our courage might be tride;
And, yet, with no great losse, on either side.

For, lest, while of (each part) the Forlorne-hopes
Together strove, our Side might seek to take
A narrow-passe (which might have made some stops,
To their great hazzard, in retreating back)
They wheel'd about, as if to gain some ground
Of more advantage: so, before the place
We rightly knew, or their intention found,
Instead of a Re-charge, we gave them chase:
Which being finish'd, and my warmed blood
Grown colder, by our Adversaries flight,
Another Foe, which long my peace withstood,
A Challenge brought me, for another Fight:
And, in the dark, when that dayes march was done,
A second furious battell we begun.

A strong Brigade, was mustred up together,
And many cunning Engines forth were brought,
Which, doubtlesse, had I come unarmed thither,
Had gained him the Victory, he sought.
To undermine me, he, at first, perplext
My heart, with many deep and subtill questions:
To win that Fortresse, he assayed, next,
By strong perswasions, and untrue suggestions.
Then, with confused throngs of dangers, feares,
And, other such like Instruments as those,
By violence, to storme it, he prepares;
And, force prevailing not, his craft he showes:

Which, taking like effect, he beat the Drum,
And to a Parlee we began to come.

His Generall was that Deluding-Reason,
Which hath so much befool'd this Generation,
Defaming Loyaltie with termes of treason,
And seeking Truths, and true mens defamation.
This is that Grand-Impostresse, which hath had
The powre of late, our Clergie to misguide,
To blinde the King, to make the Nobles mad,
And lead the Common-people quite aside.
This is the Mountebanck that cheats the Land,
With Romish-Drugs, and fills our heads with toyes
That buildeth Forts, and Churches in the Sand,
And faire and firme foundations, oft, destroyes.
And this is she that men so blinde doth make,
The shadow, for the substance, to mistake.

She thus began: Within thy Soveraignes Land
How darest thou, bold Traitor, to appeare
Without his Approbation or Command
With that thy Troope of armed Rebels, there?
Hast thou not heard those Royall Proclamations,
Which threaten those who thus themselves aray?
Hast thou not read those learned Declarations,
That shew thee how thy Leaders goe astray?
Hast thou not heard the rev'rend Prelates preach,
That, all the Kings Commands must be obey'd?
Hast thou not heard approved Doctors teach,
That, all we have must at their feet be laid?
And, that a Mortall cloath'd with Majestie,
Is little lower then the Deitie?

Thy service and obedience to the King,
Even God himselfe injoynes: why dost thou then
Assistance to his Adversaries bring,
And, rather disobey thy GOD, then men?
Nay, thou thy selfe hast that Allegiance taught,
Which now thou violat'st, and couldst foretell

What mischieves would upon their heads be brought,
Who should against their Soveraigne-Prince rebell.
Yet now, behold, thou neither having awe
Of thine owne Conscience, or the royall right
Of GOD'S commands, or of the Kingdomes Law,
Dost arme thy selfe against all these to fight.
And by pretences for the publike good,
Defil'st the Kingdome, and thy selfe with blood.

An Arbitrary-government you blame,
And to the Lawes, your Actions seeme to tie,
Yet by your Ordinances, doe the same
Which to the King, unjustly you deny.
You for the Subjects libertie contend,
Yet into Prisons, freemen you have throwne.
To ease them of Taxations, you pretend;
Yet make them greater then were ever knowne.
You take from whom you please, and what you list;
And no man is assured of his owne,
Or dares to contadict, much lesse resist.
Yea, lately, you so insolent are growne,
That, not the People onely you undoe,
But, many wayes, abuse your Soveraigne too.

To make him rich, faire promises you made;
But, so far off have been from adding more,
That you have taken from him what he had,
And, rendred him lesse able then before.
To cherish Virtue, or to punish Vice,
Or to protect the wrong'd, or to relieve
The needie soule; you neither offices,
Nor Armes, nor Rents, to his disposure give.
Gods glorie, and Religious puritie,
Sincerely to affect, you make a show;
But, thereof, we have small securitie,
Whilst pious Monuments you overthrow.
And, whilst, you favour, cherish, and protect
The Schismaticks of every Giddy-Sect.

The King denieth nothing he may grant;
But voweth and protesteth, to maintaine,
The true Religion of the Protestant;
And, lets the Subjects dues, to them remaine.
Of him you foster Causlesse Iealousies;
For, to the People, or the Parliament
He hath intended no such Injuries,
As your seducers causlesly invent.
He aymeth at the reall preservation
Of Rights, Lawes, Customes, and of all that's due
To Church, or Common-weale; for which this Nation
A publike, or just private claime, can shew;
And, that which to preserve he doth assay,
You, Rebels, seeke to change, or take away.

He stands oblig'd the Kingdome to protect;
But, you his Townes, Armes, Forts, and Ships doe ceaze;
Whereby his Office wants a prime effect:
And, you against him arme your selves with these.
The People you seduce; and you invent
Devices, cunningly, to drive away
The Lords, and Commons from the Parliament,
That your owne pleasures, there, enact you may.
The Kings best friends for traitors you pursue:
By Sequestrations, you have made them poore:
Nay he himselfe misjudged is of you,
At least, a fav'rer of the Scarlet-Whoore.
And, he that was to be your Glorie borne,
Is now become an object of your scorne.

How can you therefore safely live or die
In such a Cause? How can you, without feare,
Be actors in that bloody Tragædie,
Whereto, thus blindly, you advancing are?
How will you to your GOD? how, to your King?
How, to this wronged Kingdome, answer make?
When by their powr they shall that Vengeance bring,
Which will be due, for what you undertake?

Thus far she rav'd; and, further, as I think
She had proceeded: But, I having ey'd
My Troopers (and perceiving some, to shrinke
At her last words) I rein'd my horse aside
To cheere my Troope; then, wheel'd a little back,
And, to confute those falshoods, thus I spake.

Trait'resse to Reason, that high heav'n-born-Queen,
Whom ev'ry earthly Monarch should obey;
Thou who the Cause of all those Plagues hast beene
Which overflow this Iland, at this day:
How long wilt thou persist, with showes of truth
To colour falshood? and, from thy delusions,
Draw forth (to cozen heedlesse age and youth)
Inconsequents, and frivolous conclusions?
In vaine thou seek'st with words to terrifie
From what, with good advisement, is begun.
With honour, we have hope to live, and dye,
What ever can by thee be said, or done,
And, in our just resolves will settle fast,
In spight of all the Sophistrie thou hast.

Imprudent Amazon, why com'st thou arm'd
With Potguns, and with Kexes to invade,
A Skonce that's triple fortifi'd, and charm'd,
By Spels, which to secure it, Reason made?
Beleevest thou, Lies, Fallacies and Showes
Chew'd into paper pellets, can affright
Ought else but Regiments of Dawes and Crows,
Or things that come to feed, but not to fight?
When to my face thou falfly dar'st accuse
My Conscience, which none knowes but God and I,
And wouldst my owne beleefe thereof abuse,
Behinde my back, how wilt thou me belye?
My Writings too, in favour of thy Cause,
Thou understandest, as thou dost the Lawes.

Their Author is in being, so am I;
The Lawes true sense is that which they shall give;

And, I am he that best can testifie
The meaning of my Poems, whilst I live.
I have not swerv'd essentially from ought
(If well my words, and deeds be understood)
Which I have either counselled or taught,
Pertaining to the King or Common-good.
And though thy friends report that I rebell,
And, Balam-like, against my knowledge too,
(When I had both foretold, and counsel'd well
What would befall, and what men ought to doe)
I shall occasions finde, my selfe to cleare
Of all, whereof I guilty may appeare.

The factions of our Clergie I foresaw,
The progresse of their factions I foretold,
Which way the one our Soveraignes heart should draw,
VVhich way the other, tempt the people should;
And, thereupon my soule (as well it might)
Fearing such mischiefes as from thence doe spring,
According to the measure of her light,
Did counsell both the People and the King.
The King proceeded as his Prophets taught,
(For their despight made void my good intent)
The other faction of the Clergie sought
To worke upon the peoples discontent:
And had not then a miracle been done,
It had, long since, Rebellion here begun.

For, had not God beyond all hopes of our,
VVhen plotted mischiefs were to ripenesse come,
Vouchsafed us a Parliamentall powre,
The sin, which I most fear'd, to keep us from:
My wit perceives not how the peoples rage
(Provoked so, as then it would have bin)
Should meanes have found that furie to asswage,
VVhich would have brought a true Rebellion in.
Nay, to such heights was discontentment rais'd,
That, if this present timely Parliament

(Which never can sufficiently be prais'd)
Had not enabled beene, as well as sent
By God himselfe, a wondrous worke to doe;
They had, e're long, beene flaves, and rebels too.

But, having by meere Providence procur'd
The Priviledge for their continuation,
To be by an Enacted-Law secur'd,
Till they saw cause to give it limitation;
Such courage thereby took they, and such hope,
Their good endeavours should not be undone.
As heretofore (through want of time and scope
To perfect things which they had well begun)
That, they have qualifi'd the fierie zeale,
Which might have kindled a rebellious flame;
And armed lawfully this Common-weale,
To make a just defence, as her became:
For, tis her safetie, that secures the King;
And her destruction will his ruine bring.

We are not come, our Soveraigne to oppose,
But, for him, we thus armed now appeare,
By Warrant, and Authoritie from those,
Who, to confer it, well enabled were:
Ev'n by that Supreme-Counsell, whence doe come
All acts that most concerne the Publike-weale;
The sacred Senate, from whose finall doome
We cannot to another Judge appeale.
When that commands, the Kings commands they be,
More binding, then his personall Injunction.
In their contempt, dishonoured is he,
And disobeyed in his noblest function.
In his, we but his Person disobey;
In their, his Powre, and Office we gainsay.

We heare indeed, sometime, a Proclamation
Injoyning that, or else forbidding this:
But how, I pray, shall we have information,
Whose will and pleasure, and whose deed it is?

The Person of the King we seldome see;
His Court is now a place uncertaine growne:
With him, no lawfull Counsellors hath he;
How then, of us, can his true minde be knowne?
Since in his Name, anothers Will may come,
We neither knowing whence, nor yet from whom?

The Court of Parliament appeares to all,
To have therein, the Royall Powre, and Name:
It keeps the Place, whereto the King did call,
And virtually abideth still the same.
That Order, Ordinance, and that Commission,
Which issues forth from them, to us appeares
To be their act and deed, without suspition:
And we obey it as the Kings and theirs:
Why, therefore, should we be reproach'd, and blam'd,
Because, we are not rather guided by
A printed sheet, wherein the King is nam'd,
To draw us our knowne dutie to deny?
By telling us, a trait'rous part we play,
Vnlesse, our King and Countrie, we betray?

Me thinks, it were a motive somewhat odd,
That those few lines, which ill-advice might draw,
Beginning thus, Charles by the grace of God ,
Should more oblige, then equitie and Law.
Yet, this is our condition; and, unlesse
We will suspect our eie-sight, and our hearing;
And say we are in state of happinesse,
When universall ruine we are fearing;
Or else beleeve (or say and sweare we doe,
Though false it be) what ere our foes perswade;
And will be Infidels, and Asses too,
Or such tame Fooles, as they of some have made,
We must be censur'd in our noblest action,
To have unjust designes, and side with faction.

Vnlesse with Rehoboams Cavalleers,
We will bring aid and counsell to oppresse:

Vnlesse we will not think that all our Fears
Are without reall ground, and reasonlesse:
Vnlesse we will beleeve Achitophel,
The Parasites of Ioash, Iudahs-King;
The Priests of Ahab, Baal, and Iezabel,
Which to Idolatrie this Land would bring;
Vnlesse our selves meere slaves we will repute,
Vnlesse we will against all right and Reason,
Gods Epithetes, to Princes attribute,
Or, falsly say, our Loyalty is Treason,
Or, do, as Fools and Traitors have appointed,
We fight (forsooth) against the Lords annointed.

Yea, then it must be told me, I rebell;
That, I resist my Soveraigne and the Lawes;
That Balaam-like the truth I could fore-tell,
And know the right, yet aid an evill cause.
But, what am I? Thou sayst, the Parliament
(Though showes of other purposes it carry)
In practice doth approve that Government,
Which, in the King, they say, is Arbitrary;
Which is untrue. For, Arbitrary Sway
Is that which governs by the Will of One;
But, when their Ordinances we obey,
To Reason we submit, agreed upon
By many, chosen out to that intent,
Both by our own, and by the Kings consent.

What ever then that Counsell shall ordaine,
Is in effect the Pleasure of the King,
And our united; whereof to complain,
It were a causlesse and a foolish thing.
And, though we may have grievances thereby,
We cannot call them injuries, by reason
'Twas to prevent a lasting misery,
By making us to suffer for a season.
The Parliament abridgeth no mans right,
Takes no mans Liberty, or goods away:

To favour some, and others to despight:
Or, that themselves therewith inrich they may;
But, seize it for the Publike; and from those,
Who, to the publike harme, thereof dispose.

Perhaps, unruly souldiers, and some too
Who them command, will practise, now and then,
Harsh violence, as Devils use to do,
Who, at these times, come forth in shape of men.
But, from such insolencies I am free
And ev'ry way so clear; that though our Foes
Of

To the value of above 2000. l.

all I had have quite despoiled me:
And, though I was authorized by those
Who pow'r might give, my losses to redresse
On them who robbed me; I have not sought
Without compassion, or with greedinesse,
To mend my Fortunes, as, I heare, 'tis thought:
But, only taken, what the present need
Requir'd; my self, and Family to Feed.

Yea, save when we from home had marched farre,
And thither, where, perforce, we did indure
The hard and strong necessities of warre,
Through want of means, things needfull to procure:
We nothing took without a recompence,
Nor (to my knowledge) either then, or there,
But, with good words, and, without violence;
And, nought but what did need, and they might spare.
Nor did I, or, my Troupers, leave unpaid
Our Quarters any where, whilst we had pay.
And, since our entertainments were delaid,
They have my word for paiment, when I may.
And, by thus taking, Souldiers grieve men lesse
In times of War, then Courtiers did in Peace,

We take not, as Monopolizers do,
And, begger Many, to inrich but One:
Nor take we from, both poor, and wealthy, too,
As Tyrants, that our pleasure might be done,

Nor as the damn'd-selfe-damming Cavalleer,
Who for his lust, and for the Kingdomes harme,
From good and bad, from friend and foe doth teare,
What ever may be reached with his arme.
The Parliament (a Body representing
The Kingdome) takes from none; but of her owne
Takes part, for furtherance, or for preventing
Of good or evill, either fear'd or knowne.
And if this be unjust, or lawlesse taking,
It is not by a Law of Reasons making.

For, as the Bodie-naturall may take
From hands or feet, or any other part,
To wrap about the head, when it shall ake;
Or, warme to keep the stomack, or the heart,
When life is else in danger: right so, may
The Body-politike, without reproofe,
From any of her Members, take away,
For it owne preservation, or behoofe.
Yea, doubtlesse, if a man his goods may spend,
His body to redeeme; or give consent
Some Blood to lose, or Member, to this end,
That he the losse of life might so prevent;
Much more may that Great-Bodie doe the same,
Without the brand of injurie, or blame.

The taxes, which our Parliament impose,
Are not to grieve the people; but, to aid
And strengthen them against the powre of those,
By whom uneasie burthens have been laid.
If they be greater now, then heretofore,
It is because necessities are greater;
And, now require, we should bestow the more,
To make hereafter, our assurance better.
And, pitty were it, but he should be father
To none but slaves; or, to a generation
Who should not dare, old rotten rags to gather
Without a Patent, and a Proclamation,

Who for his Country, thinks his goods too much;
Or, would his life in this adventure grutch.

As for their loyall offers to the King,
They ready were; and are as ready, still,
Their wealth, and powre, and all they have to bring
To serve him, if his part he shall fulfill.
They would be loth his treasure to increase,
To purchase instruments, wherewith to slay them.
Or, raise an Armie, to disturb their peace;
Or, to corrupt their Captaines, to betray them;
They should be loth to give him Rents and Lands,
Buffoones, and men unworthy to advance;
That they might weaken us, and arme his hands,
To make us Subjects A la mod' de FRANCE.
But, for his Guard, and for the publike-peace,
Our Goods, our Lives, and all we have is his.

If his Revennues, in their hands they stay,
It is not without reason (as is thought)
But, to secure his Crowne, and to defray
The charge of War, which he on us hath brought.
If they, from his disposure, now withdraw
Some things, by Him, dispos'd of heretofore,
It is because their right it is by Law;
And, ought to be neglected so no more.
When things permitted out of good respects,
Are challenged as customary rights;
And, when good meanings bring forth ill effects,
Tis time to take more heed of oversights;
And, that, by having erred heretofore,
We may not be undone for evermore.

Ships, Forts, and Armes belong unto the Prince,
Not for himselfe, but for the publike use:
They therefore keeping them for his defence,
(And for the Kingdomes good) what needs excuse?
Or, if they ceazed on them, with intent
To prepossesse them, that they might, in time,

Their foes inhumane purposes prevent;
It was no fault, or, else, a veniall Crime.
They made their Ordinances not for Lawes,
But, for the present need, to be in force;
Lest Law-proceedings being at a pause,
The mischiefs (over-great) grow daily worse,
And, none denies the Parliament, this powre
But, they who seek their freedomes to devoure.

Though Libellous Detractors, and that Rabble,
Whom thy deluding Sophistries deceive,
Pretend their purpose is dishonourable,
And, of his dues, our Soveraigne to bereave;
Your sland'rous Allegations are untrue,
And rais'd by those who hate the Parliament;
Because, a Reformation they pursue;
And that, which may their purposes prevent.
Far is it, either from their thought, or our
The King, of his just profits to defeat;
Or to deprive him of that Kingly powre
Whose want may make his honour incompleat.
By taking, or by clipping (to his wrong)
Those Rights, which to his Office doe belong,

When ought they take, it is to take away
That mischiefe, which may take him from his Throne.
When they deny, it is not to gainsay,
But, that his lawfull pleasure may be done.
When they disarme him, tis but that his foes
Might not with his owne weapons him destroy.
When they his Rents withhold, it is that those
Should not his wealth to his owne losse employ.
Have they restrain'd his powre? they did it not
To limit him; but, that his Parasites,
Should not to his dishonour, him beset;
And, make that Pander to their appetites,
Till by their wicked practices, first, we
Are to their wills inslaved; and, then He

The worst condition they would bring him to,
Is onely this; that, if he or his Son,
By ill advisement, would themselves undoe,
No innocent should thereby be undone.
Nor they, if during life, Manasseh-like,
They could repent. This brave Prerogative,
This Priviledge, for him, and his, we seeke;
That, nothing of his Throne might him deprive.
We labour, that it gloriously might stand,
By Righteousnesse upheld: and, that his Line
May beare the Royall-Scepter in this Land,
As long as either Sun, or Moone shall shine,
By being made, true Homagers to Him,
That weares the universall Diadem.

They would not have him, or his childe, hereafter,
Suppose that an advantage can be had,
By bringing to his bed King Pharaohs daughter;
Or, any with whom, God, the Banes forbad.
VVe would not have him, Rehoboam-like,
Advance his Throne by tyrannous oppression:
Or (led by foolish Counsell) Shadowes seeke
Till he had lost the Substance in possession.
They would not have him set up golden-Calves,
VVith Ieroboam; and suppose to save
By policie, and serving God, by halves,
That Kingdome, which to him, he freely gave,
Till he, like him, hath made the people sin,
And, brought our Endlesse-desolation in.

They would not have him, Ahab-like, misled
By wicked female Counsels; or, by those
Dissembling Priests and Prophets, who have bred
That Plague, which now this Iland, overgrowes.
Nor would they that (with King Iehosaphat)
Some fruitlesse complements, or causlesse feares,
Should draw him, to become confederate,
VVith such as are profest Idolaters:

But, that like David, he should purge his Court
From impudent offenders; and from all
Those practices, which are of ill report;
And chiefly those, which will for vengeance, call:
That so his Kingdome might be safe in God,
From traytors here at home, and foes abroad.

They would not have his Minions rob his Name
Of all that honour which thereto belongs;
And, in requitall, make him beare the blame
Of their loud-crying cruelties, and wrongs.
They would not have each honourable Place,
Fild up, in stead of Princes, with such groomes,
As to this Kingdomes, and our Kings disgrace,
Late fild, and yet defile those noble Roomes.
Fellowes, of whom the publike fame records
No merit; unlesse merit be in roring,
In being trusty Panders to their Lords;
In gaming, drinking, quarrelling, or whoring.
For, by these virtues, from a trencher-man,
A Princes Minion, riseth, now and than.

They would not at the sacred Counsell-Board,
That, Lust, and Pride, and Avarice should sit
Arrayed, and intitled like a Lord,
That hath nor credit, honesty, nor wit.
Or, such a Ruffian, as (when suiters, there,
In humble wise their greevances prefer)
Shall sweare, God damne me, I will nothing heare,
That is inform'd against an Officer.
Or such, as with notorious impudence,
Shall taunt imperiously, or tartly blame
A man, that is of well knowne innocence,
When they themselves doe merit publike shame;
Because in publike view, and without awe,
They violate divine, and humane Law.

We would preserve our Soveraignes honourable:
Not by a blast of ayrie Attributes;

Much lesse by those that are unwarrantable,
And, such as flatterie, alone, imputes.
We wish he may be great, but not (with some)
So great, as from a lawfull King, to swell
Into a Tyrant; and, by that meanes come
To gaine a Principalitie in Hell.
We wish him rich; but, not by tricks, that may
Inrich Projectors more: and, lastly prove
A cheat, procuring him, another way,
A greater dammage in his peoples love:
But, of these things, we wish him so possest,
That, they make him happy, and us blest.

The Parliament, would so our Kings enable,
If they, by their advisement, would proceed,
As that, hereafter, no dishonourable,
Vnsafe, or unfit courses, they should need.
We blush (and are asham'd, as well as greev'd)
That they of whom, we, Justice should obtaine,
(When injuries from others we receive,)
Give cause of greater sufferings to complaine.
We thinke, what ere seducing Prelates say,
They should have consciences as well as we:
And, may have soules, which will, another day,
Made subject to the Common Judgement be.
And, we would have them none of those, that shall
Crie to the Mountaines, downe on them to fall.

We would not have them, to our daily sorrow,
And their dishonor, wrong'd by such, as they,
Who keep them still so needie as to borrow:
And, never in condition to repay.
We would not have them live, and die in debt,
(As usually they doe) without regard,
Whose wants, and whose complainings they forget:
And whose deserts they leave without reward:
Or, need to be incumbred with so many
Oppressing Officers (who from us teare

A shilling for themselves, for him, a penny;
Yet, Raven-like, still, hungry Carions are)
If their estates were setled once aright,
And, managed by men that are upright.

Then, should our Princes never need to send
Their Privy-Seals, to borrow for their use;
And, when they came where nothing was to lend,
Be much displeased at a just excuse.
Nor should they need to seek, as oft they do,
By petty loanes, a generall supply;
And (which ill suits with borrowing) threaten too,
If we their expectation shall deny:
Nor take such other courses, as of late
Have been devis'd; and, which are baser, farre,
Then our Collections at the Church-yard-gate;
Yea, baser then our Countrey Help-Ales are:
And, which a generous mind would scarce admit,
Whilst he had rags to wear, or pulse to eat.

For, who can mention, without Indignation,
Those Rascall Projects, wherewith some pretended
His Majesties Revenues augmentation;
As when, with Sope, and Pins, they him befriended;
Or, when they raised Fines, by Proclamation,
From Labourers, and Beggers Cottages;
Or, from their new-invented-Corporation,
Salt, Mault, and Coals, with such like things as these:
Or, if I erre not, some, from baser things,
To raise the Kings Revenue, made a show,
Ev'n from old Rags, from Guts for Fiddle-strings:
And, if these Projects had not been enow,
I think, ere this, there had been some device,
To raise a profit out of Nits and Lice.

We scorne, this Kingdome, or our King should be
Dishonour'd by such beggarly inventions:
To make him rich, a nobler way have we,
When he shall please to like of our intentions.

And, whatsoere thy sland'rous tongue hath said,
Wee, seek our Soveeraignes welfare; and, with him
No guilefull, or disloyall Parts have plaid,
To wrong the Scepter, or the Diadem.
Nor have we raced any Monument
Of Christian-Piety; the Crosse except,
That we might those Idolatries prevent,
Which in, among us, by that Relique crept.
And, down (for ought I know) the Crosse was took,
As justly, as the brazen Snake was broke.

For, though, when Christianity began,
And Iewes, and Gentiles, mentioned with scorn,
Christ-crucifi'd, unto the Christian-man,
That badge was then with approbation worn,
Because, it witnes'd them, no whit asham'd
Of Him, in whom they did professe belief,
Though doom'd he was, unto a death defam'd,
And suffer'd as a murtherer, or theef:
Yet, since the Popelings have a trick devis'd,
To lift it up, above the civill use,
And, for a Saint, the same hath canoniz'd,
And, stain'd it, by idolatrous abuse.
We have rejected it, as, now, become
A wanton Token from the whore of Rome.

That Sects, or Schismes, we favour, I deny;
For, Law, and true Religion we befriend,
Against their fury and Idolatry,
Whom you have arm'd, injustice to defend.
We to be regulated are content,
(Not, by the fancies of one private braine,
Or, by a few, that came ere they were sent)
By those, to whom such matters appertaine.
Some Lawyers have the sense of Law estrang'd
From what it was: some, Priests, and Prelates too,
Both Doctrines and Church-Discipline have chang'd,
From that, which was establish'd long agoe;

That, therefore, we might in the truth abide,
VVe by the Fountaines would have all things tride.

Though of her Members, faulty some appeare,
The Parliaments maine purpose is upright:
And, while preserved their Foundations are,
The Righteous cannot lose their labours quite.
Although the Kings intentions may be good,
(As I still hope they be) yet, most of those
That give him counsell, now, are men of blood;
And, such as dutie bindes us to oppose.
Twere no discretion to commit my Sword
To him, who straight would give it to my foe:
Nor were it wisely done to take his word,
VVho knowes not, what he shall have powre to doe.
For, oft, from Reason, other men estrange us;
And, otherwhile, our owne corruptions change us.

Thou saist, the King hath vowed, and protests,
Our Lawes, and our Religion to defend.
VVe ask no more, unlesse, as in the breasts
Of private men they are, he shall intend:
Or, shall conceive that he the Law doth carie
VVithin himselfe: For, that doth plainly show
The government he seeks, is Arbitrarie;
VVhich, humbly we denie to be his due.
I say the Law now armes me. He sayes no;
And, calls me traitor, for what I have done.
The Parliament affirmes I faile to doe
My duty, if another course I run:
And how the King in Law more skil'd can grow
Then they that made it, I would gladly know.

It were a fancie, to affirme he gained
A knowledge of our Lawes by Revelation,
Or that he studied them: then, he obtained
His notions of them, by meere information,
And who are his informers, now, but those,
That, are the chiefe transgressors of the Law?

They, who essentially the same oppose?
Who, from it, their obedience quite withdraw?
They, whose delinquencie hath made them feare?
To let the Lawes true powre, or sense be knowne?
Because, if their true vigour should appeare,
These, and their Structures, would be overthrowne.
Yea, they from whom, he learn'd his chiefest skill,
Are they, who tell him, Law is, What he will.

If thou shalt say, his Informations are
From those, that in our Lawes most skilfull be,
And, men unblam'd; admitting, such they were,
(Though that is nor beleev'd, nor knowne of me)
This, I am certaine of, my undertaking
Was, by no such meane counsell undergone;
Nor by a warrant of that private making,
But, by a stronger; by a publike-one.
Ev'n by that Senate, whence our Law doth spring;
By that great Court, which is, by all, confest
Chiefe-Counsell, to the Kingdome, and the King;
The Lady and Commandresse of the rest;
By those, from whom the Laws that binde this nation,
Receive both being, and interpretation.

Should I the judgement of that Court despise
For their, whom yet, I neither heard, nor saw?
Because a few, did other waies advise,
More blam'd for arrogance, then fam'd for Law?
And, is it not of dangerous consequence,
That, to his rev'rend Parliaments disgrace,
The King, in doubtfull points, should leave their sense
For judgements, which from private spirits passe?
For, if a private judgement vouch'd may be
Against that Court, for Him; why may it not
Against Him, be as well avouch'd for me,
If to contend, I powre enough had got?
Grant this, and every man as well may hope
To damne a Generall-Councell, as the Pope.

Grant this, and none can doubt the Kings intent
The Protestant-Religion to maintaine,
And all the Freedomes of the Parliament;
For, they are in his Bosome, and his Braine.
And what he will, yea, sometime, what his Groome
Shall make him to beleeve, or understand,
(Though all his dictates he receiv'd from Rome)
Is then, the Law and Gospel of the Land.
Most Prelates, and most Iudges were the Creatures
Of Princes, and their Minions; therefore, these
Make for them (as their Vassals, and their Debters)
Religion, and the Lawes, ev'n what they please.
And, hence our strifes, and all divisions spring,
Twixt God, and us, the People, and the King.

We would not bar our Sov'raignes, any powre
Which fortifies, or dignifies the Crowne:
Nor lose one lawfull Priviledge that's our,
When we are well inform'd what is our owne.
The People, did first make both Lawes and Kings:
And, for their owne securitie, did make them.
Then, he that shall repute them, to be things
Ordain'd for other ends, doth much mistake them.
Now, for themselves, if Lawes and Kings they made,
The makers had beene madmen, to intend
They should a meaning, or a Powre, have had
To make them uselesse to their chiefest End,
And give Prerogatives, or meanings to them,
That, should, in stead of saving, helpe undoe them.

True Reason, therefore, warrants me to say,
That, when we to the Law a sense doe give,
Which taketh any publike right away;
Or stretcheth so the Kings Prerogative,
As that the Kingdome is opprest thereby,
Or, of the publike safety brought in feare;
Or, doubtfull of approaching tyranny;
Or liable to mischiefes may appeare;

That sense of Law is false; usurped be
All such Prerogatives: And, nor by time,
Or frequent presidents, oblig'd are we
To let our Freedomes, be infring'd by them:
But, we should claime, and take, what proveth our,
As oft, as GOD shall give us means and Powre.

Though some Historians, and the flatt'ring Pen
Have sti'ld the Norman, CONQVEROR; nor he,
Nor any one before him, or since then,
Can say, that we a conquer'd Nation be.
For, by a Composition, and on Termes
Becoming Free-men, we remain'd possest
Of Liberty; and William threw down Armes,
Accepting of that share we valued least.
And, had we not as well by Oath, as Word,
Beene reinvested in our Native-right,
That which we lost unjustly, by the Sword,
At all times, by the Sword, attempt we might
To re-possesse, when GOD makes warrantable,
That enterprize, by making of us able.

For, this, I partly fight: not with the King;
But, with those Miscreants who seek our harme:
And, his abused Name, and Person, bring
Vnwarie people, by faire showes, to charme.
And, ere they shall accomplish their intent
By slaving Him, their projects to befriend;
Or by dishon'ring of the Parliament;
My life time, in this Quarrell, I will spend.
Or, if I must unhappily survive
To see our English-Honour overthrowne,
I will not (if I may avoid it) live
To be a slave where I did freedome owne.
Nor willingly, in any Land remaine,
In which a Tyrant (call'd a King) shall raigne.

This Quarrell, above thirty yeares before
The Sword was drawne, I fought in, with my Pen,

Till I by Tyrannie was made so poore,
As that I thought, I ne're should rise agen.
Without an Armie, or a Parliament
To side withall; without one able friend;
Without reward; without encouragement,
To further that which I did well intend:
Nay, strugling through much envie, and despight,
That Warfare I continue to this houre:
And, in this warfare, am resolv'd to fight,
Whilst I to hold a Sword or Pen, have powre,
Till I have compast, what, in hope, I have;
Or, brought my tired Body to the Grave.

For, peradventure, we are growne so bad,
So false to God, so false in ev'rie thing,
Both to our selves, and others; and have had
So many Mercies, whence, no fruits doe spring,
That, God will give this present Generation,
To be what most deserve, and some desire;
Ev'n to be slaves to that Abomination,
With which their lives are doomed to expire.
If so; then am I called thus to fight,
But, onely, that my dutie might be done;
And in this manner, have beene mov'd to write,
That, for our sin, excuse we may have none,
And God's great worke, which he will bring about,
Shall be delayd, till this vile Race be out.

Then shall the age to come, pick up, and gather
Those droppings of my Pen, which now they scorne;
And, wonder, men esteemed them no rather;
And pittie those afflictions I have borne.
Then, they shall scan each page, and ev'rie Line,
And, finde rak'd up, among my Vanities,
Expressions, which will show, that Sparks divine
Of Heav'nly-Fire, in earthly Cinders lies.
Then, they shall come to understand and know,
That many future things I did behold,

Beside that one, which is acknowledg'd now
To be fulfilled, as it was foretold.
But, MVSE, thou art almost without the List:
Returne againe to thy Antagonist.

Thou chargest us, Delusion, with such things
As no way correspond with our intentions,
And, proofe whereof, no creature living brings:
For, they indeed are meerly thy inventions.
The goods of none we ceaze, or sequestrate,
Because, they to the King, are faithfull friends;
But, for their faithlesnesse unto the State,
And, serving Him, to base and evill ends.
Nor of our Soveraigne, censure we amisse:
But them we rightly judge, that him misguide;
For, in his Actions, that which evill is,
To them pertaines, who draw his heart aside.
In publike Acts, The King can do no wrong,
Because, unto his Counsell they belong.

The King can do no wrong, as he is King:
For, God ordained, and man did intend,
Him, not to hurt, or plagues on them to bring,
But, for their good, and good men to defend.
The King, as King, can do no wrong; because
He can do nothing, but, what he may do
According to divine, and humane Lawes;
And, what the publike-peace invites him to.
The King can do no wrong; because, what ere
He doth as King, is never duely done,
But, by some publike Vote, or Officer,
Or, they consenting, if he act alone.
For, all he doth, whence any wrong proceeds,
Are not his Royall, but his private deeds.

The King can do no wrong: For, if there be
Injustice done; his Officers are they
Who did it: and, by Law they onely be
Accomptable. And, therein, praise I may

The wisdome of our Lawes; for, had there been
By them, provided Legall Punishment
For Kings; no man would be a King, I ween,
But he, that could not such a Lot prevent.
For, were it so; Then, if Court-Parasites
Corrupt young Kings, and draw them to command
That sin, whereto their ill-advice invites,
Kings, at the Barre, for their Offence, might stand:
And they might free themselves from ev'ry thing
Which they mis-doe; and lay it on the King.

And, who would be their Officers, if Kings
Were liable to Legall punishment
In person (as a Subject) for the things
Mis-done by their commandment, or assent?
For, if they shall be Tyrants, or such Princes,
As make but little conscience of their way,
Whom will not they accuse of those Offences,
To free themselves from suffring, if they may?
And, then though they accuse men innocent,
Who would not think a King should be beleev'd
Before his Vassall? and appear content
He, thereby, should from suffering, be repreev'd?
Yea, great absurdities from thence might flow,
If Law conceiv'd, the King a wrong might do.

The King can do no wrong; and, therefore, those
Who shall his personall commands obey,
In ought which doth his Legall Will oppose,
Should beare, alone, that paine the Law doth lay:
Beeause, the Law of nothing els takes heed,
But, onely of those things which it commands,
Or, of those evills which it doth forbid;
And, for no private will, or pleasure stands.
The King can do no wrong: For, it destroyes
The Effence of a King: and, doth deprive
Of ev'ry Priviledge which he enjoyes
By Virtue of a Kings Prerogative.

And, from Allegiance frees in ev'ry thing,
Which he commands, beseeming not a King.

For, unto Kings, is our Allegiance sworn,
Not unto Tyrants, who shall fondly dreame
That Kingdomes have beene made, and Subjects born,
For nothing else, but to be slaves to them.
Yet, here mistake me not: we are not (tho
They tyrannize) from all Allegiance free;
But, onely, from an Obligation to
Obedience, in those things that lawlesse be.
We, to their legall wills and pleasures, ever
Must yeeld submission; and, with due respects,
In ev'rie act of Loyaltie persever.
And, leave to God, their personall defects.
For, well enough great misciefes it prevents,
When Law takes hold, of all their Instruments.

What can a King to harme the publike, doe
In his owne person? If by Law we may
Lay hold on those, that counsell him unto
A wrong? and those whom he shall mis-employ?
If in the lawfull-powre, a Right there be;
And, there with, Strength enough to seize on Them;
He hurts us not. And, if too weake are we,
What get we, though the Law might punish Him?
Then, as his Person by our Law, is freed
From ev'rie violence (except from that
Which may restraine his Person from a deed
Destructive to his Person, or the State;
So be it ever free. And, blest be those,
That, serve him, with true service where he goes,

We, no man charge with treasons, none we blame,
That, guiltlesse is of his imputed crime,
And free from just suspitions of the same;
As will be rendred manifest, in time.
The King, from all aspersions cleare would we,
Which without publike dammage might be hid,

Though, to himself, those things assum'd hath he,
Which (as a King) we know, he never did.
What earthly wisdome can a means devise
His honour to preserve, against his will?
Or, do him right, that hearkens unto lies?
Yet, this, we, to our pow'r, endeavour still.
And, free we are, from being justly blam'd,
For having, wilfully, the King defam'd.

We none seduce, but, labour, how we may
Prevent seducements, by right informations;
And, those effects, to change, or take away,
Which may arise from lying Declarations.
By us, no Member of the Parliament
Was driven thence: But, for their private ends,
Vnworthily, some from that service went,
Which ev'ry worthy Member stil attends.
Some, to the King repair'd, in hope, to get
A Title: Some, because they had mis-done:
Some wanted honesty, some wanted wit;
Some went, because their Mistresses were gone.
Some fled for company; and, some did fly,
(If I am not deceiv'd) they knew not why.

Thus much I know: that He, who led them forth,
And They, who follow'd him, in hope to find
A Cloud, to hide their project, in the North;
Did leave us, nor so sottish, nor so blind,
But that we found their aimes; and soon perceiv'd,
What tales, they meant, the people should believe;
What hooks they baited, and what webs they weav'd,
The (soone-misguided) people to deceive.
And, he, that will, may know, that, neither They
Who follow'd, neither He, that went before,
Knew reason, why he should depart away.
For, here he might have stayed, honour'd more,
More safe, more fear'd, more lov'd, more happy, here
Then they, or we, by their departure were.

Could any, but meer impudence, averre
That nothing, of our due, the King denies?
When they who chief in our Oppressions are,
Are, at this day, most favour'd in his eyes?
Can we have hope our safeties to enjoy,
When they are still his Counsell, who intend
Our lawfull Rights, and Freedoms, to destroy?
And, thither all their force and cunning bend.
Is true Religion like to be maintain'd?
While they, who innovated ev'ry day,
(And, have their old Affections, yet retain'd)
Are kept in hope their former parts to play?
Or, can we think, the Popish Generation
Are arm'd, for our Religions preservation?

Can we have in us, either heart or braines,
If we believe this? when to mind we call
How great a multitude of soules complains,
Which in the Irish-Massacre did fall?
If we propose before our ears, and eyes,
The horrid murthers of our brethren there,
Their fears, their sad destractions, and their cries,
When, by their Butchers, they surprized were.
How terrible it was, when they beheld
Their bloudy neighbours, rudely rushing in,
And, saw, perhaps, their dear companions kild,
By those, with whom they had familiar bin,
Yea, saw, before they doubted, cause of fear,
A murth'rer, or a mischief, ev'ry-where.

If we remember, that the mazed Father,
And, trembling mother, in the winter-night,
Were forc'd, in hast, without their cloaths, to gather
Their children up, and, with them, take their flight
Through fields, and boggs, and woods, with naked feet,
Lesse fearing thirst, and hunger, frost, and snow,
Then with those cursed Edomites to meet;
Who neither manhood, nor compassion know.

If we consider, why they first began
Their hellish Tragedie; how great a flood
In ev'rie Irish Towne, and Village, ran
Of harmlesse Protestant and English blood;
How, in their tortures and their feares, they joy'd;
And what great numbers they had soone destroy'd.

If we consider this, and that a Nation
So bloodie minded, and professing too
A worship which is our Abomination,
Should by his Majestie be favour'd so,
That after all their mischiefe, all their spoile
And cruelties, committed in that Land,
They should be called over to this Ile,
To kisse (with good respect) the Royall-hand.
Can we, these things considering, symptomes finde,
That ought for us, but mischiefe is intended,
To soule and body? Can we have a minde
So sottish, as to hope to be befriended
In our Religion, by the Kings protection?
While such as these, have place in his affection?

Maintaineth he our Lawes, as he hath sworne,
When he maintaines Law-breakers, in despight
Of common equitie? And, as in scorne
Of Justice, at the root of Law doth smite?
Or, doth he keepe his oath, though he alone
Allowes of Lawes enacted heretofore?
If he to us denyes, as he hath done,
What might secure the common safetie more?
Or, hath he done his dutie, in denying
His, and the Kingdomes counsell, to embrace?
Or, in imprudent, and unjust complying
With Parasites, to his, and their disgrace?
Or, valuing men of Rascall Reputations,
Before the wisest of three noble Nations?

No change in Church or Commonwealth we crave,
But, what Gods Word, and Reason shall allow.

That, we are bound to seeke, and ought to have;
And what that is, hereafter you shall know.
Our Churchmens honour we envied not;
But, could, what they enjoyed, have allow'd,
Had it beene rightly us'd, and fairly got.
But, they have long beene lazie, false, and proud.
And, I foretold them many yeares agoe,
The course they tooke, in hope thereby to stand,
Should cause their fall. And, if it now be so;
It is the worke of God Almighties hand:
And, since it proves, their honour did them hurt;
I am content, to see it, in the durt.

The King is not obliged to uphold
Their outward pompe; when his great Counsell shall
Informe, that if the same abide it should,
It may become the ruining of all.
Him, doth his Oath or Place, engage, to cherish
A rotten Member? though by doing so,
The whole Republike may grow sick, and perish?
Or Pietie receive her overthrow?
Or, should we fancie that the Law intended,
This Realmes whole bodie, should not be beleev'd?
When they complain'd of that which them offended?
And told which way they best might be releev'd?
Or can he think, his Oath he broken had,
When they shall him acquit, for whom twas made?

When on the Prelates, Law did first confirme
Their Dignities; the common-people thought
They came from God; so wisely they could charme,
To compasse for themselves, the things they sought.
And, ev'rie age brought forth a man or two,
Whose knowledge and whose pietie made way
For them, who came, another work, to do;
And, whose first founder, now, discerne we may.
Then, since we now discover them, to be
Not Christs Apostles, as we once beleev'd,

But, Engines for the Papall-Monarchie,
And hypocrites, by whom we were deceiv'd:
Why should we now suppose we do them wrong,
To take away, what they have kept too long?

Why should we think it sacriledge, or sin?
To take both wealth and dignities away
From those, to whom they never due have bin?
And, such as would the Cause of Christ betray?
Why should his Jewels by his Foes be worn?
Why on his bread should Droanes and Robbers feed?
To cloath a wolfe, why should a sheep be shorn?
Or they be spar'd, whose fall is fore-decreed?
Let them learn true humility of Christ,
And, study how in Spirit to be poor;
Their earthly honours will not then be mist:
Their want of wealth, will be a want no more:
And, they shall honour GOD, and blesse the day,
In which he took their needlesse Trash away.

It is my grief, that I am forc'd to bring
Those Reasons of defence which may appear
Reflecting on the honour of the King,
Which keep I would from all aspersions clear.
But, his dear Favourites have blended so
His Acts with their designes, and their, with his:
That, we their malice cannot fully show,
Without some touch, on what he doth amisse.
And, that consider'd, makes their fault the greater;
And, Him (though their ill-service he approve)
To them, for, what they claime, the lesse their debter;
Because, his Honour they but little love:
For (till these Times) though Courtiers plaid the knave,
They sav'd their Honours, who, them sought to save.

But, whatsoever, by the Parliament,
Or by my Pen, he seemeth to have lost
In point of Honour; if he shall assent
To that, which will be nothing to his cost,

But, rather for his profit; Let the same
Be, at my hands, requir'd: unlesse I shall
Finde out, not onely means, whereby his Name
Shall publikely stand faire, and clear from all
Dishonourable staines; but, also shew
How his, may, all his Predecessors glory
Out-shine: and, leave to times that shall ensue,
An everlasting honourable Story.
Which to believe, me thinks he should be mov'd,
Since, all I yet fore-told him, true hath prov'd.

Gods will be done; within whose pow'rfull hands
The hearts of Princes are; and, let us wait
With patience, till, for us, his Grace commands
That aid, which make things crooked to be streight.
Meane-while, we must not those just means neglect,
Which to the publike safety may pertaine:
Nor cease from doing good, though an effect,
Not purpos'd, make him causlesly complaine.
Our Cause we must expostulate; that, We
May, to the world, approve our innocence:
And, that he may, thereby, informed be,
How little cause we give of just offence.
And, to that end, to what I said before,
In our defence, Ile add a little more.

Though others may be fool'd with Protestations,
And, words or oaths; which, peradventure, none
Did vow, or make, but he, whose Declarations
Have, lately, for the Kings, among us gone.
The Parliament hath many piercing eyes,
That, in the dark, descry their foes devices:
And, by discov'ring of their Treacheries,
Ere they come forth, destroyes those Cockatrices.
When mischiefs are, by Providence, fore-seen,
And, then prevented: they that would have done them,
Make Friends, and Fooles, beleeve they had not been,
Because, they were destroid ere they begun them,

Yet, some, who saw not where the Foxes went,
Can finde where they have haunted, by their scent.

What things the King hath sworne, I doe not heare;
But, should he sweare ten times, and ten times over,
There were no cause to dread, what yet we feare,
Me, of that feare, his Oathes could not recover:
For, though I should beleeve, that he thought true
What he had sworne: yet, what should me assure
That he his owne Designes should still pursue?
Or, that unchanged he shall still endure?
And, though his heart bide fixt, how can I know
That, he shall still have powre to doe me right?
Since they, who seeke his Kingdomes overthrow,
Alreadie, are Commanders of his might?
And, so prevailing, that, in him, I see
Nor Will, nor Powre, his owne true friend to be?

Though others can beyond beleefe, beleeve,
And, hope beyond all hope; I cannot, yet,
In Reasonable things, permission give
Vnto my Fancie, to befoole my Wit.
In flights-divine, my Contemplation flies,
Without restraint: But, in all humane things,
My Vnderstanding, still, my Iudgement ties
To Reasons principles; or clips her wings.
What ever, therefore, other doe, or say;
What ever sounds, or showes, I see, or heare;
Each weightie-matter, by it selfe, I weigh,
With ev'rie circumstance, that may appeare:
And, when that all things I have throughly prov'd,
I silent am, or speak, as I am mov'd.

So did I in this Cause, before I dar'd
Resolve upon the course, that I have tooke.
And, e're I hither came, came so pepar'd.
That, nothing to affright me, can be spoke.
Though all, for whose defence, I hither come,
Should use me worse then yet my foes have done,

(As, I already have been us'd by some)
I would not leave the path I have begun;
But, meerly for the justnesse of the Cause,
And conscience sake, perform my best endeavour
To vindicate Religion, and the Lawes:
And, in this duty to my death persever;
That, I may live to see our Freedome sav'd:
Or, bravely die, before I am inflav'd.

For, though some, wilfully; and, weakly, some
Object unto us, that in Primitive,
And purer ages, Christians did not come
With Fire and Sword, the Law of Faith to give:
Nor seek by force of armes, to make defence
Against those Tyrants, in whose lands they taught;
(Much lesse, came arm'd, against their native Prince)
To settle that Religion which they brought.
This argument of their is but a cheat,
To cozen Innocencie, with a show
That's empty: For, the difference is great
Betwixt their Cause, and that, we mannage now.
VVhich I should make more plainly to appeare,
But, that too tedious, for this place, it were.

They had no Party, to defend their cause;
They came to preach, where Freedomes they had none;
The Sword was not allowed by their Lawes;
And, greatest good, by suffring, might be done.
To Ruffia, or to Turkie, should I goe
Our Faith to publish there; the likeliest way
To settle it, would then be sufferance, too:
And, meekly, on the block, my head to lay.
Must therefore, we permit the Whore of Rome,
To send her Bastards, and her Fornicators?
(Whom Law forbids within our coasts to come)
To teach her Baudrie to our sons and daughters?
And, make the Kings, and Princes, of these Nations,
Drunk with the Feees of her Fornications?

Because, the Martyrs suffred by that State,
Whose settled way of Worship, they gainsaid?
Must, downe to those, who come to innovate
Our settled Truth; this Kingdomes neck be laid?
Shall we be able an account to render,
For our neglect; now we in danger see
(Of Romish-Slaverie) our Faiths-Defender,
If we endeavour not to set him free?
Shall we sit still, and whine, when Law, and Reason
Cries out All-arme? untill we be, indeed,
Traitors; by fearing Loyaltie is Treason?
And bring both Plagues and Curses on our Seed?
Doe as you please, my way to me is knowne;
And, I will walk it, though I walke alone.

For, that without a partiall inclination
(To either side) the right I might disclose,
It was, and is my full determination,
To set aside respect of friends or foes.
And, let me be, by both of them abhorr'd,
If I now utter, or have uttred ought,
For private ends; or, what shall not accord,
In ev'ry sentence, with a loyall thought.
To keep me from Delusion, I have pray'd;
I have look'd up, above me, to discover
What notions, may be downe to me convayd;
Of those things which above our heads, doe hover.
And, downe below me, I have cast mine eyes,
To mark what fogs may up from hell arise.

About me I have look'd, on either side,
On disagreeing, and agreeing actions:
The manners, and the speeches I have tride,
Of most Professions, all Degrees, and Factions.
And, from them all, have made for my directions,
(And for my informations in this Cause)
A chaine of Observations, and Collections;
From whence, my Iudgement, her conclusions drawes.

Behind me, I have look'd, to take a view,
Of what was done, or suffred, heretofore:
What did on this, what did on that, ensue:
What makes a Curse, or Blessing, lesse, or more.
And, I have look'd before me too; and see
Events of things, that shall hereafter be.

I have consider'd what I had foreseene
In that great Plague, which this Kings Raigne began:
What I foretold him; what fulfill'd hath beene;
What courses He and His, since that time ran.
I have considerd, why I did prefer
That hearty-prayer, for Him, which yet stands,
As registred, in my Remembrancer;
And hath beene published through all his Lands.
I have considerd well, what kinde of men
Were then his Counsellors; and, who are now:
What Parliaments and Promises, were then
Made void: and what effects from thence did flow.
How fast, injurious Projects were encreast;
How cruelly, the people were opprest.

I have well weigh'd, what persons were preferd
In Church and Commonwealth; and, with what sleight
Acceptance (if not with a disregard)
All honest services they did requite.
Their Proclamations, did from yeare to yeare,
Proclaime to me, much more then they intended
I should have knowne. And, though I silent were,
I could have told, in what they should have ended.
The Life, and suddaine Death of Buckingham,
The Voyages of Rochel, and of Ree,
And other things, whereto I privie am,
Were true Prognostications unto me;
And, to my understanding more foretold,
Then all the Constellations did unfold.

And, though I live among the Country Clownes,
(As one who scarcely knew, or heeded ought)

The Spanish-Fleet that perish'd on the Downes,
I heard of; and, to minde it somewhat brought.
Sometimes, I have intelligence from Rome;
And, know what in the Conclave hath beene done.
I have observed other men, to come
On businesse thence, as well as Senior Con.
I know Archbishop Laud; and he knows me,
The worse for him, by many hundred pounds;
For which, I recompenced looke to be,
When he, againe, at Lambeth walks his Rounds.
And, I, from these, though they suppose not so,
Some Reasons drew, for that, which now I doe.

I heard, of what, within their Cabinet,
The Machiavilian-Counsellers debate;
And, information, other while, did get,
Of ill-presaging secresies of State.
The German-horse, that should have trotted hither;
Prodigious Straffords projects, deeds, and triall,
With other Characters, speld all together,
Have showne me Truths, that can have no deniall.
And, when my heart had rightly pondred these,
Weigh'd, what they are, with whom we have to doe;
Their words, their hopes, their lives, their practices,
What things they seek, whom they belong unto,
With such like notes, as these; me thinks, they be
All blinde men, who perceive not what I see.

And, when I had with these considerations,
Consider'd too, for what a worthlesse Crew,
The suits and cries of two most loyall Nations,
Have wanted those effects which are their due:
That He, who for the Sheep, his life should give,
Can give them to the Wolves, and see them slaine:
That He, who should our grievances releeve,
Can adde unto our torment, and our paine:
That He, because we feare his Dogs will bite,
(And, for that reason, pray they may be ty'd)

Can therefore, let them loose, and take delight
To see them kill, whom they have terrifide:
These things considered, me thinks, we wrong
The Humane-nature, to be tame so long.

When I perceived our deare Countries Father,
So peremptorily affect his will,
That, he would hazard three brave Kingdomes, rather,
Then his unlawfull pleasure, not fulfill;
And, when I saw the Devils, who inspire
This wilfulnesse into him, ceaze the goods
Of his best subjects; their faire houses fire;
Deflowre their Virgins; shed their Old-mens bloods;
Betray their nearest Kinsmen, slay their Brothers;
Deprive the blamelesse Infants of their lives;
Enslave their Fathers, kill their frighted Mothers:
Abuse their Daughters, and defile their Wives:
It griev'd me, that this Iland should afford
One man, who for this Quarrell drew no sword.

But, since I have consider'd, that, from Rome
These Plagues, these mischiefes, these unhappy warres,
And all, our present miseries, did come,
With our unequall'd Irish-Massacres:
And, that (beside the many thousands here)
Well nigh two hundred thousand Protestants
Were slaine, and rooted thence, within one yeare,
By those, to whom the King high favours grants:
And, since tis (not improbably) beleev'd,
They called are to be our Butchers too:
(If we permit our selves to be deceiv'd,
Till they can compasse what they meane to doe)
Me thinks, we have not beene so tame, as mad,
To have so slow a hand, as we have had.

And, lastly, since I weigh'd, that, not alone
A plot is laid three Kingdomes to undoe,
But also, in their spoile, to have undone,
All other true Reformed-Churches too:

That, Gods own glorie, and the servitude
Of Christian soules, is in this Cause concern'd;
From thence (whatever other will conclude)
I, these Conclusions, with good Warrant, learn'd:
That, those whom in this Warfare we resist,
Are, neither worse, nor better, but, those Bands,
And those Confederates of Antichrist,
Which are to be his Champions, in these Lands.
And, that whoever fighteth on their side,
When this is known, hath God, & Christ deni'd.

I see, as plainly as I see the Sun,
He draweth neare, that, on the

Rev. 19. 11.

white horse rides.
The long-expected Battell is begun:
The Beast, to muster up his Kings, provides:
With him, will all his Edomites conspire;
The seed of Hagar, and the sonnes of Lot:
Philistia, Gebal, Moab, Ammon, Tyre,
And, all that with his Mark themselves bespot.
Those brave white-Regiments, me thinks, I see,
That, on the Lord of Lords, & King of Kings,
Attending in triumphant habits be;
And, which, with him, against our foes he brings.
Me thinks, I hear his

Rev. 19. 17.

Angel call the Crowes,
To eat the Kings, and Captains of our foes.

If this be so; as, with a heart unfain'd
I do believe it is: how brave a lot
Have we? that were, before all worlds, ordain'd,
To be, for souldiers, to the Lamb, begot?
With what high courage should we march along
Against this Foe? That, being Conquerours,
We may, with Angels, sing a Triumph-Song,
And, crowned sit, among Celestiall Powers?
Why should we be afraid to speak, or write,
What may, from his curst Army, fetch our King?
Why should we feare, to perish in that Fight,
Which will through Death, to Life immortall bring?

Or, why should any, now, this work delay?
Or, doubt the truth of that which here I fay?

I beg no grace from King, or Parliament,
If an Impostor I shall prove to be:
Or, if men find not by the Consequent,
That, GOD hath spoken to this Land, by me:
And, that the maine of all my Musings were
Inspir'd by Him; though, often, he permit
My foolishnesse, among them, to appeare,
That, nothing be ascribed to my Wit.
Excuse I crave not, but a just correction,
Or, Approbation, as my words may merit.
If an ill-spirit hath been my direction,
What thereunto pertains, let me inherit.
And, if the truth be spoken, do not grieve me,
VVithout a cause; but, hearken, and believe me.

Suppose not (my deare Countrimen) that here
I have been over-bold, although you see
A bitternesse doth in my lines appear:
For, in this Cause, great things concerned be:
It doth concern our children, and our wives.
The publike safetie, and the publike good;
The honour of our Nation, and our lives,
The just avengement of our brethrens blood:
The freedome of our persons, and estates;
The honour, and the safetie of our King:
Our present being, and our future fates,
And, almost, ev'ry other precious thing:
Yea, it concerns our souls: and, more then so,
It highly doth concern GODS glory too.

Now then, for conscience, or, for shame, begin
To call to minde the duties that ye owe:
Let what appears without, be found within;
That, by your actions, we your hearts may know.
For your own sakes (if not for GODS, and our)
Be zealous in the cause you undertake:

Lest you, ere long, have neither means, nor pow'r,
Your peace with GOD, or Them, or Vs, to make.
For, both to GOD, and man, above all creatures,
The most abhorred, are those hypocrites,
Who can comply with disagreeing natures,
Yet, false to all, but to their appetttes.
Take, therefore, counsell from a souldiers Pen:
And (while you may) be warn'd, be wise, be men.

Asham'd (if not a little mad) I am,
To see so many, in this cause, so cold,
So false, so faint, so cowardly and tame,
That can, in other causes, be so bold.
And (not without affliction) this, I say:
Should this good cause miscarrie, all our foes
Are not more guilty of it, then are they,
Who give it, unperceiv'd, and secret blowes.
None do it so much dammage; none so wrong us.
As they, who seem to be our faithfull friends;
They, who at meat, and counsell, sit among us;
And, serve the publike; for their private ends.
Our Scœne of bloud, ere this, had els been done:
And, peradventure, never been began.

In ev'ry Village, Town and Corporation,
Let all, that are true Protestants profest,
Let ev'ry Canton, Province, Tribe, and Nation,
Which doth against the Romish-Whore protest,
A timely League, with one another make;
Vnite themselves by firme Associations;
And, by a sacred Covenant, courses take
Both for their joynt, and sev'rall preservations.
And, to be sure, they make a firm defence
Against their foes fierce furie, and despight;
Let them be cloth'd, with Love, and Innocence,
Arm'd, with that armour, wherewith Christians fight;
And, be prepared, alwayes, to resist
The Body, and the Limbs, of Antichrist.

Feare not the furie of your present Foes,
For, by their mixture, you discover may
They are but part of that great STATVES toes,
Whose Feet were made of Iron, and of Clay.
If they receive but one good knock, or twaine,
The Clay, and Iron, will divided be:
The Protestant will be himselfe againe:
For, Light and Darknesse never can agree.
Though horn'd, but like the LAMB, they yet appear,
(Pretending to be arm'd for innocence)
Their Voices do discover what they are;
And, that the DRAGONS Creature is their Prince.
Oh therefore, as you love your preservation,
Give eare, ye Britans, to this Proclamation:

Charles by the grace of God, the Sov'raigne King,
Of England, Scotland, Ireland, and of France,
Intending in his heart no other thing,
But, how his Regall powre he might advance,
In that pursuit, a little straying from
His faithfull Parliament, through ill advice,
Was by an ambuscado, sent from ROME,
Surprized lately, in a traiterous wise:
And (whereof all good subjects should have sense)
Imprison'd lyes: where both his eies and eares,
So poysned are, by false intelligence,
That, nothing he, now, truly sees, or heares.
As by those Actions, which his name doe beare,
It may, now, too apparently appeare.

Moreover, they have in despight of Law,
Advanc'd a Popish Armie, by some showes
Of what they purpose not; and, daily draw
The Protestants, each other to oppose.
And, have so fairly cov'red their intention,
That, what they could not, by themselves, have wrought,
We may assist them in, till past prevention
Their Plot, and our destruction shall be brought.

Come therefore, Oh all ye! that are profest
The sonnes of Reformation! Come away,
From giving your assistance to the Beast;
Lest, in his Judgement, you be swept away.
On paine of ruine, Come, and helpe to bring
Our Sov'raigne home: And so, God save the King.

Let him, that would a Christian man appeare,
His drowzie soule awake, and rouze his Faith.
Let him, that hath an eare to heare, give eare
To that, which through my Trunk, the Spirit saith:
And, cursed let him be, till he repent
(His wilfulnesse) that, when he heares this Muse,
And feeles his heart, inclining to assent,
(To what is true) her counsell shall refuse.
Accursed let him be, on like condition,
That through a Selfe-conceit, or thorow Pride,
Shall blast these usefull Musings, with suspition
Of ill intents; or, my just hopes deride:
Or, by his envie, malice, or neglect.
Deprive them, of their purposed effect.

Accursed let those Townes, and Cities be,
Which willing entertainment did afford
To our Pursuers; and, were glad to see
Their Armies with them, both at Bed, and Boord.
The curse of Meroz, and those execrations,
Which to her base Inhabitants befell,
Alight on their Malignant-habitations;
And, that of Succoth, and of Penuel:
Till they with shame and sorrow, shall repent
Their falshood to themselves, and to their friends:
Their falshood to the King and Parliament:
And, help to bring those Traitors to their ends.
And let all Places, which have done their best
Against those Rebels; be, for ever, blest.

And (if my Sentence, which is here recorded
May passe for good) let ev'ry one of those

That hath for any services, beene Lorded,
Wherein, their God, or Country they oppose,
Weare his false Badge of Honour, ev'rie where,
With infamie, with beggerie, and scorne;
With terrible vexations, and with feare,
Till his unworthie Name away be worne:
Or, till, by some apparent penitence,
By God, a pardon shall to him be given:
And, then, let all his folly, and offence,
Remitted be on earth, as 'tis in heaven.
And, so let all the rest, by my consent,
Like mercy finde, as soone as they repent.

For, we are all transgressors: he that's best
Is bad, and but a Brier, or a Thorne.
He, that among us hath trangressed least,
Deserves more plagues, then he that's worst hath borne.
He, that hath much offended, hath, perchance,
Not out of wilfulnesse, offensive bin:
But, through temptation, or through ignorance;
For which, true penitence may mercie win.
Yea, some, perhaps, who most of all offend,
Were left to their corruptions, for our crimes:
And, when we shall our wicked lives amend,
They shall repent, and we have better times.
Yet, still, most blessed be those men, and places,
Who from this Battell, have not turn'd their faces.

For ever blessed, and renown'd, for ever,
Let Glo'ster be; that, being far from aid,
Did in her firmnesse, gloriously persever,
When round her Wals, the King his armie laid.
For ever, let the towne of Manchester
Be blest and famous; that, with slender Guard,
Without a neighboring-second (and well neare
Without all helpes) her dangers all outdar'd:
And, by God's aid, alone, did trample downe
The powre, and pride of Darbies armed son:

Yea, where the Popish-Faction, strongst was growne,
Prevail'd, in spight of all that spight had done:
And, hopefull bides, that He, who did befriend
Her paines, thus far, will blesse it to the end.

And, far above them all, renown'd, and blessed
Let London be, who for the preservation
Of three great Kingdomes, wofully distressed,
Hath acted things begetting admiration.
For ever, let her Bountie, and her Zeale,
Her Constancie, her Counsels, and her Pray'rs,
Her Valour also for the Commonweale,
When we were almost sunk into despaires:
Let all these, be remembred, to her glory:
And, let her high deservings by the same,
Be so recorded in some well writ Story,
That, all great Cities may envy her fame,
And, so to honour her, let us agree,
That, all her praises, to God's praise, may be.

Let all those Worthies also, that have done,
Or, suffred bravely, for the Common-good,
In this great Cause (untill Times round is run)
Be blest and honour'd, in their Names, and Blood.
Let valiant Essex, Warwicke, Manchester,
Stout Fairfax, Waller, Roberts, Brooke, and Gray,
(Who forward for the publike safety were)
Be crowned with a never-dying Bay.
So crown'd be Skippon, Mericke, Stapleton,
With Hampden, Massy, Bruerton, and Gel:
The English and the Scottish Middleton,
My noble, and my valiant Colonel.
And, let nor malice, time, nor death, be able,
To make them lesse then good, and honourable.

Remembred be, with an heroick fame,
Balfore, and Ramsey, Cromwel, and D'Albere,
The Meldroms, and he chiefly of that Name,
Whose worth did in relieving Hul appeare.

Let mention'd be with honourable-men,
Much daring Luke, and Hazelrig the bold:
Aldridge, Browne, Barcley, Holborne, Harvie, Ven,
Brooke, Norton, Springer, Morly, More, and Gold.
To all of these, whose worth shall reall be,
Let reall honours be: and, be it so,
To all of good desert, unknowne to me;
Of whom there are, I hope, some thousands moe,
Whose memorie, shall never be forgot:
Though, here, to name them, I remember not.

Let them, that shall hereafter counted be
Most honourable persons, never more
Be they, who shew the longest Pedigree,
From Kings, and Conquerors, as heretofore:
But, such as are most worthy: and, next them,
Their Off-spring, who were Patrons for this Cause.
And let them share more honour and esteem,
Then he that his descent, from Princes drawes.
For, if it may enoble, to be borne
Of those, who out of avarice, or pride,
From others, wrongfully, their lands have torne:
How much more, ought they to be dignifide,
That, from the loines of parents, are descended,
Whose Swords, their Country, King, and Faith defended?

And, to make full my blessing: three times blessed,
Be ev'ry Member of the Parliament,
Which hath not been unwillingly oppressed,
With burthens, our undoing to prevent.
Blest, be their constancy, and blest their paines,
With safety, credit, and with consolations,
And, with all blessednesse which appertaines,
To make them happy, through all Generations.
And, blessed be the King, with such a heart,
And, such a resolution, to retire
To us in love: that he may have a part
In all that blisse, which we our selves desire.

And, that from these our troubles, I may raise
A Trophie, to his honour, and GODS praise.

Before, my tongue had finish'd this defence,
To warrant my ingagement: that Delusion
Which had so hotly charg'd me, sneaked thence,
And, staid not, to give eare to my conclusion.
Her forces vanished, (and she with them)
Consisting, chiefly, of their Sophistries
Who had been prest out of that Academ,
In which, the Magazine of mischief lies.
It was, first, founded for a Court of Knowledge,
(A schoole of duties, morall and divine)
And, to that end, had many a goodly Colledge,
To nurse up youth, by prudent Discipline:
But, 'twas, of late, a nest of Birds unclean;
And, is now made the Wolves, and Lions den.

My foes departed, I began to sleight
Their Trenches, and the Forts which they had rear'd:
Those Engines, likewise, I demolish'd quite,
That make young souldiers of their force afeard:
And, was at leisure, then, my selfe to please,
With other thoughts; and, thither to retreat,
Where I might be refresht, and take mine ease,
With such provisions, as my men could get.
My Quarter was the Field: my Tent and Bed,
A well-made Barley-cocke: the Canopie
And Curtains, which, to cover me, were spread,
No meaner then the starre-bespangled skie.
GOD set the Watch; the Guard, he also kept,
And, without harm, or feare, I safely slept.

Next morne, before the dawning of the day,
My heart awoke; and, warm'd with GODS protection,
(And with his love) did praise him, and assay
To meet him, with reciprocall affection.
My purpose he accepted, and descended
To impe the wings that mount my contemplation.

And, kindly, raised, strengthned, and befriended
My soule, by sweet, and usefull meditation:
With musings on things present, on things past,
And things to come, he exercis'd my thought.
Some, of his mercies, gave my soule a taste;
Of sin, and judgement, some, the relish brought.
By some, I did my private duties learne:
And, some, the Publike-safetie did concerne.

One Ray, forth-darting from his pow'r-divine,
(Whose way of working cannot well be told)
Infus'd into my heart, a high Designe,
Which, with good liking, now, I might unfold.
But hark! the Trumpet calls me to the field:
My horses, are already at the doore.
Place to the Sword, my Pen, againe, must yeeld:
At better leasure, I may tell you more.
To what, I further purpose to declare,
This, for an Introduction, is prepar'd:
And, if I finde, you so well temper'd are,
That, more (with hope of profit) may be heard;
I'le tell you Newes, which, yet, is but a Dreame,
And, Vox Pacifica, shall be my Theame.

A Voice, not of a Vaine Pacification,
Form'd out of Ecchoes, or uncertaine sounds:
But, of a Peace, of whose blest confirmation,
There shall be likely Hopes, and reall Grounds.
A Voice, in somewhat, imitating his,
Who (to prepare the great Messiah's way)
Became a Crier in the Wildernesse;
And, to beget Repentance, will assay.
A Voice, that shall prepare the way of Peace.
A Peace, that shall with Righteousnesse, embrace.
And, by their sweet embracements, more encrease
The Peace of Conscience, and the Peace of Grace.
A Peace, which, if my hopes effect I can,
Shall reconcile us, both to God, and Man.

A Peace, not closing up a festring sore,
To ease, but for a while the present smart:
And, making afterward the torments more,
By spreading mortall Gangrenes, to the heart.
A Peace, that by a true-love-knot, shall knit
Three Nations, with such nearnesse, into One;
That, nothing shall have pow'r to loosen it,
But, wilfull sin, impenitently done.
A Peace, which to the People, and the King,
Shall (if not hindred by some Crying-sin)
Truth, honour, wealth, powre, rest, and safety bring:
And, keep us everlastingly therein.
This Peace I seek; this Peace, that God may send,
My soule doth pray; and, so, these Musings end.

Sic dixit, qui sic cogitavit:
Et, prædicando quod putavit,
Haud multum peccat, si peccavit.

All the Glorie be to GOD.

University of Virginia Library