Miscellaneous works of George Wither

So let me speed, in all that I pursue,
As, in what followes, I mean well to you:
And, as I bear a loving faithfull heart,
To all of you, united and apart;
Although, I peradventure, may appear
On some occasions, bitterly severe,
To those, in whom, I private-failings see,
Which, to the Publike may obnoxious be;
To make them judge themselves, and scape the doom,
Which, from another judgement, els may come:
For, at no single person, have I strook,
By any line, or passage, in this book.

If here, I further seem to have presum'd,
Or, more upon my self to have assum'd,
Then may be warrantable thought, at first,
Examine it, before you judge the worst;
And, try by circumstances (as ye may)
What Spirit, hath directed me this way;
Or, for what likely ends, or for whose sake,
I could, or dared, this attempt to make;
Except it were for GODS, for your, and mine,
As they with one another, do intwine.

Yea, search, if my Religion, studies, wayes,
Or, manners (which have beene throughout my dayes,
Before your eyes) may any sign afford,
That, I have, hitherto, in deed, or word,
Been an Impostor; or, presented you
With ought, that hath been uselesse, or untrue;
And as that justly may incline your mind,
Let these expressions acceptation find.

If madnesse, they appear; consider well,
That, such miscensurings have often fell
On sober men, when those deluding crimes,
Were prevalent, which raign in these our times.
If foolish, they be thought; remember this,
That, truest wisdome, seemeth foolishnesse
To worldly prudent men, when, God, forth brings
To fool their wisdome, despicable things.

Men, hear fools gladly, when themselves are wise,
And, meekly pity, rather then despise
Their folly; learning, thereby, sometimes too,
More, then by their own wisdome, they could do:
But, wise, mad, foolish, or, what ev'r I am,
To do this work, into the world I came;
To these times, was reserv'd; to this end, taught;
And, to the sight of many things, am brought,
Which, els I had not known, nor would have seen,
But, that, I ty'd, (as by the leg) have been,
(Ten years together, ten dayes work to do)
To know them, whether I so would or no.
And, when I knew them, I would fain have done
My own work first, or els, like Jonas run
To Tarsis, or Lundee, or any whither
(Adventuring through Seas, and Tempests thither)
Much rather, then to have proceeded on,
In doing that, which I, at last, have done.

For, I am like the world, in many things,
And, oft so tempted by her promisings
Of ease and safety, in another course,
That, I, with much strife, did my heart inforce,
To prosecute her duty; as ye may,
Perceive, if, you the following tract survay.
But, my own thoughts, would neither let me sleep,
Nor suffer me a waking-peace to keep,
Or, follow my affairs (though they were brought
Neer to a point, of coming quite to nought)
Till, I, my musings, had in words array'd
To be, by you, and other men, survay'd.
All those affairs, aside, I, therefore threw,
To cloth my meditations, for your view;
Which, being finish'd, I can now lye down
And sleep, as well as any man in Town.

The times are dangerous; and, I am told,
By that which is my Guide, I should not bold
Beyond discretion be; which makes me talk
In riddles, and with this Dark Lantern walk:
That, I may see my way, and not be seen
By ev'ry one, whom I may meet, between
My goings out, and in: and that it may
Give light to some, who are beside their way,
As I occasion find; and, where I see
The light that's offer'd, may accepted be.

But, what my visions are, as in relation,
Unto this Parliaments perpetuation
I plainly shall unfold; because, it may
Concern you all, with good advise to weigh.
Yea, fearlefly, my free thoughts, I will shew,
What liking, or dislike, soe're ensue.
For, though to all intents by me design'd,
They may not reach; it much contents my mind,

That I have freed my soul, by thus imploying
My Talent, to an inward rests injoying;
And, rais'd a Witnesse up, that may declare
To future times; what GOD'S proceedings are.

If this find acceptation, it will be
A sign of future peace, to you, and me.
If, you reject it; I will fit my mind
To bear the troubles, which are yet behind:
Bewail, our manifold procrastinations,
Of GOD'S intended blessings, to these Nations.
Possesse the little portion, I have got
As lost, or, els, as if I had it not;
And, strive to wean my heart, from things abroad,
To seek my rest, and peace, alone in GOD:
A refuge, so secur'd to me, that, neither
My frailties, faults, or foes; or these together:
Or friends, or Trustees failings, either may
Hazard, or forfeit; tear, or fool away.

Your most humble, and most faithfull Remembrancer, Geo. Wither.

A DARK-LANTERNE,

OFFERING A Dim Discovery, in Riddles, Parables, and Semi-riddles, intermixt with Cautions, Remembrances, and Predictions, as they were promiscuously, and immethodically represented to their Author, in his solitary musings, the third of November 1652. about midnight.

And, concluding with the Result of a Contemplative Vision, revealing a probable means of making, even this present Parliament, to be both perpetuall, and acceptable to these Nations to the end of the World.

He, that goes with this LIGHT, his way may find:
Him, that against it comes, it maketh blind.

He, from whose perfect Light, all true Lights come,
Spake Parables; yea, spake nought els, to some;
And, Providence, by many various wayes,
Of dispensation, to the world convayes
The means, of carrying on, those works which tend
To man's perfection, at his later end;
And, to the wonderfull accomplishment,
Of what, eternally is his intent;

Bringing oft times about, the self-same things,
(Or, such like) towards their accomplishings;
That, prudent men, might understand thereby
What he designs, and therewithall comply.

When Jacobs Off-springs (who, for many ages
Were figures, types, examples, and presages
For future times, and states) became perverted,
And, grew to be so blind, and stubborn hearted,
As to despise the warnings, precepts, cautions,
And good advise, which for their preservations
Their Prophets had perspicuously declar'd;
GOD, justly, sent unto them afterward,
His mind in Parables, whereof but few
The meanings, or interpretations knew:
And as they more and more, from him declin'd,
(And, from the truth) the more he couch'd his mind
In dark expressions, till they nothing saw
But what their pleasure made to be a Law.

Prince, Prophet, Priest, and People, then, became
Wholly corrupt; a scandall, and a shame
To their Professions, and to all their Nation,
By an unlimited prevarication;
Whereby, the means ordained to recure them,
Was rendred instrumentall to obdure them,
By their own fault, and those hypocrisies,
Which, justly, drew a vail, before their eyes.
For, whereas, usually in times preceding,
GODS errands, were made plain, at their first heeding,
So, also, were their Priests, and Prophets, then,
Renowned, wise, and honorable men,
Ev'n in their outward being; which, did add
Repute to that, which in command, they had:
But, Heardsmen, and fruit-gatherers, afterward
(With such as brought no motives of regard,

According to the flesh) were sometime sent;
Which, in their hearers, did but scorn augment.

And, thus, contempt increas'd: the truths then told,
Were not alone, wrapt up in manifold
Strange ambiguities, obscure expressions,
Dark Metaphors, or much beclouded Visions,
Which few could understand; but, some, likewise
Illustrated their words, and Prophecies,
(Or, rather vailed them) with circumstances,
Which, did inlarge their hearers ignorances;
As also their disdains: for, otherwhile,
They personated things, absurd, and vile,
In vulgar apprehension: such as seem
Deserving rather slighting, then esteem;
Yea such, sometimes, as wicked did appear
To those, who morally men righteous were:
As when, they were made signes, unto that Nation,
Of their shame, nakednesse, or desolation,
And of GODS lasting love, although they had,
By their adulteries, him jealous made.

As with the Jewes, he, formerly hath done,
GOD will proceed with us; and hath begun
Already, so to judge (and visit here)
As he did them, when they rebellious were.
He, so, by changes, moves us to repent;
And, judgements blends with mercies, to th'intent
That, he, into capacity might wooe us
Of that great good, which he desires to do us.
This, makes him, sometime smile, and sometime frown;
Now, raise us up; to morrow, pull us down:
This day, he, to our strongest enemies,
Renders us dreadfull: They, whom we despise
That night triumph; and make us glad to fly
Into our chambers, and there sneaking lie;

Whil'st they deride, insult, affront and jeer us,
Who, some few hours before, did greatly fear us.

This, makes him often fool our wisdome so,
That, we are at a non-plus, what to do;
And, then, in our distresse, to make our want,
Weaknesse, and failings, more predominant
For our deliverance, in a fatall hour,
Then all our wealth, our wisdome, and our power.

This, makes him lead us through the wildernesses
Of doubts, dispairings, troubles, and distresses
To our desired Canaan, as he led
His Chosen heretofore; and, as he did
To them in their respective aberrations,
So hath he done, and will do, with these Nations.

As their, right so, our Princes, for oppressions
Are driven from their Thrones, and their possessions,
To eat (ev'n with confusion of their faces)
Their bread with scarcity, in uncouth places;
Where, peradventure, they were mindfull made
Of those forewarnings, which they timely had.

Our Lords (as their Remembrancer, foretold,
When they had greatest likelyhood to hold,
And to encrease their greatnesse) this day, see,
Their House of Parliament, destroy'd to be,
Ev'n by it self; and, that they are become
Vagrants abroad, or, els despis'd at home.
Some of their Pallaces and Piles of State,
Are ras't, defac't, or left quite desolate,
For Zim, and Jim; for Vermine and such fowls,
As Dawes, and Ravens; great and little Owls.

Our Priests, that were the glorioust Hirarchy,
And proud'st in Europe, next the Papacy;
(Who, by the same pen warned, did return
Sharp persecutions, injuries and scorn)

Are now despoil'd of all the pomp they had,
Dishonor'd, poor, and despicable made.
Their fair Cathedrall Temples stand forsaken,
With still increasing ruines, rent and shaken;
And, in their steeds, those persons are deputed,
Whom they most hated, and most persecuted.
The Threats long since pronounced, now prevail,
The Priest and Prophet, are become the tail;
And meer Mechanicks made dispensers are
Of those things, which to them committed were:
Persons, of so mean guifts, and small respect,
That, truth out of their mouths, gets but neglect;
Except with such, as nndervalue not
Good wine, though offered in an earthen pot.

For our unthankfulnesse, and disregard
Of nobler Teachers, whom, we long have heard,
Without improvement; for, hypocrisies,
Meer outside worship, and formalities,
In prayers, fasts, and praises; and, for, giving
That which cost nothing, for great boons receiving:
For our backslidings, and, then, persevering
In frequent sinning, after frequent bearing:
For actions, not agreeing with our saying:
For painting, guilding, and for overlaying
Our Carnall structures, with fain'd piety:
(False gold, producted by our Chymestry)
For falsifying, with a brazen brow,
The serious promises, which we did vow
To GOD and men, before the face of heaven,
When we into extremities were driven:
For adding to devouring flames, more fuell:
For being, in our very mercies, cruell:
For turning carelesly, our eyes, and ears,
From Widdows prayers, and from Orphans tears:

Yea, though Remembrancers did (as it were)
In publike, often pull us by the ear,
To mind it; yea, where many standers by,
Observ'd it; and, our grosse stupidity.

For these things; and, for many such as these
God, having spoken to us, in our dayes,
By ordinary Preachers; now, begins
By others, to reprove us for our sins:
Not only such, as reason may allow,
Though called from the Shop board, or the Plough;
But, such, as we seem justly to contemn,
As making truths adhor'd, which come from them.

In steed of Teachers, train'd up in the Schools
Of Arts, and of the Prophets; children, fools,
Women and madmen, we do often meet,
Preaching, and threatning Judgements, in the street:
To some, pronouncing blessings; to some, woe;
Scatt'ring their bread, and money, as they goe,
To such as need; (though, in appearance, none
Can poorer be, then they, when that is gone:)
Yea, by strange actions, postures, tones, and cryes,
Themselves they offer to our ears and eyes,
As signs unto this Nation, of some things
Thereby portended; which (although this brings
Contempt upon their persons) may be so,
For ought, the wisest of us, yet doth know;
As were those actions, personated by
Some Prophets, whom the Jewes did vilifie.

It may be on that darknesse, which they find,
Within their hearts, a suddain light hath shin'd,
Reflexions making, of some things to come,
Which leave within them, musings troublesome
To their weak spirits; or, too intricate
For them to put in order, and relate;

As they will easily believe, on whom,
Such, more then naturall, out-beamings, come)
And, that, hath peradventure, thrust them on
To act, as men in extasies have done;
Striving, their Cloudy Visions to declare
(And, of what consequence, they think they are)
Till they have lost the Notions, which they had,
And, want but few degrees, of being mad.

This, Providence permitteth, to correct
Our deafnesse, and our former disrespect
Of nobler instruments, whose lights did shine
More clearly; and, who, laying line, to line;
Precept, to Precept; in and out of season,
Taught reasonably, ev'n truth's, transcending reason:
Or, els, it hath permitted been, to make us
Lesse heedfull, of the plague, that may or'etake us;
By tokens, and by symptoms, to us giving,
That, seem not worth our heeding, or believing.

And, I, perhaps, among these, may be one,
That was let loose, for service to be done.
In order to such kinds: (as, I believe
I am; as when I am gone, some will perceive,
Though, none observe it now) For, though I dresse
The mind, and matter, of my messages,
In measur'd words, with some such other fancies,
As are allowed in Poetick frenzies,
And, passe for sober garbs: yet, now and then,
I blunder out, what worldly prudent men
Count madnesse; and, what, oft, the best men, too,
Dislike awhile, and wish me not to do.

But, I best know my warrant; and proceed
As I am mov'd, with little fear, or heed,
What others judge: for, till some slips, or errors
Expose me, to be liable to terrors,

Ther's nothing, to my hurt, can dreadfull be,
Save my own flesh, and he that gave it me.
And, as this makes me, madly seem to dare;
Ev'n so, that seeming madnesse, doth prepare,
And draw some, out of novelty, to heed,
What, they had never, els, vouchsaf'd to read:
And, these my ridlings now, are an invention
Designed partly, unto that intention;
And, partly likewise, to amaze those Readers,
Who, to my purposes, are counter-pleaders.

When, others think, the times afford me may
Enough to speak of, I have nought to say:
When my heart calls upon me, I cast by
My own affairs, and to that call apply,
As I occasions find, uttring sometimes,
My thoughts in prose, another while in rimes;
One while, by sharp, and bitter strains reproving;
Sometimes, by admonitions, calm, and loving;
Yea, Jigs of recreation, sometimes fidling;
And, now, I'm faln into a fit of Ridling.

Riddle my Riddles, then, you, that have heard
Truths, oft, and plainly spoke without regard,
(Except it were in mischiefs, to combine
Against their peace, who cast their Pearles to swine)
Riddle them if you can: For, in them lies,
A dim character of our destinies.
Within these Problemes, those things couched are,
Which I once thought, more plainly to declare:
But, from that purpose, have now chang'd my mind,
That, seeing, you might see, yet still be blind:
That, you might read, and yet not understand
The work, which GOD and men, have now in hand:
Or, which of those things will be first, or last,
Lest, future fates appear by what is past:

And, that, your misinterpretations may
Produce those good effects, which you delay:
For, to that purpose, all, which I unfold,
Histerologically shall be told.

You, likewise, who oft read, in serious wise,
Shiptons Predicts, and Merlins Prophecies;
Or, vain conjectures, from the constellations,
Wherewith, Impostors, have long fool'd these Nations,
Neglecting that, the while, which both foreseen,
And, brought to passe, in your own dayes, hath been:
Riddle these Riddles; or, at least peruse them,
And, if you find them frivolous, refuse them.

Riddle these Riddles too, ev'n you, that seek
The common peace, with hearts upright and meek:
You, that have understanding to discern
The present times; and, willing are to learn
Good lessons from a Pismire: For, to you,
By this Dark Lantern, I shall give a view,
Of things far off, and rubs now in your way,
Whereat, through want of light, you stumble may:
And, likewise, of effects, whereto, perchance,
You, by these glimmerings, may raise advance.

Observe them well, without enquiring, what
Their Authors meaning was, in this, or that,
Till, you your selves, have search'd, how they in reason,
Suit our affairs, our persons, and the season,
According to your judgements: for, that, shall
Be somewhat to the purpose, though not all.
But, where no sense that's likely, you can rear,
Leave it, as that, which lies without your sphear;
For, that, which SHALL BE, will receive a being,
From each dissenting Readers disagreeing;
From that mans knowledge, who the sense hath got;
From that mans ignorance, who knowes it not;

And he that would, and he that would not too,
Shall help effect, what GOD intends to do.

Thus, through a long lane, I have drawn you in,
Where my new Grove of Riddles doth begin,
With, now and then, a plain Lawn intermixt,
And, here and there, a small sherewood betwixt;
With such digressions, that, you'l sometimes doubt,
Whether I lead you, further in, or out:
But, 'tis a wild plot, where are walks, and bowers,
Made for my own content, as well as yours:
And, if they tedious seem, you may be gone
At next low gap, you see, and no harm done.

The harvest of our Æra now drawes near,
And, faithfull Labourers will then appear
To order that fair field, wherein was sown
The Corn, which now with tares is overgrown:
And, to distinguish Wheat, from that which had
Resemblance of it, both in stalk, and blade.
Yet, ev'ry day, Impostors creeping in,
Will, by pretended holinesse, begin
To plant themselves; seeking their lusts to feed,
By scattering adulterated-seed;
And lab'ring, to destroy those means, whereby
Truth may appear in perfect purity.

In little time, shall many changes be,
And interchanges, which will make men see
Their wisdome to be folly; their chief might,
Flat feeblenesse; their high esteemed light
Meer darknesse; and, that, most things by them done,
Will have effects, which they nev'r thought upon.

In that Catholicon, or Mithridate,
Which Providence, confected hath of late,
To temper, or dispell, what hath diseas'd
The Body Politike; it hath been pleas'd

(As finding it, a mixture requisite)
Vipers, and mortall poysons, to unite
With wholesome things; yea, mineralls and mettle,
Sulphur, and Steel, fixt matter, to unsettle:
The Serpents brains, with faithfull Turtles hearts:
Of Lions, Lambs, and Foxes, some choice parts:
Somewhat of Hares, that swift and fearful be:
Somewhat of Snailes, in whom we nothing see,
But slownesse, and, by well compounding these,
A cure preparing is, for our disease.

Fire, Water, Earth, and Ayr, (though disagreeing,
In qualities) if well mixt, give a being
To that, which cannot be, by any one
Or, any two, or three of these alone:
And, so, at last, shall ev'ry contradiction,
Among us, add some Dos, to our perfection:
Yea, they who pull down, and they who erect
Shall in the close, concur in one effect;
That, he, who's all in all, may have due praise
By ev'ry contradiction in our wayes;
And, that, out of their discords, he may bring
A Diapason, making ev'ry thing
Assent together, in the consummation
Of his designment, at the worlds creation.

For, whil'st this medicine fermenting lies,
The wheels of temp'rall contrarieties
Move on; and, ev'ry day, abroad will send
Productions, few, discerning to what end:
And, yet, each individuall circumstance,
Somewhat, the Grand-designment, shall advance.
Yea, foolings, failings, fraud, and treachery
As well as truth, and true sincerity,
Shall add thereto; and, herein, will alone,
The diff'rence be; such, as have justly done

Their duties; and, in doing them persever,
(Or, willingly, and knowingly endeavour
As they are able) will enjoy the blisse,
Which, they who counter-operate shall misse.

I. G. N. R. N. S. with, other some,
Such like, confederated are become,
To ruine this Republike; and, have laid
Designes, whereby it may be soon betray'd,
And, infamous, insensibly, become,
With all wise men abroad, and here at home.
These (though but few observe it) have, long, had
A purpose these three Ilands to invade;
And, to possesse them, with a people far
More barbarous then Kernes, and Redshanks are.
Some of their Party, to promote their ends,
Do yet appear to be our faithfull friends;
And, into every place of Power, and Trust,
Themselves, and their confederates have thrust.
In Townes and Boroughs, Cittadells and Cities,
In Courts, and Councells, and in all Committees;
In offices of profit, and command,
Throughout the Commonwealth, at Sea, and Land
They have Abettors; and, so bold they grow
That, every man almost, their aimes may know;
And, their attempts, although but fools they are
Are at this present time, improv'd fo far
That, they have shaken that, wherein consists,
Our honor, and our noblest interests;
And into practise, they begin to draw
Among us here, the Clagefurtian Law.

M. N. O. P. Demas, Diotrophes,
Peripateticks, Stoicks, Pharisees,
With others, who, in judgement diff'ring be,
Will, altogether, as one man agree,

To fortifie their private interest,
Indangering (by what shall be possest
Unduly) that, which is to others due:
Untill the faithfull Shepherds do pursue
Their claim aright; the same deriving from
Their Foster-Fathers, whence, it first did come;
And, of whom, it was long since propheci'd
That, GOD, by them, a portion would provide
For those, he sends forth, to preserve the beauty
Of holinesse, when, man, forgets his duty.

Some other accidents, time will beget
Which may be mark'd out, by our Alphabet:
By, and for envy, jealousie, and pride,
Shall, A. B. C. be laid awhile, aside.
Despised also, V. and I. shall be
P P. and S. against C S. and P.
Shall then conspire; and, for a Salve employ
That, which it self, and all things, doth destroy,
If Alpha and Omega, help not more
Then all the other letters, did before:
For, common helps, will be apply'd in vain,
The fury of their madnesse, to restrain.

The causes, whence this hazard will arise,
Are such as this; observe it, and be wise.
The Temple of the Gods, which heretofore
Stood open to the prayers of the poor,
Is closed up, and few admitted in,
But, such as are conveyed by a gin,
Contriv'd so narrow, that the people say
It was choak'd up, the first, or second day:
And, with distemper, they exclaim, that this
Of all their grievances, the greatest is:
Because it puts their patience, to more trialls,
Then, if of Justice, they had quick denialls:

Turnes hopes into despairs; converts their lives
To living deaths, their balmes to corosives.

The Saints likewise, that must propitiate,
On their behalfs, and offer at the gate
Of justice and of mercy, their petitions
Are not so sensible of their conditions;
Nor from all partiality so free
As Mediators alwayes ought to be.

This, makes one grumble in his privacies;
Another, gapes out open blasphemies:
Some, with such indignation filled are,
As, if they Giant-like, would make a warre
Against their GODS (if, lookers on, may guesse,
By their distempers, of their purposes)
And, universally, there is a cry
So lamentable, and rais'd up so high,
That, if these Deities, shall not in time,
With due compassion, bow their ears to them,
And, their just Prayers, and requests fulfill,
A higher power, these plaints examine will,
And these inferiour Gods, shall tumble then,
From heav'n like Lucifer, and die like men.
Riddle this Riddle, and resolve me whether
This Temple, be Pantheon, or some other,
Wherein Subdeities, invoked are:
What Temple e're it be; we wish it were
More open; lest upon those Gods, it bring
Contempt, or worse, and ruines ev'ry thing
To them subordinate: for, hence doth flow
Most other grievances, complain'd of now;
And, hence rise those confusions, which increase
Our troubles, and procrastinate our peace.
From hence is it, mens suits prolonged are
Beyond their lives; and after twice five year,

As far from ending, as when they begun;
Yea, endlesse, till poor Suiters are undone,

At these words, an Illusion cry,d, take heed;
And, further do not in this strain proceed;
Lest, some Interpreters, interpret, so,
Thy Riddles, that the Ridler they undo.
The suddain caution, startled me a while;
Yet, back return'd it with a strong recoil;
Suggesting, that I over-much bewray'd
Their nakednesse; and them too open laid
Whose shame I ought to hide, and, that so far
It may provoke them, who soon angry are,
As thereby to indanger at the least,
My quiet, and my private interest.
How, therefore, this objection I past over,
E're further I proceed, I'le here discover.

Against these doubts, my Genius up arose,
And, quite out of my heart, their poyson throws;
Assuring me, I had no cause to fear
What other mens interpretations were;
Or, to suppose the safety of this Nation
Were not more worthy of a preservation
Then their repute, who are quite senslesse growne,
Both of the publike danger, and their owne.
Or think it better that a generall
Disease o'respread us, rather, then to call
A Scab, a Scab, or, timely to declare
The cure of these things, which destructive are.

It told me, (and with arguments not weak)
The cause, and time, requir'd me now to speak
Without respect of persons; and, that, I
Was bound unto it by my fealty.
It told me, 'twas a duty whereunto
I was ordain'd; and, which I'm kept to do.

It represents unto me, from what strong
And spitefull Adversaries; and, how long,
I have preserved been, since I begun
To do such works, when they were to be done.
It bids me to record, by what strange wayes,
(And means unlikely) I have all my dayes,
Deliverances obtain'd; ev'n when I had,
Oppressions, that might make a wise man mad;
And, not one friend, me, in those streights to own,
But, such as GOD still rais'd me up unknown.

It bids me mind, how oft (when I have had
No other help) his Providence hath made
The malice of my foes, things to project
Against me which my succour, did effect;
And, without which, I probably had lost
Just expectations, with much pain and cost.

It bids me mark, how many there are still,
(Who, without cause, have born me evill will)
That daily do expect to see me stumble,
When they may add a kick, to make me tumble:
How, in those High Assemblies, where they deem,
It may most disadvantage my esteem,
They whisper out detractions; or, speak loud
Those things, which cannot justly be avow'd:
How enviously, they often make relations
Of what GOD gives, beyond their expectations;
With such periphrases, as may infer
That, my supplies, were got as ill as their.

It wills me, likewise, seriously to heed,
How, they in other things, with me proceed;
How, by their spight, all publike favours done me.
Bring nought, as yet, but cost, and troubles on me,
Which had e're this destroy'd me, had I not
Preventions, from a Power above them got:

And, by these mercies, it conjures me to
What, conscience, and my judgement, bids me do.

It minds me to be mindfull of that powre,
Which hath preserv'd in every evill hour.
How plentifully, I have still been fed,
Ev'n when I saw not means, of next dayes bread
But, what was in their hands, who would not spare,
The least supply, when most distrest we were.

How, my repute, with good men, was maintain'd,
When with unjust aspersions, I was stain'd:
And, when our Princes, on their Judgement Seats,
Thundred against me, nothing lesse then threats.

It charmes, to observe, that, though I get
Little or nothing, of that publike debt
Which was assign'd, and which hath now been due
Ten years (by claimes approved just and true,
On treble trialls) and, though ever since,
It yeelds me nought, but troubles and expence;
That GOD, hath naythelesse, improv'd of late,
My Mite, into a competent estate;
Meerly, by such unlikely means, as those
Which Jacob us'd, when in the watering troughs,
He laid his whitled sticks, till he was paid
The wages, which his Master had delaid.

It calleth on me, to look back upon
Those works, which have within my dayes been done;
(And chiefly those, which stand in some relation
Unto my self, together with this Nation)
What strange effects, and unbelieved things,
Have followed my fore conjecturings:
What risings, and what fallings, I have heeded:
What mercies, and what judgements have succeeded
Our various paths. It urgeth me to weigh,
What may bety'd me, if I disobey

The motions of my heart, and what event
He may expect, who shall be negligent
To do his duty, when his eye perceives
What GOD intends; and, when his heart believes,
He dreams not; but, is really required
To act, according, as he is inspired:
And, somewhat tells me, that, if after all
These mercies, and remembrances, I fall
From my resolves; GOD justly may expose,
And leave me, to the malice of my foes.

Lest, yet, my frailties, or self interest,
Or carnall reasons, somewhat might suggest
To blow all this away; it, comes sometimes,
At midnight (as it did of late) and chimes
Dreadfull Alarms, which, do awaking keep
Mine eyes, when other men are fast asleep:
From darknesse, then, it fresh advantage taking,
(And from vain thoughts, which too oft keep me waking)
Thus, it invades me; what is that, which thou
Li'st muzing on, and ruminating now?
Art thou contriving, how to lay foundations
For thine own family, when Kings, and Nations,
Are tumbling down? and, when impartiall fates,
Are overthrowing Monarchies, and States?
Is this a time to settle, when there are
Earthquakes, that shake the mountains, ev'ry where?
Is this a time to plant, when thunder-strokes,
Root up high Cedars, and break down strong Okes?
Is this a time to purchase, when the trouble,
And hazards, make the payments more then double?
Or wheel thee (as by triall thou hast found)
Into a fruitless and a tedious round?

But, if a seasonable time, it be
For others, can it so befall to thee,

Whil'st thou delayest his affairs, from whom,
The means to make thy purchases, must come?
When, GOD, to build thy house, hath now begun,
Wil't then, to finish it to others run?
As if, he, who from nothing, heretofore
Thus far, hath brought thee, now, could do no more?
Oh take good heed, what course, thou dost pursue,
(And, what neglect) lest els, thy course, thou rue.

God, hath already, made thee to possesse
The gates of those that were thine enemies:
And by a means unlooked for, restor'd
That, which was taken from thee by the Sword:
Houses, by others built, to thee are granted,
Orchards and Gardens, which thou hast not planted,
He gives, in recompense for what was lost
In publike service; yea, without the cost
Of this Republike; and, had more bestowne
E're now, perhaps, if thou to do thine owne
Had'st not delay'd his work, and, to thy hope
For this (it may be) he will put a stop.

Why, then, with fruitlesse musings, busied are
Thy thoughts, on what, must be anothers care?
Deferring that, which thou art call'd unto,
And seeking daily, somewhat els to do?
Art thou afraid, lest thou thereby may'st lose
Thy late recruits? or, reinrage thy foes?
Or, marr thy quiet? cursed is that fear;
And, thou too, if therein thou persevere:
For, when a temp'rall blessing, makes us worse,
It is a plague, beyond a tem'prall curse
And, if thou take not heed will quite deprive thee
Of that which Providence, did freely give thee.

But, who are they? or, where inhabit those
Who dare to take away, what, GOD, bestowes

If thou adhere to him? whom need'st thou fear,
If in thy duty, thou shalt persevere?
Nay, rather, which of those, that seem to be
Most dreadfull, shall not be afraid of thee
If he be guilty? and, who (though on high
He bears his head) shall not, in privacy,
Think on thy lines, with trembling, when he hears
What they declare, and what his conscience fears?

If thou, said my good Angell, hast not, yet,
Quite shaken off, thy fears, and fanting fit;
Consider, wisely, of this Generation,
In those things, which have thereto, nigh relation:
Sum up together, that, which thou hast heeded
In those thou fear'st: mark, how they have proceeded;
What, they have been; what, at this time, they are;
What, they may be, before they are aware;
What, they design, in what paths they are going;
What, they have done; what, they are daily doing;
What Labyrinths involve them; what, confusions
Enclose them round, as also what conclusions
Are following; and, then, thou wilt not fear
Their power as foes, nor for their friendship care.

If, still, some outward interest, be that
Which thou desir'st to save; consider, what
Thereto conduceth: for, sometimes, the thing
We fear to loose, is kept by hazarding:
And, lost in seeking to preserve the same,
By other means, then that, through which it came.

If, thou, permit the proud, without a check
To follow their career, they'l break, their neck.
And, with themselves (as our affairs, now stand)
Indanger all the people of this Land.
Where, then, wilt thou be safe? or, where wilt thou
Injoy with peace, what thou possessest now?

But, if a word in season, thou shalt speak,
Who knows, what instruments despis'd and weak
May compasse? and, who knows, but that, of them,
Who, heretofore thy cautions did contemn.
Some, touch'd may be, with sense of their condition,
And, turn back, from the path-wayes of Perdition?
And, who knows not, that many may be found
(Whose actions blamelesse are, whose faiths are sound)
That, by these hints, may hart and courage take,
Their Neighbours, from their dreamings, to awake?
At least, therein thy duty having done,
If any be secur'd, thou shalt be one.

When these things were inspir'd, and duly weigh'd,
My heart, which was a little while dismay'd
From prosecuting, what I had begun,
Assum'd new courage, and went boldly on:
And, these expostulations, may perchance,
Some others, to the like resolves advance
On like occasions; unto which intent,
These few short steps, beside my way I went:
For I confesse, my theam I following not,
Have rambled out, as if I had forgot
What I at first proposed; and insteed
Of Riddles, to plain language do proceed.
But, I will wheel about, and with the rein
Turn Pegasus, into his path again;
Though, he, in his digressions (as we say
Of Beggers) never is beside his way.

Once on a time (thus did old tales begin,
E're I was born, or thought I should have been)
A foolish people, over much at ease,
Their wantonnesse, and vanity to please,
Among their may-games, brought home from the wood,
Trees, which had els, till now, unheeded stood.

Of these, they made, by hewings, knocks, and smoothing,
That, look like something, which resembled nothing.
And, out of knotty, shapelesse logs, did hew
Some statues not uncomely to the view.
These, e're quite shaped, with some jeers, and mocks,
They set up higher, upon other blocks.
Then, them repolished, and painted so,
That, of what stuffe they were, few men could know.
Beginning then, their own work, to admire,
They rais'd them higher ev'ry day and higher,
Till Idols they became; with whom, they grew
At first, familiar, and did them bestrew
With flowers and garlands: shortly after, they
Bow'd humbly down before them, ev'ry day;
Till custome, had their judgement more befool'd;
But, then (when these, mishrin'd they did behold,
Sparkling with Jewells, and with gold aray'd)
They, of their own Creations, grew afraid.
And, at the last, (as at the last, all do
That whoring after their own fancies go;)
These fools, repented of their superstition;
Bewail'd the slavery, of their condition;
With some appearances, of an intent
To grow more wise, as well as to repent:
Yea, to blaspheme, their new made GODS they spar'd not,
And, would have pul'd them down again, but dar'd not.

For, by their flattring attributes (long, given)
They had advanc'd them, to a sphere, or heav'n,
Where, uncontroul'd, a power they exercis'd
According to their lust; and those despis'd
Whose hands had made them, & whose breath had blown them
Too high, for their ambitiousnesse, to own them.
Yea, by their incantations, these, had brought
Strong spirits, into what their hands had wrought;

Inliv'ning, and enabling them unto
Those actions, which their makers might undo.
Yet, persevere, this blockish people will
To make such idols, and advance them still;
Till both they, and their idols are destroy'd
Unlesse the GOD of Gods, my fears makes void.
For, most men being of a slavish mind,
Are nat'rally to slavishnesse inclin'd:
And to fulfill their bruitish lust will fawn
Upon a Dog, and lay their souls to pawn.
Riddle this Riddle, if you can, and tell
What People, this may be, and where they dwell:
Which I believing you with ease may do,
Will add this following Parable thereto.

There was a time, when silly Bees could speak,
(A people, of much industry, though weak)
And, these, among themselves, made grievous moans,
As being much oppressed, by their drones;
Who (having made intrusions among those
That had an uncontroulable dispose
Of their Republike) did in sundry wise,
Incroachments make on their proprieties;
And, greedily, unto themselves derive,
The fatnesse, and the sweetnesse of the hive.

Complaints in private, no redresse obtaining,
Increast to open, and avow'd complaining:
Which finding like successes, they begun
To buz, as when their swarming time, draws on:
Then, to shut up their cells, to shake their wings,
To leave their wonted work, and shew their stings.

The Drones, at first, were startled much thereat;
But, being not so wise, as they are fat;
Neglected still, the course which might prevent
The mischief then appearing imminent:

Which, when I saw, I would no longer stay;
But, said, GOD help them; and so come away.
This Parable, if rightly moralliz'd,
Affords a meaning not to be despis'd.

And so doth this which follows: as I went
On Pilgrimage unto the Parliament,
Dispersed in my way, I saw the cocks,
(Which kept the hens, and capons from the fox)
With broken wings, with backs, without a feather
To hide their naked bodies, from the weather;
With plumelesse tails, with scarred necks and brests;
With empty bellies, and with combs, and crests,
Cut quite away; and scraping with their feet
On dunghills, for their food, and in the street,
So despicably, that it could appear
By nothing save their spurs, what once they were:
And, Popinjaies, and Parrets, cloath'd and fed,
By what the valour of these purchased,
(And, trim'd with ill got feathers) strutted by,
Casting upon them a disdainfull eye:
Which when I saw, methought (I tell you true)
It was no good presage; pray, what think you?

News, if you look for, I but little know,
Save, such as this next Parable doth show.
A fair ship, now lies floting on the floods,
Well fill'd with Passengers, well fraught with goods,
Labring to fix an Anchor on the strand
Of her wish'd harbor, which lies neer at hand.
By many stormes, much tackling, she hath spent;
Her Masts are shater'd; and her shrowds are rent:
Her ammunition, and her stores are wasted,
Her bread and bevorage is evill tasted:
Her keel springs leaks, through her uncawked seams;
Her knees are weakned, bruized are her beams:

Her Pump is broke, no Cable sound hath she;
And, Anchors have been slipt, till none there be:
Her Helm hangs loose, her Cards have great defects;
Her compasse likewise often misdirects:
And ev'ry where, she crazinesse doth feel,
From Prow to Stern, from topmast, to the Keel.

In this condition, too and fro she drives,
And, on the waves, with much ado, yet lives:
For, now of late again, the Seas go high;
A stiff gale blows, and she expos'd doth lye
To many hazards, close without the Bar,
Betwixt two Forelands, which in kening are:
If she were fitted, forth again to stand
To Seaward, Pyrats threaten; if to Land
She makes; the rocks lye scattered, here and there,
In which, as great, or, greater dangers are:
And, which is worse, they, who in her abide,
Are mutinous; and, somwhat els beside:
Some ignorant, some trecherous, and, some
Ambitious, how, possessors to become
Of what is other mens: yea, some of those
Who, have this goodly ship at their dispose,
Have in delayes, their time, and stores, mispent,
For private ends; or, for accomplishment
Of worse designes: and, in this great distresse,
(In part through fear, in part through guiltinesse)
So much amuz'd, and so amuzed are,
That, they are at a losse, what course to steer,
Themselves to save; and compasse their design;
Without which, to no course, they will incline

The Owners, and the Passengers, have waved
No means, whereby this Vessell might be saved:
For, to that purpose, they have not alone,
Put hand, to all things needfull to be done;

And, faithfully, unto their labour stood;
(Ev'n with the frequent hazard of their blood)
But also, willingly away have cast
Their goods; yea, some have thrown forth to the last
Of all their outward visible estates:
Few of her Masters, or her Masters Mates,
In her extremities, adventring ought;
Although their Cabbins, with rich goods are fraught.

The danger still increaseth; and those few
In place of trust, who to their trust are true,
Perceiving all endeavours rendred vain
By their decrease, to whom doth appertain
That Vessells charge; they labour'd seriously
To find out an expediment, whereby
Some other Pilots might be timely sent
Their neer approaching shipwrack, to prevent.
And, that by making of their Canons roar,
They might invite help, from the neighbring shore.

The motion pleased all, save such as had
Self-ends to fear; and, these a faction made
So strong against it, that, this Vessell, yet
Hulls there, with many perills, round beset;
Not knowing (without hazard) either how
To ride safe, tack about, or venture through
The narrow Channell; whose hid winding lies
Obscured from their knowledge, and their eyes:
And, one dark night, or, but one tempest more,
Might wrack her on the sands, or on the shore.
But, maugre all these hazards; she at last,
In her wish'd harbour, shall an anchor cast;
For, to the Leeward, lies an unseen Bay,
Where, through the soft Ouze, run aground she may
Without a bruize; and, shall recruits take in,
Ev'n where 'twas fear'd, she should have splitted bin.

You therefore, who conceive your interest
To be concern'd by what is here exprest,
Praise God alone, when fafe this Ship shall be,
For none could have secured her, but he.

And let not those, to whom the same relates
Slight what this Parable insinuates,
Which next ensueth: for, it hath an use,
That much to their advantage may conduce.
A homebred Lion (of a hair unknown
In Africa) by being overgrown,
And dreadfull to his Keepers, will thereby
Awake the rage of smother'd jealousie,
And lose his tail; except between his pawes,
He couch his head, and hide his teeth and clawes;
Or Rampant grow; and what will follow then?
Ask those you credit, they are Cunning men:
Of me you ask in vain; for 'tis my fate,
Seldome to be believ'd, till 'tis too late.
But that stout Lion by his prudency
May easily improve this jealousie,
Both for the Publike safety, and th'increase
Of his own honor, also, if he please;
And I do probably presume he will,
If my well-wishes, have not fool'd my skill.

Before that time, they who have took delight
In deeds of darknesse, will put out the light
By which the footsteps of their foes are known,
And whereby they might see to guide their own:
Insteed whereof, perhaps erect they shall
An ignis fatuus, which will hazard all.
To each man then shall Providence dispose
That, which for his chief happinesse he chose:
The dogs, who to their vomit do retire,
And swine (who love to wallow in the mire)

Themselves with their beloved filth shall fill;
And they that are unclean, shall be so still.

The wilfull Adder, who doth stop his ears,
And will not heed the Charmer whom he hears,
Shall feel a voice within him, that will shake him
Out of his dumps; and from his deafnesse wake him,
When 'tis too late to hear what might prevent
The dint of his forewarned detriment.
The Leaches shall by salt a vomit take;
Or els continue sucking, till they break.
The Bubbles, who in emptinesse do find
Their pleasure, shall be puffed up with wind
Till (being blown to nothing) there appear
No signes, that in the world such bladders were.
The sons of earth, who with the Gods make war,
Shall heap up hills on hills, till crusht they are
Ev'n by their own Designes; the Dogs that prey
Upon their Flocks, and tear their wool away,
Shall bark no more, but only snarle and grin,
And run about the fields without a skin.
The shrubs and Briars, which more proud are grown,
Then were the Cedars, lately broken down;
Among their leaves and thornes, a fire do hide,
Which on a suddain will consume their pride.

The grubs and maggots, but e'rewhile so small,
So poor and weak, that they could hardly crawl,
Have got bulk, strength, new formes, aspiring wings;
Yea dreadfull teeth, and horns, and claws, and stings:
But, by a storm, whereof they have no dread,
They shall consume as fast as they were bred:

Within the circuit of our Northern Clime
Not long before, or after these, in time,
Out of the putrified barbed steed,
Shall generated be a num'rous breed

Of noysome hornets, which abroad will fly,
Much mischief doing, and next winter die.

Friends possibly may meet (our Proverb sayes)
But mountains never; yet in these our dayes,
That Proverb's crost: for hills have often met,
With purpose on each other to beget
A long'd for issue; and it is believ'd
By many, that they somewhat have conceiv'd
Of great concernment: but you'l see the birth
Prove nothing, but a moldring lump of earth;
(As they themselves will be, till clay and dust,
Seek better things, then to fulfill their lust:)
For none can answer now our expectation,
But that great hill, whence cometh our salvation.

All this from objects which are found within
Our British Orb, hath preconjectur'd bin;
But those that follow next, to me appear
By things which I observe without our sphere.

The blasted Orange, and the crooked Vine,
With many trees on either side of Rhine
Shall twist together, that beneath their shade,
A shelter for the Thistle may be made,
Till they perceive what curse is in pursuit
Of that rejected plant, root, branch, and fruit;
And then they'l wiser grow; lest they may become
Exposed justly to the self-same doom.

Mean while, the tawny Olive shall assay
His roots into those Vallies to convay,
From whence it was displanted; and effect
His purpose, by a Wile which few suspect;
Except the Willow, and the Oke foresee
What for their mutuall good should thought on be:
And both the frogs and mice, which are in sight,
Be wary what is watch'd for by the Kite.

By which means they shall break a grand design
Which is on foot, their States to undermine;
And they who of this Peace first movers are,
Shall of that blessing reap the greatest share.

Observe this well: if ever you shall see
(As possibly it may permitted be)
That from it height, the RED-CROSSE shall decline,
The half moon for that time shall Northward shine,
(With an ill influence upon the Seas)
Beyond the Pillars of great Hercules,
And Southward not be retrograde again,
Till that a reascension shall attain.
But losses are sometimes a gainfull prize;
By over-sights, men grow to be more wise;
And they who know not yet what may concern
Their welfare, will perhaps more wisdome learn,
When more experience makes their judgment stronger,
By suffering losse and scorn a little longer.

We, on this side the water, are not yet
Confus'd enough that Order to beget,
Which must estadlish us; and shall therefore
Pursue self-interest, a little more.
With new wine our old bottle must be fil'd,
(Endangring wine and bottle to be spil'd)
Till such as are in powre be pleas'd to hear
The counsell of a slighted engineer:
With new cloth our old garment patch'd must be,
(Whereby the rents made wider ye shall see)
Till every old rag be worn out, and then
The Robe so rent, shall be renew'd agen:
And they that own it, be secured more,
And much more dignifi'd, then heretofore;
If they who must compleat it make their choice,
By lot divine, as well as humane voice:

Whereto self-seekers never will agree,
Untill inforced by some streights it be.

But when this comes to passe, there shall appear
A new light shining in our hemisphere,
That will disperse the clouds and fogs, which make
So many crosse each other, and mistake
The way of safety; then we shall perceive
Our Opposites desire to interweave
Their interests with ours; and to have share
In that which God will for these Isles prepare:
Wherein if we accord, we shall possesse
Each other, and the world in Christian peace;
Till he approacheth to ascend the Throne,
Who must unite all Nations into one.

Then shall the blazing Comets, which have seem'd
Fixt stars, and been by many so esteem'd,
(Ev'n of the greatest magnitude) down from
Their heights be thrown; and more despis'd become
Then Glowormes, or those rotten chips, that glare
In darknesse, as if reall lights they were.
Then ev'ry single person shall be brought
Unto his Test; and that which he hath wrought
Shall passe a fiery Triall, such as were
Made fat with publike spoils; and cloathed are
By ruining of others; will that day
Be hungry, poor, and naked sent away,
And rendred the scorn of ev'ry one,
Whom they opprest, despis'd, and trampled on.

Then they, who large indulgences contrive
For others, that themselves they may forgive;
Who cunning are, at fast and loose to play;
Who take to morrow, what they give to day;
Who make their seeming favours, means unto
Those mischiefs, which their malice could not do.

Who Spider-like, weave cobwebs, with pretence
To catch the noysome flies which give offence.
When none but harmlesse Bees their engines take,
For, through them wasps and hornets passage make.
They, who do sacrifice unto the dead
That wherewithall the living should be fed;
Ev'n when they (wanting what should life preserve)
Lie naked, harbourlesse, and like to starve.
Then such as Innocencies cause betray,
And justifie the wicked, then shall they
Who add more grease to fatnesse; and where's none
Scrap't off, the flesh that's left unto the bone.
Then shall all these, and such like, to their doom
With fear, with trembling, and amazement come,
And undergo deserved punishment,
Unlesse beforehand timely they repent:
In which condition they may yet receive
Remission, and in future safety live.

Then also they, who now are forc'd to take
The juicelesse apples of Asphaltis Lake,
(Insted of that which was the price of blood,
Limbs liberty, and of their livelyhood)
Shall better be rewarded; and confesse
There is a GOD that loveth righteousnesse.
Then they who have received stones for bread,
(Scorpions for fish) shall with good things be fed.
Then they, who serv'd like Tantalus have bin
(With fruits and waters, which their lips and chin
Have often touch'd in vain) shall that enjoy,
For which they fruitlesse labours now employ:
Yea, they who got but gall and vineger,
When in their greatest Agonies they were,
Shall see what Sampsons Riddle hath imply'd,
On them, and their oppressors verifi'd:

Out of their eaters carkasses, will meat
Extracted be; and sweetnesse they shall get
Out of the bones and ruines of the strong,
By whom they formerly received wrong.

Then ravenous Wolves, shall Lambs and Kidlings feed,
The thistly field shall bring forth pretious seed:
The Crocodile shall tears of kindnesse weep;
The Ramping Lion, to the cross shall creep:
And such things as were noysome heretofore,
Shall make our future benefit the more.

Then, from the buried Oxe, will forth arise,
A swarm of thrifty honey making flies,
That shall with sweetnesse, and with plenty store
These Ilands, from the midland, to the shore;
And, spread their floting hives o're all the Seas,
'Twixt both the Tropicks, to th'Antipodes,
(And all without) that blessings which now are
Somewhere enjoy'd, may then be ev'ry where;
To make preparatives for that which brings
Into one body, all dispersed things.

Other events, that seem of consequence,
I do foresee approachings, not far hence:
But so obscurely, that I cannot say
(Without some doubtings) whereto tend they may
For, far beyond my apprehension lies
The chain of those conceal'd contingencies
Which draw on future things: and that frail glasse
Through which the light, disclosing them, must passe,
Is so defective, that it may perchance
Misrepresent them in some circumstance.

Yet by th'inlightnings, which the sacred Writ
On sanctified reason doth beget,
If we will weigh, consider, and compare
Those WORDS and works, which past and present are,

To GOD and men relating; we of some
Things future, may aright inform'd become.
Yea, out of question, by these are foreshown
To all intents, as much as need be known,
Relating either to our private fates,
Or unto Kingdomes, Commonwealths, and States:
Jf thereto, for the right end, men apply
Their sense in faith, and with humility.

To find what sense my Parables contain,
No man that's wise, shall need his wits to strain;
For e're three years, are three moneths past the middle
Most men the meaning of them will unriddle,
Without an Oedipus; and think that he
Who made them, had Cassandra's destiny.
But these meer trifles are, respecting that
Of whose approach I tydings can relate:
For long it shall not be, e're that be done
Which will cut off all tyrannies in one:
Yea that which many thousands have expected,
Hundreds of years, shall fully be effected,
Before the Wheel of Time, now rowling by
Hath past M. D. C. L. X. V. and I.
Which numbers how to calculate aright,
From this that follows take a little light.
First, to begin it, you must learn to find
What year the Roman Empire first declin'd,
All whose Characters, us'd in numeration,
Thus plac'd, according to their valuation,
Explain a mystery: for of that State
Whereto they did belong, they shew'd the date:
And at that season 'twill compleated be,
Jn which Rome looks for her next JUBILEE.

My Ridling fit now leaves me for a time;
And here J'le put a period to my Rhime.

My inward perturbations are past over,
My brains begin, by setling, to recover
Those wits, whereby I may, like other men,
Converse; and follow my affairs agen.
My night adventures I have passed thorow,
And they who meet me in the streets to morrow
Will scarce believe how mad I was this night,
Untill they shall peruse what I now write;
And most of them, will then, (it may be) deem,
That others are more mad, then I yet seem.

The Perpetuall PARLIAMENT.

BEING The Result of a Contemplative Vision, revealing a probable meanes of making this Parliament to be both perpetuall, and acceptable to these Nations, if they so please.

A Paradox, though this appear to some,
Consider it, lest els, a mischief come.

Is that design'd? then it is time to vary
My Theme, lest, on a suddain, all miscarry.
Riddles adieu, let clouds away be blown,
And my Dark Lantern, quite aside be thrown;
That e're it be too late, I down may charm
The Spirits conjur'd up, to do us harm:
For in my contemplations I have had
A Vision, which hath some discov'ries made,
And in a plain song I intend to sing,
How we may concord, out of discords bring,
Order out of confusions, and restore
That Peace, whose late infringements we deplore;

Where, to begin the work; how to proceed,
That which is yet but words, may be a deed,
And to declare our means of settlement,
To be an everlasting Parliament.

It may appear, (and will be thought perchance)
At least much rashnesse, if not arrogance,
That I adventure to employ my pen
Upon a subject, which more able men
Have hitherto declin'd, and which of late,
Hath ground administred of much debate,
(And much dispute) to Counsells of renown,
Without a full resolve, as yet made known:
But these are blasts, whereof small heed I take,
For chaffe and feathers only, they can shake;
And he that all things hath at his dispose,
Is pleased some expedients to disclose
To poor and simple persons, now and then,
Which he conceals from wise, and noble men:
He, sometimes calls men from within the grates,
To Counsell grave, and mighty Potentates;
And they in meeknesse have embrac'd the same
Without a jealousie of any shame
Which might thereby reflect disparagements
Upon their wisdome, from those instruments.

Nor is there any cause, why such as are
Made instrumentall, those things to declare
Which may be serviceable, should therefore
Esteem their wisdome, or themselves the more;
Since they have nothing, but what they receive,
And are but earthen pipes, to help derive
To others, what into themselves they take,
Not so much for their own, as others sake.
And if assume ought to my self I would,
J nothing know, that arrogate J could

By what shall be proposed, more then they,
Who have not to this end a word to say,
Jf they desire to serve you; when they shall
Meet such occasions, as J met withall.

For, as when two great Armies, long ingag'd,
Having each others fury so inrag'd,
That over all the fields there are bespread,
Disorders rais'd out of despair and dread;
Such renovations on the hills and vallies,
Of charges and retreats; of routs and rallies,
So loud a noyse of drums, and guns, and cries;
Such clouds of smoke and dust to blind their eyes;
Such stops by them that slain and wounded ly,
Such throngs and tumults among those that fly,
And, such confusions, that the Chief Commanders
Know not what course to take; if then, by-standers,
Upon a neighb'ring hill, shall thence discern
Where some advantage lies, which may concern
Their friends ingag'd; and from among them one
Shall (ventring down) inform them what is done;
Where their foes weakness lies; and how they may
Rally their broken troops, and win the day,
What great thing hath he done, whereof to boast?
Or what dishonor hath that Army lost,
By his officiousnesse? or what's his gains
But knocks perhaps, or woundings for his pains;
From those, it may be, of his Party too,
Who know not what he thither came to do.

This is my case; who for such services,
(And such adventures heretofore as these)
Have gain'd so little, that none needs envy
The profit which J have receiv'd thereby;
Or, those advantages J might expect,
Jf that which J propose should take affect;

Considering, how many still there be,
To make my best deeds mischievous to me.

But, whatsoever shall thereon succeed
With what is now intended, I'le proceed,
As my peculiar work; and to be done
By no man, if I let the same alone.
For, (as it by my Journall Books appears)
Somwhat above the term of forty years
I have been on the hills of contemplation,
A voluntary Watchman for this Nation.
I, oft, when none to second me I knew,
In times of greatest danger stood perdue.
I oft was pris'ner took, and did inlarge
My self, at all times, at my proper charge.
I, more then once, to scape my Foes made shift,
With nothing, but my life, and raiment left;
And have perswaded been (ev'n ever since
J reacht the years of ripe intelligence)
That (next unto his service) GOD, in chief,
Gave me my being, faculties and life,
To serve my Country, and to have an eye
On those who hindred her prosperity;
And, to imploy my studies and my wit,
Jn searching out what might advantage it,
Though no man should regard it; yea, though still
J injuries receiv'd for my good-will:
And this hath oft produc'd such fruits as these,
Judge me, or use me for it as they please;
J shall, at last, be paid for all J do:
And, so shall they, who dare oppose it too.

Having thus prefac'd, to anticipate
Miscensures, J, my Visions thus relate.
When with sad thoughts J many nights and dayes,
Had over-look'd my one, and others wayes,

Considering seriously, both what they were
And in what posture, our affairs now are;
I saw so much confusion, and disorder,
The Chaos daily, so much widing further
By new confusions, and so few, that see
Or credit, in what hazards we now be,
That in these overwhelmings I almost
Was swallowed up, in danger to be lost:
And doubtlesse in those whirlpools lost had bin,
But that the clew, by which I ventur'd in,
Did bring me forth, and set me on a Station
Where I might view them, without perturbation;
With safety too, and with so true a light
That, thereby plainly, I discover might
From whence this Chaos springs; and by what course
We might (if possible) drink up rhe source,
Or make some such diversion, as would win
An entrance, where good order might begin.

As I stood musing, how this could be done,
A voice within me said; this works for none
But him to do, who first did out of nought
Bring something; and from something, all things brought.
Then said my heart, LORD, though this work, to thee
Belongs alone, yet instruments there be,
By which thou workest all things here below;
Some instrumentall means, now therefore show,
Whereby this may be done; and, then alone
Shal't reap that honor which insues thereon.

Insteed of vocall answer hereunto,
A firm perswasion, that it should be so
Possest my soul; and that he whosoever
Would faithfully and seriously endeavour
A restauration, either should acquire
The full accomplishment of his desire;

Or so much toward it, as might at least
Secure him in his noble interest.
Herewith well satisfi'd, aside I threw
My own affairs, and privately withdrew
Into my self, in season to begin
That undertaking which I now am in;
And whereto you, by these long lanes are led,
To signifie that I've considered
The Propositions, which to light I bring,
With good precautions, and examining.

One afternoon, as on my couch I lay,
About the ev'ning twilight of the day,
My contemplation introduced there,
A mask, that might beseem a theater;
And many grave spectators: for thereby
Was represented our late tragedy
From that time, when the Prologue did begin,
Ev'n to the very act, we now are in;
With each materiall circumstance, which might,
Be usefully presented to my sight,
Pertaining to this Nation, and to those
Who are, or have been, thereto friends or foes.

It likewise drew a map before mine eyes,
Of all our past, and present miseries,
With those distractions, and those contradictions
VVhich do prolong or multiply afflictions:
As also of each actor and his actions
Confusedly wrapt up with their transactions,
As they to me, and other men appear,
When we do look upon them in our fear;
Or as they passed by us day by day,
Whil'st we among the same confusions lay.

This mummery withdrew: and then me thought,
It back again, each part and actor brought,

Distinctly represented, so that I
Might perfectly discern with reasons eye,
What in themselves they were; and that we had
Of many things a wrong conjecture made.
That some, which to our practise were commended,
Have to our shame, and our destruction tended:
That others, which we judged might destroy
Our interest; produc'd what we enjoy.
That wicked projects, otherwhile brought forth
As good effects, as those of reall worth,
(Though not without a woe, to them, by whom
Offences, and prevarications come)
That some, which good appear'd, were nothing so,
That, others, making but an evill show,
Were (if consider'd simply) very good,
Or, better then they seem'd, if understood
According to the time, and present state
Of these affairs, whereto they did relate.

A Curtain then was drawn aside, that shew'd
A Table, whereon portraited I view'd
A Directory, teaching me the use
Of all that I had seen, with their produce:
Which could my memory, have brought away,
Had done this work (which I intend to day)
Much better, then this picking out again,
What their impression left upon my brain.

A thousand sev'rall things (some, neither fit
For my expression, nor in season, yet
To be divulg'd) were brought as in procession
Before me, in an orderly progression.
Sometimes confusedly, there passed by
Strange Apparitions, which away did fly,
E're I could well discern them; or my thought
Take notice, to what purpose they were brought.

Sometimes bright shinings from a light I had,
Which cheer'd my heart, and made my spirit glad.
Another while, a darknesse me surrounded,
Which, all my notions, for a time, confounded,
And sadned so my spirit by privations,
That I well neer lost all those observations
Which I had made sometimes appear'd to me
Such things, as in our Antimasks we see
Ridiculous, and worthy laughing at;
Sometimes things terrible, and after that
Appearances, which promised to some,
Much comfort, peace, and happinesse to come;
And so the Vision vanish'd, and the day
By that time to the night had given way.

But by what represented thus hath been,
By well considering what I have seen;
(By spelling out, what every character
Held forth, and what things evidenced were
By readring all together) found hath bin
Where that great work must first of all begin,
Which may make up our breaches, when thereto
Our selves we settle, as we ought to do.
In brief, I saw, that in the settlement
And constitution of this Parliament
Upon a just foundation laid with speed,
A course of restauration might succeed;
And draw on by degrees, a means to bring
Into right order, ev'ry other thing
Conducing to our Weal; and if we take
That way whereof proposall I shall make,
I dare adventure, if it do not thrive,
To lose my head, or be inter'd alive.

I have attain'd assurance (and without
So much as any shadow of a doubt)

That by this Parliaments misconstitution
We are uncapable of that fruition
Which we expect; that for the most part thence
Proceed the causes of our indigence
And myseries; and that 'tis naythelesse
The chief, or sole means left of our redresse.
Ev'n this in being now, this which men seek
To bring into contempt, and to dislike.
This, which they (justly too, in some respect)
Have laboured to make of no effect,
And to annihilate, as if thereby
(And thereby only) they should perfectly
Injoy their full desires, and be secur'd
From all the troubles hitherto indur'd.
Ev'n by this Parliament, God will effect
That future settlement which we expect,
If we too long delay not the pursuit
Of an impartiall rativall recruit.

For though the body of it being made
Of many members, hath among them had
(And hath yet) overmany so corrupted
That they have not alone much interrupted:
The activenesse of those that have been sound,
But are oft likely also to confound
The whole at once, by seeking how to please
Their lusts, or friends, or how themselves to ease:
Yet by their faithfulness, who have been true
Unto their trust, and active to pursue
The publike interest, redeem'd we are
From that captivity in which we were;
And many things enjoy of him esteem
(Though by some wants, enjoyments lesse do seem)
Whereof we had e're this been quite dispoil'd,
If they in their endeavours had been foil'd.

It therefore were an Act of Tyranny,
(Of high injustice, and of cruelty)
To wrap up these, with those that have misdone,
Because some fail, to have respect to none;
But cast off all at once, and from us thrust
With men unrighteous, those that have been just.

For if we weigh things well, it is their praise,
That they have marched through uneven wayes,
(Oft, ill accommodated) and have long
Opposed without wearinesse, a strong
And cunning enemy; that they have bin
Assail'd by some without, and stob'd within
By bosome foes; that they were lamed too,
In their own limbs, yet forward still did go
With perseverance: and that also they
Stand for us in the gap, ev'n to this day;
It is their glory, rather then their blot,
Though their good purpose they accomplish not.

It is from these that we denominate
This Parliament; in them is lodg'd the fate
Of this Republike; yea, what e're it seem,
This, as I said, is that which must redeem
Our late lost honor; and if e're this shall
Dissolved be, down all our Structures fall,
Not to be rais'd, without the cost of more
Then hath been spent upon it heretofore.

For what should keep it up? can wise men think,
They shall uphold it, that it may not sink,
Whom these depute? who while they do subsist,
Preserve, with much care, their own interest?
Can any of us, reasonably believe
The power which to their Substitutes these give,
When they themselves are outed, shall be able
To keep up strongly, that which is unstable,

Untill a Phœnix, yet unhatch'd arise
Out of their ashes, with renew'd supplies?
When, having far lesse power, and lesse esteem,
(As being an extraction out of them
Who are prejudicated) they shall contend
With those immergencies, that may ascend?

But, grant it possible, what way shall we
Contrive, whereby this power dissolv'd may be
Without a force, that may indanger more
Our safety, then it hath done heretofore?
(Since by a Law, it was perpetuated
Which is not rashly to be abrogated;
And which without inforcement, can by none
Repealed be, save by it self alone?)
It were not rationall we should petition
That they now sitting (weighing their condition)
Dissolve it should, till they can be assured,
How they may for the future be secured,
For giving their intrusted power away,
To those they know not; or, to such as may
Ruine both them, and those too, for whose sake,
They serv'd, that reasonlesse resolve to make;
Yea, should they leave to such uncertainties,
(And, to such hazards, as might thence arise)
This Commonwealth, it were an Act unjust,
And, an unanswerable breach of trust.

This Parliament, though (by and for our sin)
Her vigorous actings have delayed bin,
Through those obstructions, which it long hath had,
And, is by many foul bespatterings made
Unacceptable; though, that it should raign
O're them, the sons of Belial, do disdain:
Although, some also (without cause) have thought
That, to defame it, I my self, have sought

(Because thereto misunderstandingly,
They such invectives, and reproofs apply,
As were intended only against those,
Who seeming to be friends, were secret foes.)
Yet since it first begun (ev'n all along)
I have perceiv'd what works thereto belong,
And ever had a care how to prevent
Their scandall, by a plain distinguishment
Of Doves from Crowes, and of mens private factions,
From publike, and authorized transactions.

For as that man, who can nor hear, nor see,
And half whose limbs, corrupt and rotten be,
May possibly be all the means reserv'd,
By which a noble house may be preserv'd
From extirpation; so, how bad soe're
This Parliament may be, (or may appear)
I am assur'd, by many a circumstance,
It is that means by which GOD will advance
This Commonwealth, unto that settlement,
Which may accursed Anarchy prevent,
If those conditions be not long neglected,
Whereby our happiness may be effected.

As heretofore, when Sarah was bereav'd
Of that which gave her hope to have conceiv'd,
She, naythelesse, obtain'd a lovely son,
In whom a num'rous Off-spring was begun:
And whence did spring that light, and that salvation,
Which is the happiness of ev'ry Nation;
Ev'n so, when we had wanted many a year,
The likely Symptoms of enjoying here,
Another Parliament; yea when a stop
Was raised and proclaim'd, against the hope
Of such a mercy, when nought did appear
But that whereby dispairs increased were:

VVhen Tympanies had swoln our Sarahs womb,
And made it rather seem to be the Tomb
Of dead things only, then to quicken ought,
VVhich for our comfort could from thence be brought;
Lo, then, (and not before) it did conceive
A son of Consolation, to revive
Our drooping hearts; and which, if faithlesnesse
Deprive us not of what we may possesse,
Will free us from all tyrants, and restore
Those rights which they usurped heretofore:
And not restore our liberties alone,
But propagate the blessing here begun,
Throughout the world, untill all other Nations
Are freed from their Oppressors usurpations.

Before the sons of Jacob entrance found
Into their promis'd Land, they had a round,
Or Progress to fulfill, and many years
They in the Desarts were Probationers,
By sev'rall hardships, thereby to improve
The seeds of faith, new sown at their remove
From Ægypt, and by signs and wonders shown)
To make unto themselves their frailty known.
But they at each restraining of their lust,
Brake forth into repinings and distrust;
Yea into flat rebellions, into rearing
Of Idols (when his Law GOD was preparing)
Into a wicked causlesse murmuring
Against the means of their delivering
From Ægypts thrall; and into wishes vain
That they might thither back return again.
For which of many hundred thousands none
Enjoy'd the promis'd rest, but two alone.

And we are just like tkem; yea, we have done
Since God, to bring us from our thrall begun,

The very same things in the wildernesse
Of our Probation, and our carkasses
Shall there be left, unless we do betimes
Make an attonement, for our passed crimes;
And with unfainedness that course pursue
Which leads unto the rest, that is in view.
So shall our Leaders, likewise, who comply
With such transgressors, and unsanctifie
Their power: so shall, moreover, those
Who with our Dathans, and Abirams close
In their conspiracies, and quite from all
Their likely hopes, and present glory fall.
For on conditions, (as King Jehu had
His Throne) the peoples heads, they have been made,
And if they shall from those conditions swerve,
They must expect the portion they deserve.

Let them endeavour, therefore, how they may
Remove that fear and jealousie away
Which doth possesse the people, and withdraws
Their good affections, with apparent cause:
Let those, (ev'n those, who have among the rest,
Been least to blame, and have deserved best)
Consider, that by such as carelesse are
Of those great burthens, which they seem to bear,
The weight increaseth, and, that they so fast
Decrease, on whom their weightiness is cast,
As will e're long o'rewhelm them, if with speed,
They do not to some remedy proceed.

Let them take notice, that the people rage
At their delayes, as likely to ingage
In some disorderly resolve, unless
They see that follow'd with more seriousness
Which they desire; either a Parl'ament
New made, or somewhat that's equivalent:

For thereby, they conceive, (and that thereby
Alone) their sufferings may have remedy.
And somewhat to that end (although not so
As most would have it) may be fit to do.
Yea, if I have not misadvised bin,
Our cure must with the Parliament begin.
Assist ye therefore, to promote the same,
Lest ye partake with sinners in their shame.

There is a course, whereby without disgrace,
Or danger, you may bring that work to pass,
And free your selves from that great cost and pain,
Which without thanks, or profit you sustain;
Afflicting others too, by those confusions
Which are increast by your irresolutions.
Untill a better, therefore shall appear,
Be pleased that expediment to hear,
And, if of those preventions, or that good,
It promiseth, you find a likelyhood,
Take heed, that no self-interest, divert
That Approbation, whereunto your heart
Inclineth you; for God will find it out,
And cross the counter-work you go about.

In England, and in Wales, there is a Shire,
For ev'ry week that's numbred in the year.
By twelve, according to the moneths divide
The Counties, with their persons qualifi'd
For Knights and Burgesses, proportioning
As neer as may be, to an equalling
The number of the whole, so, or so many
Unto each moneth, without omitting any.
Ascertain then, the moneth and day, wherein
Each twelfth part an election shall begin;
(The middle of the week, appearing best
As being furthest from the day of rest)

On each first Wednesday, of each moneth, let those
By whom their Deputies are to be chose,
Respectively convene in ev'ry Shire,
Upon that moneth, and Wednesday ev'ry year,
Which is to them assign'd; and having chosen,
(At moneths end) let each twelfth part, of the dozen,
Send up their chosen men, to represent
Their Shires and Boroughs in the Parliament:
And on that very day, in which they come,
Let all their Predecessors give them room.

Thus one moneth some; and moneth by moneth for ever,
Let each twelfth part, still orderly persever
To take a turn, till ev'ry share hath had
A moneth in ev'ry year; and having made
Their choice, let them still enter and withdraw
Successively, by a perpetuall Law,
No man a place of trust, supplying there,
At one election, longer then one year.

Thus, as the Thames, doth still continue one,
And is the self-same river, though there run
A new supply of waters ev'ry day
Along the channell, so continue may
This Parliament, by annuall supply,
To be the self-same everlastingly,
With very little charge or molestation
To those who chuse, or represent the Nation.
Thus may this Parliament, be both together
Successive, and perpetuall; yet neither
Enjoying such a perpetuity
As can occasion future tyranny,
Or present grievances; nor that succession,
Which may bring danger by an intermission:
But make that constitution, which will add
All power, which may from both of them be had,

Either to compass, what good men affect;
Or to prevent the mischiefs they suspect,

What I intend may plainly be conceiv'd;
And to that end, some things may be contriv'd
Much better, if your wisdome shall refine
The rudeness of my profered design;
And by authority, some rules provide
Whereby th'elected may be qualifi'd;
And their Electors too; for 'twere unjust,
In things of this concernment, those to trust
Who have disturb'd our Peace, untill a time
For their Probation be allotted them:
And till they likewise, by some good desert,
Make manifest a reconciled heart,
Atested, and approved by those Judges,
Who shall suspend their former priviledges.

And since, ev'n they who are the best affected
To Publike welfare, often have elected
Such as deceive their hopes; since ther's no eye
But GODS, that sees the hearts hypocrisie:
Since it appeareth in the best Record,
(Ev'n in the volumes of the sacred Word)
That lots were needfull in the choice of those,
On whom they did a Supreme Trust impose:
Yea, since, ev'n when the purest Congregation,
In all the world, had with deliberation,
(And from among the most approved men,
Which to their knowledge liv'd among them then)
Elected two; a lot was also cast,
That GODS Election might on theirs be plac'd,
To send forth him, who was to be employ'd
In executing of the place then void:
Since also GODS Election, joyn'd with our,
May peradventure on the Elected pour

New gifts; since we by doubtlesse warranty
May with that antient President comply:
Since it will probably give good content
To prudent men, and may oft times prevent
The choice of those, whom for sinister ends,
A numerous corrupted Party sends:
Why may not? nay, why should not two be chose
For ev'ry place that's void, and one of those
Be sent by lot? that GOD may have a voice,
And joyn with men in making up their choice?
Since they, who must this Nation represent
Are GODS Vicegerents in the Government,
As well as our Trustees? who would not more
Confide in such a choice, then heretofore
They did in others? or, then they will do
In them, who shall not now be chosen so?

Why was it not? why should it not be thus,
If this the Kingdome be of GOD WITH US?
But that self-seekers find, were this admitted,
They by reputed fools, should be out-witted?
And get no Julet, others to devoure
Hereafter, by an evill gotten power?
Yea, wherefore hath the lot been from among
All our Elections kept away so long,
But that Usurpers, and Intruders know
It would their Kingdomes wholly overthrow;
Make them afraid, that CHRIST would raign indeed
Among us, (as they sometimes hear and read)
And that they should hereafter never come
To revel (as they have done) in his room:
Nor will they, doubtless, if this take effect,
Except it be our failings to correct;
When GOD shall by permission for our sin,
Reject the lot, and let a Knave come in.

If therefore some Provision might be made,
That we should lots to our Elections add,
A great security would thence redound,
And much contentment therein might be found.
Moreover, as an out-work pertinent
Remisseness in Electors to prevent,
(Upon whose due performance much depends,
Which to the publike woe, or welfare tends)
It were not labour lost, if whensoe're
To execute that duty we appear,
Some short speech might be made, or cautions read,
Whereby it should be offred to our heed,
How much it will concern us, to take care
What choice we make, and what the dangers are
Which may ensue; lest for sinister ends,
(For fear of great men, or to please our friends)
We may displace our trust, and cast away
Our selves, and all, for ever, in one day.

To which intent, our Orator should show
What trust it is, which we that day bestow:
What benefits may gen'rally arise
By chusing men couragious, honest, wise,
And fearing GOD; what perills will ensue
(Which by forepast examples he may shew)
If cowards, fools, ungodly men, and vitious,
Or to the present Government pernitious
Elected be; he likewise may declare
How qualifi'd such persons should appear,
And warn them, that they never do unhallow
Their choice, with any such as these that follow.

Men over-talkative, and loving much
To hear themselves speak; for not many such
Can keep or give good counsell; and they'l prate
Much precious time away, in vain debate.

Your common Gamesters: for, they are unjust
Unto themselves, and them we should not trust
With other mens estates, who have been known
To lose, or hazard, desperately their own.
Men to their pleasure overmuch addicted,
For Publike works, will be by these neglected.
Such as apparently are Avaritious,
Or of Promotion greedily ambitious:
For if their ends thereby acquire they may,
These may be hir'd, their Country to betray.
Such as indulge their lust, and famed are
In their uncleannesses to persevere;
For they will leave their Charge, to please their whore,
And shame their fellows, if they do no more.

Of irreligious persons make no choice,
For these will very seldom give their Voice,
But in the Negative, to any motion,
That may be for advancement of Devotion.
Chuse none who are defam'd in any kind,
As being vitious; for these means will find
To hinder all enactings, which restrain
Ill manners; or to sober life pertain.
Elect not children: for it is unfit
That in our Supreme Counsell they should sit,
To Vote in Grand Affairs, whom Law restrains
From managing, what to themselves pertains.
Chuse none, who are observed to withhold,
Their long due debts, when they discharge them could;
Or outlaw'd persons; for, unfit are they
To make our Lawes, who will not Lawes obey.
Chuse none, who shall solicite, or propose
That they for your Law makers may be chose;
(And their Electors, by the old abuse,
Of feasting, wine, and banquetings seduce:)

For they, who shall uncall'd, themselves advance
To that great work, have much more arrogance
Then worth; and it is also ten to one,
They for themselves, have something to be done.

And lastly, take good heed, that none get in
By your Elections, who have active bin
Against this State, till you, of them have had
Good proof, whereby secure you may be made:
For he that hath into subjection brought,
A Thief, who on the way, to rob him sought,
And straight way trusts him, with his sword and horse,
Takes not a very safe, or prudent course.

This being done, (as in preceding ages)
Let those who are Elected have their wages
Well paid, and rendered proportionable
To what the times require, to make them able
To serve their Country in the Parliament
Without their private cost or detriment:
For both our Lawes, and equity requires,
That Labourers should be allow'd their hires:
Yea, 'tis a kind of bribery, in those
Who offer, without wages to be chose;
And Boroughs, which unable seem to beare
That charge, not worth the representing are.
Beside, their choice, is (for the most part) made
By some Malignant Stewards; or, or'e aw'd
By misaffected Landlords, to the wrong
Of what to them, with others doth belong:
And their objections are but cavillings,
Who shall alledge, that these establishings
Infringe their Antient Right: for, be it known,
The Commonwealth no priviledge can own
Destructive to it self: much rather, we,
Who now, by Conquest, reinvested be

With what was lost, are bound to settle it,
Not as our foes wish, but as may befit
The present, and the future preservation
Of safety, peace, and freedome to this Nation.

Moreover, as upon the House of Peers,
It was the custome, in preceding years,
That there the Sages of the Law, attended;
To whose debate such points were recommended,
As to the Law related; so, let some
Selected be, and summoned to come
To whom each matter questioned relates,
To be advis'd withall, in their debates,
As needfull it shall seem; whether the cause
In controversie shall concern the Laws,
War, Merchandize, or whatsoever may
Require their best experience on the day
Thereto assign'd: that ev'ry work begun
May by it proper instrument be done.
Which will prevent much doing, and undoing,
And make new comers, in short time, as knowing,
As they that have sate long, and finish more
In three weeks, then in three moneths heretofore.

These outworks, will much strengthen, and secure
The works within: yet that they may endure
All sieges, underminings, and scaladoes,
Battries, assaults, and stormings, with Granadoes,
By foes without, and treacheries within,
To build a Cittadell, let us begin
Upon some Fundamentalls; and provide
They may for ever, unrepeal'd abide.

Let it inviolably be decreed,
That Cities, Shires, and Boroughs do proceed
Once ev'ry year, upon the time assign'd,
(On penalty of being deeply fin'd)

To make Elections; that we never may
For time to come, be headless for one day.

Let it be everlasting banishment
To him, who shall to change this Government
From being a Republike, motion make:
And to act further if he undertake,
Let it be death, with totall confiscation
Of his estate, without commiseration;
Unless the great Disposer of all things,
(Who, as he lifts, sets up and pulls down Kings)
Shall thereto by a conquering power compell;
And, not to do it then, were to rebell.

Whoever with the publike Treasury
Shall stand intrusted; and doth knowingly
Defraud the Commonwealth; or shall purloine,
(Whether it be in goods, or ready Coyne)
The worth of twenty ounces in pure plate,
Let it be loss of life, and of estate.

Whoever this Republike shall betray
Maliciously, or for advance or pay,
Resigne his Trust; or cowardly give up
What he had means to keep, or likely hope;
Let it (when prov'd) be death without reprieving,
Or any hope of temporall forgiving.

Whoever shall from any foraigne State,
Or Prince, take pension; or negotiate
With them, or with their Agents, when they are
With us in Treaties, or in open war,
In State affairs, unless the State gives leave;
Let him, without a pardon, death receive.

Above a moneth together suffer none
To sit hereafter in the Speakers throne,
On some great penalty: Because thereby
Both publike wrongs, and private injuries

May be occasioned. Impose the like
On him that shall absent himself one week
From Parliament, without a good cause shown;
Or, that without leave shall depart the Town.
Let some appearance every day be made,
That this great Body never want a Head
That's visible; and to prevent what may,
Unthought upon, befall us in a day.
Yea, on the Sabboth, for an houre or two,
Convene: for, 'tis a Sabboth-work you do:
And Venice, hath by long experiment
Found, that this Caution may be pertinent;
Nor will it over-burthensome appear,
When they are to continue but one year.

Let none in Parliament have toleration
To mention ought to their disreputation,
Who absent are; except they undertake
Of what they shall aver good proof to make,
On pain of an expulsion; or, permit
An Intimation, likely to beget
A misconjecture, to the injury
Of him, that is not present to reply:
But let th'Accusers and their Accusations
Be known, that those may have due vindications
Who are traduc'd; For, no man should enjoy
A priviledge, his neighbour to destroy.
Moreover, lest the Parliament become
(By multiplying Suits) more burthensome
Then all those other Courts, of whose oppressions
We have complain'd, (and render our conditions
Less curable) let it admit no Cause
But such as hath no remedy by Lawes
In force; or, for a non-fruition
Of Iustice, by their partiall execution.

For, by removing of such grievances,
And to provide against immergencies
Which may occurr (both in affairs abroad,
And here at home) they will have still their load.
If not: the being of a Parliament
Thus constituted, doubtless, will prevent
So many mischiefs, that it will return
Large recompences for all charges born.

Let it expulsion be from thence, for ever,
With some great mulct, for any whosoever,
That, as a Member of the Parliament,
Shall sit two years together; yea, though sent.
And, let no Lawyers practise for a Fee,
Or plead, whil'st of the Parliament they be:
Or any, who there siteth as a Peer,
Be Iudge of any supreme Court that yeer;
Or, during that imployment, execute
A Place, permitting not a Substitute;
That, in Appeals, none may infringe the Lawes,
By being Iudge and Partie in one Cause.

And, that to all men, justice may be done,
Among your Fundamentalls make this one;
That whatsoever shall be taken from
One, few, or many (through all times to come)
In publike wants, and dangers, be repaid
By equall Taxes, generally laid:
And, that they shall not make, or abrogate
A Law, diminishing one mans estate
More then anothers, without recompence,
On whatsoe're occasion or pretence.
Yea, let all mens estates reduced be
To lesse then forty shillings, yearly Fee,
Rather then friend or foe, should justly say,
The publike faith were broken, any way.

Which would inrich us, and innoble more
Then, if our hills of chalk, were silver Oar;
Our sand pure gold; our pebles, pearls of price,
Our fields as fruitfull as old Paradise;
And, ev'ry son, which forth each mother brings,
As Prince, or Lord, and all their Fathers Kings.

Then to prevent, the drawing those together,
Who, for by-ends, would fortifie each other;
Let him that place in Parl'ament supplies,
Who shall by letter, word, or otherwise,
Either contrive, solicite, or propose
Another, during that time, to be chose,
Be from his Trust, exiled with disgrace,
Never to be admitted, to that place.

And, that all Fundamentalls ratifi'd
In Parl'ament, for ever may abide
Inviolated; let no man be sent
A City, Town, or Shire, to represent,
Till by Indenture, under hand and seal,
He stand ingaged to the Common-weal,
And his Electors, that by no endeavour,
He shall repeal, or any way for ever
Weaken these Fundamentalls; but assay,
At all times, to inlarge them what he may:
For, Parl'aments (as heretofore our Kings)
Are but Trustees; and therefore in such things,
As to the publike damage may redound,
As well as they, shold Act within some bound.

By these provisions, (with some other such
Made Fundamentalls, we might very much
Advantage this Republike; and as far
As humane industries enabled are,
(To promise safety and establishment)
Secure from change the present Government,

Till men may dry-shod walk upon the sand,
From Deal, and Dover, Cliffs to Callis strand;
Or, Penmin Maure, be set on Snow-down hills,
And, Time unto their springs, turns back the rills.

This, would be like the river, wherewithall
The Tyrant Queller, clens'd th'Augean stall,
(As Poets faign) and wash away that soil,
And bloud, and filth, which doth our beauty spoil.
By these means, we might both in one, contrive
A true successive Representative,
Compleated in a safe establishment,
For ever, of the self-same Parl'ament,
Producing all their just desires together,
Who seek the one, or who desire the other;
And with prevention of all harms, that may
Be feared, by the one or other way.

By these means, we shall never be without
A Supreme power, or live in any doubt
Of harmfull change, if wisely we pursue
This course; and to our selves continue true.
By these means, there will still be an appearance
Sufficient, to keep up a perseverance,
In all great undertakings, with due order,
And with such quick dispatch, the suits to further
Of men opprest; that, they may hope to see
Those plaints determin'd, which yet endless be;
And never will have end, till wit or force,
Reduce us unto this, or some such course.

By this expedient, they that are in place
At present, may resign without disgrace
The Trust they have, to take awhile their ease,
(Or follow their affairs, as they shall please)
And after one year, back perhaps return
To reassume the burthens they have born.

Hereby, a likely means will be contriv'd
Of that security, which is deriv'd
From many Counsellors: and, distribution
Of burthens, will make easie execution;
More quick, yea, and more cheap dispatches too,
For those, who shall have ought with them to do.

By these means, if, a worthlesse Member come
Among our Worthies, to supply a room,
His heart may changed be; whereas, now, they
Who came in honest, are oft drawn away
From their first Principles, with them to close,
Who, mean to gain, what e're the Publike lose:
Or, at the worst, he must from thence be gone
Before much mischief, can by him be done.
And, such as do confederate and plot
That, for themselves, advantage may be got,
(Though to their Countryes loss, and neighbors wrong)
Shall want the time and means, which doth belong
To such contrivements, as are frequent now,
When, most, each others minds, and interests know:
For, by new Parties, monethly, coming in,
They'l break, as fast as they to knit begin;
And, Gins, which heretofore effects have took
By kindred and alliance, will be broke.

By these means, they, who do command, to day,
Shall learn again to morrow, to obey.
Many, shall be encourag'd to enable
Themselves, in publike, to be serviceable;
And, in few years, some thousands more then now,
The common interest, will learn to know;
And, how they may advance it, when they come
From that grand School, to live again, at home;
And, think themselves, obliged, ev'ry where,
To further it, as well as sitting there.

By this means, ev'ry man, within his Orb
Shall be restrain'd; and none have power to curb
Supreme authority; or, to aspire
By his ambition to a Station higher
Then shall be safe to all, and judged fit
For this free State, with prudence to admit:
Nor shall the daringst tyrant in the land
Presume to move a tongue, or lift a hand
Against that power; or plot, vent, or concceal
Ought which may damnifie this Common-weal.
Yea, by this means, we calmly shall reduce
The Parl'ament, unto it genuine use,
Without advent'ring what may intervene
By Intervalls; and, what hath feared been
(Not without cause) by hazarding to call
A new one; or, by an additionall
Supply to this; as now affairs relate
To home designs, and our next neighb'ring State:
But, if we fail in any circumstance,
Here mentioned, we never shall advance
The Publike interest to that effect,
Which by this Parliament we might expect;
Nor scape that tyranny, which is design'd
By those, who are contrarily inclin'd:
For, they that would be tyrants (knowing those
Who did the Regall tyranny oppose
Still zealous, for the peoples liberty)
Will to effect their purposes comply
With any party; and, then, by displacing,
By disenabling, or els by disgracing
The well-affected, at last, compasse that
Which is by them, in secret aimed at,
(Unlesse prevented) and involve us more
In servile slaveries, then heretofore.

For, doubtless, most of those who did befriend
The tyranny of Kings, will to that end
Adhere to these, in hope by doing thus,
To be reveng'd at last, on them and us.
These are no such Proposalls, as may hatch
A Cocatrice; or, be abus'd to catch
A private interest. No impostures are
Beneath a fair pretence obscured here:
Nor doth their Author act the Mountebank
To any end: For, he expects not thank
For ought by him design'd; nor, cares for more
But to discharge the debt upon his score;
And (if occasion be) to find a gap,
Through which, without a mischief, he may scape.
Which, if he do, he will confess, 'tis more
Then ever he could boast of heretofore;
Or, any other, who thus interrupted
The wilfull practise of a power corrupted,
Unless that GOD, whom nothing can withstand,
Secur'd him, by an over-ruling hand;
Or, by a miracle did change their heart,
As when he did great Nineveh convert.

This is the sum of that, which I remember
Kept me awake, some nights of this November,
When my affairs, which then at hazard lay,
Had tir'd in vain my body all the day;
For, my necessities requir'd the one,
My conscience cry'd, the t'other must be done;
And, if, now ought the worse thereby I fare,
My lot, as I am able, I will bear.

Much more was represented to my view,
Which I am unprepar'd (as yet) to shew,
And you to hear: but, if I had a pen
As acceptable, as some other men,

(And undisturb'd) it might produce perchance,
That, which the Publike weal, might much advance:
Or, had I but a volubility
Of tongue, to help my fluid memory;
Or, durst declare my thoughts, e're them I see
Array'd in words, that, weigh'd they first might be:
Yea, could I speak, as many now can do,
More in one hour, then they e're thought in two,
(Or, then I can be understood in three)
Much more esteem'd would my Proposalls be.

Here I had fixt, but, that there comes to mind
A supplement, remaining yet behind,
Of somwhat represented, as relating
Unto this Parliaments accommodating,
With due conveniences; and with supply
Of things pertaining to the Majesty
Of Supreme Senates: For, though, doubtless, they
Are best adorned, who themselves array
With holiness; though, they have most renown
When righteousness and mercy, is their Crown:
And, though the dignity of Governments,
Consisteth not in outward ornaments,
Or, neat accommodations; yet, the wise,
Having regard to mans infirmities,
Did in all ages, by their joynt consents,
Add to essentiall things, such accidents
As might to those men, make their worth appear,
Who could not see, what in themselves, they were:
And, that they who discern'd it, might not find
Discouragements, in that which is injoyn'd,
To which end, we prescribe unto the sick,
A gilded pill, and trim with Rethorick,
Our Arguments, thereby to palliate
What, we to others would insinuate.

And, to this end, were tipifi'd to me,
Some things, which will, perhaps, hereafter be.
Mark them, if they be worth your heed: if not,
Let them be passed over, as forgot.
Methought, I saw WHITEHALL, new model'd out;
With Tow'rs adorn'd, with strong walls fenc'd about;
With buildings, having much variety
Contriv'd into a neat conformity
Of fair aspect, and duly beautifi'd
With Gardens, walks, and with what els, beside,
Did render it magnificently fit
For their abode, who did inhabit it.

Beside the Fabricks, destined unto
Meer publike use, and common works to do;
As, in the Firmaments wide Orb, there are
Twelve mansions; so, twelve structures, saw I there,
In each of which (as in the Zodiake,
The twelve celestial signs, their Stations take)
The Senators, who moneth by moneth, vvere chose,
Had their distinct abodes; each one of those
In lodgings, by himself; yet, altogether
In one pile, vvho, in one moneth vvere sent thither:
That, for conveniency they might be neer
On all occasions; and, that ev'ry Shire,
Might thereby find the easier addresses,
And, quick dispatches in their businesses.

A constant Table, of one meal a day,
Was there prepared for a frugall pay,
That none might be compelled to stray forth
To places unbeseeming men of vvorth:
And, all things pertinent to preservation
Of health, vvith ev'ry fit accommodation,
Was there contrived, so, as they might
Pursue the Publike service, vvith delight.

No family, was licens'd there, to host;
No, not a wife (except a week, at most,
In guest-wise) lest the publike services
Might be disturb'd by houshold businesses:
Or, least the drudgeries, or nastinesse,
Occasion'd by a numerous accesse
Of children, servants, and their visiters,
Might spread diseases, in infectious years:
And, lest among them, some, through want of grace,
Might bring an evill name upon that place.

Nothing uncomely, or disorder'd there
Could I behold; no noyses did I hear,
Or such loud clamors, as have oft been heard,
Among the rude Jncommers, and the guard;
But, such an awfull silence, as if there
The Turks Grand Signior, always present were
By Mutes attended. To offend the eye,
Or smell, no dung, or sinks, did open lye.
I saw not then, a despicable shed;
No Coach hous'd there, or any Coach horse fed:
No little children in the garden sprawling,
Or, in the Galleries, or Chambers yawling:
No Bakers Boy went tooting of his horn:
No Milk pails there, from place to place were born,
As in those Courts, and Allies which we see
Pester'd with Inmates, and poor lodgers be:
Nor was there born through any passage there,
(Save such, as out of common concourse were)
Unseemly burthens, or, ought els permitted
But what the honor of the place befitted.

A Guard was needlesse then for their defence,
(Since, justice, mercy, and true innocence,
Are guard enough, and keep more safe, by far,
Then if an armed Phalanx doubled were)

They had true peace within; and through the land
No man against them, durst to lift a hand;
But, ev'ry one was ready to attend them,
And with their lives, as their life, to defend them.
Yet, for magnificency, and to further
The preservation of respect and order,
In times of concourse; and that no address
Be made, but with all due respectiveness,
They had an able Band of men selected
Out from among those persons well-affected,
Whose faith and valour had been well approved
In publike services; who, had unmoved
Stood firm in trialls, and whose conversation
Had gained them an honest reputation;
And these, arm'd, govern'd, decently array'd
In liveries alike, and duly paid,
Appear'd to give attendance altogether
When Princes, or Ambassadors came thither:
And, in their turns, at other times, to do,
That service, which they were injoyn'd unto.

Then, forasmuch, as outward habits draw
Respect unto mens persons, there, I saw
That custome, which all Senators did hold
In strict observance, through most times of old,
The Knights and Burgesses who represent
The Nation, entred not the Parliament
In common habits only; but, each one
A robe, or upper garment, did put on
Peculiar to that Senate, differing neither
In fashion, stuffe, or colour from each other.
To signifie (as I conceive) thereby
Their brother-hood, and their equality;
And that, they being thereby differenced
From vulgar persons, might be honored

According to their place, and known among,
And by the people, as they past along
Into the Senate; or, as to and fro,
From place to place, on their affairs they go.

Moreover, when that they had laid aside
Their Senate robes, about their necks I spi'd
A golden Wreath, which thereat pendent had
A Tablet, whereon was enamelled,
The British Isles, within the Ocean plac't;
And with a Verge of curled waves embrac't:
Which was bestown upon them for a badge
of honor, and likewise to priviledge
Their persons, wheresoe're they were unknown;
That due respect might ev'ry where be shown,
And no affronts receiv'd. These badges were
From man to man, (and still from year to year)
Resign'd to their Successors, to be born
By those whom their Electors should return.

Much more I saw, which should I here relate,
Would yet appear, things worthy laughing at;
(As these declar'd, already do to some)
But, when the daies of their admittance come,
(Which I believe draw neer) it will be found
That these Previsions had some likely ground;
And that the heart, from whence all this did flow
Meant well to you, though these things prove not so.

Hear me with patience, but a few words more,
And, to their freedome, I'le your ears restore.
As country folks, to keep out Witches, do
Within the threshold, nail a horses shoe,
So did I, at the fore-door of this piece,
Insert a charm, to keep out prejudice:
And, now, if some way els, it in be brought,
That, at the Back-door, I may thrust it out,

I'le fix a Si quis, (or it may be mo)
Upon the Postern Gate, before I go.

If any think the posture we are in
Will still as prosperous be, as it hath been,
Or, that GOD will this Nation still deliver
By miracles, although we shall persever,
In high presumptions, and supreme neglect
Of that compliance, which he doth expect;
They greatly are deceiv'd: For, know, the end
Of most things, on contingence doth depend.
We of this Nation, having walk'd upon
The Pythagorean Y or, Ypsilon
Are come unto the fork thereof, this day,
Where lies before our face a double way,
The one of them directeth us unto
Prosperity; the other to our woe:
On this hand, Bliss, on that hand, Curses lie;
Proceed this way, and live; go that, and die.
Ev'n Davids temp'rall Kingdom, (though there had
Large promises, concerning it, been made)
Was on his heirs intail'd, for their fruition,
Not absolutely, but upon condition;
Which, being broken; all th'externall power
And glory of it vanisht; so shall our.

Moreover, if that any shall believe
Our hazards are far less then I conceive;
Let them not trust to such a dream as that,
Lest they discover, when it is too late,
The dangers threatning us: For, I have been
Inform'd aright, what perills we are in.
And, whereas, of those things which passed by
From time to time, I sought to satisfie
My private knowledge only, (that I might
Assured be I had observ'd aright)

If I had thereby gathe'rd proofs, to show
To other men, the truth of what I know,
I should of such things demonstration give,
As few suspect, and fewer would believe:
And you would see, that we are in a course
Like his, who in a dark night rode his horse
O're Chepstow bridge, upon a single board,
When lowd to him, the dreadfull waters roar'd,
(Beneath the broken arch) and seem'd to say,
Oh fool! take heed, ther's danger in the way.
And some, perhaps, if they assured were
What hazzards they have past, would die through fear,
As it is said he did, when he had sight,
Next morn, of what he scaped over-night.
We think perhaps, we all this while have been
Upon as plain firm ground as Richmond-green,
Or in a Course, wherein as safe we run
As on the race at Bansted-downs at noon;
When we are rather dancing o're the tops
Of tottering pinacles, on rotten ropes,
Where, but that we by providence are kept,
We down had fell, at every stride we stept.

Yet, for the most part, every losse and streight
Which we are in, makes us but lay more weight
Upon the weak; and each Deliverance
Doth but increase our pride and arrogance,
As if we were resolved, without heed
Of judgments, or of mercies, to proceed,
Untill confusion should compell us to
What we might orderly, and timely do.

Lastly, if any shall be pleas'd to say,
Or dream (as peradventure many may)
That, with affairs I intermeddle here
Which pertinent to my Superiors are,

And not to me: To all these be it known,
The businesse which I treat of is mine own.
I claim, in this Republike, with the best,
A share, proportion'd to my interest;
And freedome, boldly to expresse my mind
As often as I just occasion find.
The common liberty, and common peace
Are truly mine, and no mans, more, or less:
I fought for't, and I pay for't, thrice my share,
According to the part, which many beare.
My Countries wrong is mine; her grief my sorrow,
And therefore they that wound her thrust me thorow.
They, who her wealth or honor fool away,
Fool me, when in that kind the fools they play:
And, therefore they, who thereto Traytors be,
Are therein also Traytors unto me;
And no man can without apparent wrong
Restraint impose upon my pen, or tongue,
In pleading of her cause; nor will I fear
To act my own work in my proper sphere.

For, though I have not power to make a Law,
Or raise an Armie, which can keep in awe
Her private enemies, and open foes;
Yet, I have charms equivalent to those,
In some respects; which operate unseen
Those ends, whereto they have intended been;
And will have due effects, in their despight
Who seek to trample on the common Right.
In this assurance, here I'le add a close,
To this, and leave th'event to GOD'S dispose;
Who, if we shall neglect (a few weeks more)
Good counsell, as we have done heretofore,
Will break down that, which might preserv'd have bin,
And, on another Base his work begin.

NOV. 30.

FINIS.

University of Virginia Library

The dark Lantern,

Containing A dim Discoverie, in Riddles, Parables, and Semi-Riddles, intermixt with Cautions, Remembrances and Predictions, as they were promiscuously and immethodically represented to their Author, in his Solitary Musings, the third of November 1652. about Midnight.

Whereunto is annexed, A POEM, Concerning A Perpetuall Parliament.

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

A DARK-LANTERNE,

OFFERING A Dim Discovery, in Riddles, Parables, and Semi-riddles, intermixt with Cautions, Remembrances, and Predictions, as they were promiscuously, and immethodically represented to their Author, in his solitary musings, the third of November 1652. about midnight.

And, concluding with the Result of a Contemplative Vision, revealing a probable means of making, even this present Parliament, to be both perpetuall, and acceptable to these Nations to the end of the World.

The Perpetuall PARLIAMENT.

BEING The Result of a Contemplative Vision, revealing a probable meanes of making this Parliament to be both perpetuall, and acceptable to these Nations, if they so please.