One sheet, or, If you will a winding sheet for the good old cause in order to a decent funerall, in case of a second death / by W.P., philopolites. W. P. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A54194 of text R32207 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing P134). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 14 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A54194 Wing P134 ESTC R32207 12356547 ocm 12356547 60149 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A54194) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 60149) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1024:16) One sheet, or, If you will a winding sheet for the good old cause in order to a decent funerall, in case of a second death / by W.P., philopolites. W. P. Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 8 p. [s.n.], London printed : 1659. Wrongly attributed to William Prynne--NUC pre-1956 imprints. Reproduction of original in the Huntington Library. eng Great Britain -- History -- Puritan Revolution, 1642-1660. A54194 R32207 (Wing P134). civilwar no One sheet, or, if you will a vvinding sheet for the good old cause, in order to a decent funerall, in case of a second death. By W.P. Philop W. P 1659 2587 10 0 0 0 0 0 39 D The rate of 39 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the D category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-06 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-10 Paul Schaffner Sampled and proofread 2002-10 Paul Schaffner Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ONE SHEET , Or , if you will A Winding Sheet For the Good Old Cause , IN ORDER TO A Decent Funerall , in case of a second DEATH . By W. P. Philopolites . LONDON , Printed in the year , 1659. A Winding Sheet , &c. I Would not have any to imagine that my design is to expose this sheet to publique view , as a Trophy of the pretended Good Old Cause its Resurrection ; neither would I have it do pennance therein , lest the products of its Sanguine Complection , should prove worse then Menses Profluvium , and consequently leave such an illutable stain , that instead of a Sheet , it should deservedly be called Pannum menstrualem ; but my intention , rather is to have it in a readiness at the time of its Funerall Solemnities ; for it is much suspected , that though our new imagined Common-wealth may have Twins struggle in its Womb , yet that it will at last only bring forth a single person ( which single product , ( the Reliques being more dangerous then Mola in utero ) may well cause the death of the Mother ) for the ●ffecting of which there will not be wanting such Mercenary Midwives , as will put to their helping hands , for the production of any thing though never so monstrous . Now what greater Monster can be produced , then a new Protector of another Family and Interest then what we have already ? But when this Tympanie of Pride and Ambition is swelled to the height , we shall have the bowels of our Good Old Cause break into a Protectorship , or some other title equivalent , and more Tyrannical . O' P. was as much for this Good old Cause as our new Pretenders , till he saw an opportunity of setling himself in the Saddle , and then the Keepers of the Liberty of E●gland might lead his horse , but Death dismounting this Champion , his Son according to the Humble Petition and Advice assumed his Fathers Room , to whom ( as is obvious enough ) Addresses were made from most Counties and Corporations in England ; looking upon him as their lawfull and supreame Govenour ( the family of the Stewarts being extirpated by these continuall new Modellers , ) But Astra regunt homines , and M●● being most predominant , at that very time when the signe was in the stomack , down goes Richard without an aspect of Opposition . It is very probable , that had his little finger been heavier then his fathers loines , he had not so easily been heav'd out ; for Similis simili gaudet , and one oppressor would help to maintaine another , especially whilst their interrest run parallel ; but he seeming , to decline oppression , Oppressors decline him , and make bold to practice that in their own Names , which they cannot have licence to act under the Protection of another , so that now every private Souldier aspires to the dignity of Dux omnium malorum , and blushes not to affront such , as maintaine them and their blush coloured Coates . But it seemes the days of mourning are over , and their black buttons , will no longer put them in mind of their old Benefactor ; the old King-killing Cause standing in Competition with his posterity , so that now t is as bad to be a Protectorian , as t was in the days of yore to be a Cavalier . And thus are we emptied from Vessell to Vessell , and every day more and more slaves to our own Countrymen , which is as base in us to suffer , as t is in them to impose : And yet all must be done Machivilian like under a pretence of Religion , and the liberties and priviledges of the people , when as dalie experience teacheth us , that nothing less is intended , every plaine Countryman , being so far become a Politition , as that he can easily discerne the face of these fallacies in the glass of his own woes , and Geographer like will give you a shrewd description of most of the high-wayes , at Westmister , in which though he never wrought or traveld , yet he hath faith enough to beleeve , that they are well mended in time of year of a long Parliment where there hath not heretofore wanted workmen , that would take more then ordinary paines in the Pit● of other mens p●cke●s , so that they might save their own soyle . And seeing they have an opportunity offered of making Hay whilst the sun shines , let us go into the shade that have nothing else to do , but to sing Solamen miseris &c. which dolefull ditty is the onely solace as I know now extant , and is like to continue till we turne our swords into plough-shares , and our speares into pruneing hooks ; which is not like to come to pass , whilst some of us are so prone to dissentions , that we must needs create disturbances in the Nation , on purpose to render the sword usefull and necessary : Whereas we were in a faire way of safety , and might very well have put our selves into a posture of defence according to our old Method , without that intollerable and needless burthen of a constant Army , which would be insupportable to any but Asses backs . But we see Customes in Martiall affaires , as well as Law , are not so easily broken , where uses are transferred ipso facto into poss●ssion , without help of the Statute of 27. H 8 , and a peice of a long Parliament Feoff●s in trust , which are as Conduit pipes ; I cannot say to lead the uses , because the uses lead them ; But however they serve to convey the sweet hony from the laborious Bee to the idle Drones , and if themselves get a taste by the way , t is onely in Correspondence to the Proverbe , That t is an ill Cook that will not lick his own fingers . But no more of that least I should set them on a stomack , that never had an appetite , for we have Task-Masters enough who will expect their tale of Bricks , though they allow no straw , and will exact taxes , though they distract Trading ; who , so that they may make themselves great , care not how despicable , or to what extremities they expose others : But sure such have little reason to promise themselves safety , in their private Cabbins , when the Ship is in danger of sinking , or to dream of a perpetuity in that , wherein others have had so small a continuance , the Wheele of Fortune being apt to turne , when it stands most steady : our late trans●ctions testifie as much , and may tend to the setting the right Spoke uppermost . T is an undeniable Maxime in Divinity ; That whatsoever is of God shall stand : And most true it is , Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos ! but yet he may suffer many things which he doth not allow , and then they must needs fall ; the pleasant success not deciphering the goodness of a cause , though it be never so old : For I never thought good and old Correlatives , because I have often observed that the older the worse , and we all know that a thing relinquished and forsaken , being new swept and garnished , is fitter for the reception of more Devils then ever . I must really confess that I am so much , what I profess my self in the front of this sheet ( and I wish for quietness sake we were all of the same mind ) that for the welfare of my native Country , I could think a Republique good , so that it did not degenerate from a Commonwealth , and a Protector better , so he parted not with that like a fool , which some say ( his father got like a knave , & a King best of all , that title being most agreeable to our Laws & Nation ) so he were not a Tyrant & nullified all good Votes , with his Negative voice , or stand so much upon his Prerogative till he loses his place : but from a Democracy Libera nos Domine , that our Parliaments may be no longer over aw'd with swords , like a dog with a Cudgell , nor take any more such strong Potions , as so purge out the Members instead of the Humors , which must needs render them an imperfect body , not worthy the name of the peoples Representatives , but rather the stawking horses of some preticular persons , to catch their prey the more easily . We use to say of two evils the least is to be chosen : I wish our new created Parliament may observe the same method , and seeing in this juncture of aff●ires , they could do no less then what they have done : I hope that in their progress they will make choice of Aristocracy , rather then an Oligarchy , that an executive power ( seeing it may not be in one ) may be committed to a few of the best , though not for the present of the strongest , and that such whose breeding and parts makes them onely guilty of multilequence , may not be impeached by bones only ratling with Magnanimity , which have nothing in them but the downright language of the Sword , whose Ignorance makes them despise that which they understand not , and whose Covetousness makes them desire that which others possess , who delight in nothing less than peace , because it is no time for Plunder , and care not what confusions they introduce , so they produce their profit and keep the Nation still ( Monster like ) with the Tail where the Head should stand , which sight hath cost every English man a vast deal more , then many a Show that is not worth two pence : I speak not this to extenuate the honour due to Martial Discipline , which may tend much to the glory of a Nation , nor to derogate from the worthiness of such Martigons whose merits may sufficiently manifest that my speech is not intended of them , though it be in some sort directed to them , only to this end that it may the more conspicuously appear that they have drawn the Sword for their Countries good , by being willing to lay it down for their advantage ; and as opportunity shall offer it self , to send those Mercinaries under their command ( that will fight on any side for 6. d. odds ) to their quondam imployments , whose desire is only to make a Trade of War , and to live upon the ruins of others , being not willing to be accounted non-proficients under their late grand Tutor , who was so well experienced in the Game at Put ; that by the advantage of a few spots , cunningly rendred the King an inconsiderable Card ; and these illegitimate Births of that corrupted Parent are grown to that maturity that they are ever ready to run the hazard of a forcible entry , and in imitation of their old Gamester put honest men out of doors , though they have nothing but a Knave to shew for t . But we are now at One and thirty , a Game that ( without disparagement ) may be plaid at a Council Table , where if the Gamesters be not self-seekers , this miserable cheated Nation may be the greater Winners . But now to turn to our Good Old Cause , which being new come to Town , may justly take exceptions , that I have been so long averse , & not exercised towards her Ladiships those common civilities , that are usual to all Strangers , as to solicite their stay , though they never desire it , &c. But I must beg an excuse , not being bred up in the Academy of Complements ; therefore not apt to flatter , neither can I speak Ironically , though I have learned the Figure , being more apt to Tom Tell-Troths Dialect , and to speak what I think . But to tell you true , and which is a bad Omen , there are so many Anabaptists , Familists , S●●kers , Quakers , Cum multis aliis , that rejoyce at this new Ghuest , that I thought my entertainment would not be acceptable ; and another notorious Company of Gotamites , which notwithstanding I had almost forgot , viz. our Church Antagonists , that cannot endure the sight of a holy Sister in a Steeple-house , but forsooth they must have a convenient meeting place , where they may mingle together in Friendship to beget Reformations . These sensless brood of Hypocrites , or ( at best ) blind Zealots , together withal the spurious issue of Jesuitical impostors ; bearing , as one saith in another case ) a sacred hatred to whatever is comely and decorous , do in a perpetual scorn to it distort all their Actions to the contrary Mode , applauding themselves only in an unlimited liberty , and of doing whatever either their fond or foul imaginations suggest to them . As for their outward garb , t is a cloak of Religion , lin'd thorow with fair hypocrisie which Irish-man like , is never off in the basest imployments ; their Conscience they carry in their pockets loco crumenae , which they can stretch upon all covetous occasions , even to the Reception of all Revenues , that tend to the incouragement , either of learning or Religion . But to hang by these Ideots , let us wish this Good Old Cause better Favorites , that seeing there is such fair pretences we may see some performances equivalent , and that those in Authority may more regard the Publique than their private Commodity : that so the good People of this Nation may be as much satisfied with the effects of this Change , as they are for the present discontented . That a Learned and Godly Ministry may be countenanced : so that Court and Church be not at once destroyed , nor the Universities be forced to follow Whitehall , which ( they say ) is to be purchased by Iews , and I hope no true Christians will meddle with the other . To conclude , If this GOOD OLD CAUSE puts us not into a bad new Case and Condition worse then ever , we might well forget the fifth of November , if the greater deliverance , might justly obliterate the less . FINIS .