THE army's litany, Imploring the Blessing of God on the present proceedings of the army.  
By the Author of Mercurius Melancholicus.  
Printed in the year 1647.   

The army's litany.  
SInce that no wise man dares to say,  
Put the Army if they list they may  
Save us or bring us to decay:  
Therefore let's pray.  
From any soldier whose intent  
Is to o'er-awe the Parliament,  
And with his pay won't be content.  
Libera nos.  
From sutler's wives with faces tallow,  
Who with their Trulls the Army follow,  
From a Commander in chief, whose wit is shallow.  
Libera nos.  
From a soldier that swears, yet dares not fight,  
But would plunder London if he might,  
From meeting a party late in the night.  
Libera nos.  
From a Trooper that's mounted on a lean jade,  
And of cutting throats has learned the trade;  
From digging with a sword instead of a Spade.  
Libera nos.  
Frim bed-cord Match and priming Powder,  
From hearing the Drum speak louder and louder,  
From him that grows poor, and yet waxeth prouder.  
Libera nos.  
From underminings and counterminings,  
From soldier's groans and womens' whinings,  
From Booker and lilies false divinings.  
Libera nos.  
From mortar Pieces, and Hand Granadoes,  
From Blockings up, and Barracadoes,  
From discontented Reformadoes.  
Libera nos.  
From Southwark-men, who are but Treachours,  
From country fools, and City Lechers,  
From Sheriffs, Bailiffs, and Counter-catchers,  
Libera nos.  
From buying of our peace with money,  
From a false-hearted knave, whose words are honey,  
From a whore's temptations who hath a hot—  
Libera nos.  
From Harunies Pamphlets, and his fine Stories  
Of Asses, Mules, and Dromedaries,  
From Presbyterian Consistories,  
Libera nos.  
From a buffcoat blade that needs will preach,  
From the doctrine the Anabaptiss teach,  
From a Committee-man, or any such horseleech,  
Libera nos.  
From good pretences, and bad intentions,  
From hopes of plunder, and base inventions,  
From Peter's, when his dreams he mentions,  
Libera nos.  
From being persuaded out of our lives,  
Our coin, goods, children, and our wives,  
By those who for our ruin strives,  
Libera nos.  
From a winter's Plague, and summer's war,  
From sleeping till we ruined are,  
From those that do delight to jar,  
Libera nos.  
From those that now like Princes sing,  
Making themselves, but mar the King,  
From an Independent point, and a Presbyters sting,  
Libera nos.  
From laying claim to more than is ours,  
From riding on the backs of the higher Powers,  
From a brother that laughs and a sister that lours,  
Libera nos.  
From an Agitator that storms and frets,  
And goodly Monsters each day begets,  
From a Scotch mist that devilishly wets.  
Libera nos.  
From the Parliaments Climactricall year,  
From the Sectaries hopes and the Cities fear,  
From being forced against our consciences to swear.  
Libera nos.  
From 
* 1649.  49. and 
* 1652. If the world last so long.  52.  
And those Ills we then are like to view,  
From old errors that are revived anew  
Libera nos.  
From a begging scholar, or small beer Poet,  
Who can scarce write sense yet the world must know it,  
From him that's scabby and glories to show it.  
Libera nos.  
From settling all things by the sword,  
From those that hate our sovereign Lord  
Let England say with one accord,  
Libera nos Domine.  
THat it may please thy omnipotence,  
Father of all excellence,  
All jars and strifes to banish hence.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee our Sir Thomas  
May now at length fulfil his promise  
In settling the King, who long hath been from us.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee the Army may  
Consider what a preposterous way  
It is to impeach thus every day.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee to let them see  
How hard those Propositions be  
Were lately shown His majesty.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee, they may not rejoice,  
Nor yet with pride lift up their voice.  
But to maintain the truth make choice.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee as hitherto  
They have done, what thou bidst them to do,  
They the same temper still may show.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee, we desire,  
The Citizens may never tire  
To do what the Army doth require.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee, they may invent  
New ways against the moneys spent  
They are to have, more may be lent.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee with mild cheer  
They may bow down their backs to bear,  
They will be wiser sure next year.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee until then,  
My Lord Mayor and the Aldermen,  
May reinforce their Charter again.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee for to bless  
The Southwarkians with happiness,  
For that they gave the Army access.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee all Flesh-flies,  
With L●ke 〈◊〉 beards egregious lies,  
May be abhorred by all that's wise.  
Quaefumus te.  
That it may please thee the Army may  
No longer let the Tub-men pray  
Extempore, and what they list to say.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee they may declare  
Those roundheads, whose deeds are not square,  
To be amongst them unworthy are.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee since 'tis in them  
For to dispose the Diadem,  
With it they Charles his brows may hem.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee, they may vie  
With those that would have anarchy,  
And surely settle monarchy.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee, the Army knowing  
To what a height things now are growing,  
May stop those floods that in are flowing.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee to persuade the Scot  
To be contented with his own lot,  
For he must lose the footing he got.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee, the good the Army intend  
Us, in the receiving may not offend,  
And so at once have birth and end.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee the bloods of those  
Who some years past their lives did lose,  
twixt us and God mai'nt interpose.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee we may think on  
Our present dire confusion,  
Caused by the devil's delusion.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee show the King  
Thy strange and wondrous managing  
Doth make for him in every thing.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee the world may see  
Thy justice great and good to be,  
And what's the end of treachery.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee now at last,  
The King may in his Throne be placed,  
And those that hate him down be cast.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee to let him be  
Assured that aristocracy  
Will ever cause confederacy.  
Quaesumus te.  
That it may please thee he so may reign,  
And his sons when the crown they gain,  
England may ever in peace remain.  
Quaesumus te.  
So shall we be as once we were,  
The almighty's love, the Nations fear,  
And then we in each street shall hear  
Benedicamus Domino.  
FINIS.