ARTICLES Presented against this PARLIAMENT, OR, THE PARLIAMENTS Hypocrisy discovered in VERSE and PROSE.  
By TERRAE-FILIUS, Being an ancient Lover of his Country.  
Printed in the Year 1648.   

ARTICLES presented against this PARLIAMENT.  By Terra Filius. 
'tIS now high time for every honest man to stand up and look about him; We expected ease and freedom by this Parliament, but behold we find it not: Taxes and Impositions lie still upon the People, and shall this be suffered and I live? I have written many pretty things in Verse since the beginning of this Parliament, which the learned of each House approved: 
But now Poetic Pen lie still awhile,  
For I'll in Prose the Parliament revile,  
And tell the World in spite of Factions,  
We are betrayed by their mean actions.   
And now I have taken my whip into my hand, I'll spare no body: Stand out Parliament and hear your charge:  
First, You are charged by me in the name of all the People of England, that you falsely and perfidiously, under the show of giving thanks, did accuse his sacred Majesty of being guilty of calling this present Parliament of his especial grace and mere goodness; whereas it was sufficiently and notoriously known unto you and all men, that his sacred Majesty was from the first day of his reign till the first of this present Parliament, a constant enemy to all Parliaments; and had graciously endeavoured the settling of Tyranny, as well in this as the other two Kingdoms, and to enslave the People (as well for the honour of the Nation, as their own good.) But finding them not less willing to suffer, than he was to oppress, and doubting (upon good reason) the People's rage (who incessantly in all places, private and public, cried aloud for a Parliament) not knowing what course to steer; was contented to call this, as a Sanctuary to which he might fly for preservation, if the Irish Plot (which was then hammering) should take effect.  
Secondly, You are further charged, that when the King had raised an Army, graciously intouding the destruction of you (and so of the whole People, who had entrusted you with their Liberties, Lives and Estates) you disobediently, and contrary to his Majesty's express commands, gave the honour of this Design to his evil Council, as if his sacred Majesty could need a Broker, or so little understood his Function, as to want crafrinesse enough to contrive, or courage to carry on any wickedness; nay, you are so proud of your folly, that you persist in it to this day, and with so much madness, as that should his gracious Mejestie please (after the example of his dearest Father of blessed memory) to bewray his breeches, you had Vored this the act of his evil Council, and therefore declared them Papists and enemies to the State.  
Thirdly, You are further charged, that you having suffered London to become a Garrison to those Rebels that assisted the King against you, have notwithstanding laid several Taxes and Impositions upon them by your several Declarations, commanding them to desert their said Garrison, except they should within a reasonable time compound with the Clerk of the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall for a Licence to stay in Town and continue the possession of their said Garrison.  
Fourthly, You are further charged, That whereas divers honest men (who either have lived constantly in London (it then being your Garrison) calling you Rebels, and wishing destruction to you and your Armies, or having borne Arms against you, live under your protection, and have since written and divulged many Pamphlets to your disgrace, and have thereby contributed much to the carrying on of this new War) have been at your extraordinary charge, taken and committed to Prison, and within half a day after discharged, for not having enough abused you, without any satisfaction made them for their Imprisonment, or any encouragement given (more than the favours and countenances of particular Members, their private friends) to proceed in so good and commendable a work.  
Fifthly, You are further charged, That contrary to the laudable custom of this Parliament, you have imprisoned and have endeavoured to bring to condign punishment the two stout Champions of Tyranny, Sir john Stowell and Master Tavy Genkins, notwithstanding that they have given you a brave disgrace at your Bar, and had always been active instruments against you, and had zealously endeavoured to enthral the whole Nation in slavery, and do still continue constant to their first Principles, hating you as over with a perfect hatred: Whereas it hath been the custom of this Parliament to punish their friends only that had done them best service, and to reward their enemies with all possible favour.  
Sixthly, You are further charged, That having admitted into your House, as Members thereof, several Gentlemen that have served the King in his late Wars against the Parliament, you have not endeavoured to punish divers ill affected persons, who have informed you of these Delinquency, and laboured to purge the House of them, tending to the great weakening of the Royal Party, to the preventing the wished for success of all his Majesty's gracious Designs, laid and carried on with so much blood and rapine; and giving so just cause to all loyal Subjects (the true lovers and honourers of gawdry and slavery) to despair of ever seeing his Majesty as powerful to do mischief as Nero, Caligula or Domitian, the sacred and anointed Princes of the Roman Empire.  
These are the Articles of your charge, get off them as you can. I assign you any day twixt this and this day seven nights, for your Answer; which (if it be satisfactory) must be now at length indifferently to administer justice to all men, to bring Delinquents to condign punishment (according to your solemn League and Covenant) to begin with the greatest (for greatness (certainly) cannot justify any man in doing wickedly, nor secure him from punishment; the soul that sinneth shall die) and so forward, if once you will resolve to walk in this path (in which only you may find safety) God shall bless you; the People's hearts shall turn to you; you shall destroy all those that rise up against you; Foreign and Domestic Designs shall fall in pieces, and be as water spilt upon the ●round.  
I cannot end thus, I must have a lash at your tails in Verse.  

Poeta nascitur non fit.  

YOu that have tasted Helicons fair water  
And honesty, have wisely followed after;  
Hearken and read what I do write in Verse.  
I saw a Vision, which I will rehearse;  
'Twas in a Moonshiny night that I  
Lay tumbling in my bed, I knew not why;  
When lo, behold, oh! what a sight was there.  
A goodly person did to me appear,  
All clad in white was be, no snow did ere  
More white upon a Mountain top appear;  
A lose long garment hung down to his heel;  
Oh! God, what comfort did my soul then feel:  
For on his shoulders two wings did I spy,  
More bright than any Gold of Barbary:  
By which I knew that God to me had sent  
His Angel, to declare all his intent.  
Then I lay still; he thus at length began:  
Fear not, but hear thou more than happyman;  
He that hath sent me, hath declared his will  
To thee at several times, when he was still  
To all the world beside; because he knew  
That thou art bold, a faithful man and true,  
And wilt not hid his Counsel, but declare  
To all the world, how by their wit and care  
They might prevent his judgements; now attend,  
And carefully thine ear unto me lend.  
When as the King not knowing what to do,  
Was forced to call this Parliament (as you  
And all men know) he did a Plot contrive  
It to destroy; hut's own Prerogative  
To raise more high then ere it was before,  
That him, as god, his subjects should adore:  
Many Designs he had, and Plots were laid,  
Which by the Plotters were est soon betrayed:  
For so 'twas ordered from above, that none  
Should take effect but that unhappy one,  
Ireland's Massacre, which though cruel, 'twas  
For good, though unknown reasons, came to pass,  
The King than takes up Arms, in order still  
To his old Plot, to make his private will  
Above the Laws; thinking that if it might  
Perchance fall out to have the worst in fight,  
He might return unto the Parliament  
And be received, although be ne'er repent;  
Thinking and hoping that a time will come,  
When for their follies he may pay them home,  
The War's begun, his sacred Majesty  
That put them by the ears, most graciously  
Beholds the fight with pleasure, till on's side  
The Foot began to run, the Horse to ride.  
The King flies to the Scots, by whose consent  
He come a prisoner to the Parliament.  
They send him Propositions, but he  
Will grant them none, because they how the knee:  
But this is not the course that they must take,  
His soul's asleep, and they must it awake.  
Let them be strong to God's work, and stand  
Up stoutly in it, or the promised Land  
They ne'er shall see; but by another way  
The Lord of hosts shall get himself the day.  
Edward and Richard called the second both  
Are your examples, mind them, or your sloth  
Shall be rewarded, for the blood that's spilt,  
If not the Kings, must be the Houses guilt.  
Now publish this, and if they do not mend,  
And tread this path; then tell them, I intent  
To come again; and to thee I will show,  
How England shall be lightened of her foe;  
And then he vanished. I surveyed round  
The Chamber, but he was not to be found,  
Now in obedience unto his command,  
I do declare this unto all the Land,  
From Dan even to Beersheba, though thou be  
Of base, or poor, or else of high degree.    
FINIS.