THE poet's RECANTATION, having suffered in the Pillory. the 2. of April 1642.  
With a penitent submission of all things, that have been written against the King and State.  
In an humble Petitionary description, obsequiously commended to the honourable and High Court of PARLIAMENT.  
John BOND.  Scribimus, & scriptus consumitur igne Libellus. 
London Printed for T. A. and Joseph Wren. 1642.   

THE poet's Recantation, having suffered on the pillory.  
THe innumerable multitude of Pamphlets, which have been surreptitiously inserted above this twelve months and half to the ignominious scandal of the State, did not only exasperate his majesty's just indignation against them, but also highly incensed his Parliament against the same. Who to give plenary satisfaction as well to the whole kingdom in general, as also to his majesty in particular, intended to inflict an exemplary punishment on the Authors thereof. And it being my hard fortune, or rather misfortune to be found culpable in one peculiar Letter; (though thousand more scandalous libels, and more invective against the State have been published, whereof I am innocent) yet I was exposed publico dedecore, to the public shame of the world; as the sole contriver of them all. I confess impartially, I acknowledge the sublimity of my crime, and error, without which there is no man living: for according to the grave, and prudent (I had almost said oraculous) sentence of Cato, Neme sine crimine vivit. It was not withstanding no voluntary Act of criminal offence in me, but rather an astimulation, and inducement of impendent, and urgent necessity, et ingens telum necessitas est. Moreover I speak before God, and the whole world, I was suggested to write the same by a calumnious instigator. In all which, my cogitations in the compositing thereof may perspicuously be conceived to be innocent though it is not innocence that I must plead now so much as penitence.  Artificis scelus est, arte perire suâ. 
Thus Perillus invented and made a brazen Bull, which was the sole cause of his own destruction, thus Daedalus having framed an irremiable labyrinth, was first exposed thither himself. So that which was extracted out of mine own brain, (as Minerva was from Jove's, though she was more divinely guided, and inspired) was the prime cause of my misery, whereupon I am involved in that Condoleable labyrinth of durance, that unless I be reduced by the Ariadnaean thread of Compassisonate mercy, and Commiseration Actum est de me et de fortunis meis, would I had been Pythagoras his scholar, for than et labiorum ostia stricto silentii obdideram pessulo, et simul effrenatam Calami licentiam cohibuissem, et tum in catenatis hisce miseriarum voraginibus nunquam illapsus essem. But sero sapium Phryges, we are wise, when 'tis too late: and had I maturely Considered, and presupposed the subsequent casualties, which were incident, I might have prevented that danger wherein I am now involved. But I wonder with a repercussive amazement, that the Muses, and Graces did not descend their auxiliary assistance unto me, whom I will invocate respectively, to know really whither or no they have divorced themselves asonte Pegasaeo from the pegasean fountain.  

Where are those Dames, from Aganippe's Spring,  
That to their lovers a Protection bring,  
'Gainst inauspicious fate; where are the peers,  
Of all Poetck wits; who hearks? or hear?  
Where is Pol'ymnia, or Apollo gone?  
What have they all forsaken Helicon?  
Poor helpless I must then exposed be  
In public shame unto the pillory.  
But stay, retract that word my Muse, my Pen,  
Let it not pass, but call it back again.  
The pillory? Prodigious word! Have I  
Trespassed, offended, or transgressed so high?  
Let me plough through my works, if I can find  
What can be artickled against my mind.  
Now I perceive the Cause, hence doth distil,  
That I have been too saucy in my Quill.  
'Tis not expedient that a Vulgar eye,  
Should gaze upon superior majesty.  
'Twas that, which dazzled my dull Muse, I see,  
'Twas that involved her in this misery.  
Was Phaeton too bold, into the air  
Whose thoughts aspired, to sit in Phoebus' chair?  
As rash, as temerarious then was I  
Who touched Charles his wain too loftily.  
'T was not for perjury, that I have been  
Thy Captive, pillory, nor was there seen  
Heretic thoughts in me: oh than forbear  
Or to dissect my nose or geld mine ear.  
Thy ostentation most sublime may be,  
Which boast of That: A Poet honoured Thee.   
Since I perceive that the Muses have all forsaken me henceforth I will never dip my pen in Helicon to embroider my words with poetical elocutions: I will rather soak my Quill in Acheron, that all things (what soever I have written either dependent, having any reference, or against the state) may be obliterate with oblivion. But it is very stupendious, that those things, which naturally descend from any man, should oppress him with misery. Thus a Viper Produceth young, and she is macerated and sometimes killed by those, which she did once bare in her own womb. Thus Cassiodora was betrayed by the Crying of her own Child: And thus I was both introduced into this deplorable estate by the crying of my own poetic babe, promulgated by the street-cantors, and also wrapped up in this indigence by the same. The Capitolium was delivered, and secured from conspirative machinations by the irregular, and tumultuous noise of Geese, that frequented there: but in a mere antipathy and Contradictory Mytholagie I was betrayed by a Goose quill, so that both fortune, time, and example did all conspire against me. First fortune was mine enemy, that I should be induced to do that by the palpable, and parasitical incitements of others, which now is like to subvert both me and my fortunes also. Secondly time was malevolent, in regard it was done in the period of things, when they were all questionable, and amongst the the rest, that this especially should reflect on mine own detriment. Thirdly example conspired against me, for in respect such a multitude of Libels being published, whereof there were many Authors, that my fate especially should be so disastrous to suffer exemplarily for all. And now I do most submissively recant in all humility, and what I have offended in I am heartily sorry, and penitent for the same. Yet I was never invective either against the state or distressed Delinquents: only I confess some times I was conversant in innocent things: and I hope the apprehensive eye of the world will not misinterpretate what I have done. And I do with all obsequious devotion implore forgiveness and absolution of the whole world, for what I am reputed culpable in, and peccant: but more especially I most humbly supplicate the propitious reflection of the high Court of Parliaments mercy, and Commiseration, promising hereafter before God, and their Honours an absolute Reformation in my pen hereafter.  
FINIS