Tyrannical-government anatomised: OR, A discourse Concerning EVIL-COUNCELLORS. BEING The Life and Death of JOHN the Baptist. AND Presented to the King's most Excellent MAJESTY by the Author. Die Martis, 30. Januarii, 1642 IT is Ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons concerning Printing, That this Book be forthwith printed and published: John white. London, Printed for JOHN FIELD, 16●●. The Collocutors and complainants, or, Persons speaking. Malchus, Pharisee. Gamaliel, Pharisee. John the Baptist. Chorus, or a company of Jews. King Herod. The Queen Herodias. The Queen's Daughter. Nuntius, or the Messenger. The life and death of JOHN the BAPTIST. The first part. Malchus, Gamaliel, Rabines. Malchus. O This old wretched Age, the neighbouring bounds of our last breath, and you unhappy Fates, long life on us have you bestowed for this? or for these uses: That we should behold our Temples lewdly, cursedly defiled, our holy things profaned, our Country slaved, the relics of our Fame( which none might enter) broken before me, and the sacred gold rent from the posts: what ere the greedy will of stern Gabinius could by Rapine gain, or Anthony's luxurious power exhaust, all's lost, and we have been a mocking stock( which I abhor to hear, much more to speak) to Cleopatra's gluttonous desires: and lest we should not be in every part disgraced and vilified, we now are brought under a cruel King, the nephew's Son of half Arabian Artipater, Judaea serves an Idumaean Tyrant, while an Arabian Lord in Zion Reigns, God's people and Jerusalem, a man profane and impious: yet in this distress, among so many wounds of raging chance, some sparks of ancient honour did remain a pattern of our country's Discipline: such as it is, which by our foes themselves is to be reverenced, the furious Victor, and no small number of his purpled Court, began to dignify the Jewish Lawe●. We w●●h t●is h●pe ●efresht, though well near tired with misery, had hardly taken heart to readvance our heads, when out alas, a heinous matter which we never feared, did suddenly arise a new Baptizer▪ whose Pa●entage is holy, who was bred among strange worships, but by Nation ours, by Stock a Levite given unto God, even from his infant cradle, being Son of an highpriest, and shortly to receive that dignity himself, unless he choose rather to taste false glories bitter fruit, than honour's harvest in due time to reap. He therefore keeping in the desert soil deceives, with show of sanctity severe, the simple people, clothed in skins of beasts, his hair uncombed, and feeding Savage like; by which delusions he draws the looks of all men towards him, the common sort being poss●st with ignorant belief, that a new Prophet to the world is sent; And now unto himself he hath reduced an Army of the vulgar following him. Him only now the people all admire, leaving their Cities, Noblemen and King's honour and fear him, where he past with pride through the madness of the multitude, new laws gives like another Moses, cleansing crimes with water, and presumes our ancient laws with new Rites to adulterate; and rends the Fathers with reproaches, to enjoy the people's mad affection with more ease, who give him gentle hearing; but if none himself oppose against this thief's attempts, raging and ranging with bold insolence. That sanctity throughout the world renowned will soon expire, nay, it expireth now, or rather hath expired. Gam. Men of our calling must do nothing rashly, mildness becomes mild Fathers; to young men, if through temerity they go astray, a pardon may be given, but a fault by one of us committed, no excuse to veil it can pr●vaile; Be calm a while, this rage appease, and let your sorrow slaked. Ma●ch. Then you Gamaliel( as it seems) approve this cursed Caitiffs actions. Gam. Malchus, no, I neither do approve, nor yet condemn●, before I know the matter that concerns this new-come Prophet, who is not a man( so far as I can hear) so full of ill, nor to be so oppressed with public hate. Malch. O Stars, O Heaven, O Earth! that wicked wretch wants not a Patron here, that can uphold his manners to be good. Gam. Who vice reproves, good manners teaching, leads the way himself, which unto others plainly he directs, can you persuade me that this man is naught? Malch. He that our Laws contemns, new Sects doth teach, besides new Ritts, reviles our Magistrates, and our high Priests with calumny pursues, can you persuade me that this man is good? Gam. If we were equally against ourselves Judges austere, and milder towards others, than we are oftentimes, our heinous crimes would lie more open unto public view and sharp reproaches, howsoever we flatter ourselves and are proclaimed bles●, reputed by the common people, Saints, chaste, pious, and upright, but of us all, none from t●e greatest fault was ever free, Malch: Gamaliel, that these things may be true, is●t lawful for a vulgar man to rail against a Prelate? Let the people hear, yielding obedience and sober live, refuse no reins by him upon them cast, he can reduce the vulgar if they are to the right way, let him be as a law unto himself, but if in aught he chance to go astray, the wicked, God doth see and sharply punish. Gam. And do you conceive this Law is j●st? Malch. I do indeed. Gam. And why? blind ignorance and want of skill. Malch. Because rashness and error commonly are found as proper and peculiar to the vulgar. Gam. He that to Prin●es wisdom gives not place, is often taken from the vulgar throng. Malch. But give we place then in this chair to shepherds. Gam. Moses a shepherd was, and David too. Malch. They were taught all things by the spirit of God. Gam. He that taught them can also tutor this. Malch. Will God instruct him, and relinquish us? Gam. God, neither sceptre, parents, noble stock, beauty, nor Kingly riches doth respect, but hearts that no contagion of deceit, of lust, or cruelty doth once pollute; The holy spirit in this Temple rests. Malch. Surely Gamaliel( to confess a truth) you seem to me of ●ate by your opinion, a plain approver of that wicked Sec●; I can no longer smother what I think, seeing you do such things as are unworthy both of your Ancestors and of yourself, you that of all the rest ought to defend, do chiefly our authority offend, and that in favour of a mad young man: For God's sake tell me, What's your trials hope, what profit do you seek to get by this? Perhaps he'll give you honour or great wealth, who ●tterly destroys our orders, honour, and labours to undo us. Gam. Truly Malchus, you shoot far from the mark, that you suppose, we can defend our dignity with pride and arrogancy, or with strength of Arms, our parents were not by such means advanced. Malch. Our ancient Laws and Orders more bec●me us that are ancient, and let each one live according to the manner of his time. Gam. But rather good things good men still become. Malch. If we had any of our father's spirit. Gam. Our father's manners should our lives direct. Malch. This wicked fellow by a speedy death not threatenings had been punished. Gam. ●or our order, cruelty is unmeet. Malch. What's done for God, holy and pious is. Gam. To put to death without desert, is impious piety. Malch. Deserves not he to die, that all subverts? Gam. If he transgress, why do you not confute him in public view with arguments and reasons? Why do you not show there your light of wit? you being expert, learned, and so old, set upon one that's rude, unlearned, so young to the right way perhaps you may reduce him, and glory to yourself, mongst all men gain. Malch. That wound is never to be gently cur●d, but with ●ord, sword, and fire, or if you know any thing more to ●ormenting. Gam. Be he such as you express him, or worse if you will, yet one thing to yourself you ought to give: that first you freely and in gentle wise admonish him, lest any one do think, that you would rather cast him headlong down, doubtful of heaven then extend your hand to save him falling; It concerns you much, that all your Enemies may understand, your will is good to save all, none destroy, but such a one as with a mind perverse precipitates himself: one thing at least I crave ere you by wrath be further drawn, consider by this obstinate condition what you may gain. Malch. Why this, confound a foe, comfort the good, and terrify the shameless, confirm the wavering mind, and with this blood our country's Laws establish. Gam. Rather this you shall obtain, to be accounted one, that with all power of tyranny hath rom'd, until you did a holy man confound, one whom by reason you could not convince. Malch. Then let him be as holy as he will and grave, God's spirit doth not him direct, who does neglect the father's ancient Rules, and seeing no redress with you I find, I'll seek the King's assistance against ruin. Chorus. Gamaliel in my judgement counsels well, obey him therefore; but I speak in vain, since wrath, the enemy of God's advise, darkens his minds clear sight, who stops his ears to wholesome admonitions. Gam. he's gone in wrath and swelling with disdain; for my part, what was lawful, to my power I earnestly advised him with mild words, endeavouring to assuage his raging spirits: I gave him faithful counsel, but so far is he ingrate from giving any thanks, that he even hates me for my good desert. Such is the common course, & a great fault in our degree is this, that we deceive with show of sanctity, the common sort, that safely we God's precepts may despise; but if against our customs ought they dare, we practise to subvert them with our gold, or witnesses suborned, and cut them off by secret poison, filling Herod's ears with feigned utterance, what our mind offends, revenging with false rumours, while his breast with rage affected we the more incense, and arm the violence of cruel wrath with calumnies. But Malchus now is gone, unmindful of all modesty, to Court, where he will feign the rising of new Sects, deserting of the father's holy Rites, and that the King's Prerogative and power lies open to derision▪ to conclude, what ere he holds commodious to himself, masking his wickedness with honest names, if these he finds the King but little move, another dart more cruel he'll invent, he'll cry the sworn Bands that attend the King do secretly conspire, some wicked plot preparing, they digest: Troops meet by night, their private wealth by ●actions to augment, these he will feign or worse into his ●ars, these poisons of his wit he will instill. And this in Princes is a common fault, gently to hearken unto secret Tell-tales, whereby what is most cruel, though but feigned, they easily believe, and feign vain fears unto themselves, pursuing the light air of movable Report, where he that gives faithful advertisement is holden dull, torped and ●merous: We change the name of quondam virtue now, now not adorued with any virtue, but with glorious titles proudly preferred the Vulgar we beguile. As for this Prophet, with my soul I wish our Order with more modesty and wisdom, and would bear themselves, if hither he be sent by ●ods appointment, there's no power of man that can withstand him, but if he devise mischief by fraud concealed, with his sword he'll soon confound himself, ●et every man interpret as his own condition guides him: If any here my sentence do allow, his hands he may keep clear of guiltless blood: Nor let us be profuse of holy blood, lest those examples that in cruel sort we make for others, afterwards return on our own heads▪ dwells not in Herod's heart immanity enough, unless his rage by firebrands added to his wrath, increase? Cho: O what a night of darkness doth possess the minds of mortals! what Cymerian●ave do we inhabit, while this brittle life doth swiftly fleet away? False mod●sty doth screen the brazen face, piety's vale the impious doth conceal, Litigious men peace in their looks do feign, and the deceitful, verity in words: The visage where sad gravity did dwell, the only symbol of a modest life, now turns to cruelty with boiling wra●h, and healdong estautes with furious ●its. Even as the vapours of hot Et●a's Furnace with a swift rolling turns the stones about or into embers, flames Vesveus burn: so the blind fury of revenge excites this Malchus on a guiltless man to fall, and falsely to accuse poor naked truth. Oh thou desire of glory, swo●n with pride, mother of ●o great mischief, glittering praise of goodness coloured with a show divine; when the minds Kingdom thou hast once possessed, with flattering poison thou inchauntst our thoughts, and( reason bani●ht) thou disturb'st the Court, the Court within us; Piety and truth, with shamefastness and faith, are fled from thee: Faith of the better Age a common Guest, hath lastly left the vice-dishonored earth. If there were any Artist that could set( the foreheads clouds removed.) our cares to sight( the breast being made transparent) and disclose our minds dark inner parts you might perceive monsters there varied into wondrous forms, and those all stabled in a little Cell, being more than in remote and foreign parts Nilus and Ganges bear, or all the births that Affrick● yields, with furious portents, and those that hored Caucasus affords in his dark Dens; the cruel tiger's rage would not be wanting there, nor the fierce wildness of the deep shining yellow lioness, nor the dire gluttony of ranging Wolves, whose appetites no slaughter can assuage, nor the fell basalisks with poisoning breath, or stinging asp that brings long lasting ●●eepe, or Scorpion dreaded for his hooky tail, or Crocodile whose voice with feigned tears so sound through the seaweeds, nor the fox's wiles, or the Hyenaes' ●alse play. Counter feit piety doth often cloak merciless Tyrants, and the guarded stol●impiou● natures; in a homely weed under the Cottage shadow of a swain virtue obscured, lies nor sells herself for haughty titles, laughing as in scorn at the mad tumults of our Justice-Courts, and the applause of common people's breath, nor Client like sits waiting at the door of a great Patron, but doth pass away the silent Ages of her blessed life in rural privacy, being unto none saving herself, or but few others known. The second Part. Queen, Herod. Queen. MY Lord, you live secure, and feel not how your Kingly power debayes, nor yet discern like one that's blind, what snares are daily set to ruin you; for if that vulgar Preacher breath but anoyeare bonds, prison, cross, in vain you then may threaten, proudly now his forces he surveys, your persons Guard his followers obscure. Her. What danger fear you from th'unarmed root. Qu. If private Conventicl●s you permit, how can you sleep secure? Her. But he instructs those that run to him of their own accord. Qu. A wide spread Faction we should fear the more. Her. His sanctit● confutes that crimination. Qu. This veil doth cover detestable Acts. Her. Of purpled Rulers we may stand in dread. Qu. And fear the fraud of gravest hypocrites. Her. He that is helpless, armlesse, that alleys his thirst with water takes his food in woods, his lodging on the grass; oh what deceit can he intend a Serpent! Qu. His attire, his meat and drink you see, but in his breast you see not what he bears. Her. A King's estate is miserable, if he stand in awe of those that are in misery. Qu. If a King through fond security become a prey, he is most miserable. Her. How then may a King remain in safety? Qu. What withstands his pleasant queit, let him soon extirp. Her. Surely a Tyrant and a King that's good, differ in this; the one his foes preserves, the other is a foe to them he Rules. Qu. Either is hard, to perish or destroy; but it is better, if make choice he must, an enemy to destroy. Her. Where no necessity the one requires, either is miserable. Qu. Should you in such a tumult use no rigour, the wavering vulgars' fury being raised the Princes, Laws, Religion, Power contemned, is to the base plebeians made a scorn; Take heed, that lenities deceitful looks draw not your mind from equity, what seems a far off mildness, to one near at hand will be the greatest wildness; while you spare one Factious man that's desperately bad, you seek to ruin all: whom he to arm against your life endeavours day and night, what needs must be at length feign to be done; that the inconstant people are stired up to arms, that everywhere they all things burn, with woeful War, and Villages left wasted, our Virgins ravished and our city's fire, and with ambigous fortune Armies joined. When Liberty shall burst the reins of Laws, that clemency too late you'll then condemn. And here behold that plague and mischiefs head, This is that high Reformer, question him, and if I do not err, you shall hear from him much more than fame hath publis●t: nor do I marvel that there can be some that scorn your Government, when you yourself the wicked sort through lenity provoke. Her. When a good King is able to do much, his power he ought to moderate. Qu. Say you so? This upstart now will moderate your sceptre, and you must rule according to his will, but if you had the spirit of a King— Her. But get thee gone, and leave these things to me. Qu. And so I will, lest you rail at me as you did before: when Queens yield much to men of basest kind, what hope of equity will cherish others. Herod. John. Chorus. Ha. is she gone? she is, now let me tell thee; there's nothing that may move thee, or that strange thou mayest conceive, if an offended woman, rich, noble, potent, finally a Queen, do entertain more anger than is meet. Even thou thyself mayest witness it the best how much thy welfare I have still regarded; for all the people hate thee, and require thee as guilty to be punshed, our priest's murmur, our Nobles grieve, and surely what it is that may increase the common sorts complaint, I will relate in brief: In thy Orations, thou all the Orders openly revilest, the vulgar sort in our old Laws unskilled, thou cunningly receivest the deadly venom of a new Sect dispersing, and impairest with speeches turbulent, our regal State, with the republic peace, prohibiting our men of War their Captain to obey, the people Cesar, while thou promisest new Kingdoms to the vulgar, and to free them of their newforraign yok, andstirest them up with a vain confidence, nor dost permit this our Rebellious Nation to rest: And madmen like us, as if we had endured but small calamity, thou reinsittest the Romans a new War against us to make; Nor doubt I what thou darest do being absent, seeing thou openly dost me upbraid with an unlawful marriage, and would heap the people's hate upon me, and attempt'st all that thou canst to make my brother raise unnatural War against me: And as if thou hadst done little mischief: for the safety of all alike presuming to do all things, nowagainst Heaven thou preparest to fi●ht; those holy Rites attempting to abolish, wherewith this Kingdom hitherto hath stood: These things the people grudge at, and complain that I am flow to vindicate and right their country's laws, yet have I shown myself in nothing harsh to thee, but all the favour that a benevolent and friendly Judge can show thee, thou shalt plenteously receive; For no Assyrian or Egyptian Father hath me begotten a bloodthirsty Tyrant, who had with you own Country, parent, nurse, I mean the spacious Earth, so that as oft as any of the meanest People perish, I lose me thinks a member of myself even from this body torn; Nor thou shalt find of Herod an upright and gentle Judge: If thou be able falsely to con●ute what other things are laid unto thy charge, All thou hast uttered against me and mine I freely pardon, heartily remit, and thou shalt understand that I neglect mine own and prosecute the public wrong, the people being witness: and I wish thou mayest so clear thyself of other crimes, that no occasion of severity be left me through thy innocency. Cho: Go forwards to be gracious in this, And thou shalt live renowned to thy successors, not in Gold-ore or Military bands: And think thy Kingdom safe, as those achieved by equity, which charity and faith do evermore defend. John. He unto whom the Almighty doth commit a kingdom's Rule ought many things to hear, but all things that he heareth to believe, it is not necessary, envy, fear, grief, lucre, favour, oft suppress the truth. If any of the people or the fathers think I have uttered any thing against him in rigorous manner, or ungently railed, 'tis necessary, ere he me accuse, that he examine his own course of life; This hath been ever my care and custom public offences to reprove in public, nothing in private have I done or taught, Blind lurking holes I seek not, neither tax men but their v●ces, when the soldiers asked me how I could serve at once the King and God: To ravish ●ruse violence, abuse or ●ircu●vent the simple with deceit, I utt●rly forbade ●hem: To compose their sensual desires, I gave them charge, according to the measure of their means: nor any hope of new things do I preach, but only that which you believe with me, out of the ancient Prophets; i●h mean time, none of so many thousand is produced, that through my doctrine hath contemned his Prince. Those matters whether by uncertain fame to you related, or by hood winked wrath still raging headlong with desire to hurt, falsely invented, naked verity will by itself and easily confute. How piously I prize the holy Rites and ancient institutions, there's no sign more certain than the impeacher of my crimes, because he comes not forth to public view, where feigned things be easily believed, he secretly may murmur. For my denying that your brother's wife is yours by right consider with yourself whether you ought to serve your carnal will, rather than your Creator, and I wish all men devoted to the love of Kings would be in mind alike, to mention things that are both profitable, true, and good, rather than whas are pleasant and will soon turn to their damage; Then against how many mischiefs and molestations would the Gate or entrance be shut up, If heretofore freely and truly I have spoken aught, do you that in your ways are just and good,( as equity's defenders are obliged) receive it in good part, and set these bounds to your high potency which are prescribed you by the Laws measure: For what Law you hold here against others, God the King supreme against you and others of your place retains: Then whatsoever you shall judge of me, believe that God will judge the same of you. Her: When thou shalt come to Heaven speak heavenly things, but whi●e thou livest on earth, earth's Laws abide. John. To earthly Kingdoms reverence I bear, and Kings obey, but those eternal Kingdoms I hold my Country and their King adore. Her: The matter even itself i●structs thee how Kings to obey, that dost desire a King such Laws as thou ordeinest to obey. John. If I may Laws ordain, I would proclaim to Kings, their people should obedience yield, and Kings to God. Her: Thou hast enough contended bear him hence, the case is doubtful, nought can I determine, until all things more ceartainly appear. Chor. Who doth conceive that by a tyrant's words the close or hidden meaning of his mind, he can perceive let him well underdand, he trusts into a foul deceitful glass, God prosper and turn all things to the best, what my soul fears, it trembles to divine. Her. How wretched and how overwhelmed with care a King's condition is, no tongue of man, or politic Oration can express, nor any thoughts attain; the vulgar hold us only free and happy, that are vexed with terror, and with poverty besieged, with miserable servitude oppre●t: the people, whatsoever they desire, or love or dread, they freely dare confess, and modest riches without fear en●oy: But when we walk abroad we must assume an honest persons habit, and are forced to promise courteously with gracious looks, our anger to defer and hide our hate, till a fit season, chiefly then to threat, when greatest cause of fear our minds torments: A modest Prince the people do desp●e, one rigerous they hate, the wavering vulgar we are compelled to serve, and can command nothing to our desire. This new-come Prophet if I cut off, I shall offend the people, if I preserve him, for my royal State I little do provide, what shall I do then? I must regard my Kingdom, none so near as I am to myself, if I must serve the people for a sceptre, what's more foolish then, while thou seekest to please the vulgar sort to cast away a Kingdom? Joy and wrath the people rashly take, and rashly leave: 'tis now my resolution to conffrm the royal power that I hold, with blood: the vulgar will be easily appeased. If by my sufferance this evil creep a little further, 'twill be past redress, why he forsooth durst tell me to my teeth my marriage was unchaste, and if he scape for this unpunished, his audacious will there will not rest, but sceptres to his Laws than he will force to stoop, than he will cast his Captives into chains, than he will seek to rule, and not be ruled, give Laws to Kings, and turn all upside down, we must apply unto a g●owing evil speedy cure, flames rising must be quenched ere they increase. By suffering old injuries, we raise fresh contumelies, new reproachful terms, If with the people's favour I may gain some satisfaction by this pun●shment, to win their favour I will not neglect: But if perverse against me they persist, What Malchus of our Laws may freely babble, what curious questions he may vainly cast with intricate debate, that, I conceive, concerns not me, and let the people know, this one Law to be kept, that they may think, All things to me are lawful without Law. Chor. Oh thou Creator of this spacious orb, whose nod makes all things tremble, Heaven adorned with glittering stars, Earth variously decked with flourishing Array, and Seas that swell with raging violent motions, ebbs and floods: Hath not loud flame that knew the former age, brought to our hearing thy then famous acts? When thou by vigour of thy puissant arm, proud Kingdoms boasting of their, gold and wealth hast utterly abolished and exextirped us in their land to plant, their land to prepared, neither by counsel, strength, nor Arms of ours. But Heavens Almighty favour safely brought us through the fierce Armies, art not thou the King of 〈…〉? a●t not thou the God of the Jews Nation, by whose guiding hand( our enemies destroyed) their treacherous Tents we trampled under foot, con●iding not in our own strength and com●ge; but in thee our most auspicious Leader, bringing spoils and triumph to our Countrey● wilt thou now being once our Father, utterly for sake the people whom thou lovest? Are we now left a f●ble for our foes? Religion lies with Piety despised; in purpled Courts, fraud is predomanant; the holy flock yield as a sacrifice their pious necks to the ●ell Axe, our Prophets by the sword perish; our Tyrant enemies rejoi●e in our laments, and they they the Kingdom rule un●er pretext of piety and zeal, though punishment descr●ing whilst they smart, whose worth deserves a kingdom. Ri●e, O Lord, and help thy people, To our Adversaries show thy sel●e such as Thee our Fathers saw in the Red-sea, confounding Pharao●s host; Such as the prophet's boy did thee behold, when to disperse the flames throughout the Camp. Thou to thy fiery Horses gavest the re●gns. The must of error that obscures the light of human understanding overwhelmed with a dark cloud: O Lord: now drive away, let both the Land warmed with the rising Sun, and that which. doth it in down-going view, confess that only thou c●nst all things do. The third Part. MALCHUS. THus truly is the state of human things, That if God grant that we should have our wish, we are to seek, uncertain what to choose, what to refuse; we covet honour, we●lth, Dominion, Heritage for us and ours, which having our desire, we often lose bondage, imprisonment, and shameful flight unto our foes we wish, which oft beget their greatest glory, to our bitter shame: And surely I have learnt, that this is true( not go to fetch examples a far off) by mine own dang●r; for when this Baptizer, living remote from●s on mountain tops, bewitched and d●ew with him the ridiculous rout; I only( the rest idle) did defend the Pharisees, Authority and worth: nor did I cease always and means to try, until this Adversaries guilty hands were strongly bound, and in the common Goal, his insolence allayed, and the whole Court his crimes had knowledge of by my redort; and and yet his c●●mes imprisonment, and bonds, nought in my thog●hts avail, the people's hearts the horrid power of this hellish plague hath so possessed, and every one hath quast the deadly poison, that they all bewail his dangerous condition, yielding honour unto his ●minent noworthy death. But wherescere he can, let MALCHUS go, their curse● h: cannot scape, at me they point, on me they look with a Malignant eye, doing all favours to that wicked wretch, who hath berest us of all differences in our affairs and orders, keeping watch before the Prison. Surely nothing now in misery exceeds us, that devote ourselves( all other business set apart) unto the people's profit; he that slaves himself to them, may easily perceive, that such his favour he hath ill bestowed, as upon those that being ill inclined th●ough ●●nate malice, ever use to bear toward the ●ad, good will, and to-contemn the chiefest persons of a commonweal. Oh whither shall I go? how first complain, where shall my anger principally light? whom shall I first assist? the ungodly crew love that false Prophet, and the Rab●●es murmur, the King connives, the Nobles him neglect! I only with these shoulders do support, even with these, our Countries falling Rites, none lending me a hand; why then do I, and none but I, the common change bewail? shall I put o●f my office, and forsake our Orders, dignity, with all our laws and sacred Rites, and suffer my poor self to be a laughingstock to those that hate me? I'll do it, i'll suffer it, I indeed I will; for what else ●m I do? shall I alone bear that myself, which all refuse to bear? and lay myself forth to the public ruin? God keep his own, ●ith now the world is such, that every man must loc● unto himself: I'll do the like, and if the commonwealth I rule amiss, then let the ruin light upon my head; those that now while I stand, favour me most, will first when I am fall'n, assault me with their heels; if well I rule, and do ill place my favour, I shall get nothing but envy: now too lat● I like GAMALI●S advise, unless perhaps, no man from error can return too late; I had rather they should seek me constant here, than when all is done, my indiscretion punish: what seemeth good to each man, let him think I'll rid myself of troubles, and repair my favour with this Prophet; nor will he being a simple hearted man reject me; But If I find him towards me pe●ver●e, I'll set all engines, lest the people think he perished by my craft; if they to me be reconciled, the business will not fall on every side, and here I think he comes, he comes indeed, see what a company follows the wicked wretch, and we the while sit in the city's heart amongst our Chairs, alone and 〈◊〉 but I first w●ll hear what this grand Mr. utters. John. O thou that 〈◊〉 things dost make void, judge and rule what ere the air in its loose b●some bears, what ere the 〈◊〉 can precreate, ●r sea within its waters nourish; thee there God all do acknowledge, 〈◊〉; thee alone find the●r creation; in a constant way thy laws once given, freely they ob●y; At thy command the spring with flowers paints the sert●le fields, and fruits the summer yields, autumn, pure wine abundantly aff●●ds, and winter with white frost the 〈◊〉 attires, the crooked Ri●ers roll into the sea huge heaps of waters, the sea ebbs and flows, the silver Moon illuminates the night, the golden Sun the day, and views this orb with never r●sting brightness; To conclude, there's nothing whatsoever in heaven or earth that does not willingly its king obey, its maker love. and towards him declare with all the service possibly it can its good affection, but only man; Man who is bound far more than all the rest God's precepts to delight in and obey, only contemns them, and rejects the reigns of laws divine; yea, into every sin precipitates himself, accounts all just in his own strength, and measures right by lust. Malch. Thy fair beginnings as yet well proceed. John Nor do I so much wonder at the Gentiles, that through the world do wander from the way, as at this people that themselves do boast to be God's heritage, yet rail at others, and cry them down as impious, when no Nation on this globe seated wheresoe'er the sun surveys the earth, lives more licentious. Mal. Surely as yet he hath said no untruth. John Nor is this only the light vulgars' fault: The Levite in white v●sture sh●ning far, and the Law writer of his knowledge proud, and you so reverend for age mature by oblique error, are drawn out o'the way, widows and orphans causes where you Judge, fall to the ground, the rich oppress the poor, both right and wrong are set at equal price. Mal. To hear this and be mute, I burst with rage. John But you, the Rabines, that in holy gifts and knowledge fain all oaths to excel: And you the sacred dignity of Priests, and the chief Prelates of the sacred Order, tithe all the herbs born of our mother earth, Dill, Mint, Rue, garlic, Nettles, or green hay, does not escape you. But if you should read or teach the prophet's oracles, and show the tract or steps of your own holy life, than your authority is stricken mute, then like dumb dogs that bark not: here you fret and fume about your sheep-coats, but the Wolves which of you drive away? the Wolves said I? you are the Wolves yourselves that flee your flock, clothed with their Woo●●, their milk dot slack your thirst, their flesh your hunger: thus yourselves you feed, but not your flock. Mal. Hence Concord with a mischief, can I brook my Order any longer to be checked so insolently, with so base reproach? if God from Heaven should send me with this charge, that these things I should hear such his command, I rather would decline, than hear so much: I can endure no longer, Ho sir, you master of misrule, is this doctrine yours? do you instruct the silly people thus? John If you be good, those things that I declare, nothing concern you. Mal. To traduce a Priest, does it belong to thee? John When I reprove a wicked man, I hold it spoken well. Mal. A young man ought his elders to obey. John 'Tis rather meet that all should God obey. Mal. Then dost thou speak these things by God's command? John. Truth doth command all men to speak the truth. Malch. It often profits to conceal the truth, John. Profit with bad works joined I nought account. Malch. Thou mayest call goodness what seems bad to thee. John. To see( when I am able to reduce them into the way) so many thousands perish, it seems too bad. Malch. Thou able to reduce them, why are not we the feeders of the flock. John. If it be all one both to feed and flay. Malch. Do thine own business and let ours alone, John. My neighbour's misery is likewise mine. Malch. I pray, who are you with such power endued? Are you that Christ unto our Fathers promised? John. I am not. Malch. Are you then a Prophet? John. Neither. Malch. Are you Elias? John. No. Malch. If none of these, nor Christ our hope, no Prophet nor Elias, how dar'st thou be the author of new baptism? declare to me, whom shall we say thou art? John. I am a voice that one the Mountain tops afar off call and cry, Prepare the way, make strieght your paths, the Lord is near at hand, at whose first coming shall the valleys rend, and mountains will be levied with the plain, I in his name the people do baptize, whose shoes I am not worthy to pull off, whom none doth know thoug● he converse with you. Malch. What snares doth he invent, deluding me with circumstances, by what miracle provest thou the authority which thus thou claimest? John. And by what miracle thine canst thou prove? I may on the other side thee also ask. Malch. How obstinate he is, be't ne'er so much that thou concealest, yet all of us do know, what makes thee mad: Thou surely dost desire to grow up through our envy, thou wouldst gain glory and mighty riches by our loss, and become potent by flagitious Acts nor dost deceive us but deceiust thyself: neither wert thou the first that did attempt thus to beguile, yet thee the last I wish, that may be duly punished, or that thou by my advise thy mind wouldst rather change, that as thou hast made many go astray through thee, they may into the way return, I have seen others that have made a show of sever holiness by outward habit, whereby more easily they might be thought of simple modest mind, but by such art, honour, and wealth when once they had obtained, their dispositions by degrees appeared and were discovered, for that pious course, well clokd before they openly contemned and to their true conditions gave the Reigns. But if this way thou aimest at honour's height, unskilful men blind ignorance deceives: By that cross path, to glory none attain, unless experience that best instructs, and age that such experience doth beget hath very much beguiled me, for thy fame and liulyhood thou better mayst provide seeking rather safety than renown. Ioh. If I deliver truth and do what's right, wherefore should any bid me hold my peace, but if untruth, do you that are so learned declare it to the simple. Malch. Of these things, when thou shalt suffer punishment by death, thou wilt repent thee. Ioh. Threaten that to Those, who fear to die. Mal. But if I live, ere long, I'll make thee muorn for this perverseness, and know what it is, the Elders to neglect the Scribes, revile and vex the Rabines with thy saucy Tongue, and haply feel, since thou hast no regard to purchase friends, the power of old men's hate. Cho. He that himself prepares for secret stealth avoids the light and Murderers do hate a burning Torch, that's conscious of their crimes: A child refuseth medicines intermixed with bitter wormwood▪ a cut wound abhors the wholesome plasters; and to him whose breast the hidden evils of his soul torments, the truth is grievous, which doth open lay his troubled heart and his bad mind bewray. But O you Hypocrites in show severe, whom lawless gain with rugged brow delights through error of the credulous common sort, how well so ever you your thoughts conceal: And though the ●oule sink of your impious minds be closely hid, your gnawing conscience argues your lurking secrets, That tormenter enclosed within your entrails eats you up, scourging with cruel stripes; O three times blessed, and more is he, that being pure within, becomes not guilty to domestic judges, nor by a torturer within his heart, penned up unseen, endures perpetual smart. The fourth part. Malchus, Chorus, Herodias. THere is no certain trusting to the King, his and the Common cause, he hath betrayed through foul ambition, while he bends his thoughts to please the people, and with favour hunts for airy applause; Me, under show of lenity, he labours to subject unto the Co●●ons wrath, and with my peril would vindicate his wrongs, even prepared to satisfy the people with my head, as if he saw, they heavily did bear the Baptists death: But if to have the chief of their new Faction slain, they took it lightly; he subtly by the vulgar would be thought with greatest glory to have ta'en revenge. Thus to themselves Kings of their city's blood exhibit shows by turns, and make a sport of mutual slaughter, challenge to themselves, and publish, all by them was only done, all whatsoever the vulgar Votes approve, and attribute our labours industry to their own praise; but if the uncertain air of popular ●avour otherwise do turn against their expectation and desire, then on their Officers they cast the fault, and with a vile breath, their own crime avert from innocent blood. One only now remains a Partner of our grief, the Queen enraged, much like a tiger of her Whelps ●erest, for that the Baptist had before the King accused the alliance of her former Bed to be polluted, openly condemning the league of marriage with a brother's wife forbidden by the Law: now while the fire of estuating wrath is fresh and hot; I will add firebrands to her troubled thoughts, and feed them with fit language: But behold, how oppor●unely she presents herself. Chor. Now poison comes to poison, flame to flame, now comes the uttermost hazard. Malch. Noble Queen, our Nations glorious honour, who alone in this so great a Kingdom do deserve the highest place, God save you. Qu. And thee Malchus, the most religious Rabine: but why sad? Malch. For that which I suppose, your mind afflict. Qu. It may be so, but tell me, what is that? Malch. Do you, to see your dignity despised, your royal names authority so sacred throughout the world to be accounted vile, your Crown made subject to the vulgars' sco●ne, bear it with patience? Qu. What then shall I do? teach me a remedy. Malch. Within your heart conceive so high a wrath, as may be worthy of your Princely stock, your nuptial bed and bosom. Qu. That's done already, I am burst with ire, weep and exclaim and sharply reprehend, but no relief by wrath or tears I gain, for all my words are scattered by the wind. Mal. If with your husband a meet power you had, would he have born your wrongs thus unrevenged? Or rather( may I speak more truly) his. Qu. Thou seest the people, how they be inclined. Perhaps by this imprisonment the King, The Baptists eager spirits think to ●uaile, and to allay his boldness? Malch. If you suppose imp●isonment and bonds, Can bridle the fierce spirit of this thief, Your highness errs; The rage of savage beasts, That break their Dens and liberty regain, Is much more vehement them theirs that range, In woods or desert mountains: Being freed, What will not he attempt, Whose ●etters now the people reveren●e, wrath once ●rovokd is kindled not a●laid, by taunts and scorn the haughty spirit is 〈◊〉 f●ry bor●. Qu. This benefit should rather quench it quite, For that by royal mildness he is free, Who by his own perverseness might have perished. Mal. What your esteem a benefit, he holds an injury, and will more oft remember, that you imprisoned him, than set him free. Qu. A rough and crabbed na●ure, thou relat'st. Malch. This in most men is naturally graffed, What favour you afford is quickly lost, but what disfavor, no man doth forget, Good turns if born in memory with bad, All men well near do hate, Think that the Baptist, as oft as he remembers your Desert, will not his crime forget, and still believe, he is not loo●e from that, But in your thoughts, a guilty man by soul ambi●ion freed, His pain remitted and you wrath suppressed but for a time. Qu. Yet courtesy prevails to mitigate fierce natures. Malch. What with long use is hardened to the worst, We much more easily may break then bend. Qu. What, do you then advise me in this case? Malch. I'll show you quickly, may I be believed. Qu. And what your counsel I will not delay. Malch. By seeking, agitating, and providing,( not fitting still) great things are brought to pass. Qu. If seeking, agitating and providing nought may avail, 'tis better to sit still, then to make work in vain, and be to others a mocking stock. Malch. Where strength oft cannot, labour overcomes: a tall oak is not suddenly born down, nor does the warring Ram at one assault overthrow the walls, what, often you suppose cannot be finished, is in time dispatched● And importunity doth overcome, what reason sometimes cannot; therefore seek, solicit Herod, mingle tears with suit, wrath with monitions, flattering words with brawls, work and entreat him by what means you can, embracing all occasions everywhere; But if by such plain course you cannot speed, set snares and use deceit, for mine own part, I am resolved until, we find success in our desig●ments, never to desi●t. Cho. Envy at length, and bitter grie●e incensed by impious F●ries, on this pious Prophet have cas● the venom of their cruelty; from thence fierce calum●ny and false de●raction joined with fell cruelty, by cursed fraud maintain the battle, from hence harmless truth s●pported by no guard, their threats contemns. So many weapons do one head assault; so many su●tle drifts do menace death to this young man, yet like the hardy Holme, with North-east wi●ds assaulted, or a Rock, that's ●eaten by the Seas returning flood, ●e with no fear is moved: O power divine by all men to be hono●'d! candid Truth, whom neither force of arms with trembling fear, nor fraud with all her projects can depel from her firm station or unmoved estate. The grievous changes of unstable fortune th●u only fearest not, and dost arm thy breast, obnoxious to no chances, with a strength insuperable, and th●● impartial hand of the three Ladies, both of life and death for bidst us to begrieved at. But this Prophet I am too slow to meet with, and relate the ruthfulest news that ever pierced his ears; yet see he stands before the prison door. O thou more holy than thy holy Parents, and th'only ●cred it of old innocence! Now for thy safety in due time provide: The Rabine Malchus privately intends deceit against thee, and King Herod's wife, unwitting what to do is almost mad; The Courtiers flatter her, the King diffembles what he conceives, and others 'twixt the teeth mutter, as those that dare not speak the truth. Now is your final peril. Ioh. And what's that? Cho. To escape death, you shall have much to do. Ioh. Of eminent evils, I hold that the sum. Cho. Then which, none greater can a man befall. Ioh. As tyrant's power and deceit may cease, time's length may bear it of its own accord, Which evil men do f●ar, good men do wish. Cho. But your own safety though you do neglect, consider ours, and that high spirit of yours a while remitting, sue for Herod's mercy, and make some friends, I hope he will not prove inexorable. Ioh. Do not I do this? Cho. That mind, God grant you. Ioh. To sue there's no need, for that mind hath been long now with my blood the Tyrant hasts to satisfy his wrath: Neither do I rcsist, how am I able rather to pacify this bloody King, Then when the same things, we will not and will. Cho. Good words I pray. Ioh. Why then report you thus, and thus advise me? ●●y there are two Kings, and they on both sides two things bid me do that be repugnant, The one King is earthly cruel and mischievous, who threatens death, and hath a power my body to destroy; The other heavenly, merciful and mild, forbids me death to fear, and a reward proposeth to my tourage, being able in flames inevitable to torment body and soul: Now seeing these two Kings do differ in command, give me advice. wh●ther I ●●all obey. Cho. If now ●ccasion offered you omir. Herod will never after be appeased, but God is ever easy to be pleased. Ioh. God's anger, the more gently it doth rage, the more severely punishment req●ires, being once moved. Cho. So, death which God would have all mortals fear, do you disdain; the body with the soul, he in a mutual bond of love hath knit, lest unadvisedly some cause be offered, that may their holy fellowship disjoin. Ioh. Death I disdain nor, but by momentany. shun that erernall, and the use of light which God hath given me, at his command I willingly surrender. Cho. Will you then, being a Parent thus forsake your Orphans. Ioh. He who believes that God his Father is, shall never ●eean Orphan. Cho. Can the tears of all your friends and kindred, whom you leave unto a spiteful Tyrant move you nothing? Ioh. I leave them not, but they me rather leave; for truly unto death I run the way from the beginning of the world ordained, yea all men that enjoy the gift of life are born to die, and and we are all restrained with one con●ition, we tend all to death, and thither every day doth surely lead us; God will have death a penance to the bad, and to the good a Port, the utmost bounds of a long journey, and the Gate that leads to the beginning of a longer life, that sends us rather born again then dead. unto a glorious house of endless light; This is to man from prison a relcase and a free passage to life wanting death; this way the whole flock of the Fathers went, and all must follow them: what man is he, that having once begun a race to run, desires not instantly the goal to gain? who, by night wand'ring in the stormy Sea, refuseth shelter in a quiet Port: What exile straying or'c the Desert Hills of a strange country, will be discontent into his own to make a quick return? I therefore having overpast my way, suppose myself come to the very goal. Now almost quitted from the sea of life, I view the Haven; from a foreign soil, home I return to see my heavenly father, that father who with waters bounds the earth; invested earth with Heaven, he that rules the certain courses of the moving sphere, who only all things made, guides and preserves; to whom all things both quick and dead do live even as the flame its Globes doth upwards roll, waters perpetually downw●rd● fall, and all things do proceed to their own foment; my 〈◊〉 from heavendeso●nded, labours now, a habitation in eternal light 〈◊〉 gain with him that all things did create, whom not to see, is death, life to behold. If Caucasus rough-growne with hoary frost, the air with Tempests and the Sea with storms, and the whole Region with excessive heat should all resist me, thither I would go; to see so many Leaders, prophets, Kings, and pious judges, shall I not make way, though, with a thousand deaths I be opposed? My spirit therefore from this body freed,( this carnal prison) thither longs to fly, Even whither all the world betimes or late shall be dispatched; For long life I conceive, is nothing, but a gentle Servitude in a hard painful prison; O sweet death, that art of heavy toils the sole Release, the Haven where all grief and trouble cease, yet unto few men profitable known: Receive this shipwrackt body in thy bosom, and bring it where eternal peace abides, whither no impious violence, deceit, or ealumny shall follow it. Chor. O thou, thrice happy in this constancy of mind, O wretches that we are, whom foolish fear debars the sweet Society and sight of true felicity; Then since thou hold it what's needful to be done, to thee we wish eternal health and farewell. How are the minds of men in ways unlike turned by discordant strite? of no offence he that is guilty, doth not fear to die, he that deserves to die, if with vain threats death lightly greet him, with degenerate fear grows pale and trembles; As the wicked wight shuns death with heavy heart, so he that's good, of death des●●ous, through flames and floods, o'er deveous Rocks, all dangers and E●●●remes, freely precipitates his noble soul; For sundry benefits to death belong to evil men unknown, a happy life is fate's Associate; neither do the Good totally die, but still their better part contemns the greedy fire and Mounts aloft to its own Country, Heaven; Amongst the Saints a certain Habitation doth attend souls that are harmless, but the guilty G●●ost, by snake haired Furies in a brimstone lake, with greedy C●rberus his hungry I● was, and Tan●alus with plenty never filled, is evermore affrighted, gnawn and whipped; from hence comes fear to evil men; from thence good hope to good men, even while their minds, appearing prodigal of brittle breath, hasten to prosecute unfading life; O ●yren! potent in bewitching baits, Life, that abhorring goodness, dost affect what's fraudulent, and with thy flattering might precludst the neighbout passage of our sins, and shut'st the Haven of perpetual peace; Where neither martial clamour doth affright, nor Trumpets, with hoarse clangor do 〈◊〉 nor pilling pi●●tes terifie by ●e●, nor cruel theives beset the silent grove, nor my one made 〈…〉 Felix, that alone with pleasant case he may himself besot the poor and weakeore-whelmes with bloody slaughter, neither he, that for vain Titles may exchange the lives of the rude Commons, but where simple virtue with fair prosperity and tranquil rest possesseth all, and day can never learn to end in darkness, nor life ever know of any fi●erall, nor joy of grief. O thou sweet friendship of this carnal house, and thou too lovely prison of our life; Now, now at length free from bewitching Bonds the heaven-born soul of man, which too unmindful of her own Country joyful in the yoke of her d●generate foul nuptial bed, and with somniferous ay ethe● poisoning sloth inebriated, in thy lapthou huggst. O thou deceitful covering of day, into thy ashes vanishing return, That to her country Heaven the soul reslord, may fill itself with becames of purest light. So from all sorrow she shall be enlarged. And of all troubles thou by death discharged. The Fifth part. The Queen. The Rabine Malchus hath my hopes beguiled, and Herod hath himself with me his Queen,( fearing the rumours of the babbling crew) through his own yanity alike betrayed. Next, for my daughter, what she may effect, I greatly fear, the King did promise herat his great banquet, that he would reward her danceing feats( which gave him high content) with whatsoever she of him should ask. Now unto me the girl hath past her word, that she would ask of him none other boon, but in a dish to have the Baptists head; And she will have it, certainly she will, If Horods mind be not to me unknown, The people's hatred I conceive on me he will divert, himself remaining free: And I will bear it when the deed is done, and with willing heart: with joy of my revenge weighing their hate, and with my gain my stain, For women to be cruel 'tis a shame, a shame indeed: unless more shame it were▪ that of such nature there are many Kings: But H●rod and my daughter do appear, the ncor●r my hope is, my fear the 〈…〉 doth burn. Herod, Daughter, Queen. Her. And hast thou 〈◊〉 sufficiently 〈…〉 Daught. 〈…〉 enough and royal. Her●. Never fear, things that are 〈◊〉 establish● with my faith and before witnesses, ask half my kingdom, it shall be thine, no power can avert him that is willing. Daugh. We shall shortly see what thing it i●. Hero. 'Tis certain, ask it now. Daugh. Your kingdom Sir I need not, which I deem even as mine own while you possess the Crown, as if I held the sceptre, but I ask a thing both meet and easy. Hero. Thou thyself( not I) art in the fault thou hast it not. Daugh. Give me the Baptists head then in this Charger. Hero. What words are these by thee so rashly vented? Daugh. Not rashly neither. Hero. Thou demand'st a gift that ill become a Virgin. Daugh. To destroy an enemy is no uncomely deed. Hero. Is therefore he an enemy and worthy of a King's wrath. Daugh. He's worthy of such wrath, who by his crimes deserves it. Hero. What redress may I then purchase for the people's hate? Daugh. The people must obey, and King's command. Hero. 'Tis a King's duty just things to command. Daugh. Kings by commanding, may make those things just which were before unjust. Hero. But King's commands, the Law doth moderate. Daugh. If that be right, which pleaseth Princes, than they rule the laws, ●ot the laws them. Hero. Then, for a King, a Tyrant the people will divulge me. Daugh. But your sceptre keeps them in awe. Hero. It doth, and yet they'll babble. Daugh. Such babbling Sir, by punishment severe is brid●ed. Hero. Kingdom's are ill kept with fear, Daugh. And kingdoms by impunity of crimes are easily subverted. Hero. Yet we find, Kings are securest in the city's faith. Daugh. It is not needful that a King be loved, but feared. Hero. The cruel are or● whelmed with hate. Daugh. A gentle King the Vulgar do● despise. Qu. My Lord, all you have pleaded only tends, in my opinion, that your promise past, in vain may pass away, as yet methinks, you do not know the duties of a King; if th●se things which the common sort ●uppose hone●t and otherwise; you, for a King bel●eve to be the same, King Herod errs. Brothers and sisters, fathers, sons in law, friends, kindred, Citizens, and adverse parties, are bonds for poor men, but vain words for Kings; Let him that on his head once puts a crown, put from him all degrees of Common duty; let him judge all things honest that conduce to a King's benefit, and hold no fact to be unseemly, that he shall effect for his ow●e safety; on the King depends the people's welfare; Whosoever then to wards his Prince is pious, hath regard unto the pecples' welfare: shall the blood of this base fellow be so highly prized, that for anxiety by day nor night you can repose? release us of this fear, of shame, your sceptre, and of waste, your City, of rapine, arms, and all of civil war? 'Tis fit by an example new and great, you should ordain that kingdoms to all men be sacred and inviolably stand; he has committed an ungracious act, and by that let him perish; if no crime he has committed let him seek for me●: Give to your Queen her enemy, your Queen if you neglect, yet as a King and father your promise to your daughter see performed. Her. That Promise to perform with my best faith I am determined, but if my advice, the ●i●le do ask more wisely she will wish. Qu. But if she ask my counsel, yours my Lord she may not change or take. Her. Is't even so? should I so unadvised have made a vow? thus to a foolish girl my faith obliged? and thus committed to a woman's ha●ds my kingdom, safety, treasure, life, and death? Qu. King's promises let certain truth confirm. Her. Well. sith I may not, what I may deny again I do admonish and entreat; let not wrath urge you to a bloody act, unworthy of your dignity and sex. Qu. Grant this, and leave all other things to us. Her. If of the Prophet you determi●e ought more rigorous, the peril, blame, and shame is only yours. Qu. Now shall we vindicate our royal dignity in future times to be of none derided, now I'll force the flubborne people to speak well of Kings or learn it to their grief, and make them hold that all their King's commands they gladly must bear and obey though never so unjust. Chorus. Cho. O thou great City where King David reigned, you Towers of wealthy Solomon and Salem, from whence against thy Prophets doth arise a rage so terrible, and cruel thirst of blood so innocent? unhappy thou, whom it becomes to be a pattern, rule, or helm of pi●ty, art now become the only mirror of a wicked life: Slaughter with violence, fraud, theft and rapine, are thy chief exercise, no Godly zeal persuades the Churchman to restrain his hands from horrible deceits, the people now forsake the Lord, that all things did create, and worship Idols for God, stone and wood, with Calves and lambs their Altars are still hot, and Images the workman doth adore, which he himself hath wrought, life he requires of a mere stock, and eloquence he craves of a dumb stone, the rich entreats the poor, the Lo●●● the Servant, ancient Rites are lost; The guiltless prophet's blood brings thee perforce to the tribunal of the greatest judge, The poor exclaim and widows fill the air with their complaints, for which the fearful pain of just revenge attends the●, unlesses ● be in my divination much de●eiv'd, for he● that throws down insolence and pride,( being the 〈◊〉 of Neaven, Earth and Seas) views from above th'oppressed peoples tears, their heav●e prayers never doth forget, and speedily with a 〈◊〉 arm, will punish thy unspeak●ble misdeeds: And over 〈◊〉 thy Towers, where with thou swelst in silent victor-like, The barbarous foe, shall all thy Buildings, farms and Lands possess; The V●neyard Keeper shall repair his fruit to an Out 〈◊〉 Master; And where now Salomon's Temple high towards Heaven do th●ise, ● foreign ru●tick shall his harvest make: O therefore, while God's favour to rep●●● affords thee respite of thy ill pa●t life the sins 〈…〉 a move those fruitless Images of foreign Rites: Cu●b thy proph●●e desire of wretched wealth, and greedy thirsting for thy brothers blood; But thou wilt not repent thy ill past lif●, 〈…〉 Rites amove, nor shun the greedy thirst of brother's blood, not one profane desire of wretched wealth: A vicious P●ague shall therefore fe●se on thee: Famine and war, with barrenness 〈◊〉 want, shall over whelm thee, no● to be withstood; till thou be quitted with dese●●ed blood. Nuncius, Cho●●s. Nun. Where may I find( O who will tell me where?) The prophet's followers, that I may relate my heavy tidings. Ch●. Stay your pace a while, 〈…〉 in brief, for what you bear I gladly would partake. Nun. O but to know, what you to know desire, 'twill not delight you. Cho. Yet your short abode think not too long, how e'er the master stands. Nun. Know you what boon the Daughter of our King hath begged of him. Cho. To have the prophet's head given her in a Charger. Nun. And his head, even so she hath obtained. Cho. O horrible and most inhuman act; that heavenly vigour and comely countenance by rigorous death is utterly decayed, and cruel force with ever during silence hath shut up those lips that did abound with sacred virtue. Nun. why weep you? cease to pour out vain complaints. Cho. When things to be bewailed I see and hear, why should I not bewail them? Nun. If death be to be bewailed, let us bewail the dead, whose hopes do with their bodies lie interred; who do not think, their short sleep being done, their bones must rise again, and there remains another life, Let wretched men bewail those that are dead, and only wretched lived; None can be made by fortune miserable, though the like and of mortal life betide the innocent and guilty, good and bad, no man shall die ill, that hath lived well: If by the several manners of their ends you judge men miserable, you will think so many holy fathers to be such, who died by fire, or water, sword or cross, for him that died Defender of the truth, both for Religion and his country laws, in all good things pursuing we should pray, and wish to have like end or funeral day. Cho. Verily you have uttered nought amiss, but we whom errors and opinion draw, foolish by flying death with death do meet, the water drowning whom the fire hath spared; And by the power of contagious air, others are killed that have escaped the sea, And some, that in the battle have survived, with sickness pining die; God doth ordain we may defer, but not our deaths eschew; And daily we delay our hours of death, yet with Diseases, danger, troubles, grief: Long life is nothing, but a brittle chain Of diuturnal evil, which is knit With a contivall course, and speedy race, Even to the bounds of death: Not do we hold, ( Bound with this bond) ourselves to be inthraled In misery, but fear the fatal knife, With deeper horror than a servile life. FINIS.