The Protestant Address, ON HIS MAJESTY'S CALLING A Free-Parliament.  

NOW English Braves the utmost point have gained,  
That Magna Charta, or the Laws contained.  
The great supporter of our Liberty;  
The Mighty Sanhedrim, Select and Free;  
The true Dispensitory of our Laws,  
Shall clear our Jealousies, and plead our Cause:  
To stop the Current of a Civil-War,  
What more could Heaven, or a Just King declare?   

When Pagan Darkness had o'ercast the Land,  
Loud Storms did Rage with a prevailing hand;  
Amidst the Clouds of Lightning, and of Smoke,  
In a slow Voice, the Godlike Monarch spoke;  
" England, Rejoice; hence Banish all Despair;  
" Thy Cries are heard; Thy Breaches I'll repair:  
" What Lords and Prelates oft Implored in vain,  
" Without Petitioning, you now Obtain.  
" Tho' Prayer prevails, 'tis not th' officious Saint,  
" But the God's Bounty condescends to grant.   

He spoke, and straight the Storm did disappear;  
The Cloud dispersed, and all the Heavens were clear.  
The cheerful Voice of a Free-Parliament,  
As swift as Lightning, through the Nation went:  
The grateful Summons reached the Belgic Band,  
And did extend through all the spacious Land;  
Beyond Domestic, even to Foreign Powers,  
The Joy and Terror of the Neighbouring Shores.  
Letoy France alone dread the Eternal Voice,  
Whilst Holland, joined with England, does rejoice.  
A Parliament! What Charms does that imply?  
Our Lives, our Laws, Religion, Liberty;  
Whatever else to English-Men is dear,  
As in its proper Region, centre here.  
The Nerves of War, the Sinews of our Peace,  
Redresser of the Nations Grievances;  
The great Catholicon; a Compound sure,  
Which does to each Disease apply a Cure;  
To Purge the Land o'th' Roman Legion,  
A Bolus for the Whore of Babylon.  
Asserter of the King and Peoples Right;  
And, with Success, can Crown the doubtful Fight.   

'Twas This, when false Achitophel's took place,  
And many a Loyal Peer was in Disgrace;  
When Pagan Blindness did the Night begin,  
And Priests from Tiber, like a Stream, broke in.  
'Twas This, the very Name of Parliament,  
When Factious Tumults Raged, and Discontent,  
To the appeasing of the Lawless Crowd,  
Restored the Day, and did disperse the Cloud.  
A brighter Sun, and a serener Sky,  
Succeeds the Storm, and does our Peace imply.   

When Foreign Streams the Land had overflown,  
The fatal Sword was in our Bowels drawn;  
When Orange with his Warlike Troops, came o've  
The Belgic Lion did begin to Roar;  
When to his Aid lost Macklesfield did run,  
To be Revenged, or to have Justice done:  
Even than a Parliament (such are these Charms!)  
Allayed the Fury of the Belgic Arms.  
Encircled here, we'll fear no other Blows;  
Their Swords their Hearts engaged in the same cause  
The bare Proclaiming of a Free-Election,  
Brought the Invading-Foe to our Protection.   

What Mysteries are here! A Foreign Prince  
England Invades, for English-Mens Defence!  
A Formidable Army in the Rear,  
With many a Noble Potentate and Peer;  
Shamburg, Nassaw, and Staremberg the Great,  
(Whose very Presence is a sure Defeat,)  
Their Arms, inur'd to Conquest, will lay down;  
No violation to the British Crown:  
Come only to Espouse the English Cause,  
The Protestant Religion, and the Laws;  
By Reason, not by Combat, to persuade,  
Against the Foes that would those Rights Invade.   

This Sovereign, this sole Expedient,  
Is founded in a Legal Parliament.  
May this Conjunction of the higher Spheres  
Dispel our groundless Jealousies and Fears;  
And may the wondrous Year of Eighty Eight,  
In England once again set all things Right.   
FINIS.   

LONDON, Printed for H. R. in the Year 1688.