STRAFFORIADOS. THE LIEUTENANT'S LEGEND: As it was first compared, and now published, according to the Original Copy. Writ by his own hand in the Tower. SIDON. Extincta est rabies parientis sanguine.— CLAUD. — Fundatae in sanguine Gentes Non sine teste ruunt.— Printed in the Year, 1652. TO THE READER. SOme Rithms (for they merit not the style of Verse, much less the authority of so able and active a Pen) have been lately published, and unjustly fathered upon Earl STRAFFORD. And whence came these, but from those brothel Brokers of false ware, who for base gain will frontlesly engage their penurious pen in any ementitious work? Believe it from the mouth of him that dare avouch it, and who in Subjects of this kind, was to the knowledge of his Honour, while he lived, best interessed; that none of this sort have at any time under his Name been heretofore divulged: which are not to be accounted fabulous, and worthily rejected; being so fare different from his expressive Character, as they bear not the least Semblance of so exquisite a Limner. As for his Ultimum Vale, it has been no less simply then sordidly acknowledged, as well by him who ementitiously writ it, as by him who did surreptitiously print it, that his Honour had no hand in it; for, advantage of the time, with hope of profit, was the only bait that lured them to it. Lastly, for those late-dispersed Copies of his Letters, you may gather what probability they bear of being his, by their distinct Characters. This here presented, as it was penned by him, and transcribed by one near and dear unto him, was his last Piece recommended to Posterity: and for a Legacy left by HIM, than whom none ever was more ably endowed, more generally hated, in of the State more unhappily suffered, nor in the period of his suffering by discreet eyes more compassionately bemoaned. The LIEUTENANT's Legend. Dat poenas laudata fides; gravis exitus altis Imminet Heröis; tuta myrica manes. EYe me, ye mounting Cedars! once was I, As you are, Great; rich in the Estimate Of Prince and People; no malignant eye Reflected on me; so secure my state, It felt no Rivals; then I feared no Grate Nor a Plebeian Storm; then my renown Took breath from Such as now would cry it down. Honours came thick upon me, as if these Meant with their weight to crush me; Every day Raised me one Story higher; Land and Seas Were then propitious; fresh as fragrant May, Sprung my enlivened Strength; where a decay In Health, Wealth, Freedom, Popular esteem, Prove my late Scene of State a golden Dream. I had (unhappy is the accent had) A competence of State before I came To this Surprising grandeur; being clad In native properties, till th' wing of Fame Imped with a Country Zeal enlarged my aim To high designs, producing such Success, " My Seeming blessed estate eclypsed my bliss. That vocal Forest or Plebeian vote Adjudge me worthy of the worthlest death; Yet this Mechanic rabble know me not But by report, though their empoisned breath Steames rank upon me, wishing but to sheathe Their weapons in my bowels; thus am I Become their Foe, and yet they know not why. Go I by Water or a private Coach, I'm hooted at, blind fury finds no end; The Style of Traitor welcomes my approach, Whereto mine Ears a forced attention lend; Yet, 'mongst these Fiends I have one constant Friend, An un-amated loyal heart within me, Which in these gusts shall peace of Conscience win me. The Prince's Declaration it was such As it Secured me from the doom of Death; But on th' incensed State it wrought not much, Such were my Acts, I'm held unfit to breath, Such was the Spleen pursued me underneath: Tradesmen and Women still for justice cry, " We cannot live, if Strafford do not die. The Judges their authentic Sentence pass, And in two Charges vote me of High treason; Which vote, as is conceived, moulded was From their approaching fears which blinded reason And caused those Elders to comply with season. For th' Safest way to shun those shipwrecked Shelves, Was, as they held, t'ingratiate themselves. Thus do I live a dying life, immured With cares more numerous than my Warders be; Endangered most, when seeming most secured, While Damocles keen Sword Hangs over me, On public Stage to act my tragedy: Avaunt base Servile fear; Let Law proceed; Though headless, yet I cannot lose my head. I know that my Redeemer lives; in him My life and love are Sealed; admit it then A minute Spill what many years did Spin, I shall resume these lineaments again, Restored, refined, and purified from Stain. Crazy's my Cottage; no content at all To Sojourn in a Lodging like to fall. Now if those Prudent Houses holded not fit That I unto my WENTWORTH WOOD-HOUSE go, To exercise my days in Holy Writ, Or like a Recluse in a Cell of woe, To pray for those I own Devotion to; Let th' Sentence of sad Death come when it pleases, The Axe's edge gives cure to all diseases. Erect your Scaffolds like Pyramids, Let my Corrivals my Appellants be; Let Shipwrecked judges that have Writs Become Spectators of my misery, Teare-poudred Sables clothe my Family: All this is nothing! a more glorious place Arms me to look Death-terrors in the face. And yet excuse me that I thus conceive, If these long Charges by me answered Bring my weak body to untimely grave, To after-ages 'twill be registered, Nay, by just privilege authorized That STRAFFORD Such a day and year did die For no High treason, but to Satisfy. The LIEUTENANT's Lachrymae: OR, His Last Good-night. No Glass may more to life present Man's face, Then THIS, the frailty of a Great man's place. — Whence I gather, More useful to the Body's no Physician, Then for a man to ponder his condition, DRaw near, give ear, and hear a Peer, whose misery was such, As Envies state, a great man's Fate, relentlesly did touch. Once was I near the Prince's ear, and dear unto the State, But now my bliss reduced is to this sad Tragic Fate. There was a day when I bore sway in public Parliament; Then who but I? which raised me high, to be York's Precedent; Where Prince's love did so improve th' Instructions of that Court, As it became a Chancery in confluence and resort. But Country-aire was my least care, I must transplanted be, And take my place t'enlarge my grace, of Ireland's Deputy; Where, as 'tis said, no Venom bred, so 'twas my glorious strife To censure such who throve too much with venom in their life. None were so high but would comply with me and my commands, For else were they forced to obey, and perish in my hands. None durst devour the Widow, Poor, nor seize on other's right, But I brought in to scourge his sin, and crush him with my might. But what's all this? I did amiss, for so the Commons say; All this did tend to mine own end, and profit every way. My Port advanced, my State enhanced, and my Revenues too, The Common Laws I did dispose, and wrest them God knows how. Laws life did rest within my breast, my will was still my Law, No State could be, if't neighboured me, secured from a flaw; I could dispense with Acts of Bench, and disannul their Course, None ever lived, less liked, less loved, in men's opinion worse. FIRST * These pretensive Crimes in the Articles of his Trial; were with much vehemency pressed: All which, were by his HONOUR, to the great Satisfaction of his Audience, with a serious ingenuity cleared. I did fleece our Merchandise, and grievous imposts raise, For private gain, I trucked with Spain; and with injurious lays Impaired men's state t' increase their hate, no pity did I render; Thus with all ill I'm twitted still, my good deeds none remember. I should report in public Court with an imperious awe That th' finger of the King should bring command o'er th' Loins of Law; Whereas a Knight to do me right that testat did evince: For I did say, Laws loins might sway the finger of the Prince. The Scottish Charge in trifles large h'as taxed me in like sort, If th' Island here invaded were, the State might thank me for't; For I an Army had prepared their Kingdom to subdue, And to bring in that Man of Sin with his Papistick crew. When all men knew I was a foe to Superstition still, And in the North brought Romists forth and wrought them to my will; When they did pay so much as they would gladly been content The Penal Statutes to obey, to quit their annual rent. Their City Garaway did say, that of mine own accord When He came in I moved the King to take away his Sword; Which ever since did so incense that * The City-councell. awful Bench as these Jointly deny, unless I die, to pay their Subsidies. In a * Cleanthes. borrowed name to my defame some say I wrote Love-letters, To wind youth in licentious Sin made fast with golden fetters; Which purchase got, I feared not strange lofty Acts to make, At th' Sons desire against his Sire for his Clorinda's sake. There is no crime at any time wherewith I'm not impeached, My hands in blood, no action good, my thoughts at treason reached. What joy then here when all men bear such malice to my name? Should Justice rest, with joint protest, they would display my shame. They say I stay and stop the way of Issues that are made, And that I've sought by poisons brought to leave my Spirits dacaid; Or that I make means to escape in counterfeit disguise, When never I, by th' Death I die, dreamed such an enterprise. From th' Tower I'm sent to th' Parliament with Garrisons surrounded, Yet I pursued by th' multitude might be surprised and wounded; Piecemeal these swear they would me tear, should Train-band me surrender, Were I as clear as ever were they'd vote me an offender. Now at the Bar as Felons are, must I hold up my hand, And those my strong Accusers be who stood at my command. " A breaker o'th' last Parliament, an Instrument of war, " Subverter of the Common-Laws, a close Adulterer. A Cruel Tyrant, and what's worse, if worse can be found, No Snake may be compared to me in such a * Meaning Ireland; which (as is reported) by the pious Tears, and Prayers of Saint Patrick, became freed of all venomous Creatures. Vid. Annal Arden. Insul. Snakelesse ground; See, See our humane frailty! what fading honour's worth, When th' Euning may o'ercloud that day the clearest Morn brought forth? The House of Commons voted my High Treason long ago, And they do grudge, their hate is such, the High-House does not so; And some do guess they do not this for any love to me, The reason why, if I should die secure they could not be. But now both Houses are agreed that I should lose my head, Tower-hill must be a Stage for me, where Stories may be read, That never Man from greatness came to such calamity, Nor in high place bore more disgrace than Ireland's Deputy. Farewell, farewell; now to my Cell, from thence unto the Stage, Where th' Hatchet must prove honour dust, and pay my Service Wage; Relent hard heart what ere thou art, when thou shalt see my fall, What happened me may fall to thee, do Justice then to all. Farewell Dear Spouse, my ancient House, my tender Children too, Though Law on me inflicted be, it takes no hold of you. My blood though spilt, you're free from guilt, the Prince will do ye right, Whose Crown heavens bliss with all success: And so vain World good-night. A FATHER'S FAREWELL. O Ye my constant cares, but unconstant comforts; Let me turn to you, before I turn to earth! O, to what end did I take care to waste myself, for that which others without care intent to waste? Why should I become so foolishly frugal, as to make my Heir sick of a Father; riot in his Funeral; and in his death to act to life the part of a Prodigal? O how many children had fared well in the world, had their Parents set their hearts less on the world! A Worldlings common Objection. Oh, but who provides not for his Family, is worse than an Infidel! Much more for his Posterity, being the dearest of his Family, the nearest of his Meniey. O my Indulgence! What a discomfort hast thou occasioned to me in the One, what a disorder in the Other! I was lessoned by a Good Father, August. Med. cap. 1. to make nothing a greater stranger to me in the way of my Pilgrimage, then towards my Familiars impiety; towards my Servant's severity; towards my Neighbour's extremity. Which Lesson, though I have not learned as well as I should, yet have I laboured to observe it as well as I could. Mean time, while I looked upon mine own, I found my too tender Nature of such a temper, as it needed no such direction. Before I was a Father, I mused much how so wise a Sage as Agesilaus, could so strangely play the Child, as to ride on Hobby-horse with his Children. But remembering his Answer, I could not choose but approve an indiscreet act, proceeding from so affectionate a Nature: Do not condemn me of Folly, till you have Children of your own. O Nature, how swift art thou in thy descending! how slow in thy ascending! Henry the Second, than whom none more happy in his Youth; more unfortunate in his Age; having observed the mutability of his condition, how he could not be more numerous in years, than he was surprised with aged cares; being esteemed least by those who should reverence him most, devised this * Henricus aetate confectus; quo tempore a Liberis gravissimis affectus fuerit odiis; Emblema sibi contraxit ab Aquila, quatuor pullis adumbrato; quorum duo oculos Aquilae eruentes; alii duo ungui bus erant vellicantes. Emblem, to represent his parental affliction: An Eagle personating Himself, with four young ones, presenting his four Sons; too whereof were ever billing and pecking at his eyes: the other two scratching his face. These were unkind Chickens; unnatural Eaglets; yet many such Branchers may we find airing near most of our Nests. But heavy judgements are reserved for such Unnaturalists. The Ravens shall pick out their eyes; and the terrors of unprepared ends shall surprise them. These who are sick of a Father, shall find sickly comforts in the death of a Father. The Inheritance which their Nimrod-desires hunted after with such greediness, shall but serve for fuel to increase their unhappiness. As their wishes murdered him living, so shall his ill-requited memory present to their profuse hours, and misspent Estates, Myriad of miseries at their dying. But admit (which were rare to find) that these longing Heirs should be followers of their Father's steps, in a thriving providence: yet must they expect from their children in offices of Obedience a just Acquittance. Such Parents seldom God blesseth with obedient Children; who neglected the duty they ought to their Parents when they were Children. Illud expectandum est à nobis, quod praestitimus nostris. Paterculus. So as, whether these undutiful ones be Frugal or Prodigal, Misery, through a loathed satiety; or Poverty, through their profuse society, have ever accompanied their Evening. Yea, I have known some of these, who either touched with remorse of Conscience, or driven to want through their own licentiousness, could have wished to have digged up their contemned Fathers with their nails, so they might have enjoyed them: For all the which their neglectful youth, while they were living expressed unto them: or poisonous disgraces their unmanaged course aspersed on them: Yet was it no Filial Zeal, but an Experimental want that wrought upon them this course. O the deceiving hopes of a disconsolate Father! What restless cares, anxious hopes, and solicitous fears hourly awake him, sleeping; and daily encounter him, waking! He neglects no time to increase his store; no ways unsought to improve his estate. He eats the bread of carefulness, and apportions himself the very lest of all his Family, to raise an higher foundation to his posterity. O sandy groundwork! What an imprudent householder is He, who shares in his own, with the least and lowest of his Meniey? to beget affliction to himself; disaffection in others! Where Large Inventories commonly make forgetful Executors; lose Successors! Poor indisposed providence! Be these the fruits of broken sleeps; and needy repasts? Is it wisdom to lay up his treasure in the hopes of those, who mourn for nothing more than to be their own Treasurers; by disseising a too industrious Father of his care and coin together? O what a joyful sound does the Passing Bell afford to a thirsty Prodigal! who, long before the crawling worm has either untwisted his : or those funeral flowers which stuck his Corpse, lost their colour; has buried the memory of his indulgent Father in those healthless Healths of lasting Oblivion. In what account are we to hold those hours, that are encountered with such confluence of griefs? Peruse Annals of Time, and in what did Old Priam exceed young Tro●lus, but in years, tears, calamitous Children, and numerous cares? Let the foolish Father, whose penurious life has been wholly bestowed on Sparing, to give more length of line to his Successors Spending; cast up his Accounts, and examine what profit or parental comfort his nightly cares and watchful endeavours have returned him. Methinks I see him turn over leaf after leaf, and account day after day: yet he finds nothing worthy his care, nor what may answer his toil. Yet take this notice, as an Addition to his folly. Though He found nothing all his time, that might promise him lest assurance in them of performing his Bequest; yet such is his groundless confidence; as He recommends to their care, what he forgot to do in his life. Sundry pious works, which either his affection, so closely cemented to the World, would not suffer him to perform: Or the foolish hope He had in his Heir, made him transfer that Work to his trust. But the careless Unthrift makes his late Father's Charge, the least of his Care: He finds in himself such liberty of conscience, as He can dispense with the Execution of such Bequests; He finds all that his Father left him, little enough for his own Share; as He hopes within short time the World will show it. Memorials of dead Fathers are to be buried with them. Thus discharge such as these their trust to purpose. Legacies and Pious Offices must become their own trusties. Their Testator is committed to Earth: whose memory accompanies his Obsequies; Both subject to one Fate: And deposited in one Urn. And those who survive Him, hold him rightly served. What mad Man is He, that will intrust Him, at his Death; who never answered his trust in his life? Expectance begets obedience: Enjoyment shuts up affection in an Act of Oblivion. If hopes make not a Child Obedient: Possession of what He hoped for, will hardly do it. O see, to what shadows this Worldlings substance is reduced! Before He return well to Earth, all his early and late providence is resolved to Air. He has bid the World a long farewell; which makes his jolly Spendthrift farewell and deliciously in it. Those Consorts which his Father hated, must be his only Copesmates. In their Career, they sing a merry Requiem for his Soul, whose Rest is the least of their Care. His interment gives entertainment to those, who will never leave his debauched Heir, till his Estate has left him. He has made choice of them, and for a World he would not change them; whose only Office it is, to contrive the way how he may gallantly spend: as it is His, to find a purse how to defray the charge of their Projects. Thus must an aged providence be thawed and to nothing dissolved by a Youthful expense. Were the length of his days proportioned to his expense, his exhausted State, before he saw half of his days, would be contracted to a Scrip: or his Prospect, through his numerous engagements, confined to a Grate. But Death is many times so kind, as to impose a period to his miseries: and to end him, before they wholly make an end of him. But be his days long or short, his memory cannot choose but rot, being a branch shred and cut off from the root. It is a promise, and He is faithful in his performance that makes it: Length of days shall be unto him, who Honours his Parents: which implies an Abridgement to his, who dishonours them. The wicked and deceitful man shall not live to see half his Days. And show me a more deceitful Liver, than He who deceives the trust of a Father! If Obedience be better than Sacrifice; no doubt, but Disobedience is the Sacrifice of Fools. It seems he desires to have his days short, who by his Rebellious course, labours to shorten his Father's days. The foundation of his hopes cannot stand. But future judgements are strangers to his thoughts. So he may enjoy the pleasures of Sin for a season; Eternity is quite razed out of the Calendar of his memory. He holds the Pelican a good natural Mother in feeding her young-ones to her own ruin: but he holds that Child a mere Natural, that would requite that parental favour to his own danger. Whence it is, that He accounts no Bird more foolish than the Stork, in carrying his aged Parents upon his Wings: and providing for them, whose unwieldy condition cannot purvey for themselves. I have often observed it, nor could I well credit what my eyes had seen: how Nature could possibly become such a Changeling, as to wish no being, to those from whom they had their being. Many Children have found their Parents to be their best Stewards: yet rather than be troubled with such Dispenser's, they could wish that care supplied by Hirelings. There was an ancient Decree, that He who neglected his Parents in their age, should reap no benefit by their Death. Var de Antiq. Rom. Viget. Macrob. Valer. Max. Rhodolph. Agric. de Leg. Nat. Now, how many Children should we find disinherited, were this Law to all intents and purposes executed? That Law, no doubt, was well intended, if it were but ordained only to preserve in their Progeny, pretences of Duty. It is hope of preferment, that begets in most Children this Shady Semblance of Obedience. Take away this Hope, and you shall find an icy Zeal. Broad-spred Sycamours, all for Shadow; none for Fruit. Were it not then just, for Parents to adopt Strangers their Heirs; seeing those who should be their Lineal Heirs, make themselves such Strangers to their cares? But the heart of a Father is of a more waxed and indulgent temper: so blind has affection made him, as He generally values those most, whose actions deserve least. These he tenderly hugs, who would follow his Hearse with dry eyes: and who in the height of his extremes, will rather Prey on him, then Pray for him. So apt is Nature to deprave judgement: and to play the Impostor with her Multiplying Glass; presenting more comforts in the worst, then can possibly appear in the best. When affection has forfeited her discretion, and lost the eyes of her judgement by mistakes; Virtues seem Vices: and Vices Virtues. It were wisdom then for Nature to suspend her eyes: and to fix them with an impartial reflex both on merit and immerit. This will beget that emulation in goodness, which Children before knew not, at least pursued not; because they were by their Parents undistinguished or unrewarded. But little need we to press this Argument: Experience tells you whom I should admonish; that a Father is more ready to give, than a Child to requite. Be it your care to retain, in this my last Farewell, these final Directions; which may prove as useful to you, as any Portion I can bequeath you. Your youth informed me, that your Dispositions were different; which caused me to bestow you several ways. For Philosophy had told me, and Experience taught me, that Nature could not be forced. Yet have I highly taxed my Indulgence for giving such way to the freedom of youth. Some of you pretended for Arms; others for Arts. You, who were for Arms had got such a Surfeit of the School, as your Plea was incapacity to your Book; by reason of your want of memory, or impregnancy, or some other innate defect. So as, your desire was to inlist yourselves, after the garb of these stirring times, amongst Soldiers of Fortune; to engage your persons for the Camp: but (as I conceited it) only to disengage yourselves of the Whip. And I assented to it: and some progression have you made in it, without much loss or increment of Honour. March along then with this advice; In the first place, be no less Cautious than Conscientious of the Grounds for which you fight. Be He never so valiant, if the Cause be nought for which he engageth; it is Rashness and no Valour; For win He or lose He, the issue redounds ever to his Dishonour. Sub quocunque Regimine critis constituti, non reluctantes, sed integrè subditi. Albanus. Arnobius. Evander. Euthymius. Allegiance is a just ground; in what Orb soever, the State be Spheared: though in these days unfortunately managed. But Actions are not to derive their equity from event or success: Nor to receive their Censure from the loss of a Field. Fortune is not always Virtues Shadow. If this last design of theirs bearing such a face of Loyalty, redeem their fame, it is an unexpected recovery. England cannot be more in God's eye, than judaea: and yet Infidels are become Lords of that Seat, where our Heavenly Lord and his Apostles trod. Let me advise you; be no Scotch pretenders; in making Religion your colour, when Plunder is your aim. Though their booties enrich them, & their Neutral Factions seemingly secure them, They must come off with loss, before the main Battle determine the Quarrel. ☞ Make not such use of your strength, as injuriously to entrench upon an others State. Do no man wrong; When the Sword is in your hand, let Grace be in your heart. Let that daring insolence, so familiar with a Soldier, be to you an uncivil Stranger. Walk in the ways of Innocency: and end these days of your warfare in it. Prefer a glorious Death, before a vicious life. Better is it to die with an Abel, then to live a Cain. Be it your prime care every Morn to make your peace with God; Suffer not your inward Enemy to have any advantage of you: Whatsoever your Outward have. Though the Bullet make no distinction betwixt a Prince and a Common Soldier: Those Christian Memorials recommended to you in your youth, should better prepare you then to fall like Beasts, without remembering your future condition. The Mariner and Soldier ought of all others to be ever provided of this Spiritual Armour. Three inches only distanceth the One from Death: and a Paper-sconce the Other. Of all Others, every hour may be your last: Be it then your constant Task, in the Service of your Camp, to make Heaven your Care. March after this manner, and the Lord of Hosts will go along with you: and improve these actions of valour to your Fame, His Honour. Now for you, who are for Arts. As it has been my care to season you in all Sciences, Humane and Divine: be it your care not to invert them, but rank them according to their Degrees. Employ your Humane as Handmaids; your Divine as their Mistresses. Now, Religion must be the foundation; which being strengthened and cherished by that sweetly-distilling influence of Devotion, is not to consist only in Speculative knowledge, but Proficiency of Action. For Religion, being the Mystery of our Salvation, is a practical Syllogism, whose premises go for nothing, if there be not the active conclusion of well-doing. The promise is not made to Him that knows this, but to Him that does this. Do this and thou shalt live. In the expense of your hours, be careful how you bestow yourselves in them: Account these so precious, as the whole world cannot reduce nor recall one Minute of them. Have not your eye on the Glass how it runs: no● on the Clock what it strikes. Contemplation should be more fixed, then to be so easily distracted. He, who in his Study gives more ear to the hour, than those lines he reads; must give me leave to hold him such a proficient, as He is rather to be accounted a Truant then a Student. Make every Evening, an Accountant of the forespent day. Your age is not to be reckoned by years but hours: Many are young in hours, who are old in years. Bestow your time in Learning to your profit: but entertain such humility in your improvement, as with modesty to acknowledge it. The Zone where you live admits no Solstice: your Academic Studies hold correspondence with no Station. You must either be Proficients or Deficients. In one word, make God the Beginning and Ending of all your Labours: and then with a cheerful Evening will He crown all your Endeavours. Now to you, my Daughters, whose choicest Consorts should be Modesty, Humility and pious Industry; though your Mother were taken from you, before She could well inform you: or yourselves capable of what She might recommend unto you; yet are you supplied in her want, by One; who, though a Stepmother, (a Name employing an harsh Nature) yet be her Steps so imitable, that if you walk in them, they may sufficiently enable you by Her example. Do not then Step over Her with an awlesse reverence: But observe her Directions as useful Lessons, for the knowledge of yourselves: and performance of those Officers, wherein you stand obliged to God and the World. I shall be sparing in speaking much to you, being so confident of Her care with whom you are: and to whose Education and Tuition next under God, I commend you; as She will never desert you, unless you desert yourselves. Now the blessing of God, and a poor languishing, but truly-loving Father be among you: and direct you in all your ways and works, to His honour who made you. PROV. 4. 1. Hear ye Children, the instructions of a Father, and attend to know understanding. DEATH'S DREAM. LAst night, me thought, I saw a Great-man die, And none was in the Room but He and I. His vital parts had made their Long retreat, Eyes Dim, Voice Hoarse, his Pulse no strength to beat. Yet like two antient-friends long time acquainted, His Soul, me thought, would hardly be contented To leave the Body: or the Flesh her Guest, Her living Soul, without a sharp contest. But fruitless was this Conflict; They must yield To Him who still came Conqueror from the field: And being ready to surprise his Fort, It moved me to advise Him in this sort. Let no weak hopes of longer life deceive you, " You see how your Physicians mean to leave you; " Whose choice Receipts, Apothecarry Bills, " At such excessive Charge their Patients kills; " Are left to your Executor to pay: " And for their wage, not for your health they stay, " For that 's past Cure:— Prepare then for remove " From this poor Vale of Tears to joys above: " Here is a fading, there a real bliss, " Fix then your heart, Sir, where your treasure is. Wherewith he sighed: and shed a trickling tear As if the Treasure of his Heart lodged here. Till my persuasions did at last so win him, I found, me thought, a lively faith within him. For pearled tears did his Repentance show, And Eyes the Place where He was mounting to. Which I observing;" Sir, while you have sense, " Thus I Discoursed) discharge your Conscience, " And set your House in Order." FRIEND, that care " (So He replied) is left unto my Heir: " Portions, Doles, Legacies I shall not need " To write; His love can my intentions read. " These Cares are recommeded to His trust, " And he'll discharge them, for I hold him just. " My Soul has sued divorce 'twixt th'World and me, " From which my thoughts shall henceforth strangers be. " One Only man there is whom I could wish " Might never share in any State of His: " For His hydroptick drought like thirsty ground, " Gapes still for more, the more it does abound: " But that I may in charity departed, " I wish his true Conversion with my heart. Having my Spiritual Physic thus applied, With much Composedness me thought He died. Now HE, whom He deputed for his Heir Appeared so well disposed, so debonair; As none (if Dreams may represent a truth) Retained more seeds of virtue in his youth. But as choice Plants oft perish in their prime While Grafts of flower growth live longer time; So He; when those pure beamelings should appear And spread their beauty in their proper Sphere; Heart-slaine with filial-love, as Chemists gather, Within few day's Death sent him to his Father: Leaving a lovely Lady here behind, Who lived to wear His Picture in her mind. — Good God, what strong impressions Dreams receive! Scarce were these two, me thought, cold in their Grave, Or those Seere Funeral Flowers their Colour lost, Till He stepped in, whom th' Father feared most; Claiming a title in this vast Estate With other Three concerned in this debate. Which to compose, They were advised to show Their just pretences, which all yielded to. The place that they proposed for this Assay Was near the Porch where those two Courses lay; Those two endeared Ones: for never were Sire to his Son, nor Son to Sire more dear. Thrice did they meet, but nothing could be done; One would have all: and others might have none. " Earth-glude affections will admit no stay " Until their Owner be reduced to clay. This made me muse how men endued with reason Can in a Place of Death, and such a season Converse with Earth so freely, as to plead For their Estates that were so lately dead! In this amaze, Those Corpse, me thought, appeared To their half Bodies, from a Statue reared: Where th' Elder pale with anger seemed to show An ashy hue presents Death: A furrowed brow an apprehensive passion. Both Death and Passion in his furrowed brow. While th' Younger more composed, seemed with a tear To whisper these words in his Father's ear. Sir, do you hear how these corrivals fight T'invest themselves in our peculiar Right: What projects they contrive their ends to win, While we're forgot as if we had not been? Th'incensed Father having sadly eyed Those violent Contests; at last replied With a deep-scalding sigh, and ghastly groan Breathed frow a steming Urn:" Was ever moan " Clothed with less solemn rites: or funeral Bears " Ranked with less mourning robes and fewer tears? " Forgot as soon as Earthed! unhappy State " To make those men our Heirs whom we did hate! After which hideous voice, their Grave stones shaked, Whereat the Umpires fled, and I awaked. 'Twas nothing but a Dream; and Dreams men say, Expound themselves the clean contrary way. But Dreams have Morals too: and such had these; Expound them then, Good Readers, as you please. Death's Doom. " Tot varias facies variis spectare dicbus " Miror, & offigies fingere credo dies. GIlt Gull, who lin'st thy silken sins with Plush, And carest not for thine inward man a rush, Some two or three years hence, or such a thing Pye-coloured Jay, thou in a Jail mayst sing. MAdam, who made you with your breasts displayed, Apishly trimmed, fantastickly arrayed? Your Purls, Purfles, Powders must decline, Nought left you but a Shade, a Shroud, a Shrine. CHurchman, who taught you such a formal dress, And to forget your mainest business? Sir, when you die; you must 'fore him appear, Will ask you what you were, not what you wear. LAwyer, who learned you to abuse the State, And make Laws Spiderwebs by your deceit? For all your acquaint Demurs, you find no Plea 'Gainst the Injunction of mortality. Soldier, who gave you Discipline to fight, To right yourself by taking others right? This is not right;" He is not virtue's friend, That wrongs another for his private end. VIntner, who schooled you to corrupt your wine, To make men's froms sprout like a Porcupine? When this rich Vintage's past, for all your plenty, Your Bush shall be pulled down, your Hogshead empty. AUthor, who dipped your pen in Hippocrene, To gull the world with a worldly Theme, Leave earth where you do live, and strive to love That Sphere, where Angels may your Muse approve, ACtor, return, what are you? whence you came! To live, lust, loiter, pander and profane? This is a strange vocation; ever have Thoughts in thy Tiring-house upon thy Grave. But if these Motives will not serve your turn, here's Mirrors for you, Scithe, Hourglass, and Urn; Dish up your Viands then, scrape up your Crumbs, For lo you where the Sergeant Majo comes! Gull, Dame, Church, Lawyer, Soldier, Author, Actor, Are Merchandise to Fate, where Death's the Factor. Morphuus, Urna, Rogus, Fax Clepsydra, Virga, Coronis, Singula sunt Fati nuntia certa tui. HYMEN'S Golden Censer. A Spiritual Spousal. HYmen unveyle thy sacred Censers; let This amorous Pair in th'pale of fancy met, When thou hast closed their Ceremonial rite, With Cordial joys & wreaths beday the night. May Nuptial twists give mutual recompense, And crown their Loves with blushing innocence. Lovely Leander, when He won the Tower Where Hero lodged, He could not rest secure. Fears caused Him forfeit freedom; while your Love Signed here below, and registered above Admits no interposing Cloud to shade Those Choice Contents for which you both were made. Pure tender tinder of affections flame Crown their joint votes with fancy, fortune, fame, And all that's good; that their straight levelled line May be a Mirror to this Crooked time; Where vice enfranchised strutts without control, And virtue droops as though she had no Soul. While these Pure Souls march in that Regiment Where their Restraint is th' Orb of their Content. If't seem a Paradox, observe that tye Which leaves love in a linked liberty. " Blest Spousal tye! which though it Captives make, " Those Bonds seem easy for the Keeper's sake. LEDA's various Censure. LEda grows violent when She does hear Any disgust that She has shown; And welcomes her reprover with a Tear, For other Refuge hath she none. Straight will she die, yet knows not why; O what a Salve is this, said I, When Crimes beg Cures from a revenging eye! Yet some there be hold Leda's temper sweet, Though native passions take their Course; And when those Crystal Founts with Silence meet, They are not to be valued worse. For those rinsed eye's clearly discryes She fears those foes that virtue flies, S● as her tears become Sin's Sacrifice. That very night She in my bosom lay, Eyes shed a tear, Heart bred a Sigh; I asked her what she ailed? She would not say, Only she wished that Death were nigh; Wiping her eye, (poor fool,) said I, What wants thou while thy Cinna's by? She with a smile replied, I will not die. Thus fancy by a soft remorse grew mild, Enlivened with a Sacred heat: And to her foe became so reconciled, As Fancy took up Furies Seat. May Hymen bring like Marriage ring To Subjects Spousal and their King. Still may my Leda touch upon this String. What is Complexion but a deep-layed die Upon a Clot of breathing Clay? What is my lovely Leda, or what I But a quick Shade, a Flower in May? Yet if our mind be so combined As Heaven's pure eye no Soil can find; Leda's in me, and I in her enshrined. — Blessed Ordinance that votes us so confined. LIFE'S HARVEST. Green Fruit. LIght-vading joys, a fading life Do ever keep me Company; Where though a Turtle be my wife, And hopes in her posterity, They are in their Minority. So as who justly these compares May find green hopes, but Riper cares. A precious Medal. Look on him, who was ta'en and tied, Was tossed and pushed to every side, First Deified and then defied, Arraigned for thee and Crucifide. A thought of these will humble pride, And render thee so mortified, As no Earth's loss shall thee divide From Him who for thee lived and died. FINIS.