ECHOES FROM THE six TRUMPET. Reverberated by A Review of Neglected Remembrances: Abreviating Precautions and Predictions heretofore published at several Times, upon sundry Occasions, to forewarn what the future Effects of Divine Justice would be, as soon as our Sins were full ripe, if not prevented by timely Repentance.  
Most part of the Predictions have been already seen or heard verified, both by the Author yet living, and by many others, who observed at what Times, in what manner, upon what Persons, and in what Places they were literally or Mystically fulfilled.  
Collected out of the said Authors Printed Books, who conscientiously observed on what Divine Prophecies the said Predictions were grounded; as also GOD's late frequent intermixture of Judgements and Mercies, to reclaim this Generation.  
The First Part.  Matth. 13. 52. Every Scribe which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a Housholder, who bringeth out of his Treasure things new and old. 
Imprinted in the Year Chronogrammically expressed in this Seasonable Prayer LorD haVe Mercy Upon Vs.   

A PREFACE to the following REVIEW, offering somewhat therewith considerable.  
THis Preface, and the following Review, were not without good reason personated as written by a Third person; yet perhaps may make it questionable, Whether they were done by the Author of the Books abreviated, or by another hand; but that is not material: For, they express nothing save what may be by him justified in every circumstance; and therefore it shall so pass. He was Thirteen years old when Queen Elizabeth reigned; and even at that time begun to observe both the Works of GOD, and the Actions of Men; so continuing to do, from time to time, whereby (with GOD's gracious assistance) he was preserved from grossly falling into, and persevering in those sins whereto he was naturally prone; and came into the world at a time which gave him such an Experimental knowledge both of GOD and Men, as he could not have had in many preceding Generations; for he hath lived to see Eleven Signal Changes, in which, not a few Signal Transactions Providentially occurred; to wit, under the Government of Queen Elizabeth, King James, Charles' the First, the King and Parliament together, the Parliament alone, the Army, Oliver Cromwell, Richard Cromwell, a Council of State, the Parliament again, and now King Charles the Second; during all which times, he lived in those Places, and in such middling Stations, between persons of the highest and lowest degree; exercised in Employments, which gave him opportunity to heed what was done, both by those who were above and below him. GOD had also bestowed upon him a Faculty, which (though it be despised, and he therewith but meanly endowed) would not permit him to be altogether idle or silent; for, it compelled him to a conscientious exercise of his Talon, in that, which he thought required at his hand; and to take all occasions from time to time happening, to commemorate, and offer to consideration, those things whereby GOD might be glorified, and his Countrymen benefited in some degree; which duty (though not so well as he would) he hath so well as he could prosecuted to this day.  
He begun very early, by expressing and publishing those Conceptions which the Affections and Inclinations of Youth had awakened in him; endeavouring to season them with as much Morality and Piety, as Subjects of that nature are capable of; suiting them to capacities of young men, who delight to see their own Natural Passions represented as it were in a glass; wherein, they not only met with some better things than they looked for, but, with such Notions also therewith mixed, as insinuated into their hearts that seasoning, which made them much delighted with his Poems, and rendered him so generally known, that many thousands were desirous to peruse his future Writings, and to take better heed of that, whereof else perhaps they had taken little or no notice, though expressed by a more elegant and learned Author. It likewise encouraged him to assume all Occasions to prosecute that, which might most redound to GOD's Glory, and the edifying of men in Faith and Righteousness, though it were to his personal disadvantage in carnal concernments. And GOD hath given him comfort therein, carrying him on hitherto through all difficulties occurring, though by impartially discharging his Conscience in such a mode as had provoked many powerful persons to prosecute him with Indignation; for, his frequent reproofs have been very offensive, notwithstanding they were in general terms only, without personal aspersions, and with as much charity, and tender respect to every man's infirmities, and unwilling failings, as to his own.  
Length of time hath given him so many several occasions to declare what he thought necessary or expedient, that his Published Poems and Writings amount now to about a hundred, besides many never Printed; In which, though he hath expressed much to the same purpose (in various forms and words) yet the same or like occasions warrant the application of the same or like matter and words, as the practice of the holy Prophets and Apostles hath evidenced to be sometimes necessary. For, that Medicine which operates not at one time, doth work effectually at another, on the same persons, or upon those of another constitution: Meats also, variously dressed, are pleasing to their appetites, and well digested by their stomaches, who almost loathed them when often eaten cooked the same way. And so it is in this case. Wherefore he hath endeavoured to put his Matter into such a dress (otherwhile in Prose, and otherwhile in a Poetical Mode) that it may suit with vulgar capacities, and not be despised by the most Judicious; mixing so far forth as may be decent, Delight and Profit, according to this old Verse, Et prodesse solent, & Delectare Poetae.  
His presuming to give counsel to them who neither desire it, nor care for his advice, hath much offended many, and made them heedless of that which might have prevented their sorrow; but it hath pleased and benefited some; and that makes him slight their Proverb, which forbids coming to give Counsel before we are called. And he hath nevertheless prosecuted the multiplying of Doctrinal Remembrances, Exhortations, Precautions and Predictions, (to prevent that which the neglect of them will produce) until they amounted to that numerousness which appears in those Books whereof this is an Abridgement. And by considering upon whose Promises and threatenings they are grounded, he hath not been afraid to predict conditionally those Mercies and Judgements which are promised and menaced in those Books here abreviated. And some will find, that which is not yet verified upon Wilful Delinquents, to be at last as truly fulfilled, as those which they have seen; though the world hath made it one of her Principles to believe and profess, That Prophesying hath long time ceased; because her wise men think as the Apostle Peter said profane men would do in the later times, who scoffingly say, Where is the Promise of his coming; for, since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the Creation, 1 Pet. 3. 4. Indeed, Prophesying is at an end, as touching saving-Faith, or any new Fundamental Articles thereto pertaining. But, the Spirit of Prophecy, as foretelling what shall come to pass in relation to those Mercies or Judgements, which shall be the reward of well-doing, and the punishment of evil-doers, in this life, is not taken away or ceased, as it hath been manifested in and by many, who have had in our day's Revelations of such things before they came to pass, and have been living Witnesses of their predicting them beforehand; as also of their being afterward fulfilled; and in particular, of that Judgement, whereby the glory of London was this year consumed, (though that will not come into every man's Creed:) For, before the said Fire, this Author was informed by a credible person, (who was afterward a great Sufferer thereby) of a Vision representing such a Conflagration in London as there befell soon after. He himself also, had confused preapprehensions of the like effect, when he sent forth his Warning-piece to London, published 1662., occasioned by a sudden Fire in the Night at Lothbury, near the middle of that City, which then consumed the House of an eminent Citizen, with all the Inhabitants therein. Dr. Gell, a Learned and Conscientious Preacher to this City, seemed also to have had the like impressions upon his heart, both by what he communicated to some Friends in private, and by a Printed Sermon of his, preacbed before the Lord Mayor upon that Text, Mat. 24, wherein the coming of the Son of Man, is paralleled with the coming of the Flood in the days of Noah. The same Sermon contains a Narrative (which he averrs was attested by many Witnesses) to wit, That about two years before his Preaching of that Sermon, The sign of the Son of Man, even of Christ on the Cross, wounded in his hands and feet, and Angels round about him, appeared at Frankendale in Germany, to the view of Thousands, Three hours together at midday. Moreover it is credibly avowed, That a Book was brought to be published a little before the said Fire, fore-declaring what we have seen come to pass, and was refused by the Printer, because not Licenced; and that the same Printer being afterward busy to help quench the Fire, and then seeing that same person passing by, told him, he suspected his hand to be in the kindling thereof: Whereto the man answered, That had he been accessary to such a a wicked Purpose or Action, he should not have offered that to publication, whereby it might probably have been prevented; adding these words, That ere long there would be a more dreadful Execution by the Sword, then that was by the Fire; (which, whosoever that man was, or upon what ground soever he spoke, it may probably come to pass) and a Famine follow that, if God should deal with us according to our demerits.  
This Review is in the first place entitled, An Echo from the Sixth Trumpet; because, it allusively reverberateth, and Echoes, as it were, to what was predicted should come to pass between the sounding of the Sixth and Seventh Trumpet, upon pouring forth the Sixth Viol, the sad Effects whereof are partly felt at this day, by many who consider not from whence they proceed, that they might have been as effectual to make them happy, as they will also be to make them more miserable both here and hereafter. Now if upon the whole matter it should be questioned (as perhaps it may) upon what warrantable grounds this Author presumes this Generation is guilty of such and so many Provocations, as have rendered it liable to God's Judgements conditionally predicted in his former Writings; he thereto answers, That beside his personal knowledge thereof acquired by long experience, (and the witness which he believes the Spirit of GOD beareth in his heart thereunto) Common Fame is a good concurrent Evidence (especially in this case;) for, though in many things Fame is a Liar; yet in such cases as this, Vox Vulgi is Vox Dei, The Voice of the People is the Voice of GOD to their Consciences, bearing witness against themselves, as justly meriting all the Judgements predicted by his Prophets, against such sins as they have committed; and they always carry in themselves (though seldom heeded) their Accusation and Sentence of Condemnation.  
It is no marvel, if GOD's long-suffering is little regarded, whilst he is slow to wrath, and executes fore threatened Plagues upon some Persons and Places with less terror and severity then upon some other, or upon the same persons at other times: For, now when they came thick, fell heavily and more dreadfully upon them, than heretofore, the greatest number are so far from being reform; that they grow more impudent Malefactors, as it was predicted it would be in these last times, wherein they on whom the Viols of Wrath should be poured forth, blasphemed when they should have repent. But this excuses not those whom GOD qualifies for such Services (though they shall be bemired and rend in pieces by some) if they shall not seasonably proclaim and reiterate Precautions and Exhortations as often as just occasions are offered; and therefore this Review of Neglected Remembrances, is thought pertinent at this time, though they were heretofore scoffingly termed Prophecies, and will at this day be as little regarded by many; and it is hoped also, this labour will not be quite lost, but have a kindly operation on those who are not hardened into a final impenitence by customary sinning, and wilfully despising GOD's Judgements and Mercies; and that they may be likewise helpful to prevent the like obduracy in those who are not totally depraved.  
Many who are forgetful or heedless of forewarnings, Counsels and Precepts, which concern their present duties, are so much inclined to listen after those Predictions which presage their happiness or unhappiness hereafter, that, if the contrary were not apparent, it might probably be thought, they were less careful to secure their present, than their future enjoyments; for, they rake together all Predictions new and old, which have a show of presaging that which they fear or hope for; entertaining each other at their Meeting-places, with mutual Repetitions of what they last heard to such purposes, how frivolous or improbable soever. This Vanity, the Seducer of Mankind, and the Deceitfulness of men's hearts, makes use of to divert the prosecution of their Duties to GOD, to themselves, and to other men; and to frustrate those rational and seasonable Predictions and Precautions, which might have prevented the greatest Plagues conditionally menaced by the most holy Prophets. By delighting more to hear what is to come, than what men ought to do; they seem to think all good Counsels and Endeavours less pertinent to their cognizance and practice, than an unprofitable, uncertain foresight of what is but conditionally predicted, and shall only come to pass according as the conditions are performed or neglected. But, toward the cure of this distemper, humane Prudence can extend no further than the circumference of its own Sphere.  
Predictions expressed in ambiguous Terms, and having neither certain signification or dependence upon aught following or preceding, are ignorantly insisted upon as pertinent to those Persons or Places whereto they had probably no relation. Such are many groundless Figments cried about the Streets, and picked out of Gypsie-like Prognostications, to the abusing of ignorant people. Such are also the ridiculous Welsh Impostors, entitled Taliefen, the Fiction termed the Panther-Prophesie; and Mother Shipton's Prophecies, so called, are thought considerable by some who suppose themselves no fools; and hereby Predictions and Premonitions grounded upon sound Reason, and Divine Truth, are unheeded or neglected.  
However, there is and shall be a Remnant preserved, who can distinguish between serious and trivial Precautions; and to them, that which is here collected, will at some times be of good use, though the Author be yet in contempt, and in a suffering-condition. Let those therefore, into whose hands these come, be pleased to accept and improve them as they find cause, giving praise to God, who vouchsafeth timely fore-warnings to all Places, Persons and Societies in every Age; and Memorials of that which brings on Confusion and destruction, to the glorifying of his Righteousness, to the shame of presumptuous Transgressor's, and to make future times more cautious; speaking as well by the simple and mean, as by the wise and honourable, in terms fitted unto every capacity; as also in such various Modes as might rouse them up out of security. And, now of late, seeing both dreadful and calm Voices have been long slighted or neglected, he hath spoken to us by all the Elements; yea, by Pestilence, War, furious Hurricano's, and devouring Fire, joined together in a terrible Consort: To which is added a concurrent Presage in the hearts of most men, portending a general Ruin, by their agreeing in that fear, how differing soever their, Affections and Judgements be in other things; and doubtless a final execution of Judgement is not far off, in regard their grand Affairs in most places, begin to resemble the Constitution of that Senate whereof it was said, That all the rest of the Senators were ordered according to the pleasure of one among them; he governed by his Wife, she by her Child's Nurse, and the Nurse by her Nursing.  
According to our vulgar Computation, this is the Thousandth six hundred sixty and sixth year after our Saviour's Birth, and will questionless, be a signal year, according to the pre-conjectures of many; yet, not extend to the total extirpation of his Malignant Kingdom, whose Reign is to end in the 666th year after he was completely enthroned upon the Seat of that BEAST, which was to continue a Thousand years in a declining estate, until the Mystery of Iniquity should be raised out of it to the full height; which time, (though they heeded it not) was mystically fore-declared in their own Numerals, which in an orderly conjunction, according to their simple valuation, extends no further than to make MDCLXVI, comprehending the whole term limited to the Fourth Monarchy, with what should arise out of it, from the highest exaltation both of the First and Second Beast. The highest pitch of the First, the Author believeth (as he hath frequently hinted in his Writings published upon several occasions) was even then at full, when the Lord of Life was crucified under that Power; for, till than it flourished. The number of years comprehending the Heathenish and Papal Antichristian Tyranny, being MDCLXVI in the whole, was not to be reckoned as beginning immediately after Christ's birth, but after his crucifying or ascension; allotting the greatest Numeral M, to wit, a Thousand years, to the said First Beast, and DCLXVI years, to the Second Beast, that being the number of the Name, or Power of that Mystical Man of Sin, whose Reign will probably determine in or about the Three or four and thirtieth year yet to come, if Chronologers have truly informed us of the times past; and History rightly stated the Progress of the Second Beast, to the height of his Power, that we may know from what year to begin that number: But this is certain, though nor the year, nor the day can be precisely known, he hath not long to reign; for, all predictions will ere long end in one; and as it was said a little before the Flood, GOD will not much longer strive with Flesh; but, for the sakes of his Elect, shorten the time of Antichrist, which might else have been lengthened out to the end of 6000 years after the Creation, but that his fury will hasten his own destruction.  
This— 66 th' year shall be a preparative thereunto, though the Romanists insult, as if the Saints have mistaken the time of their Visitation; for, the late Execution of Judgement by devouring Fire, (the like whereof (considering it was not accompanied with the Sword) was never, or very seldom heard of since the consuming of Sodom and Gomarrah) as are also other Epidemical Judgements, prosecuted upon those of GOD's own House, not to destroy, but to purge it. When their fierce Trial hath consumed the Hay, Stubble and Wooden Structures, which they have erected; when self-love, hypocrisy, the Relics of Idolatry, and such other Babylonish Corruptions (as of old, or newly crept in) are purged out; when the abominable Pride, Idleness and Excess, which have here abounded, to the parallelling of Sodom, (considering what they wanted of what we had) are consumed, which nothing can burn up, except such irresistible Fires as that of late, or somewhat thereto equivalent; and, when the Saints have drunk so much of this bitter Cup, as will suffice to cleanse them; Then shall the Scarlet Whore, and her vaunting Confederates, swallow down the dregs, finding themselves deceived in the expectation of those Consequents which their Emissaries have predicted in silly Rhymes dispersed since the said Fire, to insinuate that the Executions now in Act, will be destructive to them only who are departed out of their Babylon, and protested against it. For, though the purifying of God's Family is thereby principally intended, the same Judgements will have concurrent effects from year to year, toward the completing of that, which will be the final Doom of Rome's Babylon, when 666 years, as aforesaid, are determined after their Mystery of Iniquity was at height.  
This Author believes, That the Saints last Purgatory is now commencing, and that it is made signal by the Fire which in this year hath eclipsed the glory, and defaced the Beauty of London, which is to our Israel of GOD, the same which Jerusalem in Palestine was to his Israel at that time. London was the greatest, the most famous, and the most potent of all the Cities wherein the Protestant Religion was visibly professed in opposition to the Papacy; and among other considerable circumstances, that Mercy whereby the execution of Divine Justice was managed, during this years' Visitation hitherto, do manifest, that they have a special relation to God's Inheritance. The most Magnificent, and the Noblest part of this Ancient City was wholly and suddenly consumed; her sad Inhabitants looking on, were disabled to quench it, till it had destroyed (with many thousands of other Structures great and small) above a Hundred Temples and Oratories, besides Colleges, Schools and Halls; one of her Temples being reputed the greatest in Christendom, and wherein the Gospel had been preached, and GOD worshipped, and (though not at all times by all according to the purity of his Sanctuary, yet) by some with as much sincerity, (according to the degrees of their understanding) as by any other National or Congregational Assemblies; until Humane Authorities presumed to set up their Posts by GOD's Posts, and Magisterially imposed more than was enjoined or required by him; which presumption was aggravated by falling from their first love to Christ and their Brethren; which Love is the most signal mark of his Disciples; yea an over-peremptory and too stiff an adhering by all parties dissenting in Judgement, to their single Opinions as touching things indifferent in their own nature, hath partly (if not principally) occasioned that overflowing and complication of Plagues wherewith we are now afflicted throughout these three Nations, and in this our Head-City, in which (if we may believe Travellers) both her own Citizens, and Strangers were preserved in more safety by night and by day, and as well and civilly governed according to Moral Principles, and External Forms of Piety, as in any City throughout the world, so great, and so populous; yet the fury of the late Fiery Storm most raged, and made the saddest spect acle, and the most deformed marks of Desolation, even in that part of this City wherein they lived who were then reputed among the most generous, the most civil, the most charitable, and the most pious of her Inhabitants; and though the best men had not the least share in that Calamity, it was made tolerable by so many Mercies wrapped up therewith, as do evidence, that God had a considerable number therein, and that the generality were no greater sinners than they whose Dwellings escaped that Judgement. The Outparts (except at the West end) were graciously spared, as Zoar was heretofore, for the sake of Lot, to be for the present time a Refuge both to them who were chased away by the Fire, and to their Brethren, whose habitations were preserved for their joint comfort; and of this Mercy the best and worst of men had equal portions, in some respects, because their time is not yet come, wherein GOD will be fully avenged on his and their Enemies.  
Though probably that Fire was both kindled and increased by wicked hands, Divine Providence (who permitted those to be his Executioners) carried it on as well against the Wind, when it blew very strongly, as with it; and by taking away their hearts who were successfully active at other times in preventing such beginnings, permitted it to proceed so far: And when GOD's Fiery Messenger was in the height of his Career, bounded his rage at Paper-buildings, after it had broken irresistibly through thick and strong Edifices of Brick and Stone. It is considerable also, That this Fire was not permitted to extend into those Contiguous Buildings, Streets and Allies, wherein the greatest Oppressors, the most profane, the most impudent, the most debauched, and the most irreligious persons were commonly famed to have their dwellings intermixed with such as were of a civil and pious conversation; for few or no places were then touched by the Fire, wherein either a public Theatre, or a common Gaming-house, or a notorious Brothel-house, or a Maypole, or a Popish Chapel was at that time standing, which it may be some think, so hallowed the places, that the Fire could not prevail against them; whereas it rather demonstrates, That this Visitation extends primarily to GOD's own People; and that the utter extirpation of Antichrist, and his profane Associates, is deferred until a time yet to come. Yet, in the mean while, (though few lay it to heart) GOD will inflict upon every particular Member of that wicked Society, in his generation, so much of their temporal dooms as will amount to the whole at their lives end; and therefore seeing their last doom (for aught they know) may be too morrow, or this present hour, it will be dangerous to defer penitence, because they think the last day of Judgement may be far off. This, and the preceding Affirmatives will peradventure be distasteful to those Time-pleasing Parasites, (as also to them who delight in gross flatteries) who preach Peace, and prognosticate glorious Consequences to the Proceedings of this Generation. But the Wrath of such will not prevent the failing of their unwarrantable Expectations.  
GOD's Promises and threatenings, unto all  
Predicted are, with a Conditional  
Express or Tacit; and (although they seem  
Pronounced absolutely, at some time)  
May be reversible according to  
Our Faith, and acting what we ought to do:  
For, we are taught by many Precedents,  
That, like Proceedings will have like events,  
Till somewhat interveneth to dispense  
Judgement and Mercy with a difference.  
Most part of what this Author did predict,  
Hath variously already took effect:  
And, if aught is deferred, or abated,  
Of that which was by him prognosticated  
Against this Generation, or this Place,  
'Tis merely an effect of GOD ' s freegrace,  
By him vouchsafed, for their sakes, by whom  
A seed must be preserved till he shall come,  
Whose coming, & whose reign will put an end  
To all their sufferings, who for him attend  
In faithful patience, and he will enable  
To bear mean while, what seems intolerable.  
That, nothing contained in the following Review, may justly be suspected, as thereinto lately shuffled, a Catalogue of the Imprinted Books, out of which it was gathered as they come to hand, (being gotten together with much difficulty) shall be added in the close, with a direction to the pages wherein their abreviation is begun, corrected in those places, where faults have escaped at the Press, there being very many, by reason of the Authors not being present, and there are some such gross mistakes, that he could hardly make out his own meaning. It shall mention also the years wherein the said Books were the first, or a second time imprinted; in which it is to be heeded, that the Booksellers usually post-date the first Impressions, that the Books may seem new a little the longer.  
This is as much as shall be offered for a Praeludium to the following Review; concluded with humbly desiring their Prayers to whom this shall come, that this, and all the Author's endeavours may be sanctified to the glory of God, and to the rendering of his Judgements and Mercies effectual to the salvation of our souls, by true Faith, hearty Penitence and mutual love in Christ Jesus; and they are also desired not to impute to a corrupt self-end, his now purposed with drawing from this City: For, he hath been this Isle's Remembrancer, and continued with this City both in her sicknesses and health, in War and Peace, almost sixty years together, (with a little absence at some times) taking all occasions hitherto offered, to remember her from time to time, of such things as he thoughts might probably conduce to her welfare; insomuch, that he now knows not what he can say or do, more than he hath already said or done to that purpose; he not having so much regard vouchsafed for his good intentions, from any of her Chiefs, as might have been expected for penning one Speech to illustrate her Lord Mayor's Pageants; though he was often (for no ill-deserving) a close Prisoner within her Jurisdiction, so despoiled of all whereby to cloth and feed him, that he had then perished, if a few Strangers, and some of her Middling and Inferior Citizens had not by GOD's Mercy, been charitably inclined to compassionate his condition: That Straight being still the same, and many of those now dead, some impoverished, and the remainder, for the most part, so scattered since the late Pestilence and Fire, that nor he nor they now know where to find each other without much difficulty; he being wearied, and almost worn out, is constrained to prepare a Retreating place for himself and his Consort, which he hath prepared at a lonely Habitation in his Native Country, (where he neither had, or looked for much respect) Thither he resolves to retire with as much speed as he can, there to wait upon God's future Dispensations during the remainder of his life, or until Providence otherwise disposeth of him; not doubting, but that he shall rest therewith gratefully contented, wheresoever it shall be, because he hath had assurance by many demonstrations of GOD's good will to the whole humane Nature, of a special love to him; and well knows his Eternal Mercy to be Infinite over all his works.  
Though Lot a while in Zoar stayed,  
There long to abide he was afraid;  
And many now begin to fear  
There will be little safety here;  
Because they see, hear and believe  
What makes them both to fear and grieve.  
Yet, in his place let each man stay  
Until God calleth him away,  
By straitning of his path-ways here,  
Or, by enlarging them elsewhere.  
And, let him careful be, that whither  
He moves, he bears not our sins thither;  
For, to what place soe'er we go,  
The same sins bring the same Plagues too.  
And, there is means of saving-Grace  
For Penitents, in every place.   
A Review of Neglected Remembrances.  
Being a Breviate of the most considerable Remembrances and Predictions dispersed in the Books hereafter specified, and published at several times, upon such various Occasions as inclined the Author to those Prophetical Expressions.  

THis Collection begins with a Review of the Poem called BRITAN'S REMEMBRANCER, written during the great Pestilence raging in the year 1625. The Title-page of that Book is a considerable Prediction both Emblematically, and in Words. for therein was represented a Black Cloud hover over this Island, with Justice and Mercy thereon seated, attended with an Host of Plagues; and in the opposite page the meaning of that Title expressed in these following words:  
Behold, and mark, and mind ye British Nationt  
This dreadful Vision of my Contemplations:  
Before the Throne of Heaven I saw, methought,  
This famous Island into question brought;  
With better Ears than these my body wear,  
I heard Impartial Justice to declare  
GOD's Benefits, our Thanklesness, and what  
Small heed his Love or Judgements here begat.  
I heeded how Eternal Mercy strove  
GOD's just deserved Vengeance to remove;  
But, so our sins increased, and cried so loud,  
That, at the last, I saw a dismal Cloud  
Exceeding black, as from the Sea ascending,  
And over all this Isle itself extending,  
With such thick foggy vapours, that their steams  
Seemed for a while, to darken Mercy's beams,  
Within that dreadful Cloud, I did behold  
Most Plagues and Punishments that name I could;  
Expecting, with a trembling heart, each hour,  
GOD should that Tempest on this Island pour.  
Yet better hopes appeared; for, lo the Rays  
Of Mercy pierced the Cloud, and made such ways  
Quite through those Exhalations, that mine eye  
Did this Inscription thereupon espy  
BRITAN'S REMEMBRANCER, and somewhat said  
These words, me thought, The storm is yet delayed;  
And, if you do not Penitence defer,  
This Cloud is only a Remembrancer:  
But if you still affect Impiety,  
Expect ere long what this may signify.  
This having seen and heard, it seemed nor fit  
Nor safe for me to slight or smother it:  
And therefore, thus, both to your eyes and ears,  
I offer here what unto mine appears;  
Judge, Readers, as ye please, of this or me,  
Truth will be true, how ere it censured be.  
In the last Page of the Epistle to the King, before that Poem, there is a confident Presage relating both to the said Poem, and to the Author thereof, hitherto made good; the words are these:  
— I know, what ere the spite of man  
Against this Poem speak or practice can,  
It shall continue when all they are rotten,  
Or live in Infamy, or die forgotten,  
Who shall oppose it. I more over know,  
That dead or living, I esteemed shall grow  
For what they blame, etc.  
To maintain confidence in the Author's prosecution of his duty, it was thus presaged unto his heart, as it is recorded Canto 5. fol. 155.  
Thou hast from Heaven, an Arrant yet to do,  
Which (unless GOD prevent) will call thee to  
New Troubles, and more mischiefs bring upon thee,  
Then all thy former Messages brought on thee:  
And be assured the Devil will devise  
What may disparage thee, to scandalise,  
And ineffectual every thing to make,  
Which, to good purpose, thou shalt undertake.  
Thou must prepare thyself to hear the Noise  
Of causeless threatenings; and the foolish Voice  
Of Ignorant Reprovers; and expect  
The bitter Censures of each giddy Sect:  
Thou must contented be to hear great Lords  
Talk without reason, big imperious words;  
Although with meekness thou shalt make repair,  
When thou art summoned, to the Scorners Chair,  
Where they with jeers and flouts, will take in hand  
To censure what they do not understand, etc.—  
— But, fear them not, for he that in all places,  
From every danger, and from all disgraces,  
Hath hitherto preserved thee, will secure  
Thy person now. That hand which did procure  
Relief from thy close Thraldoms, and maintained  
Contentment when from liberty restrained,  
Will be the same for ever, etc.—  
For to this Realm and City thou art sent  
To warn them that they speedily repent:  
To show them for what failings and offences  
GOD sendeth Famines, Wars and Pestilences;  
And, to pronounce what other Plagues will come,  
If their transgressions they depart not from, etc.  
In folio 106, and in the following leaves, this Author declared how desolate that Plague had made many places in and near London; particularly, the King's House, the Inns of Court, Westminster-Hall, and the Parliament-House; which produced this expression, amounting to a Presage:  
— there did I  
Behold two Traitors heads which perched on high,  
Did show their teeth, as if they had been grinning  
At our Afflictions, which are now beginning;  
For their wide Eye-holes, me thought, stared, as though  
They looked to see that House should overthrow  
Itself, which they with Powder up had blown,  
Had not GOD them, and their device o'erthrown.  
Also in the 107 th' leaf, he taking notice of the desolate Houses of the Citizens, Peers and Lawyers, at that time, hath words to this effect:  
— wish I shall,  
That they their ways to mind would better call,  
Lest both their Country and their City-Piles  
Be smoking seen, and burning many miles, etc.  
— or else lest there,  
Some fear Arresting, where no Sergeants are;  
For, this portends, that, if they who profess  
Our Laws, continue on their practices,  
Till they (as heretofore the Clergy were)  
Are more in number than the Land can bear;  
Their goodly Palaces will spew them forth  
As Excrements that are of little worth;  
And be disposed of, as now they see  
Old Priories and Monasteries be.  
In the 120 th', and in many following leaves, the said Author having contemplated how numerously the Fields near London were frequented for Recreation, with people of all sorts, before that Infection; how desolate they then were, and what sudden effects would probably ensue, if GOD should withdraw that Plague before we were truly penitent; other future Judgements are there mentioned, as implicitly presaged in these words:  
If GOD should whistle for those armed Bands  
Which now are wasting other Christian Lands,  
To put in action on our Comic Stage  
The Tragedies of War, and brutish rage,  
What Lamentations would here then be made,  
And calling into mind the peace we had?  
Should we in every house at board and bed  
Have Soldiers and rude Captains billeted,  
That would command and swagger as if they  
Kept all the Townships where they lodge, in pay,  
To wait upon their pleasures? Or should see  
Our own Defenders our Devourers be?  
Should we behold those Fields where now we sport,  
Cut out in Trenches; here a Warlike Fort,  
Another there; a Sconce not far from that,  
A new-raised Mount, etc.  
After many other presupposals to this effect, he thus proceeded, fol. 123.  
As heretofore the unpeopled Fields I walked,  
To this effect my thoughts within me talked;  
Yea, when all present Objects gave content,  
My heart did such Ideas represent  
Of Judgements likely to be cast upon  
So great a City, and a sinful one;  
That much I feared, I should live to see  
Some such Afflictions as here mentioned be.  
According to what his heart had presaged, and was then presupposed, he lived to behold about Eighteen years after, such Insolences committed by the Armies, such Forts raised, and such Trenches in the Fields round about London.  
Many other fore-expressions to the same purpose were dictated to this Author, as more at large appears in several pages of the same Book; and after enumerating several Transgressions and Provocations of GOD's Wrath, it was thus predictated in the 8 th' Canto, fol. 255:  
If thou, oh Britan, dreaming all is well,  
Shalt slight this Message which my Muses tell,  
And scorn their counsel, etc.—  
— hear then what I am bold  
To tell thee, as now fitting to be told;  
For, I will tell thy Fortune, which, when they  
Who are unborn shall read another day,  
They will believe then, that GOD did infuse  
Into thy Poet a Prophetic Muse:  
Moreover know, that he did him prefer  
To be, to this Isle his Remembrancer;  
And that if wilfully thou stop thine ear,  
Or burn these Rolls, in which recorded are  
Thy just Inditements, they shall written be  
With new additions, deeply stamped on thee,  
In such Characters, that no time shall raze  
Their fatal Image from thy scared face.  
— though thou watch and ward,  
And all thy Forts and Havens strongly guard;  
Though thou shalt multiply thine Island-Forces,  
Double thy Trained Bands, and Troops of Horses:  
Though like an Eagle, shalt thy wings display,  
And (high thy head advancing) proudly say,  
I sit aloft, enthroned so, that none  
Can pluck me from the place I rest upon:  
Yet, sure thou shalt be humbled, and brought low,  
Even then, when least thou fearest it will be so.  
Till thou repent, all Preparations made  
For thy Defence, or, others to invade,  
Shall be in vain; and still the greater cost  
Thou dost bestow, the Honour thereby lost  
Shall be the greater; and thy wasting strength  
Bring on thee a Consumption at the length.  
The Treaties which for Peace or Profit be,  
Shall neither Peace nor Profit bring to thee.  
For, if Endeavours prosper for a while,  
GOD will permit it only to beguile  
With foolish hopes, alluring them to run  
Those courses which will bring new mischiefs on:  
Yea, thy prevailings will but fuel be  
To feed the folly which bewitches thee;  
And, make against thee, those the more enraged,  
Who shall for thy Corrections be engaged.  
What heretofore, by GOD, hath threatened been  
Against a wicked Natiou for their sin,  
Shall seize on thee; his hand shall be for ill  
Upon each little, and high raised Hill:  
Thy lofty Cedars, and thy sturdy Oaks,  
Shall feel the fury of his thunder-strokes  
Upon thy Fleet's, thy Havens and thy Ports;  
Upon thine Armies, and thy strong-walled Forts,  
Upon thy Pleasures and Commodities,  
Upon thy Handicrafts and Merchandise,  
Upon the Fruits and cattle in thy Fields,  
On what the air, the earth or water yields:  
On Prince and people, on both weak and strong,  
On Priest and Prophet, on both old and young:  
Yea, on each Person, Place, and every thing,  
His just deserved Judgements, GOD will bring.  
What thou hast hoped for, he frustrate shall,  
And make that which thou fearest, on thee to fall.  
This pleasant Land wherein how plenty grows,  
And wherein Milk and Honey overflows,  
Shall for thy people's wickedness, be made  
As barren as the Soil which never had  
Such blessings in it. GOD shall drive away  
The Flocks of Fowls, and Shoals of Fish that play  
Within thy waters now; and for the store  
Whereof, thy Neighbours would have praised him more:  
The Rivers which have made thy Valleys rich,  
To thee shall be like streams of burning pitch:  
Thy dust as Brimstone, thy Fields hard and dry  
Like Iron, and the Firmament on high,  
Like Brass, affording neither showers nor dew  
In season, wasted blessing to renew.  
A leanness Shall thy fatness quite devour;  
Thy wheat shall yield thee bran instead of flower:  
Thou shalt, when Harvest cometh, reap the thorn,  
Or weeds and thistles where thou look'st for corn.  
Robbed shall thy Groves be of their pleasant shadows,  
And of their grass, thy fertile flowery Meadows.  
Sheep on thy Downs, or Shepherds on the Green,  
Shall then be few, and not so often seen.  
Thy Garden-Walks, and many a pleasant plot,  
Shall be like places men inhabit not,  
Thy Villages which now well peopled are,  
Shall stand as if no dwellers in them were.  
Thy Cities and thy Palaces, wherein  
Most neatness and magnificence hath been,  
Shall heaps of Rubbish be; and (as in those  
Demolished Abbeys, wherein Daws and Crows  
Now make their Nests) the bramble and the nettle,  
Shall in the Halls and Parlours root and settle.  
Thy Princely houses, and the Streets and Courts  
Now filled with men of all degrees and sorts,  
Shall in them few Inhabitants retain,  
Except a Fisherman, or Countrey-swain;  
Who, of thy pride and glory, when they see  
Such marks, with wonderment surprised shall be,  
As oft they are, who deep foundations find,  
Of Towns and Cities perished out of mind.  
The places where much people meetings had,  
Shall Vermine-holes, and Dens for beasts be made,  
Or haunts for Sprights, which do in lonely rooms  
Affright the passenger who thither comes.  
Instead of mirth and laughter lamentation  
Shall there be heard; abhorred desolation  
Instead of Company, and where men heard  
Sweet Melody, they shall be made afeared  
With hideous cries, and howl of despair;  
Yea, than thy Climate, and well tempered air  
Shall lose their wholsomness for thy offences;  
Breed here infectious Fevers, Pestilences,  
And all diseases. They who up were trained  
In ease, and with soft pleasures entertained,  
Leaving their idle games, and wanton dances,  
Shall practise how, to handle Guns and Lances,  
And be compelled from the dear embraces  
Of friends, to end their lives in unknown places.  
Or, thy face with their own blood to defile,  
In hope to save thee and themselves from spoil.  
Thy Beauteous women (whose pride is now more:  
Then theirs, whom Esay mentioned heretofore)  
Shall in the stead of paintings, costly scents,  
Or glittering Gems, and curious Ornaments,  
Wear foul deformities upon their faces;  
And robbed of all their sweet and tempting graces,  
Feel stinks, diseases, wants, and all such things,  
As loathing, to a wanton Lover brings.  
Thy GOD, shall for thy multiplied Vices  
Scourge thee with Scorpions and with Cockatrices,  
Whose tails with such envenomed stings are armed,  
As neither can be plucked out, nor charmed.  
Thou shalt not be sufficed, when thou art fed;  
Nor suffer only scarcity of bread  
Corporeal, but want likewise of that  
Whereof each faithful soul desires to eat.  
That curse of ravenous Beasts which GOD hath said  
Upon a wicked Nation shall be laid,  
He will inflict on thee, for although here  
No Tigers, Lions, Wolves or Bears now are,  
To Beastly-minded men thou shalt be made  
A prey, which will be (if not worse) as bad.  
Instead of Lions, Tyrants thou shalt breed,  
Who nor of Conscience, nor of Law take heed;  
But, on the weak man's portion lay their paws,  
And make their pleasure to become their Laws.  
Instead of Tigers, men of no compassion  
(A furious and a wilful generation)  
Shall fill thy Borders. Thiefs and Outlaws vile,  
Shall haunt thy Ways, and hunt the Woods for spoil.  
A subtle, false, dissembling, cheating crew,  
(Who will with fraudful coz'nages pursue  
The simple sort) shall here increase their breed,  
And in their craftiness the Fox exceed.  
That Hoggish Herd which always nozling are  
In filth and dirt, (from whence they seldom rear  
Their grunting snouts, to fix an eye on Heaven,  
To look on him from whom good things are given)  
Even, Swinish livers, having a desire  
To feed on draff, to wallow in the mire,  
To drink in puddles, rather than sweet springs,  
To tread on, and pollute the precioused things,  
Will more destructive be unto thy Fields,  
Then all the wild-Boars that the Desert yields.  
Whilst thou continuest-in thy sins, thou art  
Like Egypt, and the hardness of thy heart  
Will at the last, bring down upon thee all  
Those Plagues, which long since did on Egypt fall:  
Blood, Frogs and Lice, great swarms of stinging Flies;  
Th' infectious Murrain whereof cattle dies;  
Biles, Scabs & Blains, cold Hail, hot Thunder-storms,  
The Locust, and the fruit-devouring Worms;  
Gross Darkness, and the Death of them that be  
Thy darlings: All these Plagues will seize on thee,  
According as the Letter doth imply,  
Or, as they Mystically signify.  
Thy Rivers shall be turned into blood;  
Thy Fountains which were savoury and good,  
Grow nasty; and shall in thy Nostrils stink;  
Thy Children shall but little eat or drink,  
Until a portion of their blood it cost,  
Or, every drop in hazard to be lost.  
Most loathsome Frogs, that is, men of impure  
Of base condition, of birth as obscure  
As Frogs that are in Fens and Ditches bred,  
Shall with a Clownish rudeness overspread  
Each pleasant place, thy fairest rooms possess,  
And make unwholesome by their sluttishness,  
Thy Kneading-troughs, thy Ovens and thy Meat,  
Whereof thy Children most desire to eat:  
Yea, this Brood shall presume to croak and sing  
Within the Privy-Chambers of thy King;  
There exercising their harsh-sounding throats,  
With ill-composed and unpleasing notes,  
To wit, Vain boasts, reviling's, ribaldries,  
Lies, curses, and ungodly blasphemies.  
The Land shall breed a loathsome Generation,  
Unworthy either of the Reputation.  
Or Name of men; for they as Lice shall feed  
Upon that Body whence they did proceed.  
Here shall moreover, divers baneful Flies  
Ingend'red be in thy prosperities.  
The Flesh-fly shall thy pamp'red flesh corrupt;  
Musketoes, honest labourers interrupt;  
The lazy and unprofitable Drones,  
The Wasps, the Hornet, and such angry ones  
As do them represent, whose buzzing tongues,  
And stings are active to their neighbour's wrongs:  
The Butterflies will vex thee too; even they  
Who do in idle flutterings wast away  
Their precious time, and their Estates consume  
On gaudy Clothes, till beggars they become.  
As Beasts destroyed by the Murrain be,  
So they who are of Beastly life in thee,  
By lewd example shall infect each other,  
And, in their foul diseases rot together.  
Men shall grow overhot, or over-cold,  
And very few an equal temper hold;  
But like tempestuous Exhalations, will  
Thy Borders with a thousand mischiefs fill.  
The Locust also, and the Palmer-worms  
Shall pray on what escapeth from the Storms;  
Even those destructive Locusts too, which from  
The bottomless infernal pit did come.  
Then shall a darkness follow, much more black  
Than when the Sun and Moonlight thou dost lack;  
For grossest ignorance o'reshadowing all,  
Shall with so thick a Fog upon thee fall,  
That thou a blockish Nation wilt be made:  
Still stumbling on in a deluding shade;  
Distrusting Friends, the way to safety showing,  
Most trusting Foes, who labour thy undoing;  
And, shalt be daily vexed with doubts and fears,  
Like him that Outcries in dark places hears.  
Yet, than his hand, GOD shall not from the turn,  
Till he hath also smote thine Eldest Son;  
That is, until he hath removed quite  
Those in whom now thou takest most delight;  
And filled every house throughout the Nation,  
With Death's unlooked for, and lamentation.  
Such will be thy confusions, and thy shame,  
That when the neighbouring Kingdoms hear the same,  
Their ears will tingle; for when that hour comes  
In which GOD shall inflict deserved Dooms,  
It will be then a day of gloominess,  
Sad, dreadful, and exceeding comfortless;  
For than will thy beloved vanities,  
Thy Gold and Silver Idol-Deities,  
With all those Reeds on which thou hast depended,  
Deceive thy trust, and leave thee unbefriended.  
Thy Kings, thy Priests and Prophets than shall mourn,  
And peradventure, formally return  
To him who would have saved them; but, they  
Who will not hearken to him whilst they may,  
Shall cry unheeded; for, he will despise  
Their vows, their prayers, and their sacrifice.  
A Sea of troubles will thy hopes up swallow,  
As wave on wave, Plague upon Plague shall follow;  
And every thing that was a blessing to thee,  
Shall to a Curse be turned, which may undo thee.  
Thy King, who as a Father should have been,  
And by whom Peace should be preserved in  
Thy Sea-girt limits, shall not much befriend thee,  
Nor then in thy professed Faith defend thee.  
Thou haft at present, goodly hopes of him  
Who lately did put on thy Diadem;  
But know, that until thou reform art,  
Thou shalt in his Deservings have no part:  
His Princely Virtues to his own avail  
May prove; but they to profit thee shall fail.  
His Clemency shall seem to thee severe,  
His greatest favours injuries appear;  
And when thy sins are fully ripe in thee,  
Thy King and People both alike shall be.  
Thou shalt have Babes to be thy Kings; yea worse,  
Those Tyrants who by cruelty and force,  
Of all their ancient Liberties will quite  
Bereave their Subjects. They shall then delight  
In their oppressing them; yet they who are  
By them enslaved, shall murmur, and not dare  
To stir against them. By degrees they shall  
Deprive them of their Privileges all,  
And force them (as in other Lands this day)  
For their own meat, and their own drink to pay.  
— To such intents  
Their Nobles will become their Instruments;  
For men reputed of the noblest Races,  
Will be exposed gradatim to disgraces,  
Despoiled of power; and in their stead arise  
A Brood advanced by Impieties,  
By flat'ry, and by brib'ry, and by that  
Which men of noble principles do hate.  
Without desert (from beggarly possessions,  
And stems obscure) they shall by their ambitions  
Mount Seats of Justice, and those Titles wear  
Which honoured most in those Dominions are.  
And having gained these heights hope to make strong  
Oppressive Grandeur, by increasing wrong.  
For, themselves, these will unto those unite,  
Who to such Dignities pretend most right;  
(With no less ill-deserving) and by such,  
Destruction will be hastened forward much:  
For these will Kings abuse, with tales and lies,  
With feigned love, and servile flatteries;  
Persuading them, that they may justly make  
Their Will their Law, and at their pleasure take  
(As warranted by their Prerogatives)  
Their Subject's goods, their persons and their lives;  
And instrumental these will then become,  
In practising to raise by some and some,  
Their Monarchies to Tyrannies; yea, shall  
Abuse Religion, Honesty, and all:  
And shall to compass their Designs, devise  
What ever may effect them, Truth or Lies:  
Those grave deportments which do best befit  
The Majesty of States, they shall omit:  
Fawn or dissemble, threaten, rail or storm,  
When they pretend Abuses to reform:  
And, in those High Courts wherein sober, grave  
Admonishments or Censures men should have  
If they offend; they shall be taunted there,  
Or scoffed, or jeered, though innocent they are:  
For in those times (which nearer are then some  
Do yet believe) such Rhetoric will come  
In practice; and Law, Equity and Reason,  
For their defence be pleaded out of season.  
Folly will then seem Wisdom, and go nigh  
To bring contempt on all Authority.  
The Council-Table shall a snare be made;  
They against whom no just complaints they had,  
At first Convention shall be urged to say  
Such words, perhaps, ere they depart away,  
As will expose their Prudence unto blame,  
And make them guilty seem, who guiltless came.  
All that which from the People they can tear,  
Exact or borrow, shall be (as it were)  
A lawful Prize, and taken from a Foe;  
Few shall make conscience what they say or do,  
Injurious to another, so it may  
Fulfil their Lusting for the present day.  
But to accomplish it, they will endeavour,  
Although they know it will undo for ever  
Their own Posterity, and still persist  
In what will ruin their self-Interest.  
This, will by darkening their Intelligence,  
Bring them to such a Reprobated sense,  
And blind them so, that when an Axe shall be  
Seen hewing at the Root of their own tree  
By their own handy strokes, they shall not grieve  
For their approaching downfall; or believe  
Their fall approaching (to assume that heed  
Which may prevent it) till they fall indeed.  
Thy Princes, BRITAN, in those days will be  
Like roaring Lions, making prey of thee.  
GOD shall deliver thee into their hands,  
And they shall act their pleasure in these Lands.  
Thy Kings, as now thou wallowest in excess;  
Shall take delight in Drink and Wantonness.  
They, who reputed are thy Noble ones,  
Shall to the very marrow gnaw thy bones.  
Thy Lawyers wilfully pervert thy Laws;  
They to the ruin of the Common cause,  
Shall misinterpret them, in hope of Grace  
From them, who may despoil them of their place.  
That, whereunto they are obliged both  
By their professed Calling, and their Oath,  
They shall to put in execution fear,  
And leave them helpless, who oppressed are.  
Thy Prelates in the public spoils will share.  
Thy Priests, in manners, as profane appear  
As the profanest; and their Prophecies  
And Preachings, mixed with Heresies and Lies.  
The truths they speak, shall spoken be in vain;  
So little knowledge shall with them remain,  
That they shall cause the means of Saving-grace  
To be removed unto another place.  
Mark, BRITAN, what I have yet more to say,  
And do not slightly pass my words away;  
But be assured, that when GOD begins  
To bring those Judgements on thee for thy sins,  
Which do portend a total overthrow,  
Thy Prophets and thy Priests will slily sow  
The seeds of that dissension and sedition,  
Which time will ripen for thy sad perdition.  
They who in former times were of thy Peace  
The blessed Instruments, will then increase  
Thy sorrows; and as when of old the Jews  
Their truth-presaging Prophets did abuse,  
GOD suffered Impostors in his Name  
To preach those falsehoods which at last became  
To them destructive: So, if thou go on  
To make a scorn (as thou hast often done)  
Of those who seek thy welfare, he will send  
False Prophets, who thy ruin shall intend;  
Say nothing but what thou wouldst have them say,  
To lull thee fast asleep in thine own way.  
If any brain-sick-fellow (whom the Devil  
Inspireth) shall to thee intent what's evil,  
And (heeding what thou art inclined unto)  
Persuades to that which may at last undo  
Both Prince and People; thou shalt like and follow  
H●s Counsels; thou that covered hook shalt swallow  
Which will destroy both; and thine ignorance  
For those disservices, will him advance:  
Whereas, if he who truly seeks thy Weal,  
Inspired with truth, and with a sober Zeal,  
Shall tell thee what concerns thy real good,  
That Messenger shall stiffly be withstood;  
That Seer shall be charged not to see;  
His Message shall displease, and slighted be;  
Instead of good respect, he shall be sure  
A Prison, or worse usage to endure;  
To death, perhaps, condemned with disgrace  
Among disturbers of the Common-Peace.  
But not unless the Priests thereto consent;  
For, in those days but few men innocent  
Shall suffer in that mode by aught wherein  
Thy Clergy hath not some way active been.  
If ever in thy Fields (which GOD forbid)  
The blood of thine own Children shall be shed  
By Civil Discord, they shall blow the flame,  
Which will increase thy sorrow, and thy shame.  
And thus it shall be kindled, when the times  
Are nigh at worst, and thy loud-crying Crimes  
Almost full ripe, the Devil shall begin  
To bring strange Crotchets and Opinions in  
Among thy Teachers, which will breed dis-union,  
And interrupt the visible Communion  
Of thy established Churches. In the steed  
Of zealous Pastors, who their Flocks did feed,  
There shall arise within thee, by degrees,  
A Clergy, that will more desire to fleeze  
Then feed their Flocks. A Clergy it shall be  
Divided in itself; and they shall thee  
Divide among them into several Factions,  
Which will both rend, and fill thee with distractions.  
All of those, in appearance, will pretend  
GOD's glory, and to have one pious end;  
But under colour of sincere Devotion,  
Their chief aim will be temporal promotion;  
Which, will among themselves Dissensions make,  
Wherein all sorts of people shall partake,  
As to the Persons, or the Cause they stand  
Inclined, through every quarter of the Land:  
One part of these, will for Preferment strive,  
By raising up the King's Prerogative  
Above itself: They shall persuade Him to  
More than by Law or Conscience he may do;  
And say, GOD warrants it: His Righteous Laws  
They shall pervert, to justify their Cause.  
With blushless impudence, they shall dare  
Ascrîbe to Monarches, things which proper are  
To none but Christ: and mix their flatteries  
With such like Attributes and Blasphemies,  
As Heathens did, to make their Kings believe,  
That whomsoever they oppress and grieve,  
They do no wrong; and that one though oppressed  
Should seek by their own Laws to be redressed.  
Such Counsel shall thy foolish Kings provoke  
To cast upon thee Rhehoboam's yoke;  
And they, not caring, or not taking heed,  
How ill, that misadvised King did speed;  
Shall multiply the causes of distraction!  
And then, shall of those Priests, the other Faction  
Bestir themselves. They will in outward shows,  
Those whom I last have mentioned, oppose;  
But, in their aims agree, with lowly zeal,  
An envious pride of heart, they shall conceal.  
And, as the former to the King will teach  
Mere Tyranny; so shall the other preach  
Rebellion to the People; and then strain  
The Word of God, Sedition to maintain.  
Oh! therefore be thou watchful; and when here  
Those Lambs with Dragon's Voices, do appear;  
Repent thy sins, or take it for a token  
That such a Bulwark of thy Peace is broken,  
As if it be not soon repaired, all  
The grandeur of thy Glory down will fall.  
Beware then of those Prophets who will strive  
Betwixt thy Prince and People to contrive  
A Breach; and what event soever come,  
Thy due Allegiance never start thou from.  
For (their Oppressions though we may withstand  
By pleading Laws or Customs) not a hand  
Must move against him, but the hand of GOD,  
Who makes the King a Bulwark, or a Rod,  
As pleaseth him. Oh take therefore good heed  
Ye Subjects, and ye Kings, what may succeed  
By those Impostors, of the last, beware  
Ye Subjects, for their Counsels wicked are;  
And, though they promise Liberty and Peace,  
Your Thraldom and your troubles they increase.  
eat oh ye Kings, the first; for they advise  
What will your Crowns and Honour's prejudice.  
When you suppose their Prophecies befriend you,  
They shall but unto Ramoth Gillead send you,  
Where you shall perish; and poor Micha's word,  
Though disesteemed, more safety will afford.  
This Author hath been censured, as having deviated from his Principle expressed in the last foregoing Caveat, when (upon their Command) he took up Arms with the Long-Parliament: But, he declared by the Motto in his Cornet, Pro lege, Rege grege, that he purposed nothing contrary thereunto, or against the King; and he is also sufficiently vindicated from that aspersion, by what he long since published to justify both his actings and intentions under that Power, which was called and authorized both by King and people, to regulate and settle their joint and distinct Interests.  
After that, and the rest of the foregoing Precautions and Predictions, the said Author having considered this Nation, and how it had paralleled the Jews heretofore, he proceeded to declare what would follow thereupon, if they paralleled them also in their final obstinacy, fol. 269. p. 2.  
What here is mentioned, if thou shalt heed▪  
Oh BRITAIN, in those times that will succeed,  
It may prevent much loss, and make thee shun  
Those mischiefs, whereby Kingdoms are undone.  
But, to thy other sins, if thou shalt add  
Rebellion, as false Prophets will persuade  
When that time comes, wherein thou likewise shalt  
In thy profession, as to GOD-ward, halt,  
Then will thy King and People scourge each other,  
For their offences, till both fall together,  
By weakening of their Power, and making way  
To their ends, who expect that fatal day.  
Then shall disorder every where abound,  
Justice or Piety be rarely found  
Each man shall to his neighbour be a thorn,  
By whom he shall be either scratched or torn.  
Thy Princes will to little condescend,  
Save for accomplishing their own self-end,  
Either in multiplying of their Treasures,  
Or satiating of their fleshly pleasures.  
Few Causes will without a bribe be tried,  
Few Friends will in each other dare confide.  
The Parents and their Children shall despise,  
Hate or neglect each other. She that lies  
Within her Husband's bosom, shall betray him;  
They who the People should protect, shall slay them.  
Old Age shall honoured be by few or none;  
The Poor shall by the rich be trod upon;  
Such Insolences, almost, every where,  
Shall acted be, that good and bad shall fear  
In thee to dwell; and wise men to assume  
The Magistracy, when that time is come,  
GOD, shall then call, and whistle from afar  
Those hither, who the most malicious are  
Of all thine Adversaries; they shall from  
Their dwellings, like a whirlwind, on thee come;  
Sharp shall their Arrows be, and strong their Bow:  
To thee their faces will as dreadful show,  
As roaring Lions: They on thee like thunder  
Shall furiously break in, and tread thee under  
Their Iron feet. They shall devour thy bread,  
And with thy Flocks both clothed be, and fed.  
Their Children they shall carry from their own,  
To Countries which their Fathers have not known:  
And thither shall such mischiefs them pursue,  
That they who seek the Pitfall to eschew,  
Shall in a snare be taken: them who shall  
Escape the Sword, a Serpent in the wall  
Shall sting to death; and though they have the hap  
To shun a hundred Plagues, they shall not scape;  
But with new dangers be still chased about,  
Until they shall be wholly rooted out,  
The Ploughman shall be then afraid to sow;  
Artificers their labour shall forgo.  
The Merchantman shall cross the Seas no more,  
Except to fly hence to another shore.  
The stoutest heart shall fear; the wisest than  
Shall know themselves to be but foolish men;  
And they who built and planted by oppression,  
Shall leave their gettings to their Foes possession:  
And yet GOD will chastise thee seven times more  
With seven times greater Plagues than heretofore  
For thy Allies their Friendship shall withdraw;  
They, who of thy Grandeur stood in awe,  
Shall say in scorn, Is this the Valiant Nation  
Which had throughout the World sush Reputation  
By Victories on Land? Alas! are these  
The men, who were once Master of the Seas,  
And grew so powerful? yea, that petty Nation  
Which seemed scarce worthy of thine indignation,  
Shall slight thee too, and all thy former fame  
Will be forgot, or mentioned to thy shame.  
Mark how GOD's Plagues were doubled on the Jews  
When they his mild corrections did abuse.  
Mark what at last upon their Land was sent,  
And look thou for the selfsame punishment,  
Lest he in anger unto us protest,  
That we shall never come into his rest.  
For we have followed them in all their sin;  
Such, and so many have our Warnings been;  
And, if GOD still prolong not his compassion,  
To us belong the selfsame Desolation.  
Then, woe shall be to them that heretofore  
By joining house to house, expelled the po're;  
And Field have unto Field incorporated,  
Till Villages were nigh depolulated.  
For, desolate their dwellings will be made,  
The Lord shall in their bowels sheathe his blade;  
And, they who have by their oppressive wiles  
Erected Palaces, and costly piles,  
Shall see the stones and timbers in the wall  
Arise against them, and for vengeance call.  
Then woe shall be to them that early rise  
To eat and drink, to play and wantoning,  
Still adding sin to sin: They the distress  
Shall feel of hunger, thirst and nakedness;  
And be the servile slaves of them that are  
Their Foes, as to their lusts they captives were.  
Then woe to them who darkness more have loved  
Then light, and wholesome counsel disapproved:  
For, they shall wander in a crooked path  
Which neither light, nor end, nor comfort hath.  
Then, woe to them who have corrupted been,  
To justify the wicked in their sin,  
Or, for a bribe the Righteous to condemn:  
For, as the Chaff, a Wind shall scatter them;  
Their bodies on the Dunghill shall be cast,  
Their finest flow're be dust, their substance waste,  
And all the gaudy Titles they have worn,  
Shall but augment their sorrow, shame and scorn.  
Then woe to them, who (when they were afraid  
Of mischiefs threatened) sought unlawful aid;  
Or, setting GOD's protection quite aside,  
On their own strength and wisdom have reli'de.  
For, he their foolish hopes will bring to nought,  
Till all they fear, shall be upon them brought;  
And, all their wit and strength shall not suffice  
To heave that burden off, which on them lies.  
Because fore-warnings they do neither heed  
Or mind, till GOD to execution doth proceed;  
And of his long-forbearance careless are,  
Till in consuming fire he shall appear.  
Yet we still set far off the evil day,  
In dull security we pass away  
Our precious time, and with vain hopes and toys  
Build up a trust which every puff destroys:  
And therefore still when healing is expected,  
New and unlooked for troubles are effected.  
We wished for Parliaments, and them we made  
Our GOD; for all the hopes that many had,  
The mischiefs which we feared to prevent,  
Was by the wisdom of a Parliament.  
Well, Parliaments we had, and what in being  
Succeeded hath, but greater disagreeing,  
With greater Grievances than heretofore?  
And reason good; for we depended more  
On second causes, then on him who sends  
What to our evil, or well-being tends.  
Know then, that should our Parliaments agree  
According to our wish; should our Kings be  
So gracious, as to condescend to all  
Which to the Public Weal propose they shall:  
Even that Agreement, till our sins we leave,  
Shall make us but secure, and help to wove  
A Snare, by whose fine threads we shall be caught,  
Before we see the mîschiefs thereby wrought;  
Whilst for self-Interests we chiefly seek,  
By Parliaments, the King shall do the like;  
Yea, till in mutual Aides we can agree,  
And, our endeavourings unfeigned be,  
In labouring for a Christian Reformation,  
Each meeting shall beget a new vexation.  
In the 191 folio, and in many following leaves, the Prevarications of persons in several other Callings▪ having been mentioned, the Author added this, and much more, in relation to the Clergy.  
Nor came the Priests and Prophets much behind  
The worst of these, but pass them in some kind;  
For, though a learned Clergy now thou hast,  
And knowledge is here lately much increased;  
Though ' likewise, I believe thou hast in thee  
Some Pastors, from a just reproof as free  
As any Nation hath; yet thou hast more  
Prevaricators now, then heretofore.  
A heap of Teachers entertained thou hast,  
Resembling empty vapours, or a blast  
That breathes no comfort. What GOD never meant  
They preach for Truth, and run ere they are sent.  
The People's wounds they salve with pleasing speech;  
When there's no peace at all, of peace they preach;  
Or, like Dumb Dogs consume their time in sleep,  
And some so look, that they affright the sheep.  
Like hungry Curs they always gormundize,  
Yet never can their appetite suffice.  
In bribing, and in hunting for Promotion  
More is their zeal, and much more their Devotion,  
Then to discharge their Duty. They delight  
In flat'ries, and the fawningst Parasite  
In all the Courts of Europe, cannot prate  
More heath'nishly, or more insinuate  
Then some of these, etc.—  
There is no Avarice that theirs exceeds;  
No Malice that a Mischief sooner breeds.  
No Pride so surly as the Clergy-pride,  
Except among the Beggars when they cried.  
They, who a few years passed would half have broke  
Their Kindred to have purchased them a Cloak,  
And in poor threadbare Cassocks came to preach  
Beneath an Vnder-Curate, and to teach  
The Children of a Farmer for their meat,  
And, scarcely worthy seemed so much to get:  
Even some of these have so well acted out▪  
Their parts, of seeming honestly-devout;  
And have so quaintly humoured and pleased  
The present times, that they at last have seized  
On what they aimed at, and now over-pe're  
Their Heads, by whom they first advanced were.  
And if you mark, how proudly now they bear  
Their lofty heads, how insolent they are;  
How barbarously ingrateful unto those  
By whom they from the Dunghill first arose;  
How they at least neglect, if not contemn  
Their old Friends, and betwixt themselves & them,  
What distances they set; unto their Kin  
How harsh, and how ill-natured they have been,  
How peevish they are grown, and how unquiet;  
How choice in their Attendance, and their Diet;  
If it were well observed with what strain  
Of Pride and Loftiness they entertain  
Their Brethren of the Clergy, when they are  
By their own Officers called to appear  
Before their Lordships; with what Pope-like phrase  
They seek to terrify, and to amaze  
Their humble Suppliants; how on those they play,  
Who their Superiors were the other day.  
Were these things heeded, with some passages,  
Which name I could, as worthy heed as these:  
A man would hardly think that these had been  
Those Priests whom they a while before had seen  
So beggarly, and so exposed to scorn,  
But, that they had at least been Prelates born,  
Few could have else thought that these men are they  
Who lately did so bitterly inveigh  
Against that Pride Episcopal, etc.  
O Lord! awaken those, I humbly pray,  
Whom Pride and Vanity hath led away.  
And, oh ye House of Levi! warning take ye,  
Lest GOD, for times to come, examples make ye;  
As he that Clergy an example made,  
Whose monstrous Pride, the Age foregoing had  
So great a fall. The Priests and Prophet's sin  
Was signal in the bringing those Plagues in  
Which overwhelmed the Jewish Commonweal:  
And, if what's threatened GOD shall not repeal,  
Your sins will be the means to hasten hither  
That Vengeance which will ruin all together, etc.  Excuse me worthy Prelates, etc. 
By these last words, whereby the Author begins to plead an excuse for his sharp Reproofs, it appears he at that time thought not Prelacy to have produced such evil Consequents as he now doth; for he did not then (nor now) conceive that Episcopacy gives to the Ministers of the Gospel a precedency of Dignity before their fellow-Commissioners, but a pre-eminence of Order only: And of that Judgement he believes those Bishops to have been, who underwent Martyrdom for Conscience sake, and owned the title of a Prelate in no other sense than he intended it, who thinks the Office of a Bishop to be a Divine Institution, being regulated, and the persons qualified according to St. Paul's Character, 1 Tim. 3. This Precaution being added, the Abreviation of his Remembrances thus goes on.  
Believe it, BRITAN, howsoever some  
(Who should forewarn thee of what is to come)  
Endeavour to persuade thee that thou hast  
A hopeful time, and that the worst is past;  
I will be bold to tell thee thou hast nigh  
Outworn GOD's patience by impiety.  
But, what am I, that me thou shouldst believe,  
And unto my Predictions credit give?  
It may be, this adulterous generation,  
Expects foretokens of their Desolation;  
And therefore, I will give them signs of that  
Which they are now almost arrived at:  
Not Signs so dubious as were some of old,  
Whereby the Jews Destruction was foretold;  
But Signs as evident as are the day,  
For what the Prophets heretofore did say,  
Jerusalem's destruction did foreshow,  
They spoke to every State that should ensue.  
And that they nought of her, or to her spoke,  
For hers alone, but also for thy sake.  
In the 269 th' folio of the Remembrancer, and in the Eight pages next following it, are Ten Signs recorded, grounded upon the holy Prophets, as presignifying the desolation of those Kingdoms and Republics, which should parallel the Jewesh Prevarications; to the perusal whereof, the Reader is referred, to shorten this Collection, and only the last of these Ten Signs is here inserted.  
The last black Sight that I will now repeat,  
Which doth to Kingdom's desolation threat,  
Is when the hand of GOD Almighty brings  
A People unto bondage to their Kings.  
I say, when their own King shall take delight,  
Those whom he should protect, to rob and smite.  
When they who feed the Flock, the sheep shall kill,  
Devour them, and suppose they do not ill.  
When th●is, h Britan, shall befall to thee,  
An evident Prognostic it will be  
Of GOD's displeasure; and a certain token  
Thou by a Foreign Power shalt be broken,  
Or, by thine own divided strength at home,  
Which will the more destructive Plague become.  
GOD will (unless we shall repent) perchance,  
In time to come, a Shepherd here advance,  
Who shall not plead for what his young men say  
Is his; but, take the same perforce away.  
An Idol-shepherd, who shall neither care  
To find or seek out those who straying are;  
Nor feed the Lambs, nor cure what hath a wound,  
Or cherish those who firm to him are found:  
But take the Fatlings, rob them of their fleeces;  
Devour their flesh, and break their bones in pieces.  
I might more Signs than these, enumerate,  
To show GOD's patience is nigh out of date.  
But, these are Signs enough, and so apparent,  
That twenty more will give no better warrant  
Of what will come; yet, if these false appear;  
That's one Sign more of what is drawing near.  
Be watchful therefore, whilst it is to day,  
And let no good occasion slip away.  
Now rend your hearts, ye Britan's, wash and rinse them  
From all corruptions, from all evil cleanse them:  
Go offer up the pleasing Sacrifice  
Of Righteousness: From folly turn your eyes;  
Seek Peace, and follow it with strict pursuit,  
Relieve the needy, Justice execute;  
Refresh the weary, right the fatherless,  
The strangers and the widows wants redress.  
Give praise to GOD for all; with lowly faith  
On him depend; mind what the Spirit saith.  
Remember what a price your Ransom cost,  
And now redeem the time that hath been lost.  
It was feigned, That a Shepherd said of what had misbefallen to him, Saepe nobis malum hoc praedixit ab Ilice Cornix,  

A Raven from a Holly tree  
Did oft presage this ill to me.   
And perhaps, upon the perusal of this Review, this Author will be likened to those Ravens, which presage nothing but mischief; for, some have said already, That he hath been a troubler of the people; and as Ahab said Micah did of him, That he predicted no good to this Nation; but it is apparently false; for he hath conditionally presaged as well Mercies as Judgements, intermixing threatenings and Promises fore-declared by his Prophets, to prevent what is pronounced against wilful Transgressor's; seasoning all his Predictions wîth many Precautions and Exhortations, to beget and confirm true Faith and Penitence; such as these next following.  
Return, return thou, oh back-sliding Nation,  
And let thy tears prevent thy desolation.  
As yet thou mayst return; for GOD's embrace  
To thee is open, if thou shalt have grace  
To give it meeting. Thy repentance may  
Prevent the future Mischiefs (which this day  
Are threatened) if so be thou shalt in time  
According to thy power comply with him.  
For, thereupon his dreadful Judgements all  
Predicted here, to Mercies change he shall.  
I cannot say, it shall excuse thee from  
All Chastisements, so that no blow shall come:  
But, of thus much thou may'st assured be,  
That every Judgement then, which falls on thee,  
Shall be a Mercy, if he shall not stay  
What's threatened, now, the strokes which he doth lay  
Will fall the lighter, and produce a blessing,  
Thy future happiness much more increasing  
Than all the great prosperity and rest  
Which hath long time together been possessed.  
Yea, BRITAN, if thou timely shalt reform  
Thy manners, it will stop the dreadful storm  
Appearing now, and they who triumph would  
Thy utter desolation to behold,  
Will either change their minds, or live to see  
The Judgements which descending are on thee,  
Removed to them; for, when from sin men cease,  
GOD makes their Enemies and them at peace.  
Then, thou shalt have again in thy possessings,  
All inward Graces, and external Blessings;  
Thy Herds in every Pasture safe shall feed,  
Thy Soil shall plentifully increase thy seed:  
Thy Flocks good Shepherds shall not want, or meat;  
Clean Provender thy stalled beast shall eat.  
There shall be Rivers in thy Dales, and Fountains  
Upon the top of thy most barren Mountains,  
The Moon shall cast upon thee beams as bright  
As did the Sun; and with a sevenfold Light  
Thou shalt be blessed. He that Reigns in thee  
Shall neither jealous of his People be,  
Nor they of Him; but he by Righteousness  
Shall with the People's Love, the Throne possess;  
And to each other, both as kind appear  
As Loving Parents and good Children are.  
Thy Magistrates with wisdom shall proceed  
In all things, by them acted or decreed.  
As Rivers are to places over dry;  
As Harbours when winds blow tempestuo usly;  
As shadows when we are oppressed with heat;  
As to the hungry stomach, wholesome meat;  
So acceptable shall thy Rulers be,  
When GOD shall find true Penitence in thee.  
Thy Priests shall preach truth only in thy Temples,  
And make it fruitful by their good examples.  
Christ with his Righteousness shall them array,  
And they shall guide thy footsteps in his way;  
Thine eyes, which are now blinded, shall be clear;  
Thine ears, at present deafened, then shall hear;  
Thy faltering tongue speak timely truth and plain;  
Thy heart true understanding shall retain;  
Peace will return, no labouring man shall want  
A blessing on what he doth sow or plant.  
Thy poorest people shall at full be fed,  
The meek man of no Tyrant stand in dread.  
Thou shalt have Grace and Knowledge to avoid  
What may bereave the Mercies yet enjoied.  
All promised Blessings, GOD upon thee shall  
Confer, and hear thee still when thou dost call.  
These and many other Mercies, as well as Judgements, were conditionally predicted in the said Remembrancer, upon several occasions; to the perusal whereof more at large, the Reader is referred, this being but a Breviate, to make this Generation the more heedful thereof. To which end here shall be likewise added a part of what the Author expressed in the conclusion of that Book, touching his Resolution to discharge his duty, and depend on GOD alone for protection and supply in all straits whatsoever; which Resolution was expressed in these words, fol. 284.  
So now, though not so fully as I ought,  
My Vow is paid, and to conclusion brought  
This Work, for which GOD pleased my life to spare,  
When Thousands round about me slaughtered were,  
And live or die, I care not, for I see  
But little usefulness henceforth of me.  
Yet since none knows what GOD will call him to,  
I'll not say absolutely what I'll do  
Or not do; though I now intent no more  
To exercise my Muse as heretofore:  
For if this profit not, I think in vain  
I shall hereafter touch this string again.  
If these do not prevail, I shall suppose  
Words are not wanting here so much as Blows;  
And that the filthy will be filthy still,  
Till they the measure of their sins fulfil;  
Or, till GOD shall, to free us from pollution,  
Proceed to some unusual execution.  
Fol. 285. Pag. 2.  
My outward hopes have not my tongue unloosed,  
Nor can my mouth by outward fears be closed:  
What I would do, is done, and I am eased,  
And glad, however others will be pleased.  
Let them who shall peruse it, praise or laugh,  
Revile, or scoff, or threat, or swear, or chafe,  
All's one to me, so I within am still,  
Without me, let men make what noise they will.  
For, I am sure, though they my flesh confound,  
What I desire to save, shall be kept sound;  
And, likewise know, that nor the brutish rages  
Either of this, or of succeeding Ages,  
Shall root this Poem out; but that to all  
Ensuing times, the same continue shall,  
And be perused in this Land, as long  
As here they shall retain the English tongue;  
Or whilst there shall be sinners and offences,  
Disorders, Discords, Wars and Pestilences.  
And if our gross sins we depart not from,  
Before the day of our destruction come,  
This Book shall to the times ensuing show  
What Crimes they were that wrought our overthrow.  
And testify to others, for their learning,  
That Vengeance seized us not without forewarning.  
After the Author's insisting upon many other particular circumstances in the pages next following, to make his Precautions and Predictions the better heeded, he thus proceeds.  
The King hath shown me favour. At this hour  
I do not know that living man whose Power  
Or Person I envy or disaffect;  
Or whom, of any malice I suspect  
To me or mine: With me all those are friends  
Who were at odds; and to obtain my ends  
In my Affairs, I never had a day  
So probable as now, if I would stay  
This Message: And this peradventure shall  
My hopes defer, or quite destroy them all.  
Yet, is this bluntly told, that you may see  
My hopes were greater than my fears could be:  
And that it may be known my heart disclaims  
All those poor ends at which some think it aims.  
Such arguments and words, therefore, as may  
Anticipate, I here beforehand say,  
Not that I think it possible by them,  
To work on those who will this Book contemn,  
(For 'tis not in the power of Argument  
Or words, to make the wilful provident)  
It lieth not in serious protestations  
To nullify malicious Combinations,  
No, nor in Miraclcs, till GOD shall please,  
Who of all hearts doth keep the Locks and Keys.  
I therefore these Precautions do infert  
To evidence the hardness of his heart  
Who shall be obstinate; and fore-declare  
Those things that shall be done, ere done they were,  
That men may know, when they are come to pass,  
Nought did succeed but what expected was;  
And that the better working this may have  
On those who shall GOD's Messages receive  
By this Remembrancer: for he hath sent it,  
Though I who am unworthy, do present it.  
This misadvisedly composed I not,  
Nor was it by a Miracle begot;  
To fit me for this purpose, I have thrice  
Imprisonment endured, Close Prison twice:  
Much trouble on my first Essays ensued  
Through want and scandals, not a few I shrewd;  
And being guarded by GOD's Providence,  
Was lately carried through the Pestilence;  
Both saw and felt what Nature doth abhor,  
To harden me, and to prepare me for  
This Message. Therefore they who dream they shall  
With frowning looks, or big words me appall,  
Must look more grim than Death, more ugly far  
Than Vizards or the Devil's Pictures are;  
Breath stronger poison than a Plague-filled Grave;  
And stamp, and roar, and tear, and rage, and rave  
More dreadfully, and louder than a man  
Infected with six Pestilences can:  
Else, I to play with terrors being born,  
Shall slight them, and laugh all their rage to scorn:  
Yet, I am naturally (and I do  
Ingenuously confess it) subject to  
Such fears and passions as make better men  
To startle from their duties now and then.  
By what is done, may troubles come upon me,  
But not performing it, had quite undone me;  
Since I deterred by what might befall me,  
Had that neglected, whereto GOD did call me:  
For, of his calling me the means and ways  
Whereby he did my weakness thereto raise,  
Unquestionable Evidences give;  
And they who do not, yet the same believe,  
Will think so too, perhaps, when they shall see  
Themselves assaulted with new Plagues to be.  
This I believing, and considering  
What hazard that neglect therewith might bring,  
And what assurances I did possess,  
I had contracted a grand guiltiness  
By disobeying; and more had therein  
Transgressed against God, then by a sin  
Against the State, though such Truths uttered were  
As they shall most displeasing be to hear.  
What ever others think, this is my fear,  
And to my Soul so terrible a thing,  
The wilful disobeying that great King  
Appears to me, that I should never sleep  
In peace again, if silence I should keep:  
Now therefore, neither all the Royal Graces  
Of Kings, nor Gifts, nor honourable places  
Shall stop my mouth; nor will I smother this,  
Though twenty Kings had sworn to make me kiss  
The Gallows for it, lest my Conscience should  
Torment me more than all men living could:  
Yea, though this did proceed from Ignorance  
Or Fancy, as it will be thought perchance;  
Yet, since that Fancy may present to me  
As hideous frights as things that real be;  
I'll rather hazard twenty deaths to die,  
Then to be tortured by my Fantasy;  
For, I had rather in a Dungeon dwell  
Five years, then in my soul to feel a Hell  
Five minutes; and whilst GOD and I are Friends,  
I shall not care how many this offends.  
Now because this Remembrancer was long ago imprinted, and is not easy to be gotten, the Contents of every Canto, as they were at first published, are here inserted, that the general scope thereof may be known to them who desire it.  

The Contents of the first Canto.  
OUr Author first with GOD begins,  
Describes his anger for our sins;  
Of all his Judgements muster makes;  
Declares how Mercy undertakes  
The pleading of this Kingdom's Cause,  
To bring GOD's wrath unto a pause;  
And (for the common Reader) suits  
High things, with lowly Attributes.  
Then steps into a praiseful strain  
Of Charles His new-beginning Reign;  
Emplores, that well succeed it may,  
And for His Weal makes Mercy pray.  
He Justice also introduces,  
Complaining on our gross abuses;  
Who proveth so our sinful Nation  
To merit utter Desolation,  
That all God's Plagues had us enclosed,  
If Mercy had not interposed.  
But, after pleading of the Case  
With Justice, Mercy doth embrace;  
Who (that our sins may punished be)  
To send the Pestilence agree;  
Their other Plagues a while suspending,  
To prove how that will work amending.   

The Contents of the Second Canto.  
Our Muse defends her lowly stile,  
And (having flown aside a while)  
Tells how the Plague first entered here,  
What Means to stay it practised were.  
Some vulgar Tenants are disputed,  
Some rectified, some refuted.  
She from the Nature and the Cause  
Of that Disease, conclusions draws;  
Declareth how it runs and creeps,  
And what uncertain paths it keeps;  
How long strict Orders useful stood,  
The fruit of Christian Neighbourhood:  
And many other things betwixt  
These mentioned, are intermixed.  
She showeth (also) means assured,  
By which this Mischief may be cured:  
How to apply that means; how those  
Who use it, should themselves compose:  
How violent the Plague did grow;  
Who from it might, or might not go:  
How much 'twas feared, how men fled;  
How ill, in flying, many sped:  
And lastly, (as occasion moves)  
She grieves, she counsels; and reproves.   

The Contents of the Third Canto.  
The House of Mourning, which most fear,  
(And fly so much) is praised here.  
It shows, that outward Joys and Care,  
Nor merely good, nor evil are,  
But things indifferent, which the wise  
Nor over-praise, nor under-prise.  
The strife within our Author's breast  
About his stay, is next expressed.  
Then doth it orderly recite  
What Reason argued for his flight;  
What Faith alleged to reprove  
The Motives urging his remove:  
What Arms for him she did prepare  
To hide the shock of Death and Fear.  
What proof she to his Conscience made,  
That he a lawful calling had,  
In midst of this great Plague to tarry,  
By Warrant extraordinary.  
What, thereupon he did conclude,  
What Joy and Confidence ensu'de:  
How much this Favour he doth prize  
Above Earth's glorious'st Vanities:  
How he his time desires to spend;  
And so this Canto hath an end.   

The Contents of the Fourth Canto.  
Our Muse in the Fourth Canto writes  
Of Melancholy thoughts and sights:  
What Changes were in every place,  
What Ruins in a little space:  
How Trades, and how Provisions failed,  
How Sorrow thrived, how Death prevailed;  
And how in triumph he did ride,  
With all his Horrors by his side.  
To London then she doth declare  
How suiting her Afflictions were  
To former Sins; what good and bad  
Effects this Plague produced had▪  
What Friendly Champions, and what Foes  
For us did fight, or us oppose:  
And how the greatest Plague of all  
On poor Artificers did fall.  
Then from the Fields new grief she takes,  
And useful Meditations makes:  
Relates how slowly Vengeance came,  
How GOD forewarned us of the same:  
What other Plagues to this were joined:  
And here and there are interlined  
Upbraid, Warn, Exhortations,  
And pertinent Expostulations.   

The Contents of the Fifth Canto.  
The Author justifies again  
His Method, and his lowly strain.  
Next, having formerly made known  
The common Fears, he tells his own:  
Shows with what thoughts he was diseased,  
When first the Plague his Lodging seized:  
Of what GOD's Justice him accused:  
Upon what doubts or hopes he mused:  
On what, and how he did resolve,  
And who from Death did him absolve.  
The Plagues increase he then expresseth;  
The Mercies of the LORD confesseth:  
Emplores that he himself may never  
Forget them, but be thankful ever:  
Then mounting Contemplations wings,  
Ascends to high and useful things.  
From thence his Muse is called down,  
To make Great Britan's errors known;  
Wherein, he doth confess a failing;  
And (his infirmities bewailing)  
Is fitted and resolved anew,  
His purposed Message to pursue:  
And, having first anticipated,  
His Arrant is in part related.   

The Contents of the Sixth Canto.  
The Poet (weighing well his Warrant)  
Goes on with his enjoined Arrant:  
Impartially he doth relate  
This Islands good and bad estate:  
What several sins in her have place;  
How gross they are, how they increase  
He also tells; and then he shows  
That nor the Gentiles nor the Jews  
Were checked or plagued for any Crimes,  
Which are not reigning in these times.  
Next that, he boldly doth approve  
The course in which our Nobles move:  
Derides their folly, blames their sin,  
And warns what danger they are in.  
Our Gentry then he reprehends,  
Their foolish humours discommends:  
And (having brought them to their sights)  
Upon the guilty Clergy lights:  
On Lawyers that abuse the Laws;  
On Officers, and on the Cause  
Of most Corruptions: Last of all  
On some Enormities doth fall,  
Which are in Court and City found;  
And runs this Canto there on ground.   

The Contents of the Seventh Canto.  
First, of himself he somewhat speaks:  
Then of the City's Errors makes  
A larger Scroll; and therewithal  
Inserts Abuses general.  
He shows, by reason of her sin,  
What Misery this Land is in:  
What ill success, and what dishonour  
Is, for her follies, come upon her  
In Foreign parts, and here at home:  
How senseless also, she's become.  
What several ways against this Land,  
GOD hath of late stretched out his hand:  
And how the blame of what's amiss,  
From one to th' other shifted is.  
By many Symptoms he declares  
How sick this Commonweal appears.  
Disputes the late Distemper bred  
Betwixt the Body and the Head,  
And lays the blame where lie it should;  
Yet therein proves not overbold.  
Then aims he at some imperfections,  
In Burgesses, and their Elections;  
And, briefly pointeth at the way  
By which our Cure effect we may.   

The Contents of the Eighth Canto.  
Our Poet having touched again  
What frailties in himself remain;  
Declares, that many Plagues do steal  
As well on Church as Commonweal:  
Relates what Crotchets do possess  
Some who Righteousness profess:  
What noisome Plants, what Tares and Weeds  
Are sprung to choke the holy Seeds:  
What feigned Zeal and affectation  
Hath fooled this formal Generation:  
And, how from some, great scandal grows,  
Who bear the Keys that bind and lose.  
Next, he delivereth Predictions  
Of Plagues, of Sorrows and Afflictions,  
Which on this Island will descend,  
Unless our manners we amend.  
And whensoever Civil Jars,  
Or mischiefs, by the rage of Wars  
Oppress this Realm, his Muse doth show  
Who shall oceasion it, and how.  
Which fearful Judgement to prevent,  
He calls upon her to repent;  
By ten apparent Signs hath shown  
GOD's Patience nigh expired is grown.  
Then for the Public Weal he prays,  
Then for himself; and there he stays.    

The Author's Motto, Nec Habeo, nec Careo, nec Curo, Imp. 1618.  
THE said Motto, and the Descant thereupon, may perhaps appear to some Readers a careless, rather than a serious Composure, because expressed in an unusual and extravagant strain. Nevertheless, it hints many good Principles, which the Author thought would be best insinuated in that Mode; and he was not therein deceived; for, it then so well pleased, that about thirty thousand Copies thereof were imprinted and published within a few months. The Book is so common, that no more shall be here mentioned, but a few lines out of the Descant upon the last Word, wherein is a passage relating to an overcurious Inquisitiveness after Things to come; and wherein is implicitly wrapped up a Prediction, which may be considerable. The words are these:  
I do not care to be inquisitive,  
How many months or weeks I have to live:  
For, 'tis unlikely I shall better grow  
When I myself to be long-lived, do know,  
If I dare act a wickedness, and yet  
Know I may die whilst I am doing it.  
Let them whose brains are cracked with that Disease,  
Depend upon their Ephemerideses,  
Search Constellations, and themselves apply  
To find the Fate of their Nativity;  
I'll seek within me, and if there I find  
The Stars, that should illuminate my mind,  
Rise far, and seasonably me direct  
Through my Life's Progress by a good Aspect;  
And, in Conjunction, shall discover there  
True Piety, and Honesty sincere  
Confirmed in me (by those Influences  
Which Grace to regulate our course dispenses)  
I'll fear no Fortunes, whatsoever they be,  
Nor much care what the Stars portend to me:  
For, he who to this state of Grace attains,  
Above the power of Constellations reigns,  
And gets a Resolution therewithal,  
Which fits him so for what e'er may befall,  
That he becomes a happier man than he  
Who can but tell what shall hereafter be.  
I start not at a Friar's prophecy,  
Or, those with which we Merlin do belie:  
Nor am I frighted with the sad Narrations  
Of any near approaching Alterations:  
For, things have ever changed, and ever shall,  
Until there doth a Change run overall:  
And he that bears an honest heart about him,  
Needs not to fear what Changes are without him.  
The Eastern Kingdoms had a time to flourish;  
The Grecian Empire rising, saw them perish:  
That sunk; and then the Roman Pride began,  
Now bounded by the Race of Ottoman:  
And, if Vicisitudes a Round must run,  
Till all things end where they at first begun,  
What is't to me, who peradventure must  
e'er that befalls, be mouldered into dust?  
What if America's large Tract of ground,  
And all those Isles adjoining, lately found,  
(Which we more truly may a Desert call,  
Then our well-tilled and civilised Pal●)  
What if now there, that Wilderness doth lie,  
To which the Woman and her Son must fly  
To scape the Dragon's fury? and there 'bide  
Till Europe's thankless Nations for their Pride  
And other crying sins, overwhelmed be  
With such like Barbarousness as there we see.  
If thus GOD please to do, and makes our sin  
The means of bringing those rude Nations in  
To be his People, (as vouchsafed it was  
The Gentiles calling should be brought to pass  
When he cast off the Jews for unbelief)  
Why should his pleasure be to me a grief?  
Oh! let his Name on Earth more honoured grow,  
Although my Ruin helps to make it so.   

Campo-Musae, or, Field-musing; Imprinted 1644.  
THis Poem was written whilst the Author was in Arms for the King and Parliament, to reunite them, not to divide them, as appears by this Impress in his Cornet, under the figure of a Sword and Pen, Pro Rege, Lege Grege. It was partly composed to vindicate himself from their Aspersions, who imputed unto him the deserting his Principle relating to the Royal Power; and partly to evidence, That he had neither actually or intentionally infringed it. But many other particulars were thereby offered to consideration, whereof some are here abreviated.  

The Contents of the said Field-musing.  
A Question presupposed, the Muse  
Makes Answer, and her Freedom shows.  
Tells with what heart, with what intent  
This War her Poet under went:  
Avers that Reason and the Laws  
Will justifis him in his Cause.  
The Public straits he doth express,  
Lamenteth, and implores redress.  
Fights Combats with Dosive Reason,  
His Party to acquit from Treason;  
Them he encourageth to do  
What GOD and Reason calls them to.  
Then mentioning a Voice of Peace  
That she hath heard, and there dooh cease;  
Intruding, ere she doth proceed,  
To make some proof how this will speed.  
Having touched upon many Omissions and Commissions which occasioned several Expostulations, Caveats and Predictions, (to which the Reader is referred) this follows, pag. 20.  

Our speedy Reconcilement hasten shall  
The Church's Triumph, and Great Babel's fall.  
Her date is near, if I aright have hit  
The meaning of the Number, left to be  
A trial and probation of their Wit  
Who seek the fall of Antichrist to see.  
He is, with his Partakers, at this day  
In public and in private carrying on  
The cunningest plot which they have yet to play,  
And when that's acted out, their Play is done.  
Till than their Fraud will so some Saints beguile,  
That they to their Design will furtherance bring;  
Yea, they shall help promote it for a while,  
Who favour nor the Persons, nor the Thing.  
But, lest your hearts may faint by long delay,  
Heed for your comfort what my Muse will say.  
That Year in which Rome's long-lived Empery  
Shall from the day in which it was at height,  
Sum up M, D, C, L, X, V, and I,  
In order as these Letters here incite,  
That Year, that Day, that Hour will put a date  
To her Usurped Power, (reserving neither  
Top, Root or Branch of that accursed State,  
Nor Hand, nor Body, Limb, Horn, Claw or Feather.  
For here are all the Numerals of Rome  
In order, as they are in valuation,  
And cannot make a less or greater sum,  
Without disorder, want, or iteration.  
Nor shall it longer stand, or sooner fall,  
If I mistake not him who governs all.  
In number, weight and measure worketh he,  
Allotting to each man the bound and season,  
Which may both correspond with his Decree,  
And somewhat also suit with humane Reason.  
In Egypt, thus a certain time to stay  
Was to the Seed of Jacob there assigned;  
Thus likewise to a fore-appointed day  
The Reign of Baltashazer was confined;  
Thus from the time of daniel's Supplication,  
The time when Christ should come, foretold appears  
To be a preordained Limitation,  
Until the end of Seventy weeks of years.  
And thus Rome's declination may (no doubt)  
Be numbering till her Numeral are out.  
Two famous Numbers are in them contained,  
The first declares the length of time wherein  
The Devil was by Providence restrained  
From setting up the Mystery of sin:  
The later is the number of the BEAST,  
Which when the LET was taken quite away,  
(Whereby he was a thousand years suppressed)  
Doth number out his Kingdom to a day.  
It is the number of the Name or Power  
Even of a Man, of that Mysterious Man,  
By whom that Mystery is at this hour,  
Continued, and by whom it first began.  
And, he that can begin the Thousandth year,  
Shall find the Ruin of both Beasts is near.  
To search that out, it seems not hard to me,  
Who do believe, that when of her chief sin  
Rome to be guilty did appear to be,  
Her declination did then first begin.  
And sure, of all her sins the greatest Crime  
Was, crucifying of the Lord of Life,  
And her unjustly persecuting them  
Who tendered Saving-Grace to their belief.  
Then, I presume, she first to fall began,  
And, that GOD measured, weighed, and numbered out  
How many backward rounds her wheel should run,  
Before it should the last time turn about.  
Thus in those numerals which are her own,  
Joined all together, was her Fate writ down.  
To bring to pass that work there was a LET  
To be removed, of no mean consequence;  
Which was removed at the time fore-set,  
And her new offspring hath reigned ever since.  
But with exceeding infamy and scorns,  
The Beast, which now so powerful seems to some,  
Shall lose his Head, and moult away his Horns,  
And to the world a laughingstock become.  
Then many Juggle hitherto concealed,  
(And which to blind the heedless Christians eye,  
In seven dark Mysteries, have long been sealed)  
Shall to the faithful soul uncovered lie.  
That Kingdom which the Jew did long ago  
Mould out according to his erring brain;  
(And whereof many zealous Christians too  
Unwarrantable Fancies entertain.)  
That Kingdom (whereof now in types we hear)  
Shall to the world essentially appear.  
Be patient therefore, ye that are oppressed;  
This Generation shall not pass away,  
Till some behold the downfall of that Beast,  
Which yet among us with his Tail doth play.  
Then will the Lamb of GOD begin to take  
The Kingdom to himself, and every King  
That of his Right shall Usurpation make,  
To Judgement and destruction he shall bring.  
No Kingling then, assume the boldness shall  
Blasphemously (for know it is no less)  
To style himself the King Catholical,  
As if Earth's Universal Globe were his;  
For, though another hath Usurped thereon,  
That title doth belong to Christ alone.  
And, 'tis no wonder if the Potentates,  
Kings, and the Rulers of this world combine  
By Policy to strengthen their Estates,  
And with the Beast, with GOG and Magog join.  
No marvel if enraged they appear,  
Through jealousies, and fear of losing that  
By which their Pride and Lusts maintained were,  
And which base fear and flat'ry first begat:  
For all those Kingdoms and those Emperies  
Throughout the world, which their beginning took  
By humane wit, fraud, force and tyrannies,  
Shall pass away, and vanish into smoke.  
An Army whereof here's yet little hope,  
Shall wrest the Sceptre both from Turk and Pope.   

Religion, and mere shows of Piety,  
Have been so long the Masks of base Designs;  
The great Vicegerents of their Deity,  
Have made such Politicians of Divines;  
And these together, have so fooled and cheated  
The Consciences of persons well inclined,  
That, of all Freedoms they are nigh defeated,  
Belonging to the Body and the Mind;  
Yea, they have so mocked GOD, and on his Throne  
And his Prerogative so far encroached,  
That, of his Honour being jealous grown  
Much longer bear he will not such reproach.  
But, to the Saints their Liberties restore,  
And give those Kings their portion with the Whore.   

D'ye startle at it, as if I had spoke  
High Treason? or, as if what I now say  
Without a warrant I had undertaken  
To publish, as perhaps you think I may.  
If so; know, that I had this Information  
Not from a private Spirit, but from his  
Well known and unsuspected Revelation,  
Who to his Church long since revealed this.  
They who will to the Lamb their Crowns resign,  
And shall (the Beast opposing) be content  
To reign according to Christ's Discipline,  
(And his Command) shall keep their Government.  
The rest cast off, shall wail and curse their birth,  
With Tyrants, and the Merchants of the Earth.   

Christ and his Law shall then bear all the sway,  
By Governments, resembling that perchance,  
For which the Jews GOD's yoke did cast away,  
The Kingship of the Gentiles to advance.  
And as his People foolishly did crave  
(Instead of his mild Sceptre to retain)  
A Heath'nish Monarchy, which doth enslave  
And seek by Arbitrary Powers to reign;  
So shall all Nations be content to leave  
Their Ethnic Bonds, and with his holy Nation  
Christ's Precepts and his Discipline receive,  
And joint partakers be of their Salvation.  
And when this glorious Kingdom doth begin,  
The fullness of the Gentiles will come in.   

GOD hath so long deferred the possession  
Of that great Mercy, because Worldliness,  
Hypocrisy and Discord keep the blessing  
From ripening into such a happiness:  
Some in unrightcousness the Truth retained,  
And make the same thereby the less believed;  
Some by an outward Sanctity have gained  
The means to have their Heresies believed.  
Whilst some pursue the Antichrist without them,  
An Antichrist ariseth up within;  
Which if they look not warily about them,  
New work for Reformation will begin.  
But GOD will finish what he preordains,  
When Penitence for sin the means obtains.   
In the Sixty third page of this Poem, the Author for illustration of that Mystery, adds this that follows.  

And lastly, I have weighed, that not alone  
A plot is laid these Kingdoms to undo;  
But likewise, in their spoil to have undone  
All other true Reformed Churches too.  
I see GOD's glory, and the servitude  
Of all his People in this Cause concerned;  
And whatsoever others do conclude,  
I these conclusions with good warrant learned,  
That those whom in this warfare we resist,  
Are neither worse nor better than those bands,  
And those Confederates of Antichrist,  
Which are this day his Champions in these Lands:  
And, that who ever fighteth on their side,  
When this is known, have GOD & Christ denied.   

I see as plainly as I see the Sun,  
He draweth near who on the white Horse rides;  
The long expected Battle is begun;  
The Beast to muster up his Kings provides:  
With him h●s bloody Edomites conspire,  
The ●eeds of Hagar, and the Sons of Lot,  
Philistia, Gebal; Moab, Ammon, Tire,  
And all who with his mark themselves bespot.  
To meet these, those white Regiments I see,  
That on the Lord of Hosts, and King of Kings  
Attending in triumphant habits be:  
And, whilst I contemplate the aid he brings,  
Methinks I hear his Angel call the Crows,  
To eat the Kings and Captains of his Foes.   
To strengthen the Faith, and confirm the Patience of the Saints, this Mystery is insisted upon in many other of this Author's Writings, as occasions were offered; and are thought not impertinently expressed in a various Mode to the same effect, because the ignorance or heedlessness of many, require both reiteration and plainness, to prevent mistakes. There are also many other Neglected Remembrances contained in the aforesaid Poem, to the perusal whereof more at large, the Reader is referred.    

The DARK LANTERN, Imprinted 1650.  
THis is a Parabolical and Enigmatical Poem, containing, with some plain Precautions and Remembrances, many dark Predictions; and begins thus:  
He, from whose perfect Light, all true Lights come,  
Spoke Parables; yea, spoke nought else to some:  
And Providence by many various ways  
Of Dispensation, to the world conveys  
The means of carrying on those works which tend  
To man's perfection at his latter end:  
And, to the wonderful accomplishment  
Of what eternally is his intent,  
Bringeth about oft times the selfsame things,  
(Or such like) toward their accomplishing,  
That prudent men might apprehend thereby  
What he designs, and therewithal comply, etc.  
And in the Seventh Page he proceeds thus;  
I may perhaps be, among others, one  
Who was designed for service to be done  
In order thereunto (as I conceive  
I am, and as (when I am gone) some will believe,  
Though few so think now; for although I dress  
The Mind and Matter of my Messages  
In measured words (and trimmed with such Fancies  
As are allowed in Poetic Frencies,  
To pass for sober Garbs) yet, now and then  
I blunder out that which mere worldly men  
Count madness; and what oft the best men too  
Sometimes, do think becomes not me to do.  
But I best know my warrant, and proceed  
As I am moved (with little fear or heed,  
What others judge) and that which makes me dare  
What seemeth madness, helpeth to prepare  
Such strains, as other while produceth heeding  
Of what had not else been thought worth the reading:  
And, these my Ridling now, are an Invention  
Which partly were designed with that intention;  
And partly likewise to amuse those Readers  
Who to my Principles are counter-pleaders.  
When many think the Times afford me may  
Enough to speak of, I have nought to say.  
When I to aught am called, I cast by  
My own Affairs, and to that Call apply  
As I occasion find; venting sometimes  
My thoughts in Prose, and otherwhile in Rhymes;  
One while in sharp and bitter strains reproving;  
Sometimes by Admonitions calm and loving;  
Yea, Jigs of recreation sometimes fiddling,  
And now I'm fallen into a fit of Riddling.  
Riddle my Riddles then, you that have heard  
Truths oft, and plainly spoke without regard,  
(Except it were in malice to combine  
Against their peace, who cast their Pearls to swine)  
Riddle them if you can; for in them lies  
A Dark Character of our Destinies.  
Those things within these Problems couched are,  
Which I once thought more plainly to declare;  
But, from that purpose have now changed my mind,  
That seeing you might see, yet still be blind:  
That you might read, and yet not understand  
The works which GOD and Men have now in hand.  
Till those Events befall to you, which may  
Produce those good effects which you delay.  
To which intent, that which I would unfold,  
Shall Herogliphically now be told.  
Page the 21, after many preoccupations to confirm himself in prosecuting what he intended, he thus again proceeds.  
But I will wheel about, and with the Rein  
Turn Pegasus into his path again:  
Though he in his digressions (as we say  
Of Beggars) never is beside his way.  
Once on a time (thus did old Tales begin  
Ere I was born, or thought so to have been)  
A foolish People, (overmuch at ease)  
Their wantonness and vanity to please,  
Among their May-games, brought home from the wood  
Trees, which had else till now unheeded stood.  
Of these they made, by hew, knocks & smoothing,  
That look like something, which resembled nothing.  
And out of shapeless, knotty Logs, did hew  
Some Statues, not uncomely to the view.  
These, ere quite finished (with some jeers and mocks)  
They set up higher over other Blocks.  
Them so repollishing, and painting so,  
That of what stuff they were, few men could know.  
Beginning then their own work to admire,  
They raised them higher, and a little higher,  
Till Idols they became; with whom they grew  
At first familiar, and did them bestrew  
With flowers and garlands; shortly after they  
Bowed humbly down before them every day.  
Till custom had their Judgement quite befooled:  
For, when they them enshrined did behold,  
Sparkling with Jewels, and with Gold arrayed,  
They of their own Creations grew afraid;  
And, at the last (as at the last such do,  
Who after their own Fancies whoring go)  
They much repenting their fond Superstition,  
Bewailed the slavery of their condition;  
With some appearances of an intent  
To grow more wise, as well as penitent.  
Yea, to blaspheme their newmade Gods they spared not,  
And would have-pulled them down again, but dared not.  
For, by their flattering Attributes long given,  
They had advanced them to a Sphere (or Heaven)  
Where uncontrolled, a Power they exercised  
According to their Will; and them despised  
Whose hands had made them, and whose breath had blown them  
Too high for their Ambitiousness to own them.  
Their Incantations by degrees had brought  
Strange Spirits into what their hands had wrought,  
Alluring, and enabling them unto  
Those actings which their Makers might undo.  
Yet still these Blockheads persevered, and will  
To make such Idols, and adore them still,  
Till both they and their Puppets are destroyed,  
Unless the GOD of Gods make just fears void:  
For, most men being of a slavish mind,  
Are so much unto slavishness inclined,  
That to fulfil their slavish lust they'll fawn  
Upon a Dog, and lay their souls to pawn.  
Riddle this Riddle, if you can, and tell  
What People this may be, and where they dwell,  
Which I believing you with ease may do,  
Will add this following Parable thereto.  
There was a time when silly Bees could speak,  
(A People of much industry, though weak)  
Among themselves, these lately made great moans,  
As being much oppressed by their Drones,  
Who (having made incursions among those  
That had an uncontrollable dispose  
In their Republic) did in various wise,  
Encroachments make on their Proprieties,  
And greedily unto themselves derive  
The fatness and the sweetness of the Hive.  
Complaints in private no redress obtaining,  
Increase to open and avowed complaining;  
Which finding like successes, they begun  
To buzz, as when a swarming time comes on:  
Then to shut up their Cells, to shake their wings,  
To leave their wont work, and show their stings.  
At first the Drones were frighted much thereat,  
But (being not so wise as they were fat)  
Neglected still the course which might prevent  
The mischiefs then appearing imminent.  
Which when I saw, I would no longer stay,  
But said, God help them, and so came away.  
This Parable, if rightly moralised,  
Affords a meaning not to be despised.  
And so doth what next follows. As I went  
On Pilgrimage unto the Parliament,  
I there attending saw some of the Cocks  
(Which kept our Hens and Capons from the Fox)  
With broken wings, with backs without a Feather,  
To hide their naked bodies from the weather.  
With plumeless tails, with scared necks & breasts,  
With empty bellies, with their combs and crests  
Quite worn away, and scraping with their feet  
On Dunghills for their food, and in the street,  
So despicably, that it could appear  
By nothing (save their spurs) what once they were:  
And popinjays and Parrots clad and fed  
With what the valour of these purchased;  
These trimmed up in their Feathers, strutting by  
Did cast upon them a disdainful eye,  
Which heeding, I suppose (I tell you true)  
To be no good Presage. Pray what think you?  
News, if you look for, I but little know  
Save such as this next Parable doth show,  
A fair Ship now lies floating on the Floods,  
Well fraught with Passengers, well filled with goods,  
Labouring to fix an Anchor on the strand  
Of her wished Harbour, which lies near at hand.  
By many storms much tackling she hath spent,  
Her Masts are shattered, and her Sails are rend:  
Her Ammunition, and her stores are wasted,  
Her bread and beaverage is evil tasted,  
Her Keel springs leaks, through her uncawked seams,  
Her Knees are weakened, broken are her beams,  
Her Pump is cracked, no Cable sound hath she,  
And Anchor's have been slipped, till none there be.  
Her Helm hangs loose; her Card hath great defects,  
Her Compass likewise often interdicts,  
And every where she craziness doth feel  
From Prow to Stern, from Topmast to the Keal.  
In this condition to and fro she drives,  
And on the Waves with much ado she lives:  
For, now of late again, the Sea grows high,  
A stiff gale blows, and she exposed doth lie  
To many hazards close without a Bar  
Betwixt two Forelands which in kenning are.  
If she to Seaward forth again should stand,  
There Pirates threaten her; if then to Land  
She makes, the Rocks lie scattered here and there,  
In which as great or greater dangers are.  
And which is worse, they who should be her guide,  
Are false, and mutinously qualified.  
Some ignorant, some treacherous, and some  
Ambitious how possessors to become  
Of what belongs to others. Some of those  
Who have this Public Ship at their dispose,  
Have in delays their time and stores misspent,  
For private ends, and for accomplishment▪  
Of worse Designs, and in this great distress,  
(Partly through fear, in part through guiltiness)  
So much amused, and so amazed are  
That, they are at a loss what course to steer  
Both to secure themselves, and their Design,  
Without which, to no course they will încline, etc.  
But maugre all these hazards, she at last  
In her wished Harbour shall an Anchor cast,  
And take in both good Pilots and Recruits,  
When her Fate seems to promise no such fruits.  
You therefore, who conceive your Interest  
To be concerned, by what is here expressed,  
Praise GOD alone, when safe this Ship shall be,  
For to secure her there is none but He,  
And, let not any to whom this relates,  
'Slight what the Parable insinuates,  
Which next ensueth: For, it hath some use  
That much to their advantage may conduce:  
A homebred Lion (of a hair unknown,  
In Africa) by being overgrown,  
And dreadful to his Keepers, shall thereby  
Awake the rage of smothered Jealousy,  
And lose his Tail; except between his paws  
He couch his head, and hide his teeth and claws,  
Or else grow Rampant; what will follow then?  
Ask those you credit, they are cunning men;  
Of me you ask in vain; for 'tis my Fate  
Seldom to be believed, till 'tis too late,  
This was interpreted as a Relative to Oliver Cromwell, than Lord General of the Army, whose Arms was a White Lyon. It follows thus:  
— They who have took delight  
In deeds of darkness, will put out the light  
By which the footsteps of their Foes are known,  
And, whereby they might see to guide their own.  
Instead thereof, they raise and follow shall  
An Ignis fatuus, which will hazard all;  
And Providence to each man shall dispose  
That which for his chief happiness he chose.  
The Dogs unto their vomit shall retire:  
The Swine, who love to wallow in the mire,  
Themselves with their beloved filth shall fill;  
And they who are unclean, shall be so still.  
The wilful Adders who do stop their ears,  
And will not heed the Charmer whom he hears,  
Shall feel a voice within them, which will shake them  
Out of their dumps, & from their deafness wake them  
When 'tis too late (it may be) to prevent  
The dint of their forewarned detriment.  
The Leeches shall by Salt a vomit take,  
Or else continue sucking till they break.  
The Bubbles, who in emptiness do find  
Most pleasure, shall be puffed up with wind,  
Till blown up into nothing, there appear  
No signs that in the world such Bladders were.  
The Sons of Earth, who with the GOD'S make war,  
Shall heap up Hills on Hills, till crushed they are  
By their own handiworks. The Shrubs now grown  
More lofty than the Cedars, they broke down;  
Among their thorns and leaves a fire do hide,  
Which on a sudden will consume their pride.  
The Grubbs and Maggots (but ere while so small,  
So poor and weak, that they could hardly crawl)  
Have got bulk, strength, new forms, aspiring wings,  
Yea, dreadful teeth, and horns, and claws, and stings;  
But, by a storm, whereof they have no dread,  
They shall consume as fast as they were bred.  
Out of the putrified barbed Steed,  
Shall generated be a numerous breed  
Of noisome Hornets, which abroad will fly,  
Much mischief acting, and next Winter die.  
The blasted Orange, and the crooked Vine,  
With other Plants on either side of Rhine,  
Shall twist together, that beneath their shade,  
A shelter for the Thistle may be made,  
Till they perceive what Plagues are in pursuit  
Of that ejected Plant, Branch, Root and Fruit:  
Then will they wiser grow, lest they become  
Exposed justly to the selfsame doom.  
Mean while the Tawny Olive shall assay  
His Roots into these Valleys to convey.  
From whence it was removed, and effect  
Thereby what very few do now suspect,  
Except the Willow and the Oak foresee  
What for their mutual weal should acted be,  
Whereby they frustrate may a grand Design  
Which is on foot, both States to undermine;  
And they who thereunto first Movers are,  
Shall of that Blessing reap the greatest share.  
Observe this well; If you hereafter fee  
(Which peradventure may permitted be)  
The Red-Cross from its former height decline,  
And for a time the Half-Moon Northward shine  
With an ill Influence upon the Seas,  
Beyond the Pillars of great Hercules,  
And not be retrograde, till it hath more  
Effects that way, than ever heretofore;  
Expect some consequence will then ensue,  
Which many who yet dream not of, will rue.  
But losses are sometimes a gainful prize;  
By oversights men grow to be more wise;  
And they who heed not now what doth concern  
Their welfare, will perhaps more wisdom learn,  
When more Experience makes their Judgement stronger.  
By suffering loss and shame a little longer.  
We on this side the Water are not yet  
Confused enough, that order to beget  
That must reform us; and shall here therefore  
Pursue self-interest yet more and more,  
Till such as are in Power vouchsafe to hear  
The Counsel of their slighted Engineer.  
The Old Robe with New Cloth will patched be,  
Though Rents thereby still wider made they see,  
Till every Rag is quite worn out, and then  
They with a whole Robe shall be clothed again;  
And they who own it, be secured more,  
And much more dignified then heretofore.  
When they who would effect it, make their choices  
As well by Lot Divine, as humane voices;  
Whereto self-seekers never will agree,  
Till by some straight it shall enforced be.  
But when this comes to pass, there will appear  
A new Light shining in our Hemisphere  
That will disperse the Clouds and Fogs which make  
So many cross each other, and mistake  
The way to safety. Then, we shall perceive  
Our Opposites desire to interweave  
Their Interest with ours, and if sincere,  
They shall, in what will be produced here  
Partake; and both together then possess  
Each other, and the world, in Christian Peace,  
Till he appeareth to ascend the Throne,  
Who must unite all Nations into one.  
Then shall the glaring Comets which have seemed  
Fixed Stars, (and so by many are esteemed)  
Even they of greatest magnitude, down from  
Their heights be cast, and more despised become  
Then Glowworms, or those rotten Chips that glare  
In darkness, as if real lights they were:  
Then every single Person shall be brought  
Unto his Test, and that which he hath wrought,  
To trial comes; moreover they who now  
By spoils and by oppression powerful grow,  
Will then become the scorn of every one,  
Whom they oppressed, despised and trampled on.  
Then they who large Indulgencies contrive  
For others, that themselves they may forgive;  
Who cunningly at fast and loose do play,  
Who take to morrow, what they give to day;  
And make their seeming favours means unto  
Those mischiefs which their malice could not do;  
Who, Spider-like, wove Cobwebs with pretence  
To catch the Flies alone, which give offence;  
When none but harmless Bees their Engines take,  
For Wasps and Hornets passage through them make.  
They who do sacrifice unto the dead,  
That wherewithal the living should be fed;  
Who justify the wicked in their way,  
And unto death men innocent betray;  
These then, and all such like, shall to their doom  
With horror, fear, and with amazement come.  
Page 33, it thus follows:  
Then from the buried Ox will forth arise  
A swarm of thrifty Honey-making Flies,  
That shall with sweetness and with plenty store  
These Islands from the Midland to the shore,  
And spread their Floating Hives on all the Seas,  
'Twixt both the Tropics, to th' Antipodes,  
To make Preparatives for that which brings  
Into one body all dispersed things.  
Some other things of no mean consequence  
I do foresee approaching, not far hence;  
But so obscurely, that I cannot say  
Without all doubtings, whereto tend they may;  
For far beyond my apprehension lies  
The Chain of those remote Contingencies,  
Which draw on future things, because my Glass  
Through which the notions of them are to pass,  
Is so defective, that they do perchance  
Misrepresent them in some circumstance.  
Yet by the enlightenings which the Sacred Writ  
On Sanctified Reason doth beget,  
(If we well heed, consider and compare  
What things have been, with such as present are  
To GOD and Men relating) we of some  
Things future, may aright informed become.   

The Perpetual PARLIAMENT, Imprinted 1650.  
IN this Poem the Author having More Poetico, expressed a Contemplative Vision, preparative to what he intended, he thus proceeds, pag. 44.  
— By what hath represented been,  
By well considering what I had seen,  
By spelling out what every Character  
Holds forth, to evidence those things that were  
Thereby intended, I found out therein  
Where that great Work must first of all begin,  
Which may make up our breaches, when thereto  
Ourselves we settle, as we ought to do.  
I saw that on a future settlement,  
And constitution of a Parliament  
Upon a just Foundation laid, with speed,  
A means of Restauration might succeed,  
That introducing therewith, which might bring  
Into right Order every other thing,  
Our outward Weal promoting, if we take  
That course whereof proposal I now make.  
I am likewise persuaded (even without  
So much as any shadow of a doubt)  
That by this Parliaments misconstitution,  
We are uncapable of that fruition  
Which we expect; that (for the most part) thence  
Proceeds the cause of all our Indigence,  
And that this Parliament is naytheless  
The Chief, (if not sole means of our redress)  
Even this; which many at this day do seek  
To bring (by disrespect) into dislike,  
And to a nullity, as if thereby  
They had no hopes of our recovery:  
For by this Parliament GOD would effect  
The future Settlement they do expect.  
If they too long delayed hot the pursuit  
Of an impartial rational Recruit.  
Although the Body of it, being made  
Of Members, which among them long have had  
(And yet hath overmany) so corrupted,  
That they have not alone much interrupted  
Their activeness who discontinue sound,  
But now are also likely to confound  
The whole at once, by seeking how to please  
Their Lusts or Friends; yet we might maugre these,  
Restored be by those who have been just,  
And to their utmost pow●r performed their trust:  
It is from those that we denominate  
This Parliament, in them is lodged our Fate  
Conditionally; yea, whatsoever they seem,  
This is (as things are) that which must redeem  
Our Honour lost; and if then it shall  
Dissolved be, down will their Structures fall,  
Not to be raised without the cost of more  
Than hath been spent upon it heretofore.  
But, as they are, what prudent man can think  
It will be long ere totally they sink?  
For while they shall endeavour to subsist,  
Without preserving of their Interest  
Who chose them, or permit their dissolution,  
With our late hardly gained Constitution;  
(Which now without enforcement can by none  
Effected be, but by itself alone)  
They shall henceforth for ever be unable  
To gain a Government that will be stable,  
Unless a Phoenix, yet unhatched, arise  
Out of their Ashes, with renewed Supplies,  
Which seeing that may probably be never,  
They some Expedient must with speed endeavour.  
In this, and after the 45 th' page in the Imprinted Copies, the sense in many pages was so mistaken by the Transcriber, or the Printer, that the Expedient thereby intended, is confusedly expressed; the result whereof was to this effect afore expressed; and it thus follows, pag. 50.  
Let them take notice, that the People's rage  
At their delays, is likely to engage  
In some disorderly Resolve, unless  
They see that followed with more seriousness,  
Which they expect either in a Parliament  
New-moulded, or by what's equivalent.  
For, 'tis conceived their sufferings may thereby,  
And thereby only, meet a Remedy:  
Which Cure, if misadvised I have not been,  
Must with the Parliament itself begin.  
There is a Course, whereby without disgrace  
Or danger, they may bring a work to pass  
That will fecure from hazards, cost and pain,  
Which without thanks or profit you sustain,  
Afflicting others too, by those confusions  
Which are increased by irresolutions.  
Until a better, therefore, shall appear,  
Be pleased this Expediment to hear;  
And if thereby you find a likelihood  
Of aught conducing to your future good.  
Take heed that no Self-Interest divert  
That approbation whereunto your heart  
Inclineth you; for, GOD will find it out,  
And cross the Counter-work you go about.  
In England and in Wales there is a Shire  
For every Week that's numbered in the year:  
According to the Months, by Twelve divide  
The Counties, with the Persons qualifi'de  
For Knights and Burgesses, proportioning,  
As near as may be, to an equalling  
The number of the whole, so, or so many  
Unto each Month, (without omitting any.)  
As certain then, the Month and Day wherein  
Each Twelfth part an Election shall begin.  
(The middle of the Week appearing best,  
As being farthest from the day of Rest)  
On the first Wednesday of each Month, let those  
By whom their Deputies are to be chose,  
(Respectively) convene in every Shire,  
Upon that Month and Wednesday every year,  
Which is to them assigned; then, having chosen  
(At Month's end) let each twelfth part of the dozen  
Send up their chosen men to represent  
Their Shires and Burroughs in the Parliament;  
And, on that very day in which they come,  
Let all their Predecessors give them room.  
Thus one Month some, & Month by Month for ever,  
Let each Twelfth part still orderly persever  
To take a turn, till every Shire hath had  
A Month in every year; then having made  
Their choice, let them still enter, and withdraw,  
Successively, by a Perpetual Law,  
No man a place of Trust supplying there,  
By one Election, longer than One year.  
Thus, as the Thames doth still continue one,  
And, is the selfsame River, though there run  
A new supply of waters every day  
Along her Channel; you continue may  
The Parliament by Annual Supply  
To be the selfsame everlastingly,  
(With very little change or molestation  
To them, who choose or represent the Nation.)  
Thus may the Parliament be both together  
Successive and Perpetual; yet neither  
Enjoying such a Perpetuity  
As can occasion future Tyranny,  
Or present Grievances (save such alone  
As wholly can prevented be by none:)  
Nor shall we be endamaged by Succession,  
Or by Parliaments long Intermission;  
But form a Constitution which will add  
All Power which may be for advantage had,  
Either to gain what best men would effect,  
Or to prevent the Mischiefs they suspect.  
What I intent, may plainly be conceived,  
And, to that end, some things may be contrived  
Much better, if your Wisdom shall refine  
The rudeness of my proffered Design;  
And by Authority strict Rules provide,  
Whereby th' Elected may be qualifi'de,  
And their Electors too; for 'twere unjust  
In things of this Concernment those to trust  
Who have disturbed your Peace, until a time  
For their Probation is allotted them;  
And, till they likewise by their good desert  
Make manifest a reconciled heart;  
Their Merits being well weighed by such Judges  
As may suspend usurped Privileges.  
And since, even they who are the best affected  
To common Welfare, often have elected  
Such as deceive their Trust; since there's no eye  
But GOD's, that sees the heart's Hypocrisy;  
And, since we find it left upon Record,  
(Even in the Volume of the Sacred Word)  
That LOT's were needful in the choice of those  
To whom they did a Supreme Power impose;  
Since likewise when the purest Congregation  
In all the world, had with deliberation  
Elected two; a Lot was also cast  
(Before an approbation thereon past)  
To send forth him who was to be employed  
In execution of the place then void,  
That GOD might also have his choice therein,  
It was no doubt vouchsafed to have been  
Exemplar, that we might with warranty  
In this approved Precedent comply:  
For GOD by his Election joined with our,  
Will probably upon the Elected pour  
His Grace. This will moreover give content  
To prudent men, and frequently prevent  
The choice of those whom for sinister ends,  
A numerous corrupted Party sends.  
Why may not then? Why should not Two be chose  
For every place that's void, and one of those  
By Lot? that GOD therein may have a voice,  
And join with men, in perfecting their choice?  
Since they who do th●s Nation represent,  
Are GOD's Vicegerents in the Government,  
As well as our trusties, who would not more  
In such a Choice confide, than heretofore  
In their Elections? or than they will do  
In Those hereafter not Elected so?  
Why was it not, why should it not be thus,  
If this the Kingdom be of GOD WITH US?  
But that, Self-seekers know, were this admitted,  
They by reputed fools, should be outwitted?  
And not so easily obtain a power,  
Hereafter to oppress and to devour.  
To no good end have LOTS been from among  
All such Elections shuffled out so long;  
Usurpers and Intruders do well know  
Lots would their Kingdoms quickly overthrow;  
Make them afraid, that Christ will reign indeed,  
(As they with discontent oft hear and read)  
And that without control, in time to come,  
They should not rant and revel in his Room  
As now they do, and will, till we begin  
A better course than that which we are in.  
If timely some provision might be made,  
To our Elections, Lots henceforth to add,  
Much Reformation would thereby redound,  
And great advantages therein be found.  
So might there also, if that whensoe'er  
Th' Elect to perform their duty were,  
Some short speech might be made, or cautions read,  
Whereby it should be offered to their heed,  
How much it will concern them to take care  
What choice they make, and what the dangers are,  
Which may ensue, when some Sinister ends  
The dread of greatness, or respects to Friends,  
Makes them misplace their trust, and cast away  
Themselves, and all, for ever, in one day.  
This to prevent, 'twere fitting to make known  
What Trust that is which is on them bestown.  
What Benefits may generally arise,  
By choosing men courageous, honest, wise,  
And fearing GOD: what perils will ensue,  
(Which by forepast examples we may show)  
If Cowards, fools, ungodly men, and vicious,  
Or to the present Government pernicious,  
They should elect. They may likewise, declare  
How qualified such persons should appear;  
And warn them, that they never do unhallow  
Their Choice with any, such as these that follow.  
Men over-talkative, affecting much  
To hear themselves speak; for, not many such  
Can keep or give good Counsel; and they'll prate  
Much precious time away in vain debate.  
Your Common-Gamesters, for they are not just  
Unto themselves, and them we should not trust  
With other men's Estates, who have been known  
To lose, or hazard desperately their own.  
Men to their pleasures overmuch addicted;  
For Public Work will be by them neglected.  
Choose not men evidently avaricious,  
Or of Promotion greedily ambitious;  
For if their ends thereby obtain these may,  
They will be bribed their Country to betray;  
Or quite neglect their Trust to court their Whore,  
And shame their fellows, if they do no more.  
Of Irreligious Persons make no choice,  
For these will very seldom give their voice  
But in the Negative, to any motion  
That may be for advancement of Devotion.  
Choose none who are defamed in any kind,  
For such as they will an occasion find  
To hinder all enactings that restrain  
Ill manners, or to sober life pertain.  
Elect not Children, for it is unfit  
That in your Supreme Councils they should sit  
To vote in Grand Affairs, whom Law restrains  
From managing what to themselves pertains.  
Choose none who are observed to withhold  
Their long due debts, when they discharge them could:  
Nor Outlawed persons; for unfit are they  
To make us Laws, who would not Law.  
Choose none who shall solicit or propose  
That they for your Lawmakers may be chose.  
Nor such as their Electors by th' abuse  
Of Feast, Wine and Banquet seduce:  
For they who shall (uncalled) themselves advance  
To that great Work, have much more arrogance  
Then real worth; and it is ten to one  
They for themselves have somewhat to be done, etc.  
There are many other particulars pertinent to the Trust mentioned in this Poem; as also, other precautions and predictions of the good and evil consequences likely to ensue, in that Poem hinted, with a purpose only to bring those things to consideration, which wiser men may improve, according to the Author's intention, by a better method than is here proposed: therefore to the perusal thereof, the Reader is referred.   

The AUTHOR's EMBLEMS, Imprinted 1634.  
THis Book, written by the said Author in his younger years, is a Poem in Folio, containing two hundred Figures engraven in Copper, and illustrated with Morals, and a Lottery annexed, the better to insinuate into young Readers, those Divine Morals, and Civil Documents, which are thereby tendered to consideration. Out of those, a few only are collected, the rest may be perused in the Original.  
In the First Book of Emblems, pag. 2, is a Laureate head fixed upon a Basis of Stone.  
Still fixed, and with triumphant Laurel crowned,  
Is truest Wisdom, which expressed thus  
Among some old Impressa's we have found,  
And much this Emblem hath instructed us.  
From hence we learn, that Prudence doth not flow  
From those unconstant men, whom every blast,  
Or slight occasion turneth to and fro,  
But from a settled head that standeth fast.  
Who ever shoulders him, he gives not place;  
What storm soe'er his Times or Fortune's breath,  
He neither hides his brow, nor turns his face,  
But keeps a look undaunted even in death.  
The Laureate Head upon a Pillar set,  
This intimates, and his Bay-wreath doth show  
That Constant Wisdom shall a Conquest get,  
When Giddy Policy prevails not so.  
If therefore, thou art willing to be taught,  
Propose good Ends, with honest means thereto;  
And therein constant be, till thou hast brought  
That to perfection, which thou hast to do.  
Let neither flattering Pleasures, Fear, Disgrace,  
Nor Scoffing Censures, threatenings, or the Slights  
Of fawning Sycophants, obstruct that Race  
To which a blameless Prudence thee invites.  
Though others plot, conspire and undermine,  
Keep then a plain right path; let not their Course  
Make thee without just cause to alter thine,  
Though for the present it may seem the worse.  
He that thus acts, puts Policy to Shool,  
And makes the Machavilian prove a fool.  

In the same Book, pag. 5. A Spade, a Serpent, and a Wreath of Laurel.  
Suppose you, Sirs, those mimic Apes you meet  
In strange fantastic habits, or the Rabble  
That with gay Clothes embroider out the street,  
Are truly Worshipful or Honourable?  
Or can you think, that to be born the Son  
Of some rich Alderman, or ancient Peer,  
Or, that the Fame your Predecessors won,  
May claim such Wreaths as due deservings wear?  
Is honour due to them who ●●end their days  
In courting one another or consuming  
Their Fortunes and themselves ●n Drabs and Plays,  
In sleeping, drinking, and Tobacco fuming?  
Not so; for (though such Fools, like children, place  
Gay Titles on each other) Wise men know  
What slaves they be how despicably base,  
And where such Attributes would better show:  
An idle body clothes a vicious, mind,  
And what at best is purchased by the same,  
Is nothing else but stinking smoke and wind,  
Or frothy bubbles of an empty fame.  
True Glory none did ever purchase yet,  
Until he to be Virtuous did attain;  
And all their Virtues are but counterfeit,  
Who labour not for what they would obtain.  
And this Impressa doth infer no less;  
For, by the Spade is Labour here impli'de;  
The Snake a virtuous Prudence doth express,  
And Glory by the Wreath is typifi'de:  
For where a virtuous Industry is found,  
It with a Wreath of Glory shall be crowned.   

In the same Book, pag. 8. The Emblem is a Skeleton, with this following descant  
Why, silly man, so much admirest thou  
Thy present Fortune; over-valuing so  
Thy person, or the beauty of thy brow,  
And in fantastic habits clothed go?  
Why dost thou live in riotous excess,  
And boast as if the flesh immortal were?  
Why dost thou covet so, why so oppress,  
And o'er thy fellow-Creatures domineer?  
Behold this Emblem, such a one was he  
Whom this doth represent, as now thou art;  
And such a fleshless Rawbone thou shalt be,  
Though yet thou seem'st to act a comelier part.  
Observe it well, and mark what ugliness  
Stairs through the sightless eye-holes from within;  
Note those lean Crags, and with what gastliness  
That horrid countenance doth seem to grin.  
Well heed it; and when thou hast seen the same,  
Pluck down that Pride which puffs thee now so high.  
Boast not of shape or features, but (for shame)  
Repent of all thy former Vanity;  
And, having learned that all men must become  
Such bare Anatomies (that such a Fate  
No mortal Power or Wit can guard thee from)  
Live so, that Death may better thy Estate.  
Consider who created thee, and why;  
Rouse up thy Spirit, ere thy flesh decays,  
Pursue things honest, with true Piety,  
And seek thy welfare in thy Maker's praise:  
So when of life and form death shall deprive thee,  
Life with Eternal Glory GOD will give thee.   

In the same Book, pag. 11. The Figure of one rolling a Stone up a steep Hill.  
A Massy Millstone, up a tedious Hill,  
With endless labour Sisyphus doth roll,  
And down (when raised aloft) it tumbleth still,  
To keep employed his afflicted soul.  
On him this toil is feigned to be imposed,  
To be (though vain) perpetually assayed;  
But, some there be, by no such straight enclosed,  
Who on themselves as endless tasks have laid:  
Yea, knowing not (or without care to know)  
How they are worn and wearied out in vain.  
They plunge themselves into a world of Woe,  
To seek uncertain ease, in certain pain.  
Such fools are they, who dream they shall acquire  
A mind content, by scrabling still for more;  
For wealth increasing, doth increase desire,  
And makes less contentation than before.  
Such also they, who their endeavour stretch  
To climb by Titles to true Honour's height;  
For having gotten one Ambitions reach  
Another, comes perpetually in sight.  
And their stupidity is nothing less,  
Who fancy, flesh and blood may raised be  
Unto the top of perfect Holiness:  
For at the best, corrupt and vile are we.  
Yet, we are bound in Faith, with love and hope,  
To roll the stone of good endeavour still,  
As near as may be, to perfections top,  
Though back again, it tumbles down the hill.  
For then, what works had never power to do,  
GOD by his Grace will freely bring us to.   

In the same Book, p. 13. A man in a Boat with Sails and Oars.  
No wonder he a prosperous Voyage finds,  
Who hath both Sails and Oars to serve his turn,  
And still assisted with propitious Winds,  
Is to his wished Harbour timely born.  
Nor is it very strange, if they who lack  
Those helps on which the Common Faith depends,  
And from their hoped for Aims repelled back,  
And miss of that to which their labour tends.  
Not in the Ships, the Winds, the Oars or Sails,  
(Nor in the want of outward means) alone,  
Consists it, that our hope succeeds or fails,  
But most in that which men least think upon.  
Some well endeavour, and their pains are blest  
With Gales that are so prosperous, that they  
Fly safe and swiftly on among the best,  
Whilst others toil hard, and are cast away.  
Some long time on this World's wide Ocean float,  
And, seldom Winds or Tides assistance have;  
Nor Sail, nor Oar, nor Anchor, nor sound Boat  
Enjoying, neither skill themselves to save;  
And yet escape. Some other too there are,  
Who neither want fit means, nor do neglect  
Good Industry, nor are without due care,  
Or active skill, yet find small good effect.  
However, let still thy Intent be just,  
Then add what means thou canst to compass it;  
●nd, though means fails, admit of no distrust,  
But fearlessly to GOD thy ways commit.  
For he, where Faith and Honesty he finds,  
Turns loss to gain, and storms to prosperous winds.   

In the Fourth Book, p. 257. The Figure is an Hourglass, and the Sand almost run out.  
This Glass declares how Time doth pass away,  
And if th' annexed Motto truth doth say,  
The Time that's gone, is lost. This to be true,  
Experience too doth manifestly show.  
How fast their time departs, they least perceive,  
From whom it steals before they take their leave  
Of what they love; and their last hour is run  
Before they do suppose it is begun.  
Therefore, how fast it slide, let them be taught  
Hereby, who foolishly put out of thought  
Their latter end; or always do presume,  
Or overlargely hope on time to come:  
The present hours nor thankfully enjoying,  
Nor prudently or honestly employing.  
Else these will peradventure too late find,  
When better understanding brings to mind  
How foolishly they hitherto have spent  
Time past, that 'tis not to their detriment  
Lost only, but which is much worse than so,  
Lost with a thousand other losses too:  
Which to redeem, nor Wit, nor Wealth, nor Power  
Can purchase them one minute of an hour.  
Consider this, all ye that spend the prime,  
The Moon-tides, and the Twilights of your Time,  
In Play-games, or inquest of needless things,  
As if ye could at pleasure nip Times wings,  
Or turn his Glass, or had a Life or twain  
To live, when you had fooled this out in vain.  
Short is the present, lost times passed be,  
And Time to come you are not sure to see.  
It would make this Review too long to be called a Breviate, if it should be enlarged with any more of these Emblems; and it may be hoped these few gleaned out of them, will suffice to make that heeded which is precautioned and predicted in those Four Books; and that some also who did read them heretofore either negligently, or in sport only, will peruse them to better purpose.    

An Interjection, occasioned by a sudden Ejaculation, whilst this Review of Neglected Remembrances was transcribing; which shall here stand inserted, thought it be no part of what was heretofore expressed, or intended to be hereunto added.  
ALAS! in this Review, to what good end  
My words, my time and labour thus to spend  
Am I enforced? Why am I troublesome  
To others and myself, of things to come  
Or passed, still to make mention? since I see  
Nor Judgements, whereof sensible men be  
(From day to day) nor Mercies, which betwixt  
Those Judgements intervene, or intermixed,  
●●ch heeded are? although they such have been,  
As are not in one Age or Place oft seen.  
Oh Times! Oh Manners▪ how far will these Nations  
Proceed at last in their Prevarications,  
If GOD thereto a bounder shall not set,  
And they seek him no more than they do yet?  
Our Posture at this present is the same  
With israels when they forth from Egypt came.  
Two Mountains on both sides of them they had,  
O'er which no Pass in safety could be made;  
Before them was a Sea, where Ship or Boat  
To waft them over, could not then be got.  
Behind them, Pharaoh with a dreadful Host  
Pursued them, to recover what was lost,  
And to reduce them to that servile state,  
Which they were hopeful had been out of date;  
Or to destroy them quite, where did appear  
No likely hope of a Deliverer:  
For means of safety they could none espy,  
Within the prospect of a carnal eye.  
They, thus affrighted, to the LORD then cried,  
Not as they should, who do in him confi'de;  
But with more fear than faith; nay, worse than so,  
They murmured, and upbraided Moses too,  
In an uncivil and ingrateful mode,  
As if without a warranty from GOD  
He had imprudently pursued a course  
Which they foresaw; and told him would make worse  
Their bad Condition; yea, expressed a will,  
Slaves (as they had been) to continue still.  
Yet he (the meekest person who then lived.)  
As if he neither at that time perceived  
How him they injured, or how justly they  
Deserved what seemed probable that day,  
(Or how much base, unmanly slavishness  
Their own tongues did apparently express)  
He waved their murmurs, whilst they were afraid,  
As if nought had amiss by them been said:  
And, like a loving Father, speaking to  
His Children, (knowing not when they mis-do)  
Said gently thus: Fear not, stand still and see  
With patience, how ye shall delivered be:  
For these Egyptians who are now before  
Your eyes this day, shall never fright you more:  
And so befell it; for next morn they saw  
Their foes lie dead, of whom they stood in awe,  
Drowned by the waves, and on that Seashore cast,  
Through which they dryshod, and in safety past.  
Yet both that, with those Mercies which before  
GOD had vouchsafed (with very many more  
Soon after) seemed to be so forgot,  
As if they them, or him regarded not.  
Now at this present time such is our case,  
We are beleaguered as that People was;  
With hazards upon every side cozened;  
With dangers both before us, and behind;  
Not only having many Foreign Foes,  
But some likewise at home as bad as those;  
And, worse within us also, who have brought us  
To greater straits than all our Foes without us.  
Those Jews we parallel in every thing,  
Who injured Moses by their murmuring:  
And, are as thankless unto GOD, who hath  
Here acted, both in Mercy and in Wrath,  
As many Wonders as by him were shown  
In Egypt when King Pharaoh was o'erthrown;  
(Though they appear not such unto their sense,  
Who shut the eyes of their Intelligence)  
We as distrustful are as they, as giddy  
In every Trial too; we are as ready  
To make a Golden Calf, and to prefer  
That Idol before our Deliverer.  
As much as they, we long to repossess  
The fleshpots of our Lusts, our Slavishness,  
(Which we did cry to be delivered from)  
As soon as into any straight we come.  
Yet, GOD hath been to us (and at this time)  
Continues the same GOD he was to them.  
Though their example, which should make us better,  
Hath made our Provocations much the greater,  
He with us dealeth, as a Father mild,  
Whose heart is grieved by a froward Child;  
And, as he did with stubborn Ephraim  
When Anger and Compassion moved him  
To cry out thus, What shall I do to thee?  
For at a stand with us he seems to be,  
Both by his frequently himself estranging,  
And by his oft returning, and oft changing  
His Judgements and his Mercies, that we may  
Be changed, and reform our crooked way.  
We have this day (though in another mode)  
The daily Presence of our gracious GOD  
To lead us through that Wilderness of Sin  
In which we have a long time wand'ring been:  
He guides, guards, and provideth us Supplies  
In all our wants, (though in another wise)  
And is with us as wonderfully here,  
As when his People brought from Egypt were.  
The selfsame Cloud and Pillar we have had,  
(Though varied) and, as effectual made  
To all intents and purposes, as they  
Then had; and to refresh us in the way  
Unto the Land of Rest, we have that Rock  
Whereof they drank, unto that purpose broke:  
And, though we oft stray, shall to what we tend  
Attain, when we are at our Journeys end;  
If we believe, and persevere to do  
So much as GOD enableth us unto.  
For, he requireth not from any one  
A scruple more than may by him be done;  
Nor doth expect from any to receive  
More than what he at first, or last shall give;  
Because of all omissions and misactions,  
He hath in full accepted satisfactions  
By his Deservings, who secure us may  
From whatsoever Debts we cannot pay;  
If on his Mediation we depend,  
With Faith and Penitence at our lives end;  
That Mark retaining, which distinguisheth  
Christ's chosen Sheep from Goats, in Life and Death;  
To wit, that love to him, and to each other,  
Which knits for ever, GOD and Man together.  
This is that everlasting Gospel which  
We were foretold, an Angel was to preach  
To every Kindred, People, Tongue and Nation  
Throughout the earth to bring men to Salvation:  
And, for a preparation thereunto,  
He cried aloud, (as all true Prophets do)  
Fear God; to Him, and to the Lamb give praise,  
For now the hour is come, (these are the days)  
Wherein his Judgements must be poured on them  
Who shall not glorify and worship him  
By whom Heaven, Earth, the Fountains & the Seas  
Created were, and every thing in these.  
The fear of God is that which first lets in  
True Wisdom; that brings Penitence for sin:  
By these within the heart of man is wrought  
Such Faith and Grace, that they then taking root,  
Do seasonably bring forth such blessed fruit,  
As by degrees destroys the thorns and weeds  
Which either choke or starve the holy Seeds,  
From whence the means of those enjoyments springs  
Whereof to us that Gospel tidings brings.  
This method long ago was practised  
By John the Baptist, when he ushered  
Christ and his Everlasting Gospel in,  
By preaching of true penitence for sin:  
And thereby did prepare before his face,  
The way intended, to soulsaving Grace.  
Such Consequents, as promised are to spring  
From Christ and his apostles publishing  
This Gospel (whether it shall come abroad  
As preached in the ordinary mode,  
Or by the Holy Ghost, which oft conveys  
The same by extraordinary ways)  
Are without fail to them vouchsafed for ever,  
Who entertain it; and shall still endeavour  
Conformity, sincerely, that to do  
Which Grace and Nature them enables to.  
But everlastingly it shall not be  
Preached in this World: For this believe must we,  
That his Commission, who Authorized  
Those men, by whom it was first published,  
Is nigh expired; and that it shall not last  
One minute longer, when that date is past;  
Which will be in that Moment wherein all  
Shall die, or changed be; but sooner shall  
Be so to them, who summoned are away  
By Death, before that Grand Assizes day.  
If it be so, let us take timely heed  
What Doctrine thence, doth by result proceed:  
For Christ himself, is he who did predict  
The Judgements which we both feel and expect.  
He is that Angel in a Mystery,  
Who through the midst of the Heavens did fly.  
'twas he, whom 'twixt the Heavens of the Law  
And Gospel many Prophets flying saw,  
To bring the News and Means to every Nation  
Of Peace on Earth, by reconciliation  
'Twixt GOD and Man. We have already seen,  
Some of those Tokens, which foretold have been,  
To signify to us the General Doom,  
That should soon after their appearance come;  
And should they be commemorated here.  
It very evidently would appear,  
That hitherward it speedily advances  
To them who heed well the known Circumstances  
In GOD's and humane Actings. He hath poured  
The Viols forth, whereby some are devoured,  
And some tormented; yet, most men grow more  
Blasphemous, and more wicked than before.  
And had we no sign else to predeclare  
The sounding of the Seventh Trump, is near,  
Save that, and those Divisions, which of late  
Republics, Realms, and Persons separate  
From others, and themselves; we need not show  
Another Symptom of what will ensue.  
To hasten such Dooms (among other Crimes  
Which are predominant in these our times)  
One I have seen reiterated here  
With impudence in public every year,  
Which will not go unpunished, though the Nation  
Hath entertained it with much veneration:  
But I have yet no warrant to declare it,  
And therefore till I have so, will forbear it.  
With these, there is likewise one special Sign  
Concurrent, mentioned in Records Divine,  
(Not least considerable) 'tis a defection  
By wanting of that Natural affection  
Which constitutes the Manhood; for that sin  
Doth to be Epidemieal begin;  
Yea, even the natural Act of Generation,  
Which was ordained for our preservation,  
So is corrupted into an excess  
Of brutish Lustings, beyond beastliness,  
And filthiness, grown up to such a height,  
That many in their sins take less delight  
Except they lawlessy be carried on,  
And shall be likewise impudently done.  
To which end, even our honest Recreations  
Are lately scandalised by these Nations,  
And oft abused; yea, the Tunes and Songs  
Which to a sober merriment belongs,  
Are so estranged now from what they were  
In former times, (and within Sixty year)  
That in my apprehension there doth seem  
So vast a difference betwixt these and them,  
As 'twixt the croakings of a Raven's throat,  
And Linnets, or a Nightingales clear note.  
Which unto me appeareth to portend  
Our pleasant things are drawing to an end;  
And, that our sins, and their deserved doom  
Are now almost to their last period come.  
One Sign more I will add unto those many  
Forementioned, which as signal is as any:  
Some of the true Christ do begin to doubt,  
And where to find another, hunt about;  
Not wanting such as will be undertaking  
To bring them unto one of their own making.  
Thus much, as I believe, his words implies,  
Who said false Christ's and Prophets should arise  
In latter times; for I have in my days  
Seen that to be fulfilled many ways.  
The greatest number Christians now professed,  
Send one another unto Antichrist,  
And say that's he: In Turkey at this day,  
He is expected, (as reports do say▪)  
And many last year were in expectation  
To hear thereof, ere now, a confirmation.  
And I, because I credit not that Fame,  
A man of little Faith reputed am.  
Some confidently tell us he is here,  
To wit, in this Church whereof now we are;  
And, so I hope, although it may be thought  
We have not entertained him as we ought;  
Nor are so charitable unto them,  
Who conscientiously do worship him.  
Some say, he's there, in such or such a place  
Wherein a secret Meeting is, or was;  
Some other send men to the Wilderness,  
Affirming he is there; perhaps by this  
Intruding, that he by the Humane Creature,  
May found be in his own wild untiled Nature:  
But this believe not, for till thither he  
Comes of himself, found there he cannot be,  
Nor any where, save where that Love resides  
Which doth expel that self-love which divides  
His Flocks, and causeth men no care to take  
Those breaches to repair, which Pride doth make,  
Not many take into consideration  
How to improve aright this Visitation;  
They do both good and evil things mis-name,  
The wicked they acquit, the righteous blame;  
Their Interests sometimes confound together,  
To th'one sometimes apply what's due to th'other;  
And, as the Jews (their type) did justify  
Themselves in acting that Impiety  
For which they are corrected; we begin  
To say, like them, the troubles we are in,  
And loss of all the good things now bereft,  
Befall us only because we had left  
Such Idolizing, as when Spice-Cakes given  
For an Oblation to the Queen of Heaven,  
By them omitted were. Such thoughts have we  
Of GOD, and of those Judgements which now be  
On us inflicted; yea, their parallel  
We are in all, wherein they did not well.  
I am not able to enumerate  
The many ways whereby we separate  
From one another; nor dare say how few  
Go right, if there be but one way that's true.  
Nor know how to be safe, unless there were  
As well a preaching to the heart, as ear:  
For, most what now proceeding from the mouth  
Is, only counter-pleading between Truth  
And error; which both sides, to fortify  
With so much confidency do apply  
The words or meanings of Gods holy writ,  
That, had we no way to ascertain it  
But these, or those men's, or my yea or no,  
None could know what they should believe or do.  
For, as well Supreme Powers as private men  
Are Patrons of gross errors now and then;  
And by Authority that is suppressed  
Which was by like Authority professed.  
With every windy Doctrine flured about,  
Some are not half so zealously devout  
And resolute professors of what's true,  
As of what is Heretical and New:  
And others oldest and sound Truths condemn,  
Because they are but Novelties to them.  
Some term all those fanatics who descent  
From them in judgement, although innocent.  
Some call them Saints and Martyrs, who by some  
Are judged the cause of all the Plagues now come.  
The Romanists, unto our Separation  
From them, ascribe this present Visitation.  
Some others say, it is our toleration  
Of their Idolatries, which plagues this Nation.  
Some to entrenching on men's Consciences  
Impute it. Some to our tolerating these.  
Some to expelling of the Hi'rarchy:  
Some to suppressing the Presbytery.  
Some to Rebellious actings against Kings;  
Some other unto quite contrary things.  
And the result of all summed up together,  
Is this, Each shifts his guilt off to another.  
But, GOD before the Round hath wheeled about,  
Will find the principal Offenders out,  
Either while time runs on, or, when he shall  
To universal judgement summon all.  
That which should have two feet to stand upon,  
We cripple, by allowing it but one:  
Some zealous are for Temples built with stones;  
Some for those spiritualised in flesh and bones.  
Some are for Conquests by the temporal Sword;  
Some to be Victors by the Two-edged Word.  
Some look for Christ in that jerusalem  
Which was in Palestine; and some for him  
(In that jerusalem which doth descend  
From Heaven) do in Faith and Hope attend:  
And, too too often also, they who be  
At union in their judgements, disagree  
So long (for By-ends) timely to improve  
Their knowledge, faith and works, by Christian Love,  
That in all, whereby they to merit thought,  
Their Labour's lost, and all for which they wrought.  
Delusions now so many are, and such  
In these last times, that they endanger much  
Even GOD's Elect; and do presignify  
The day of Vengeance is approaching nigh:  
And partly seems to be charactared  
By what the best men hope, and worst men dread.  
However, let no soul despair that hath  
Sad apprehensions of the day of Wrath;  
By this, or what in my Review you find  
Conditionally predicted, to remind  
What was neglected; for, among us here  
Christ's everlasting Gospel to our ear  
Is preached yet; and, not yet is the day  
Of Reconcilement passed quite away.  
Come, let us therefore, ere it shall grow dark,  
To scape the Storm and Fire, fly to th' Ark  
Which hath been slighted; there is yet a place  
For Mercy, and an open door for Grace.  
When Penitence brings Reformation in,  
It makes a Blessing, what a Plague had been:  
Yea, than 'twill to her future weal be turned,  
That this great City was to ashes burned:  
She Phoenixlike, shall gloriously arise  
Out of that Rubbish wherein now she lies;  
And I, which now am disrespected here,  
Shall have a Monument erected there.  
GOD all advantages to save us, takes,  
Forsaketh none, till him he first forsakes;  
Made not one man (though some so please to say)  
To be a sinner or a castaway:  
But all in love, that they might be by him  
Possessed with delight, and he by them.  
For, when the sin of one had all destroyed,  
That his Love should not thereby be made void,  
He to redeem them gave his only Son,  
Who ransomed all again, excepting none.  
Still by his actings in the dispensation  
Of judgements and of Mercies to this Nation,  
(Even by the late Plague of devouring fire)  
He manifests, that he doth not desire  
Our total Ruin; but, takes all occasions  
Allowed by justice, for our preservations:  
And though our sins as red as Scarlet show,  
He can and will make us as white as snow,  
If we repent them; or, if we but would  
Endeavour it so far forth as we could:  
For, he in sinners deaths takes no delight,  
Or, any without cause to grieve or smite:  
But in pure love dispenseth his correction,  
To bring our happiness unto perfection.  
This is my Creed, which should I not confess  
To glorify GOD's Love and Righteoussness,  
(When by occasions thereto moved I am,  
That others may likewise believe the same)  
I merited to be shut out from those  
To whom GOD everlasting Mercy shows:  
For, could we see, or apprehend how near  
He standeth, when far off he doth appear,  
Co-operating for, and with us too,  
(In that which for ourselves we cannot do)  
We would more love then fear him (though his blows  
Are very sharp) since intents by those,  
Is hammering the self-love of the Creature  
Into the Will and Temper of his Nature,  
To make true Union, which till then, will be  
Impossible; for, nothing can agree  
With aught so perfectly as to unite,  
When diametrically opposite,  
As those two Natures be; because the other  
Th' one would destroy, if till then knit together.  
Repine not therefore, at what GOD shall do,  
What ere it be; but willingly thereto  
Submit yourselves, and heartily repent  
Your Provocations. Let us all lament,  
Not thereto frighted by a slavish fear  
(Of Judgements which now felt or threatened are  
By this Review) but in pure love to him  
Whose Mercy saves, when Justice might condemn;  
And persevereth to redintegrate  
By Love, even those who persevered in Hate.  
Do thus, and then the judgements which in part  
Now executing are, GOD will divert.  
Repent what you have done, and he will too  
Repent of what he threatened hath to do.  
For such Repentance well consists with that  
Immutability which doth relate  
Unto the Deity; and will accord  
With Attributes ascribed in his Word.  
Yea, though from my Predictions you scape free,  
I shall then counted a true Prophet be;  
And this my Interjection will appear  
Not so improperly inserted here,  
As I myself supposed, when 'twas begun,  
It would appear to many, being done:  
For, till I had composed what here is penned,  
I knew not all whereto it might extend;  
Nor know I yet: and therefore I do leave it  
To such effects as GOD shall please to give it.  
But how my soul! how came it so to pass,  
That this Ejaculation, with Alas,  
(And with sad Muse) was begun at first?  
Since thou dost know, that when things are at worst,  
GOD then comes in, and often doth repair  
Our Breaches, when brought near unto despair?  
The Aid delayed a while, he brings at length,  
(Even when we have no likely means, or strength  
To help ourselves) why then shouldst thou be sad,  
Who frequently experiments hast had  
That Mercy hath to thee been more then doubled,  
When others thought thee most extremely troubled  
Thou wert vouchsafed the greatest inward Rest,  
When in thy Body thou seemedst most oppressed;  
And to be kept unharmed in the flame,  
Is more than preservation from the same.  
Then what thou hast persuaded others to,  
Continue (as thou hast professed) to do:  
In what GOD's glory may advance, persever;  
Depend on him; be pleased with whatsoever  
He either shall permit, or hath decreed,  
And to discharge thy Conscience still proceed,  
Not fearing that thy labour or thy cost  
In doing of thy Duty, will be lost:  
For fully recompensed thy pains would be,  
Though thou shouldst edify but two or three.  
The World, the Devil, yea mine own flesh too  
(Offended much with what I say or do)  
Conspire together, and Confederates be  
Both to discourage and disparage me;  
Pretending they have somewhat to produce,  
To prove me blamable without excuse:  
(And may destroy me, if nought intervene,  
To bar the prosecuting what they mean)  
Yet I defy them both to act and say  
The worst they either would effect, or may;  
For, though they find me many grains too light,  
I have a white Stone that will make up weight,  
And such a Friend as hath on me bestown  
A Righteousness more perfect than mine own.  
He cheers me with assurance that he will  
To me what he hath been, continue still;  
By GOD's free-gift this hope, this faith I have,  
And they will send me safe beyond my Grav●.   

VATICINIUM CAUSUALE, Imprinted 1655.  
THis being composed upon a special Occasion, whilst Oliver Cromwell was in Power, the following Prediction was therein expressed, pag. 12.  
And now great Oliver, to thee likewise  
Let this be known, and do thou not despise  
The Publisher. GOD doth expect to have  
Honour from him to whom he honour gave:  
That such as bear Rule over men be just,  
That they their Vows infringe not, nor his Trust:  
That they consider he bestows large Measure  
Of Power upon them, not to act their pleasure,  
Or to fulfil their, Lusts; but doth enlarge  
His Bounty, that their Place they may discharge  
With Courage: That he Riches doth provide,  
Lest Avarice might draw their hearts aside,  
Or wants, to do Injustice them compel:  
That he gives Honour, not to make them swell  
Above their Brethren; but them to exempt  
From what may mis-befall them by contempt.  
And, that all these things are on them bestown  
Much more for others sakes, then for their own.  
Know, Sir, that GOD, from persons in your Place  
Expects all this, and to that end gives Grace  
And Power for ask; and what ere some say,  
That he no man compels to go astray,  
Nor leaves nor hardens any (not the worst)  
Till love to selfuess makes them leave him first.  
If this, thou well considering, shalt act  
Accordingly, performing thy Contract  
With GOD, and with his People, he shall then  
Give thee the loves and hearts of all good men:  
Fix thee as firmly as the Rocky shores,  
Which slight the Ocean when it foams and roars.  
Thy Name shall spread and glorify much more  
Than all thy Predecessors heretofore.  
Yea, in Fame's Book thou mayst enroled be,  
The first who made this People truly free;  
Be Firstborn of those Vice-Roys who shall take  
Their Thrones from Him, whose Kingdom down will break  
All Monarchies of Tyrants, with all those  
Who help patch up the Clay and Iron Toes,  
The Relics of that Image which hath been  
The Prop of him that's called the Man of Sin.  
All this may be, and if thou strive to go  
The way that open lies, it shall be so.  
Oh! lose not this advantage for a Bubble,  
Which in vain hope begins, and ends in trouble.  
And lastly, be it known, not by event  
(Which may be to thy future detriment)  
But by Precaution, that if fail thou shalt  
(Without this People's obstinate default)  
Of what they justly from thee may expect,  
(Who art advanced their Freedom to protect)  
Or, shalt abuse thy Power them to oppress;  
Or, leave them unrelieved in their distress,  
So that they shall be forced to cry and call  
To GOD for aid; he hear and help them shall;  
Search what's misdone, and (though their former sin  
Hath great and full of Provocations been)  
He, for the present time, will pass it by,  
And on thy failings only cast an eye,  
Avenge their Cause, call thee account to give  
Of all those favours which thou didst receive,  
Of that late Mercy too, among the rest,  
(Which did occasion what is here expressed)  
And with much indignation cast thee down,  
When to its height thy confidence is grown.  
There were several Addresses made to Oliver Cromwell, and his Son Richard by this Author, whilst they exercised the Supreme Power, amounting to above Two Quires of Paper; in which were many Seasonable Precautions and Remembrances to them tendered with a sober boldness; as also many Predictions of what would succeed, if they neglected what was thereby precautioned, which are now observed to have been verified: But these being delivered (sealed up) into their own hands, and not imprinted, are all omitted in this Review.   

Verses to the King's Majesty: Written immediately after His Restauration, and imprinted Anno 1662.  
IN the sixth page, the Author thus proceeds with what he had begun.  
I had presumed a personal Address  
Long since; but difficult is an Access  
For such as I appear, who hazard blame  
And disrespect enough, where I now am,  
Because that which to do, my Conscience calls,  
Is by some numbered among Criminals.  
In that regard this Paper must make way  
For gaining an admittance, as it may,  
And will perhaps presented be by some  
Who shall have entrance where I must not come.  
I cannot write strong lines with swelling words,  
Whose Elegancy scarcely room affords  
For sober sense; nor muster up their Names  
Whom History, or whom Tradition fame's  
For bravest Achievements since time first begun,  
And then say, You have all of them outgone;  
And think my foolish Words may add unto  
Your honour, more than your own Deeds can do.  
Or, that there's any wise man who gives Creed  
To what they in a flattering Poem read.  
It it is not in the Power of any other  
By Pen or Tongue to clear up, or to smother  
Your true Deserts; for in Your Self that lies,  
Which either them be clouds or Dignifies.  
No other thoughts I entertain of You,  
But such as I may think, and you allow.  
Yet to extol Your Worth, I shall not dare,  
Till I know truly what Your Virtues are.  
For though to Flat'rers, all Kings seem to be  
Of like Desert; they seem not so to me.  
I'll serve You faithfully in what I may,  
And You, as King, love, honour and obey:  
I would conceal, not publish Your Defects  
If I knew any; and give due respects  
To all Your Merits; but I will not own  
One Line that praises them, till they are known.  
For, till I know I give but what is due,  
I am a Liar, though my words be true.  
Since equally both good and evil things,  
Are famed of the best and worst of Kings.  
A stranger likewise, You have been long time  
To most of Your own Subjects in this Clime;  
And, I was neyer where I did behold  
Your face, since you were two or three years old;  
What good soever therefore I aver  
Of You, I shall but seem a Flatterer:  
Yea, You Yourself would think so, should I add  
Those Virtues which You know You never had;  
And, Praise which is ascribed to any one  
I●n that mode, is a little less than none.  
But little credit also hath a Poet,  
To celebrate Your Worth when he shall know it,  
Or counterpoise or silence Contradictions,  
Since most esteem his Writings to be Fictions.  
And You would have more honour than from them  
By these blunt Lines, if they had Your esteem.  
I therefore so shall study to increase  
Your Honour, that I may not make it less;  
And, whatsoever I can say or do,  
(Although You give a Countermand thereto)  
I'll say and do it, when I shall be sure  
Your Life, or Peace, or Honour 'twill secure:  
And if this be a fault, I do intend  
To be thus faulty till my life shall end.  
I know well, Royal Sir, who 'tis that says,  
To please great men, deserves not meanest praise.  
I see how 'tis approved, and what they gain,  
Who can that thriving Faculty attain;  
Yet I shall wave that Art, and will assay  
To do You honour in another way,  
By giving You occasions to express  
Your Justice, Mercy, and Your Prudentness,  
That You Yourself may make the World to see  
Your Virtues more, than words can say they be.  
To that end much might in my Caese be shown,  
But rather for Your sake, then for mine own,  
Is this Address; yea, rather to prevent  
What may be Your Harm, than my Detriment:  
I'll therefore wave that too, that no self-end  
May frustrate what I chiefly do intend, etc.  
Page 20, it thus follows.  
— lest my good intent  
To You, some future Casualties prevent,  
I will so far forth as my Chain doth stretch,  
(And my own shortened Arm and Hand will reach)  
Exhibit such Expedients, as from time,  
And other Herbs, I've sucked within our Clime;  
And wanting better Gifts, will offer You  
This little Cluster of those Grapes which grew  
Upon my Withered Vine; for though they are  
But sour, Your Kingdom yields none wholesomer,  
If you shall seasonably press out the Juice,  
And then assume it without prejudice.  
This Time is Critical, the ways be rough,  
And many of those Chariot Wheels fly off,  
By which Your Marches expedited seemed;  
And, lost Advantages must be redeemed,  
Lest when You think that they are come to hand,  
Your main Expectances are at a stand,  
Or put so far back, that You may survive  
Your hopes, and Your own happiness outlive.  
I wish it otherwise, and know it may  
Be as I wish, if you the means assay,  
Not giving ear to those who will withstand  
Your good, and that which GOD hath now in hand.  
I have discharged my Conscience, and so shall,  
What ever for so doing doth befall;  
And hope that will not wholly be despised,  
Which now shall be in faithfulness advised.  
To those men do not overmuch adhere,  
Who think all Wisdom lies within their Sphere.  
For Honours, Riches, and Self-Interest,  
Have made wise men as brutish as a Beast.  
Heed other while, what Common Fame doth say,  
As well as what Your Courtier's whisper may;  
Lest You be ignorant of many things  
Whose cognizance is pertinent to Kings.  
Make no man Your Chief Confident, but he  
That is discreet and honest famed to be;  
Lest he deceives Your Trust, and in the close,  
Destroys Your old Friends, and begets new Foes.  
Let Justice be your Sceptre; and Your Crown  
Be Mercy; and if You would keep Your own,  
Give that to others which to them belongs,  
And free the poor and fatherless from wrongs;  
Especially Your main Endeavours bend  
To make & keep Your Sovereign Lord Your Friend;  
And if You would be settled on Your Throne,  
Take care that His Usurped be by none.  
Enjoy Your Conscience, whatsoe'er it be,  
So other men may have their Conscience free;  
And hang me for a Traitor, if hereby  
You than enjoy not more Security  
Than what Your strength by Land & Sea now gives,  
And all that Humane Policy contrives.  
Let Truth and Error fight it out together,  
Whilst Civil Peace disturbed is by neither;  
Which may be so provided for, that none  
Shall justly be displeased with what is done;  
Nor You thenceforward be (for evermore)  
Disturbed, as You have been heretofore.  
If You neglect this, and I disobey,  
'T will be with much grief, and no other way  
But only passively; and whatsoever  
I suffer, will Your Welfare still endeavour.  
To be of this mind, thousands I believe,  
Whom You to favour do not yet receive;  
And whilst they are excluded (though in peace  
They live) suspicions daily will increase,  
By which You may have trouble, and they blame,  
Who shall be no way guilty of the same.  
Your taking timely opportunities  
Now offered (from what yet before You lies)  
May render You a blessed Instrument  
In making smooth way to that Government  
Which Tyrants and ungodly men most fear,  
You and Your Subjects mutually endear,  
More glorious make Your Temporary Throne,  
Then ever English King yet sat upon;  
And Your Name to be terrible to those  
Who to Christ's Kingdom shall continue Foes.  
Herein I've spoke according to my Creed  
Wishing my just hopes may thereon succeed;  
And, that upon Your heart it may work more  
Than what I've spoke to others heretofore.  
But, GOD's time is at hand, within his Power  
Are all men's ways, yea both Your heart and our;  
And I will patiently submit unto  
What either he or you shall please to do;  
Not ask (whatsoever I seem to want)  
Ought more than You spontaneously shall grant;  
For what I may expect, if You deny,  
So far as need shall be, GOD will supply.  
The Liberty I covet to enjoy,  
Is that which no man living can destroy.  
The Wealth I aim at, is nor less nor more  
But to be well contented, rich or poor;  
And if I had a will my Wits to strain,  
That I to Earthly Honours might attain,  
I should to no such Vulgar Heights aspire,  
As now are Objects of most men's desire;  
Or to a style of so mean Consequence  
As is an Earl, a Marquis, Duke or Prince;  
Or to be called Your Cousin. For, no less  
Would satisfy my large Ambitiousness,  
But such a Dignity as did commend  
His Loyalty, whom David called Friend;  
And means enough to make a Parallel  
Of every Traitor with Achitophel.  
For, than you should in very short time see  
That no man more deserves esteemed to be  
Your Loyal Subject.   

A THANKFUL RETRIBUTION, Imprinted 1649.  
THis was written to express the Author's gratitude to some few Members of Parliament, who without his seeking, had propounded an Expedient whereby to satisfy his just Demands; but being without effect, that which was neglected, is here again revived, as pertinent to consideration at this time.  
Though Wishes are but words, Thanks are no more;  
And my Oppressions make me not so poor,  
But that I have yet Thanks enough to pay  
For Fifty thousand Wishes in one day;  
And I much thank you—  
Page the Second.  
But truly I expect not yet to see  
The World neglect her own, to think on me;  
Nor do I ought for my Advantage crave,  
Whereby the Public may disprofit have:  
I rather wish, That what is truly known  
By Service and by Grant to be mine own,  
Might be conferred, or means at least, whereby  
My Labours might support my Family  
Till I received my deuce. For that would please  
My longing more, than all those Offices  
Which others covet, and wherein few can  
At once grow rich, and be an honest man;  
And, wherein (as Affairs are managed now)  
He that would fain be honest, knows not how.  
I value not myself so high, to set  
My heart on what I am not like to get:  
No, nor so low, but that (if I had wings  
To reach them) I would fly at th' highest things  
Your House could give me, or the world could show me,  
Yet set them at a distance far below me:  
For, he who of himself esteem shall make  
By those things which the World may give or take,  
(Or he who by his Trappings, or his Place  
Doth prise himself) his Manhood doth debase.  
If I well know my heart, I seek no more  
Of this World's Honour, or of her vast store,  
Than what sufficeth to defray the Debts,  
Which Duty and Necessity now sets  
Upon me; or which may yield means to do  
Those Works which God may seem to call me to,  
And keep up that frail part of me which dies  
Or lives unactive, without due supplies.  
Yet when I did perceive with what disdain  
Some did your friendly motion entertain,  
And how they jeered thereat, it tempted me  
To wish your Motion might vouchsafed be,  
That I might see how mad the Fools would grow  
With Envy, if they lived to see it so.  
One said the Place was fitter to reward  
A Member of your House; and it appeared  
Thereby to me, that he had quite forgot  
(As others do) the Selfdenying Vote.  
Some seem to think, that seeing I am poor,  
(whate'er they owe me) they should give no more  
Than suits my present Fortune; as if I  
With my Estate had lost my Dignity,  
And he had got it, who since t'other day  
Is grown Sub-Grandee from a beggar-boy,  
By such an Occupation, as hath yet  
Neither improved his Honesty or Wit:  
But, let these make the best of their New Lot,  
So mine they wrong not, I envy them not;  
And, 'tis my honour, rather than my shame,  
Now to be poor; because I poor became  
Not by mine own default; and in a time  
When to be very rich, implies a crime.  
For, who with honour to great Wealth can rise,  
When all the Land is full of poor men's cries?  
Or, what shame thereby him can seize upon,  
Who wants, when Kings and Kingdoms are undone?  
Or poor became, because he lent and gave  
His whole Estate the Neighbourhood to save?  
And what at last will unto such succeed,  
Who, when they may, relieve not that man's need?  
I covet not the Place proposed for me,  
(Although as capable thereof as he  
Who did possess it) for, I know too well  
Wherein that man his Neighbours must excel,  
Who hath an aim so high, except there shall  
Some extraordinary Change befall:  
And, me (I think) it would advance no more  
Than did that Office I held heretofore.  
For, in these Isles I have already had  
A Place more honourable (though not made  
So much account of) then 'tis to supply  
The greatest Office in your Chancery.  
Yea, more than to possess the place of him  
Who in that Court is Officer Supreme.  
And as a mark of Honour, bears about  
A Silver Seal in an Embroidered Clout.  
I have been honoured to draw up Records  
For him that's King of Kings, and Lord of Lords;  
To be unto this Isle Remembrancer,  
And, as it were, a Public Register  
To that Supreme, High and most awful Court  
From whence proceeds no Sentence, no Report,  
No Order or Injunction, no Decree,  
Edicts or Dooms, but such as Righteous be;  
And where the Judge will to no side be swayed  
By Eloquence, or Force, or bribed, or prayed  
To be more merciful, or more severe  
Than Justice and true Clemency may bear.  
Yea, although at this present heeded not  
By many, (and by others quite forgot)  
I have enroled, and registered to stand  
Upon Record, what Mercies to this Land  
Have been vouchsafed; what ought to have been done  
To keep away the Judgements coming on:  
Shown how the King, and how the People might  
Have 'scaped the hands which both of them now smite:  
Foretold the War before it came to pass;  
Who should begin the Quarrel in this place:  
What sad Effects would follow; what regard  
My words would find, how they should me reward,  
With many other things, which will appear  
In those Records, whilst men speak English here:  
And thousands will in future time confess  
Those things fulfilled which I did fore-express,  
Who shall, it may be, likewise live to see,  
That GOD observes who have abused me.  
For hitherto, though I despised appear,  
He spares my life, upholds my Spirit here;  
Feeds me by his own hand, sometimes by men,  
By Ravens and by Angels now and then.  
Twice when my powerful Foes had by their might  
Deprived me of my Subsistence quite,  
He did supply my wants when I nor knew  
Nor thought how Oil or Meal I could renew;  
Against proud Prelates, and corrupted Peers,  
He did maintain about me many years  
A Watchful Guard, which kept me from their Power  
When me they did endeavour to devour;  
And from my troubles did release me too,  
By doing what some though would me undo:  
Yea, when the greatest Lion loudly roared,  
And roused against me; when the bloody Sword  
Was drawn upon me; when a Poisonous Pest  
Breathes killing Vapours; when I was oppressed  
On every side; and when I was forsaken  
Well nigh of all, GOD notice of me took;  
Saved me from spoil, from slaughter, from infection,  
And honoured me, even by his own protection.  
This being so, my Scorners whom I hear  
At your Proposal do both grudge and jeer,  
Have no such cause (as their misdeeming may  
Suppose they had) your motion to gainsay:  
'T was fear, perhaps, I might have made the Place  
Henceforth less profitable than it was,  
For if that Register shall conscience make  
At every Hearing such true Notes to take  
Of what is Ordered, and so careful be,  
To draw up every Sentence and Decree;  
As not to leave that doubtful which the Court  
Entrusts to his discretion and report,  
Ambiguous Orders would not so enlarge  
The Clients trouble, and his needless charge,  
Either by words too many, or too few,  
(Or of less weight then to the sense was due)  
New motions to beget, and thereupon  
New Orders, till both parties are undone.  
When to prevent this, due care shall be took,  
You will not so much for great Places look,  
To gratify your Friends, as you will then  
To execute them, seek out fitting men.  
No Place will then be thought too good for those  
Who for your sakes have made their friends their foes  
They shall then get, at least, their own again,  
Who hitherto have spent themselves in vain;  
And out of zeal unto the Common Good,  
Adventured Liberty, Estates and Blood,  
Whilst others (by their patience, cost and sweat)  
Grow, to their Country's damage, Rich and Great.  
Then they who have been innocently wife,  
Will see in what their Wealth and safety lies;  
And, than it may be, some fair Lot among  
My Brethren, will befall me short or long.  
When such a Change I find, I shall begin  
To doubt almost, what Climate I am in.  
I shall not, for a good space after, take  
The boldness to profess I am awake,  
Or, that a Reformation in hath crept,  
Whilst I was either in the dark, or slept;  
And shall of our distractions hope to see  
A better end, then likely now to be.  
Then those things which we yet hear and behold  
With fear and sorrow, shall with joy be told;  
And then shall I no whit displeased grow,  
Whether I sit higher, or more low;  
Or, whether they who me should think upon,  
Give me that Office, or a worse, or none.  
For whatsoever befalls, I shall be fed,  
And so shall mine, whilst other men have bread.  
From your well-wishings these expressions flow;  
From these perhaps another fruit may grow;  
From that another, and from those again  
Another, till your wishes you obtain,  
And our Endeavours (though what we intent,  
Succeed not) shall be prosperous in the end.   

BONI OMINIS VOTUM: Imprinted 1656.  
THis (as a Symptom of a Good Omen) was occasioned by the summoning of Extraordinary Grand Juries out of the eminent Baronet's, Knights, Esquires and Gentlemen, to serve in their respective Counties, at the Summer Assizes 1656, which because it offers what is fit to be considered and remembered, (and is also very short) shall be here inserted without Abreviation.  
Good speed to this Republic, and increase  
Of Happiness to those who seek her Peace.  
Sad things are threatened, and a lowering Sky  
Seems to portend great storms are drawing nigh:  
But look above them, and good courage take,  
The Sun still shines, although the Clouds be black,  
And beamings through their darkest parts appear,  
Whereby discernible Good Omens are,  
With symptoms of the Blessing we expect,  
If we ourselves obstruct not their effect,  
And turn them to ill-signs; which to prevent,  
That which yet follows gives a needful hint.  
As both abroad and here within this Land,  
Public and private men's affair now stand,  
This Year is likely to be Critical,  
About the time in which the leaves will fall;  
And if Conjectures may be builded on,  
We from what's acted, with what's left undone,  
Spelled both together, somewhat may deduce  
To teach us what ere long will be in use.  
Whether it were the Policy of some  
In hope it an obstruction might become  
To Concord; or the Prudence of the Shrieve,  
Or Special Providence, which did contrive  
By those Grand Juries so to represent  
Their Counties, we shall best know by th' event:  
For, whether cheerfully they meet and do  
That Service which their Call invites them to;  
Or, by a wilful Non-appearance, wave.  
That Duty which the Common Cause doth crave,  
It will be signal; and to many one  
A Test, as virtual as the Lydian Stone:  
And, likewise give an Intellectual View  
Of some Result, which thereon will ensue  
At their next Meeting, who to represent  
This Nation, shall be by Election sent.  
For those Grand Jurors are now chosen forth  
Of them, whose Gifts, Estates, Degree or Birth,  
Hath ranked them with the best, yea, out of those  
(Excepting only open active Foes  
To this Republic) who have been suspected  
Mere Neuters, or else persons disaffected,  
As well as from among them, whose true zeal  
Hath kept them constant to this Commonweal,  
That they who heartily well minded are,  
Themselves henceforward some way might endear  
Thereto; and thereby for the future stand  
Enrolled among the Patriots of this Land:  
Endowed with all their Liberties, and freed  
From those Distinguishments which either breed  
Or nourish secret hatred, to th' increase  
Of Quarrels, and diminishment of Peace.  
And, who can tell what Providence by these  
(Though differing in their Judgements) will now please  
To make Effectual for the preservation  
Or settlement of Peace throughout this Nation,  
When things are acted by a moderate  
Expostulation, in a joint Debate?  
Where every one may freely speak his thought,  
And when it is consid'red as it ought,  
That no man can of safety be assured,  
Until the Public Safety be secured.  
We know, that differing Simples put together,  
So qualify and so correct each other,  
(Though some are poisonous) that they purge away  
Malignant Humours, which would else destroy  
The life of man; so they who formerly  
Did in their singular Capacity  
And private Judgements, sometimes act or speak  
What did at least endanger, if not break  
The Common Peace; may when they gathered are  
Into one fellowship, be helpful there  
To benefit their Country ten times more '  
Then they have been, or could be heretofore.  
Yea, as the fat Lime, and the barren Sand  
When they well mixed are, do make a band  
To bind together rough or hewed stone,  
(Which neither of them could have done alone)  
Even so by them who are Dissenters now,  
Our Public Buildings may the firmer grow,  
When they into One Structure shall be fixed,  
Well qualified, and rationally mixed.  
This peradventure may some good presage  
To them who are convened to engage  
Within a higher Orb, or shortly must  
Become our trusties in a greater Trust:  
For he who hath consid'red it, believes  
That if those Petty Representatives,  
By loving Prudence, shall prepare a way  
Thereto, (as in good likelihood they may)  
That Nobler Body, which to its perfection  
Are (for the most part) raised by their Election,  
Might be so modalized, and tempered so,  
That Discords into Sympathies would grow,  
And all our Fears and Dangers in the close  
Quite vanish, to the terror of our Foes.  
It may be thus, and will be thus, if yet  
men's Wilfulness hath left them any Wit:  
For, why should they who now may be at rest,  
Run hazards to advance their Interest,  
Whom nothing else can satisfy but Power,  
All others at their pleasure to devour?  
And spoilers of their own Estates become,  
To make a Fortune for they know not whom?  
Or seek to have that Game afresh begun,  
By which all may be lost, and nothing won?  
I hope they shall be wiser, and that we  
In this Expedient shall so wary be,  
That whatsoever others may intend,  
We shall endeavour to promote that End  
We ought to prosecute; and at the last  
Our Anchor in a peaceful Harbour cast.  
I wish it heartily; and (since I see  
Wish are vain where no endeavours be)  
That, those whom it concerns, provoke I may  
To seek this blessing, and to help make way  
To that I wish for, I composed this Spell;  
Let him who moved me to it, speed it well;  
And make it so considered by this Nation  
(Before things grow beyond consideration)  
That Words which to their safety do pertain,  
May not be always spoke to them in vain;  
For they are fools who still pursue a Course.  
Which makes a sickly being to be worse:  
And they are also little less than mad,  
Who would exchange a good one for a bad:  
Or put in hazard a possessed Lot,  
In hope to get what never can be got.   

A Si quis, or Queries, with other Verses annexed. Imprinted in the Year 1648.  
HEre should have been inserted Collections our of an Address entitled, A Speech without door; but it is quite lost. The following Si quis presented to the Members of Parliament in their single Capacities, related to the Author's particular Interest, and was composed in an unusual mode, in hope it might have inclined some of them to provoke the rest to take notice of that which had been often presented unto them in an usual and more serious manner. Much may be thereby collected to evidence how most Parliament men stood affected as to the Execution of Justice about that time. This was laid down at the Parliament door.  
That day in which Victorious Cromwell sent  
His first Express (to your great wonderment)  
Of Hamilton's Defeat; which whilst a Scot  
Then living, liveth, will not be forgot;  
Even on that day, before your feet I spread  
A sad Petition, humbly prefaced  
By these ensuing lines:  
He that is prostrate on the floor,  
Lies there whence he can fall no lower;  
So does this Orator of your.  
Petitions he hath oft conveyed  
Into your hands, yet finds no aid;  
These therefore at your feet are laid.  
There let them not neglected lie,  
Nor unregarded pass them by,  
But view them with a gracious eye.  
And let our Parents not provoke  
Their Children, till offence be took,  
By which their patience may be broke.  
Consider those who lie below;  
For you shall reap what you do sow,  
And find such Mercy as you sow.  
Refresh their Spirits who are sad;  
As GOD this day hath made you glad  
By those good tidings you have had.  
Among the rest, this Beadsman hear,  
Who feels the wants which they but fear,  
Who dread the effects of this moist year.  
And blame him not, that thus he shows  
His Cause as well in Verse as Prose,  
And in a path untrodden goes:  
For, scarce Earth, Water, Air or Fire  
Enjoys he, or wherewith to hire  
That Pittance Nature doth require.  
And men in danger to be drowned,  
Lay hold on any trifle found,  
To reconveigh them safe aground.  
Then this annexed Paper view,  
And let him favoured be of you,  
As that which he avers, is true.  
Or, if for what he here prefers  
His Suit, there stand Competitors,  
Let it be neither his nor theirs,  
But as most equitable it appears.  
To my Petition fixed, I for your view  
Left this upon the Pavement, and withdrew,  
In hope some kind hand would have been extended  
To take it up, that it might be commended  
To free debate. But six days now are gone,  
And GOD since then the Mercy lately shown,  
Hath more than doubled on you; yet here I  
Still at your door unheard, unheeded lie,  
And have as yet not so much favoured been  
As to be told who took my Paper in  
Of private Scrutenies grown therefore weary,  
I have in public now set up this Query.  
Your House receiving notice twelve months since,  
Of my long suffering, and my Indigence,  
(Occasioned in your Service) thought it fit  
To some Selected Members to commit  
The finding an Employment to supply  
Subsistence, till my great necessity  
Might be removed, by discharging that  
Which is to me yet owing by the State.  
I (having long without success attended)  
Stand at this present by them recommended  
Unto a Place named, wherein there appears  
With me, nor few, nor mean Competitors;  
And some (to vacate your intent thereby)  
Have also termed it a Monopoly.  
I humbly make Queries.  
" First, Whether he that's well known to have been  
" Foe to the Cause you are engaged in,  
" Standing Competitor with him that's known  
" To hazard for it all that was his own,  
" Can be preferred without a wrong to you,  
" And an entrenchment on the other's due?  
" Next, Whether a Competitor defamed  
" For breach of Trust (by whomsoever named)  
" Ought rather by your Votes to be befriended,  
" Then he who to your House is recommended  
" By her own Members, and 'gainst whom no man  
" Exhibit justly an Impeachment can?  
" Then whether he your Grace deserveth best,  
" Who hath for you lost all his Interest  
" In outward things; or they whose Wealth is more  
" Since our distractions then it was before?  
" And lastly, Whether aught may be comprised  
" Among things judged to be Monopolised,  
" When all the Profits which from thence arise,  
" Are brought into the Public Treasuries,  
" And whereof neither one alone, or few,  
" But all men likewise have their proper due?  
Consider well, I humbly pray of these  
Few Queries; and then do as you shall please.  
For, though my hopes in these poor Suits may fail,  
I shall in what is my chief aim prevail.  
Yea, ere this Land hath Rest, a day will be,  
In which there shall be some regard of me;  
And then, that which is now perused with Jeers,  
Shall fill their scornful Readers full of fears.   

These Verses next following, were upon the same Occasion presented to several Members of the House of Commons, repairing thither the 23d of December 1648, being the next day after their Humiliation, with an Imprinted Petition thereto annexed.  
THey who at Rich men's thresholds begging lie,  
(Though long neglected) will prolong their cry  
Till they an answer get, and so will I.  
I know it is not Eight and thirty year  
Since first I was an humble Suitor here;  
And yet to me it seems as if it were.  
Days, Months and Years I sadly waiting stand,  
Yet no man speaks a Word, none lends a Hand  
To help me, though but Justice I demand.  
And therefore, such as know me, and my Case,  
Observe it to the scandal of that Place,  
Whose guilt I blush for, as my own disgrace.  
But now I hope the Pool which heretofore  
Cured some days none, or one, (and few days more)  
Is moved so, that one day will cure a score.  
And that he prosecutes not his Affairs  
Unseasonably, who to a Means repairs  
New sanctified, with Fast and with Prayers.  
Excuse me then, that thus I do forelay,  
And (as it were) arrest you in the way  
Unto the House of Parliament this day.  
And (whatsoever this morning is designed  
To be debated there) some minutes find  
To hear that Prayer which is herewith joined.  
Yea, spare a little time to do him right,  
Who (having served you with a heart upright)  
Seeks but his own, that you enjoy it might.  
For, 'tis a loss to you, that he or they  
Who could, and did for you lend, give and pay,  
Should scarce have bread sufficient for the day.  
And 'tis to your dishonour too, that such  
Who to secure you, Goods nor Lives did grudge,  
Should want, whilst your betrayers are grown rich.  
If you in your Grand Work the worse succeed  
For doing of this Charitable deed,  
Leave me hereafter quite out of your Creed.  
Or, if they long thrive, who as heretofore  
Shall still defer to hear and help the poor,  
Kick me and my Petitions out of door.  
'Tis now within your Walls, and I expect  
It will be there this day with good effect,  
Though some should think it merited neglect.  
For of that Crisis 'twill a groundwork be,  
Whereby I shall undoubtingly foresee,  
What will become of other men and me.  
Things present at some points of time foreshow  
Things future; and unless mistake I do,  
That which this day produceth, will do so.  
That which was predicted in the last lines, hath accordingly succeeded, and justly; for that expressed in the Petition annexed to the preceding Verses, was in effect that which next follows.   

The Effect of the Author's Petition.  
IT showed, That after several Accounts upon Oath examined, stated and reported by the Commissioners of the Navy, an Ordinance was passed the 22 d of March 1647, for payment of 1681 l. 15 s. 8 d, out of the Excise in Course, without Interest, which was to that day wholly unpaid, though 60 l. had been spent in soliciting for it, and Interest had also been paid by him for 700 l. thereof, which was by him borrowed for the Parliaments Use, upon credit of the Warrant from the Committee of Safety, in May 1643, for immediate payment of 1327 l. wholly unpaid to that day. That he had also no recompense for 57 l. respited upon the Public Faith by the Committee of Accounts; nor for that money (though allowed to others) which was deducted of his Pay, for Trophies. That whereas 1800 l. was upon another Account granted by an Order of both Houses, March 15, 1647, out of Delinquents Estates to be discovered at Haberdashers-Hall, that Order brought on him cost and trouble, without benefit; and that what he was possessed of by orderly seizures, was taken away again by Compositions at Goldsmiths-Hall, and by other Committees, to his damage and disgrace, instead of benefit. That it being proved also upon Oath, how he was damnified (about six years then past) by the loss of his Stock, his Lease, and an Employment which might probably (for sixteen years to come) have produced 400 l. per an. That though recompense was promised by the Parliament, his repair was nevertheless neglected, till he had spent all superfluous things in his possession, and was imprisoned for what he had borrowed, as aforesaid, for the State's Service, till he was compelled for discharge of that Debt, to fell 40 l. per an. in Reversion, and 100 l. per an. in Possession, for certain time to come; which, with a little Householdstuff, was all the Estate he had then left. More might be alleged of this Petitioner's Losses; but he hath had patience to suffer, more than you have leisure to hear.  
In consideration of the premises, he humbly prays, That the said 1681 l. 15 s. 8 d. may be paid with Interest, as allowed to others. That the 700 l. borrowed for the State, and for which he hath paid Interest five years, may be made payable accordingly, with the 57 l. respited, and the 300 l. by him already disbursed; as also the said 1800 l. made payable by the said Ordinance of both Houses, the 22● of March 1647, out of the Excise, or out of Compositions at Goldsmiths-Hall, with Interest, until all shall be paid, to relieve his Wants, to proceed with his Contracts, and to disoblige him from his Creditors,  
To this effect was the annexed Petition; but all this was neglected, even when the Petitioner was thereby constrained to live upon Charity, (as appeared by his Poem, called Westrow revived.) until GOD providentially beyond his hope, almost in a miraculous way, enabled him to purchase a considerable Estate, by means of their acting against him, who thereby intended their own benefit and his ruin. And that Estate was also lost again by their selfseeking and Injustice, who thereby lost likewise their Power, as that Petitioner often predicted it would come to pass. For, after preferring the foregoing Petition, the said Parliament sold unto him a Manor worth about 300 l. per an. in consideration of a part of his Debt, and of about 1600 l. more by him paid. The Deeds were sealed, Possession delivered, and he enjoyed it a while; nevertheless they sold it again to a Member of their own, who pretended to a concealed Mortgage thereof, (probably forged) whereupon by a suit in Law, this Petitioner was ejected without any satisfaction, having lost, besides his Purchase-money, about a Thousand Marks in charge of Suit, with other inavoidable Expenses, and the loss of the whole Purchase, without likelihood of one penny toward satisfaction for ever. Moreover upon further consideration, the Parliament allowed Interest for the aforesaid 1681 l. 15 s. 8 d. charged upon the Excise, with 300 l. formerly due for Interest; which 300 l. with much difficulty was procured by Oliver Cromwel's Order; but all payments out of the Excise Office being retrenched for the Public Service, the Petitioner having forborn that great sum almost twenty years, never received more of the Interest or Principle-money, and the said Parliament being quite dissolved, gave over that Debt as quite lost for ever; yet he lost not all, for he had thereby a true feeling of that whereof he had experience formerly by sight and report only; as also both of GOD's Justice and Mercy.   

The Tired PETITIONER.  
THis being a single sheet, was imprinted without a date, about the same time with what last precedes; and offers to remembrance some neglects not inconsiderable. But it may be thought by many, that this Author hath in these, and the Verses next foregoing, insisted too much in particulars relating to himself; therefore this short excuse was added. He was (as he believeth) providentially engaged by Public Services interwoven with his private Affairs, that he might have means and opportunities to gain a personal Experience of the chief Transactions in those times; which if he had taken up on trust, and by report only, he could not have been so assured of, as by being made sensible how those persons, were qualified, by whom the Work then in hand was carried on; nor what Occasions were from time to time justly offered, to prosecute that which he thought pertinent to his duty in relation to GOD and his Country, as he did, and might do by knowing, and being known to most persons of Quality then active in those Public Affairs, with which his private Concernments were linked throughout the progress of that Parliament, from the strange and unexpected beginning thereof, to the no less strange end of it. For by his personal sufferings under that Power above twenty years, with little intermission, (notwithstanding his faithfulness thereunto) it did the better appear how great many of their Grievances were, who had neither that likely means either to prosecute Remedies, or to make them so well known; to prevent the like heedlessness and want of compassionating private men's Oppressions hereafter; This he hopes will sufficiently Apologise for him to all rational men; and therefore here shall be added some part of that which he offered upon the forementioned occasion, to those Members of Parliament whom he thought his Friends.  
Sirs, if this Paper find you (who to me  
Are not so fully known as you should be)  
It comes to move, that my Petitions may  
Obtain your Answer without more delay;  
Lest by attendance (as my Neighbours do)  
With my Estate, I lose my Patience too.  
For, I have waited, and endured so long,  
That no Result can do me greater wrong  
Than lingering hopes; and were I quite undone,  
I possibly another course might run  
To be repaired again, ere I obtain  
That Benefit which I had hope to gain:  
Or, else might find some other likely way  
To fit me for the part I have to play.  
Some say my Friends are more than I do know;  
And I am hopeful that it may be so:  
For, if kind language and much compliment  
Are signs thereof, nor Christendom nor Kent  
Knows any man who may himself apply  
Unto your House with better hopes than I:  
But, if by real deeds it must be known  
What Friends I have, their number small is grown:  
Or, else their Power attaineth not unto  
Those friendly offices they wish to do:  
And peradventure they obstructed be  
In their endeavours, by defects in me.  
It may be 'tis observed I want Relations,  
Gifts-qualifying, or those Commendations  
That should advance my Suits; & which might make  
Those active who men's Causes undertake;  
And I half think it so; for ere this day,  
Some one or other else had gotten way  
For my Petitions; or appeared able  
To make my Suits and me considerable:  
Since others who have neither lost nor spent,  
Nor for the Public hazarded or lent  
Life, Limb or Money, find means to be heard  
With expedition, and with good regard.  
But hitherto my hopes do not succeed  
According to my sufferings and my need.  
Two Months upon one Suit I have bestown;  
Upon a former, thrice three Months and one;  
Upon another, four times three, and nine;  
Yet still some other Cause out-justles mine:  
And even by favours hitherto obtained,  
More Mischiefs than Advantages are gained;  
Because in th' execution they have wanted  
That influence whereby they first were granted.  
This, with uncrazed patience I can bear  
So long as my desires delayed appear,  
By those Affairs which profitable be  
Unto the Public, though they hinder me;  
Since whilst that thrives, I cannot be bereft  
Of all my hopes, nor comfortless be left.  
But, if I still perceive my Suit delayed,  
Or crossed, for private ends, I am afraid  
My Grievances will make my Plaints outroar  
The Cries of all the Women at your door.  
Preserve I would, according to my might,  
My Private Freedoms with our Public Right;  
And, wise men will consider, that unless  
They heed some time, a single man's distress,  
(At least in his extremes) that one by one,  
The Generality may be undone:  
And that a bruise upon the smallest toe  
May gangreen to the body's overthrow.  
In me (although my Sufferings are despised)  
The Common Grievance is epitomised;  
And, as this day the Kingdom's Cause doth lie  
Distressed between two Factions, so do I:  
For, what some would have granted for my sake,  
Is crossed for their sakes who the motion make;  
Because but few men are by those made strong,  
With whom they side not both in Right and wrong.  
But whatsoever shall to me betid,  
Whether my Suits be granted or denied,  
By your endeavourings; it shall not wrest  
My thoughts for any private Interest,  
To murmur at it; so you will befriend  
My Suit so much, to bring it to an end:  
That from your Labyrinths I may retire,  
And be again at leisure to inquire  
What will become of me; and what of Them  
Who take the Courses which good men condemn:  
For to retreat, and gotten ground to yield.  
Is otherwhile the means to win the field;  
And he that would turn Floods another way,  
Must dig his Drain before he builds the Bay.  
He that hath Money to promote his Ends,  
Needs neither strain his Wits nor tyre his Friends.  
He that hath Friends his Matters to contrive,  
May (though he have nor Wit nor Money) live.  
He that hath Wit, and wants the other twain,  
May live, but not without some want and pain.  
He that hath two of these, and wanteth one,  
Cannot be very rich, or quite undone.  
He that hath all of these, might be a King,  
Were he ambitious to be such a thing;  
And he that is deprived of all these three,  
May be as happy as I seem to be.   

SE DEFENDENDO. Imprinted without Date.  
THis was an Apology written by the Author in Prose, to vindicate himself from such Aspersions as had been injuriously, and without any probable Cause cast upon him by Malicious Detractors, as well to hide the unjust dealing with him, as to disparage his Endeavours relating to the Public Service. It contains many particulars, which being timely well heeded, might have prevented such mischiefs and disadvantages as afterward befell, and continue to this day. The date is not mentioned in the Imprinted Copies: But the time may be well enough known by the Contents. The matter is such as cannot be abreviated without dismembering and making the whole invalid; and therefore the Book is referred to their perusal unto whose hands it may come.   

JUSTITIARIUS JUSTIFICATUS, Imprinted without Date.  
THis is also an Apologetical Discourse, the imprinting whereof is very well known to some; For, it was burnt by the hand of the Common Hangman; and the Author (though he neither published it, nor intended the distributing thereof to any but Members of Parliament, to whom cognizance of the Cause most properly pertained) was both fined and confined for it, neither being called to answer for himself, nor having knowledge of his Impeachment, until sentence was passed against him. But this Innocency was so well known to the greatest number of the most conscientious Members of that Parliament, whereby he was censured, that (though the Accusation was brought in early in the morning, upon a day set apart for debating a Cause relating to the Scots) so many of the said Members then present, so abominated what they perceived to be then intruded; that the whole day was spent before the Author's Enemies could prevail against him: So many of them also, had been ear and eye-witnesses, of an impudent injustice, whereby he was oppressed by their Committee of Examinations in another Cause; that it occasioned the Voting down of that Committee, within a day or two afterward: And the same Parliament, upon better Consideration, having also made trial of the Author's patience in suffering, about the space of a whole year, discharged him both from the said Fine and Imprisonment, without his Petitioning or Mediation for it: For, at that time his Friends by God's Providence, had a seasonable Opportunity to move on his behalf, there being a considerable number then present, who were jealous to do Justice, and discharge the Trust reposed in them by their Electors.  
This is all that shall be inserted touching the contents of that Book; because, there are persons therein mentioned by Name, whose failings he desireth may be forgotten, in hope they are as truly to him reconciled, as he is to them.   

VOX PACIFICA. Imprinted 1645.  
THis was a Voice tending to the Pacification of God's wrath, and to make some such Proposals as might help to reconcile those by whom the Common Peace was infringed; and offered many particulars to consideration, which are still as needful, and as much neglected now as at that time. It consists of four Cantos, containing about 200 Pages, two Cantos more being intended, but not finished, be-because the Author thought his labour would be quite lost, here are inserted a few particulars, in hope it may invite them to whose hands the Book comes to peruse it at large. In the Page before the Title, and engraven Frontispiece, the meaning of it is thus expressed.  
A Trumpet sounds a Parley to this Isle,  
And over it a Hand displays the while  
A Flag of Peace, that this new Sign at door  
May draw you on to see a little more.  
We hung it forth, that these besotted Nations  
May heed the seasons of their Visitations.  
And grow more careful to conform their ways  
To what this Voice, and their known duty says;  
Though yet the most, our words no more have marked,  
Then if a Cat had mewed, or Dog had barked, etc.  
The Epistle before the said Book, intended to the King, Parliament and People, thus begins.  
Not to Petition King or Parliament,  
Or court the People suit with his intent  
Who sends out this; nor is he come to crave  
Your Favours, or your Patronage to have.  
It is almost too late; and 'twas too soon:  
At this time therefore, he expects that Boon  
From one who better knows him, and from whom  
This Voice doth both to sight and hearing come:  
He, had he always thus resolved, had lost  
Less labour, and escaped with less cost.  
He hath no will to flatter; if he had,  
To flatter at this time, were to be mad.  
And peradventure also, he hath now  
As little cause as mind to flatter you.  
Yet, that the same affection may appear  
With which by him you always served were;  
And that he may not give a just offence  
By seeming careless of the Reverence  
Belonging to your Grandeur, he professes,  
That merely for the sake of these Expresses,  
The freedom of bold Language he assumes, etc.  
The News he brings, though thus declared it be,  
Will warrantize the Speaker to be free;  
And, if it be despised, he conceives,  
Some will ere long grow bold without your leaves,  
To make you hear with ruder Compliments,  
A blunter Language, and to worse intents:  
For dreadful things are murmured; and unless  
Men more conform to that which they profess,  
You'll find at last, he dareth without fear,  
To speak more Truth than many dare to hear.  
What ever he or his rude Language seems,  
Your persons none more loves, or more esteems;  
None seeks your Honour or your Safety more  
Than he doth now, or hath done heretofore.  
None oftener his own blame hath ventured on,  
That others might not wholly be undone.  
He hath no aim herein at aught which tends  
To his own personal or private ends.  
And thus professeth he, that you might grow  
The more advantaged by believing so;  
And that his purposes no other are,  
Then he professeth, plain it will appear  
To men of Ingenuity and Wit,  
Who weigh what's past, with what henow hath writ.  
For whosoever hath observation took  
With what impartial freedom he hath spoke  
The Truth to each side (sparing Friend nor Foe)  
(Nor caring who displeased or pleased should grow)  
Can never draw a false Conclusion thence,  
Without much folly, or much impudence.  
Be wary therefore that this Voice you heed,  
Before to any Censures you proceed  
Condemning It, or Him from whom it came,  
Lest you yourselves incur the greatest blame.  
For if this Voice be welcome to your ear,  
The blessed way of Peace it shall prepare;  
And you shall by the Charm of this Song,  
Perceive the rage of War allayed ere long:  
The wicked Spirit shall be conjured down,  
By whom the Seeds of Discord have been sown.  
The Hags and Furies which have danced here,  
No longer to affright you shall appear;  
But all the sacred Virtues, and the Graces,  
Shall beautify your desolated Places.  
But, if this Voice you either shall contemn,  
Or him for speaking it, (what ere he seem)  
Time shall, by GOD's permission, spread the same,  
In spite of your detractions to your shame,  
To bear a testimonial of your Crimes,  
And your Impenitence, to future times;  
Or, for a warning to those yet to come,  
Or to exalt GOD's Justice in your doom;  
The least of which will yield a rich Return  
For all his pains, though his good will you scorn.  

Page the 39th, after many fore-expressions by way of preparation, in order to what was intended by that Poem, this follows.  

You look for Peace, (and he who well could sing  
That Song, deserveth highly to be prized)  
But, what can hither such a Blessing bring,  
Whilst most Conditions thereof are despised?  
Or, what as yet have they to do with Peace,  
Whom their Corrections move not to repent?  
Whilst wickedness doth rather more increase,  
Then seem abated by their Chastisement?  
Who can expect that fretting Corrosives  
Shall be removed from a festering sore,  
Until the skilful Surgeon first perceives  
It may with healing-salves be plastred o'er;  
Unless he rather hath a mind to see  
The Patient quite destroyed, then cured to be?   

How few are yet observed, whose former course  
Is bettered by those Plagues which now lie on them?  
How many rather do appear the worse,  
And to be more corrupt than we have known them?  
In what perpetual broils are they involved  
Who for the Public Welfare most endeavour?  
How friendless are they who seem best resolved,  
And in good Resolutions do persever?  
Howmany into Parties quickly band,  
A questioned Delinquent to protect?  
How few men for that Innocent will stand,  
Whom Malice doth accuse, or but suspect?  
And, who now lives, and loves the Common Right,  
Who suffers not some insolent despite?  
Though most men see destruction hanging over  
Their giddy heads; their Tragedy begun,  
And round about them nothing can discover  
But universal Ruin drawing on:  
Ambition, Malice, Avarice and Pride,  
Self-will, Self-love, Hypocrisy and Guile,  
As arrogantly still on Horseback ride,  
As if no Plague had seized on this Isle.  
This man for Place, that striveth for Command,  
Pretends the Public Weal, but seeks his own;  
And cares not, if he profit by the hand,  
If Law and Gospel too, be overthrown.  
And he who their Preserver would become,  
Finds furious Foes abroad, and worse at home.   

In every Shire, in every Town and City,  
This Kingdoms Discords are epitomised,  
In every Corporation and Committee,  
Some Engine of Division is devised.  
Occasions daily spring; each man engaging  
To side with, or stand leanning to some Faction,  
And by new quarrels more and more enraging  
Their Fury, to the heightening of Distraction:  
An Emblem of which madness he might draw,  
Who saw within an old thatched Barn on fire,  
Poor beggars quarrelling for lousy straw,  
(Or Dunghill rags or clouts raked from the Mire)  
Who will not heed their harms, or cease to brawl,  
Until the Flame consumes Rogues, rags and all.   

How can calm Peace be timely wooed thither,  
Where men grown beastlike are in their dissensions;  
And where the means of knitting them together,  
Are still occasions made of new contentions?  
How can these Isles have peace that are so vicious,  
And who have Factious Spirits raised in them  
As wilfully disposed as those Seditious,  
Who brought destruction on Jerusalem?  
How can they look for Peace, while they contrive  
Designs enlarging still their discontent?  
Whilst Policy doth wedges daily drive  
'Twixt every Joint, to make a cureless Rent?  
And, whilst to mend the breaches of this Land,  
There's nothing brought but pebble stones & sand?   

How can these miserable Isles have Peace,  
Whilst Justice nor Compassion find regard?  
Whilst they who should protect, do most oppress;  
When sin escapes blame, and Virtue wants reward?  
How can he hope for Peace, who would enjoy  
His Will on any terms, and for the shade,  
The Substance of those Mercies quite destroy,  
Which might by patient industry be had?  
Or how can he be worthy of that blessing,  
Who knowing how much it hath lately cost  
In blood and treasure, le's the repossessing  
Of that dear Purchase, for a toy be lost?  
And doth for evermore himself undo,  
To satisfy his lust a year or two?   

Who knoweth not, that more dread most men have,  
Lest of Estate or Person they should lose  
The loved Freedoms, then to be a slave  
To him whose Tyranny the soul undoes?  
You chiefly for self-ends give, lend and pay;  
To that intent strict Covenants you make;  
To that end you sometimes do fast and pray;  
To that intent much care and pains you take.  
Yea, many goodly things to that intent  
You often do, and many moe intend;  
But your Peace-offerings all in vain are spent,  
Till you direct them to their proper end,  
And till the Peace which you desire to make,  
Shall be desired for Truth and Conscience sake.   

Who sees not, that a Peace you now desire,  
For nought but that you might again enjoy  
Your Lusts, and to those Vanities retire,  
Wherein you did your former days employ?  
Who sees not, that like to those Isra'lites  
Whom from th' Egyptian Bondage GOD redeemed,  
You have the pleasing of your Appetites  
Much more than your Deliverer esteemed?  
Their Garlic and their fleshpots left behind,  
They thought on more then on their servitude  
From which they came; & more than they did mind  
The Wonders and the Mercies which God showed.  
And you have acted as in imitation  
Of that perverse and foolish Generation, etc.   
After the mentioning of many other Actings and Omissions obstructive to Peacemaking, he proceeds, Pag. 49.  

Assoon shall he who Westward always goes,  
Meet him that still an Eastward point doth steer,  
As your two Factions in a firm Peace close,  
Till they in their chief Aims approach more near.  
For th' one is bend the other to enslave;  
The other is resolved to be free:  
The last would keep what GOD and Nature gave;  
The first would se●ze what ought not theirs to be:  
And these from reconcilement are so far,  
That all their kindness is but to betray:  
When most they talk of Peace, they purpose War;  
When they embrace, they mean to stab and slay.  
And when perhaps you think the War is done,  
The greatest Mischiefs will be but begun.   

For as yet nor th' one, nor th' other side,  
Nor King, nor People, Commoners, nor Peers,  
Nor Flocks, nor Shepherds have the Course yet tried  
By which you can be saved from your fears.  
A Treaty might complete it; but, before  
You venture that, you must be fit to treat:  
For then the Work were half way done, and more;  
And till that be, no step you forward get.  
In heat of Quarrels, nothing done or spoke  
Can reconcile; a Friends words move you not:  
The more you talk, the more the peace is broke,  
Till you your lost considering Caps have got:  
Till your hot blood is cooled, till rage is gone,  
And Reason doth examine things alone.  
Then peradventure, etc.—    

See further, Page 51.  
Until both parties do at least agree,  
In all those Common Principles whereby  
Human Society preserved may be  
With Nature's Rights, and Christian Liberty,  
All Treaties will be mischievous, or vain,  
To men adhering to the better course;  
For, by such Treating, Politicians gain  
Advantages to make your being worse:  
Yea, by that means these find occasions may  
To gain, or give intelligence; to make  
New Plots and Friends; to hasten or delay  
As cause requires, and other ways to take  
For their avail; which else they had not got,  
And which true honesty alloweth not.   

This Precaution is added, Pag. 139.  

Take serious heed that zeal to Innovations.  
Or causeless fears or hopes incline your mind  
To subjugate these Kingdoms and these Nations  
To Governments of any Foreign kind:  
But rather use your utmost diligence,  
To rectify those things that are amiss  
In that which is established; and from thence  
Cast and purge out what ever therein is  
Repugnant to those Charters which by Grace  
Or Nature were conferred; and let your care  
Be so to settle all, that you make place  
The Throne of Christ among you to prepare:  
Lest when his Kingdom comes, you must be fain  
To pluck your new devices down again.   

Take likewise heed you no just means neglect,  
Whereby the King may be recalled, and won,  
GOD's Honour, with your Safety to respect,  
And do the duties he hath left undone.  
For, by rejecting Him, how just soe'er  
The Cause may seem, you shall delay the Peace  
That is desired, and make the Quarrels here  
With much more difficulty to decrease.  
But, if your Prudency shall win him home,  
And he return sincerely to his Charge,  
It shall a blessing to these Isles become;  
Your Honour and your Joy it shall enlarge.  
And as Christ's Viceroy he shall sit upon  
A Righteous and an everlasting Throne.   

Walk therefore prudently in this straight path,  
And turn not to the left hand or the right:  
That Power which God to you committed hath,  
Improve for him according to your might;  
Him in the reasonable Means attend  
With Faith and Patience, that he may at last  
Your King new moulded back unto you send,  
Or him out of his ruin'd Kingdoms cast.  
If his misactings timely he repent,  
GOD will restore him; and if you amend,  
Then that which hitherto hath made a Rent  
Betwixt you, shall in sweet agreement end.  
If both conform, both shall true Peace enjoy;  
If both be wilful, GOD shall both destroy, etc.    

See the 198th Page, where it thus follows.  

Let serious care be took, and quickly too,  
That her due Rights the Commonwealth enjoy:  
That private men their duties better do,  
Lest they by their divisions all destroy.  
Let not those foolish Toys who do besot  
Themselves with arrogance, presume to prate  
As if a Parliament had them begot  
To be now Heirs apparent to the State.  
Permit you not Religious Melancholy,  
Phlegmatic Avarice, or Zeal Choleric,  
Nor suffer an Excess of Sanguine folly  
To make both Church and State grow deadly sick,  
Or rather mad, and in their mad distractions  
To tear themselves into a thousand Fractions.   

Let not your King and Parliament in One,  
Much less apart, mistake themselves for that  
Which is most worthy to be thought upon,  
Or think they are essentially the State.  
Let them not fancy that th' Authority  
And Privileges upon them bestown,  
Conferred were to set up a Majesty,  
A Power or a Glory of their own.  
But let them know, that for another thing,  
Which they but represent, and which ere long  
Them to a strict account will doubtless bring,  
If any way they do it wilful wrong:  
For that indeed is really the face,  
And they but as the shadow in a Glass.   

Moreover let them know this, that if either  
They still dividing, grow from bad to worse;  
Or without Penitence unite together,  
And by their sin provoke him to that course,  
GOD out of their Confusions can and will  
Create a Means, and raise a Lawful Power  
His Promise to his People to fulfil;  
And his and their Opposers to devour.  
Yea, bid both King and Parliament make haste,  
In penitence united to appear;  
Lest into those Confusions they are cast,  
Which will affright them both, yea make them fear,  
And know there is on Earth a greater thing  
Than an unrighteous Parliament or King.   
Because the Poem is large, and hard to be gotten, to supply that defect here are added the Contents of every Canto, as they are in the imprinted Book.  

The Contents of the First Canto.  
First, here is to your view preferred,  
When, where, and how this Voice was heard:  
What kind of Muse were the ground,  
What Worlds and Wonders may be found  
Within ourselves; what safe Retreats  
From those Oppressions, Frauds and Baits  
Which are without; how little fear  
Of Terrors which affright us here:  
How plainly there a man may see  
The Villainies that acted be  
For private Ends, with feigned shows:  
How general Corruption grows:  
Why to acquaint you with this Voice,  
GOD by so mean a man makes choice.  
Then shows how our great hopes deceive us,  
And prays his aid who can relieve us.   

The Contents of the Second Canto.  
This Cantos Preface being done,  
The Voice to these effects goes on:  
Tells how unworthy we are yet,  
For Peace desired how unfit:  
How vain, how harmful Treaties be,  
Till both sides in one Third agree;  
And (laying by ignoble Ends)  
Use likely means of being friends.  
Shows that the Peace which most pursue,  
Will be nor permanent, nor true:  
Then that some Cures may be appli'de,  
Declares what Parts are putrifi'de,  
Which must be purged without delay,  
Or cauterised, or cut away,  
If we will, ere it be too late,  
Repair this weak, this dying State.   

The Contents of the Third Canto.  
Here, whether you be pleased or no,  
This Author maketh bold to show  
That portion of his private wrongs,  
Whose knowledge and recess belongs  
To Public Interest; that her eye  
May through his wounds her scars espy.  
The Voice than speaks again, and schools  
In him, all other froward fools,  
Who with impatiency do vent  
Their private wrongs, or discontent;  
And look their Trifles should be heard,  
When Kingdoms cannot find regard.  
It shows our Senate blameless is,  
Of many things which are amiss:  
And where the fault and fountain lies  
From whence our present Plagues arise.   

The Contents of the Fourth Canto.  
Whilst here the Author doth recite  
His Muse after Naseby Fight,  
The Voice returns, and doth begin  
To tell us what must usher in  
Exiled Peace: Then told are we  
How kept our Vows and Covenants be:  
How we Reform, and Fast, and Pray,  
What Thanklesness we do repay.  
What must in general be done,  
What by each individual one.  
What Course both King and People take,  
Ere they their Peace with GOD shall make.  
What he expecteth from these Nations,  
From Cities, Towns and Corporations;  
And every House in some degree,  
Before true Peace will settled be.     

Carmen Expostulatorium, Imprinted 1647.  
THis was intended to prevent the engaging these Nations into a Second War, when the dividing of the City and Army was then by some endeavoured, and likely to be effected.  
The same Precautions are at this day pertinent to consideration; and are therefore here abreviated.  

Though I have written heretofore in vain,  
And may do now; yet I will write again,  
In hope that what by Reason and by Rhyme  
Was not effected, may be done in Time;  
And, that although my pains be lost to some,  
It shall not fruitless unto all become.  
Hark! how the Drums beat, & the Trumpets are  
Sounding alarums to a Second War  
Before the first is done; and whilst yet green  
The wounds upon your bodies may be seen.  
Behold, that which was coming long ago,  
Draws now so near, that none shall need foreshow  
What at the last will thereupon ensue:  
For we without a Glass may plainly view  
Such things in kenning, that unless our GOD  
To them shall please to set a period,  
(Or make some such diversion as no man  
Conjecture of by any Symptom can)  
An Universal Plague will on us seize,  
Instead of Remedies for our Disease.  
How then can I in time of need withhold  
That which my Conscience tells me should be told?  
Why should I keep those Premonitions back,  
Which I conceive my Friends at this time lack?  
A poor man's Counsel once (as we hear say)  
Did save a City; so perhaps this may.  
Excuse me therefore if (much grieved at  
Your rash proceedings) I expostulate  
Concerning that, whereby it seems to me  
The War may now again renewed be.  
Renowned Citizens, what do you mean  
To make your City the unhappy Scoene  
Whereon there shall in probability  
Be acted now the bloodiest Tragedy  
That e'er this Island saw? are you grown mad?  
And is there no Physician to be had  
For this distemperature, but must it here  
Be Cuckow-moon, or Dog-days all the year?  
Have you no Drugs that may lost wits restore?  
Can Patience, Herbagrace, nor H●lebore,  
Nor any other Simple or Confection,  
Work out that noisome humour and infection  
Which hath besotted you, till ye grow fit  
For Bedlam, where are no such mad men yet?   

Page 3, it thus follows.  

Have you not yet discovered who be they  
That cheat you, and for whom this Game you play  
By your divisions? And when others find  
Their falsehood for you, will you still be blind,  
Or wink, as careless of the things you heed,  
Till by long winking you grow blind indeed? etc.   

Cannot you yet discover through the mist,  
Those Juggle which the Spawn of Antichrist  
(False Priests and lying Prophets) practise now,  
To raise themselves, and work your overthrow?  
Nor with what impudence they publish lies,  
(Their bitter swagger, and their blasphemies)  
To make new breaches, or to widen those  
Which Love and Prudency begun to close?  
And which ere this time closed up had been,  
Had they not cast untemp'red dirt between?    

Page the Fourth.  

Is it a time your Quarrels to renew,  
When all is hazarded that's dear to you?  
Observe ye not Three Factions like to them  
Which were the ruin of Jerusalem,  
At strife within your Walls? Do you not see  
What spiteful sparklings in their eyes there be?  
How sharply they against each other whet  
Their slanderous tongues? how grinningly they set  
Their gnashing teeth? Observe ye not how they  
With Pens dipped in black poison, do assay  
To re-ingage you, and with cursed words  
Provoke the reinsheathing of your Swords,  
That every Son and Father, Friend and Brother,  
May sheathe them in the heart of one another, etc.   

Have you concluded never to retire  
In your Career, till all is on a Fire?  
And you and yours lie sprawling in the plashes  
Of your own blood, or in your City's ashes?  
Or till you see this goodly stately Frame  
(The work of many Ages) in a Flame?   

Have you so often heard it said from him  
(Whose true Presages no men will contemn  
But Reprobates) what miserable Fate  
Attends that House, that City, and that State  
Which is divided? Have his Prophecies  
So often been fulfilled before your eyes?  
And are they at this day so likely too  
To be ere long fulfilled upon you?  
And yet will you a New Division run,  
As if you studied how to be undone?  
Or, as if you resolved to keep that path.  
Which to avoid, your GOD forewarned ●ou hath?   
After many other Expostulations, and neglected Precautions, tending to their Welfare, and which are now as pertinent to us, the Author thus proceeds again, p. 13.  
What makes you, and our Army now to be  
So jealous of each other, as we see,  
But that Self-love and Pride which you and they  
Pursue in others? and because each day  
You more and more in manners grow like them  
Whose guiltiness you rail at, and condemn?  
For most of those among you who pretend  
To Reformation, do but seek to mend  
Some faults in other men, that they to make  
Themselves thereby, may an advantage take.  
When zealously they labour to remove  
A Tyrant, it proceeds but from Self-love,  
That they may by possessing of his Room,  
As active in like Tyrannies become;  
As 'twere not probable that we should see  
Suppressed Tyrants every day to be  
Outvi'de by their Successors; and outgone  
By those who blamed most what they had done.  
'Tis not because you seek the Public Good,  
That you renew this War; for, letting blood  
(Especially now when the Dog-star reigns)  
So near unto the heart, and in those veins  
Now likely to be oped, seems to me  
Not Physic, but mere Butchery to be.  
'Tis not for GOD that you do now promove  
This Quarrel; for you know that GOD is Love:  
And, when he doth engage us in a War,  
It always evidently doth appear  
How it conduceth to the preservation  
Of Amity and Union in a Nation;  
And, that we cannot otherways avoid  
The Consequence of being quite destroyed,  
With all that's dear unto us: But in this,  
Of such a Common Good no Sign there is, etc.  
All your Contentions rather do arise  
From fleshly Lusts, and carnal vanities,  
Then from the Cause pretended; and there's none  
Will doubt it, if you wilfully go on  
In bloodshed, not endeavouring for Grace,  
By making Fury give Discretion place.  
'Tis not the errors, or the imperfections  
Of your Opinions, but of your Affections,  
Which heighten Discord; and a will to please  
Backsliding Demas, and Diotrophes,  
Which hath surprised you. 'Tis a disregard  
Of Justice in Chastisements, and Reward;  
And that respect of Persons which each side  
Is guilty of, if both be not belied.  
For if by Symptoms we the truth may gather,  
The City and the Army too had rather  
Adventure their safe being, by denial  
Of yielding up their Minions to a trial,  
Then to permit that Justice should proceed  
Impartially. Both are, it seems, agreed,  
What ever their Well-willers do propose  
To save their Malefactors, though they lose  
Themselves and all their Tribe, (as for that Crime  
The Benjamites did once in former time)  
And (which more aggravates) even thus they do,  
Though they have seen the King for doing so,  
Sat half beside his Throne; yea, though they see  
This Parliament endangered to be  
Even for the selfsame fault. So hard a thing  
It is even for the best of men, to bring  
Their Will, and their Affections to submit  
To Justice, though they cannot fly from it.  
We will add no more, but leave the rest to be  
perused in the Printed Copy, to avoid tediousness.    

Letters of Advice touching the Election of Knights, Citizens and Burgesses in PARLIAMENT. Imprinted 1644.  
AMong other things offered by this Author to be heeded, as pertinent to the Common Welfare, he published a Book so called, touching the Choice of Knights and Burgesses, to represent the Commons in Parliament, and other Public Ministers; to which purpose he offered somewhat in his Perpetual Parliament, mentioned in this Review. Therefore this being overlarge to be wholly inserted, no more shall be here added, but some part of what is therein contained, in relation to the due Qualification both of the Electors, and Persons to be Elected which perhaps will give occasion of better heeding what hath been heretofore neglected. It was thus expressed, pag. 2, in Prose.  
Being woefully experienced in the manifold Mischiefs whereinto this Nation hath been plunged by the Corruption or Insufficiency of Persons heretofore chosen (or presumptuously intruding upon that Trust) and perceiving no public means provided for preventing the like Mischief hereafter, nor any thereto privately contributing his Advice, I have hastily sent abroad these Letters, not arrogating a sufficiency to give such directions as may not be excepted against, but rather in hope it would give occasion to some of better Judgement to perfect what I have imperfectly begun according to my Talon:  
Lest by that Course which we at present run,  
Both Good and Bad together be undone.  
That my Proposals may be the more willingly entertained and prosecuted, I will briefly offer to heed, first, The Mischiefs we incur by inconsiderate Elections, and how traitorous thereby we are to our Country, and to our selves. Secondly, I will present you with the necessary Qualifications of those who are to be Elected. And lastly, By what Expedient I conceive Abuses in that kind may be best prevented, if we are not grown so corrupt a Body, that we neither will nor can be represented by honest and discreet persons.  
I need not particularise into how many Mischiefs this Nation is now, and hath been heretofore plunged by the rottenness and giddiness of some formerly chosen to represent the Commonalty; or how perfidiously they have disserted or betrayed their trust, to an endangering of our being everlastingly exposed to the slavery of temporal and spiritual Tyrannies, no less accursed and intolerable than the Egyptian Bondage: For, we give them power not only to make us Slaves, Beggars, and liable to the Hangman at their pleasure; but to subject us also unto those Decrees which may (gradatim) bring us or our Posterity to be Papists, Turks, Pagans, and Vassals to the Devil, if the Professors of Popery, Turcism, or of any other damnable Impieties should obtain a temporal Sovereignty over us. If this▪ you believe not to be possible, (because not yet come to pass) believe at least, that which you see of their practice and condition who have been unworthily and unwarrantably chosen; and how far they have already brought back upon us those Antichristian Slaveries which we thought past fear of reviving.  
But perhaps Mischiefs and Inconveniences of less concernment will stir up some to be more cautious in their Elections then these. Let such take notice, That by beedlesness in this duty, they shall make Fools and Tyrant's Lords over them, who will fawn and court them, till they are in Power, and then scorn and trample them under foot; putting such immeasurable differences between themselves and others, as if the respect due to the whole Nation, were due to their single Persons. And they will then so take upon them, and so demean themselves, as if to favour the Clients, to suppress those whom they disaffect, to strengthen their own Faction, and to maintain their Usurped Personal Privileges (though to the utter ruin both of all Public Liberties, and true Piety) were the chief End of their Power; What good can be expected from such a Choice? or what better Choice can be made, unless you more seriously, more prudently, and more conscientiously manage your Elections?  
When Wolves are by the Sheep for Guardians chose,  
Who marvels if their Skins and Lives they lose.  
The only means in Humane Prudence to be delivered from such mischiefs, is by humbly supplicating Divine Mercy by truly repenting our sins, and by taking more heed hereafter, that we be not Traitors to ourselves, in foolishly giving the disposure of our Estates, Lives, Liberties, and Consciences, to them who will sell us for old Shoes; and serve us only to serve their own turns, though to our destruction. Therefore I beseech you to be wary whom you shall now and hereafter Elect; and make us not irrecoverably unhappy, by listening to the Insinuations of unworthy persons, who will importune you by themselves and others, to put our Bodies and Souls into their hands; complying with all shows of Courtesy and Humility, till their purposes are obtained; and never afterward regard our Petitions, our Cause, our Miseries, or our Persons; but overlook us with such pride, as if they had neither received their Power from us, or for our Welfare; but merely to exalt their own vanity, etc.  
Therefore to remedy present Evils, and to establish your just Privileges, for preservation of the Common Interest hereafter, let your care be to avoid the choice of such as these:  
I. Men overlavish in speaking, and in taking extraordinary pleasure in hearing themselves talk; for a man full of words is neither good to give, or keep Counsel.  
II. Notorious Gamesters; for, I never knew a prudent or just man, a Common Gamester: How can they be just, whose practice is to cheat other men of their Estates? Or prudent managers of public Treasure, who expose their own Estates to the uncertain hazard of Chance?  
III. Men much addicted to Hunting or Hawking; for most of these, so they may preserve and increase their Game, and enlarge Privileges for their own pleasure, will not much care though it were to the depopulating of the Country, and to the multiplying of wild Beasts destructive to the Nation.  
IV. The Household Servants, or dependants on such Peers, as expect from their Creatures the promotion of their own Designs and Interest, how repugnant soever to the General Good.  
V. Courtiers depending merely on the King or Queen's Service; for the enlargement and continuance of their Favour, depend on that which they call Royal Prerogative; and the more that may be improved to an infringement of the Subjects Right, the richer and the more powerful these will grow.  
VI Choose not such as are evidently Ambitious or Covetous; for how prone these will be to sell their Country and Religion too, for Titular Honours and Wealth, we have had too frequent experience.  
" The People's Trust and Freedoms to betray,  
" To be a Lord is now the nearest way.  
VII. Elect not persons enslaved to Wantonness, and impudently persevering in Carnal Vncleannesses; for such will not only give away your and their own Estates to satisfy their Lusts, but betray also their Country, and their Saviour, to please their dalilah's.  
VIII. Take heed of choosing men superlatively proud: For they will be so puffed up with their Legislatorship, that after they have sat a while in the House, you will hardly know how to speak unto them, or of them, without being questioned either for transgressing against good manners, or for breach of their Personal Privileges; which they prefer before the Privileges of the whole Nation.  
IX. Choose not men overmuch affected to Popularity, or factiously oppugning Sovereignty; for they will not be just or true to the Interest of King or People, but so far only as it may advance their own Will.  
X. Choose none generally reputed vicious in any kind; for they will be open or secret Opposers of all Laws or Ordinances restraining Enormities, and hinderers of bringing Delinquents to condign punishment.  
XI. Make not choice of Irreligious persons, or such as are inclined to ancient Superstitions, or modern Novelties; for these will not willingly assent to the establishment of aught save what may advance their private Fancies.  
For how can he affect true Reformation,  
Who neither hath right Rule or firm foundation?  
XII. Make not choice of Children under Age; for we ought not to commit the management of the most weighty Affairs of the Commonwealth to them who are not capable by Law of disposing their own Estates; especially seeing the major part of Voices, (which an ignorant Child may help to make up) will be sufficient sometimes to confirm a Resolution to the Public Damage.  
XIII. Choose not Persons Outlawed; or so far indebted, that they dare not walk abroad without a Protection; for what can be more unjust, then to let them sit as Lawmakers, who submit not to the Laws in force, and to render the Fountain of Justice obstructive unto itself.  
XIV. Lastly, Avoid the choice of those who make means to have themselves chosen; for it discovereth so much arrogance and self-conceit, that they are worthy to be rejected; and doubtless they more intent that which may advantage themselves, then to be serviceable to their Country. The Deliverers of GOD's People in distress, were such as modestly sought rather to put off, then to intrude upon Public Employments; yea, Saul was fitter to reign when he hid himself among the stuff, then when he took care to be honoured before the people.  
" The cursed Bramble sought not to be chose  
" The King of Trees, till they did him propose.  
There were also some Proposals and Caveats concerning those who are Electors, and as touching the making choice by Lot; to the perusal whereof you are referred in the Original Tract.   

A Cause Allegorically Stated. Imprinted 1657.  
THis was published among other things, during Oliver Cromwel's Reign, with an Appeal therein to all Impartial Censurers.  
A Goodly Ship, with precious Lading fraught,  
Late in a dark night, nigh to Land was brought.  
Through many dangers, & much blustering weather,  
GOD's Providence had safely brought her thither;  
And by the Water's motions, and the humming  
Among the Shrouds, another storm seemed coming.  
The Place arrived at, was a dangerous Bay,  
From which, into the Port, two Channels lay,  
Divided by a Quicksand, with great store  
Of Shelves, and sharp Rocks upon either shore.  
She had a choice Commander, Merchants many,  
Stout Seamen, Pilots too, as good as any;  
With Passengers of all sorts, among whom  
Some could (had need been) have supplied the room  
Of well-experienced Seamen, and advised  
Such things as Prudence would not have despised.  
But these, among themselves divided were, (steer;  
Through which of those two Channels they should  
One Party thinking that the safest way,  
In which the other thought most danger lay;  
And in the dark it could not well be seen  
In which the greatest hazard would have been.  
Nor were they in less hazard to lie there  
At Anchor, till the daylight did appear.  
A poor old man was at that time aboard,  
To whom GOD had been pleased to afford  
A Faculty to see things in the dark,  
Which others could not view, or did not mark:  
He knowing what great straits the Ship was in,  
(And what their loss was likely to have been)  
Called out to those there had chief Command,  
And said, There stands a Rock, here lies a Sand;  
Another yonder; and a Whirl-pool there:  
Be very careful therefore how ye steer;  
Bear up a little while into the Wind,  
(Although a show of danger there you find)  
And take heed that a causeless fear or doubt,  
Makes you not over-soon to Tack about,  
Lest in the way you strike upon a steep  
Sharp Ridg, and over-set into the Deep.  
First, on the Starbordside a compass fetch  
Half way to yond Point, to avoid that Breach;  
And then upon the Larbordside again  
Wheel off, and you the Harbour shall attain.  
Thus spoke the old man; for although 'twere night,  
He saw as well as when the Sun gives light;  
And they who had a willingness thereto,  
Did that which he advised them to do.  
The greater part not heeding what they heard,  
(Nor knowing their own danger) grinned and jeered,  
And from the Hatches crept into the Hold,  
Leaving the Ship to what befall it should.  
But they who more desired to have their Will,  
Then to be counselled, whether well or ill;  
Disdaining (as it were) to be advised  
(Though for their weal, by one whom they despised,  
Did not alone pursue him with despite,  
But with Oppressions also him requite:  
Now therefore, in what this man stands obliged  
To those, let it impartially be judged:  
And▪ whether such as they deserve not all  
Those Plagues which now are feared may befall,  
Till that Ingratitude they shall repent,  
Which justly merits that sad Consequent  
This is a Case (though heeded but of few)  
To some known, as expressed here, to be true.   

MERCURIUS RUSTICUS. Imprinted without Date.  
THis was composed in or about the first year after the late unhappy War between the King and Parliament, in imitation of the Weekly Intelligencers, then published; being a Rustic Discourse, offering between jest and earnest, some particulars to consideration, relating both to Civil and Military Transactions; and hinted Notions then pertinent to those Times, and not wholly impertinent to these. But no more of it shall be here inserted save the beginning of the Book; and that also to no other purpose, but to distinguish it from a Book of the same Title, published by another man; which this Author now having seen, is unwilling to have it imputed to him, (as he hath heard it is) how worthy soever it may seem to be owned. His Book (which he thinks none will be ambitious to father) thus begins.  
By your leave Gentlemen; when seriousness takes not effect, perhaps trifling may. Every man hath some Toys in his head; and I have too many. One will now discover itself, which hath itched in it ever since last night. Mars had lately tired me with long Marches and Skirmishes. Jupiter hath cast such ill Aspects upon me, that I cannot be jovial. The Moon is in the wain; Venus retrograde; Apollo would not lend me his Fiddle to prevent my being oppressed with Melancholy by the Influences of Saturn; and therefore I complied with Mercury in making a Rustic Progress, and (now understanding that variety of News is much desired) I am bold to present you with such gleanning as I gathered up in the Country.  
And though I am not so witty as my Friend Britanicus; nor bring you Narratives that so well deserve the Whetstone as Monsieur Aulicus; nor come so furnished with Novelties as Master Civicus; nor so supplied with Passages as the Weekly Intelligencer; nor am at leisure to sum up all Occurrences, as the Accountant; nor so large in Promises as the Scout, the Informer, and the rest of your diligent Mercuries; nor so impudent as to aver I present you with nothing but Truth: Yet I have brought you that with which you may perhaps be for once well contented to read or hear, though they be but such gatherings as I had from the Mill, the Alehouse, the Smith's Shop, or the Barbers; for these are our Country Exchanges, wherein we talk of a many things with as little good success as they do at Westminster; and otherwhile also to as ill, and to as good purposes.  
This being sufficient to distinguish his from the other Book bearing the same Title, no more shall be here inserted.   

What Peace to the Wicked. Imprinted 1646.  
THis is an Expostulatory Answer to a Derisory Question concerning Peace; and here is with little omission inserted, because it was so long ago Imprinted, that it cannot be easily procured.  
One who hath seldom in these days,  
From Fool or Knave got love or praise,  
(And who by many men is known  
With cheerfulness to have bestown  
His Wit, Pains, Person and Estate,  
The Common Right to vindicate)  
A long Imprisonment hath had  
For calling of a Spade a Spade,  
Which (if a Court-Card) might have been  
Next to the King, except the Queen.  
While he in that Confinement lay,  
One asked him the other day,  
When he supposed this War should end,  
And what successes would attend  
Our hopes of Peace: Which Question tho  
From Levity it seemed to flow,  
(Or scoffingly to be expressed)  
Received this Answer not in jest.  
Why ask ye when this War will cease,  
And when this Kingdom shall have Peace,  
As if you thought I could foreshow  
All that hereafter shall ensue?  
Or as if when the Truth were told,  
You value or believe it could,  
Who nor esteem nor use have made  
Of those Fore-warnings which you had?  
They who will know what shall succeed,  
Must of things past take serious heed;  
And glean Instructions whilst they may,  
From actions of the present day:  
For, past and present time declares  
What for the future GOD prepares;  
And, till these quicken their foresights,  
Men sit in darkness till he smites.  
If to this Question you would know  
An Answer which for Truth may go,  
(And not with ●hab-like Desires)  
Wish all your Prophets may be Liars:  
Then ask your Consciences, and they  
Will tell what things expect you may;  
For, let my Troubles never cease,  
If ever you have other Peace  
Then what your Conscience might foresee,  
Though King and Parliament agree.  
But lest the Conscience may be seared,  
Or lest Delusions have appeared,  
Which promise Peace when she is fled,  
(And Vengeance hanging over head)  
Ask your own Fears and Human Reason,  
What they conjecture of the season.  
Ask them what sign it is of Peace,  
When Wickedness doth more increase?  
What may be hoped for, of that Nation  
That slights her day of Visitation;  
That mendeth not for words or blows,  
That in Reforming, worse grows;  
That suffers them who serve her best,  
To be most wronged and oppressed;  
And on them every Token hath  
Of Desolation, and of Wrath?  
What Peace can we expect, whilst they  
Who spoilt us, not only may  
Find Mercy (which we could allow)  
But, so imperious also grow,  
As to reproach them to their faces,  
(Even in their Privileged places)  
Who once thought better Fruits would come  
From that which they had parted from?  
What likelihood is there that Peace  
Will follow, when your Friends decrease,  
And they who served you heretofore,  
Shall be as mad as they are poor?  
If yet you cannot well discern  
When Peace will back again return;  
Get knowledge timely, if you may,  
What Game you are about to play;  
How far you have as yet to run  
That Wild-Goose-Chase of late begun:  
What can be hoped for of those  
Who are irrationally Foes:  
What you in safety can propound,  
Where little save Deceit is found:  
Or, what good Harvest can be mown,  
Where mischief only hath been sown:  
For, when these things are truly weighed,  
What will succeed, needs not be said.  
Get knowledge, if ye can, how long  
Divisions will be raised among  
The Lords and Commons; and when we  
Shall find both Houses to agree,  
That to the Public detriment,  
Nor House nor Member shall descent,  
Or be united, but insist  
Upon the Common Interest:  
For, you have heard what Lot betides  
A House or Kingdom that divides:  
And know what's likely to succeed,  
Till our Peacemakers are agreed.  
If waste Jerusalem was made,  
Who therein but Three Factions had:  
This Island how may we deplore,  
Wherein are Three times three, and more?  
Some with the Parliament partake;  
Some for the King a Party make:  
Some would a Popular Estate:  
Some Aristocracy create:  
Some are a Faction for the Pope:  
Some to maintain the Prelate's hope:  
Some for the Presbyterians vote:  
Some Independency promote:  
Some strive for this, and some for that:  
Some neither know, nor care not what,  
So War goes on, and get they may  
Freequarter, Plunder, and their Pay.  
Some fight their Liberties to save;  
Some, that they others may enslave.  
Some for Religion, and for Christ,  
Some that they may do what they list:  
Some for the Commonwealths avail,  
Some for Themselves with tooth and nail;  
And they who have the basest end,  
As fairly as the best pretend:  
Not caring whether their desire  
Obtained be by Sword or Fire,  
By Truth or Lies, with Love or Hate,  
By Treachery, or fair Debate:  
This is our Posture; and whilst we  
So foolish, false, and factious be;  
Or, whilst it shall continue thus,  
Who knows what will become of us?  
Ask those who now of Peace do dream,  
Who shall procure the same for them,  
Since many are become their Foes,  
Whom they to be their Champions chose;  
Since they our Substance have bestown,  
To make new Fortunes of their own;  
And Public Injuries increase,  
To gain themselves a private Peace.  
Yea, since the People doubtings have  
What to refuse, or what to crave,  
Do still irresolute abide,  
Long constant unto neither side;  
Not in themselves resolved are,  
Whether they would have Peace or War,  
Or whether readmit they shall  
Charles to be King, or not at all;  
For, doubtless if thus matters go,  
(As many now much fear they do)  
A wise man needs not break his brain,  
To search what Peace we shall obtain,  
Since whilst thus blind and mad we be,  
What will ensue, a Fool may see.  
Yet lest you may be fooled more,  
Then either now, or heretofore,  
Observe the Commons, if of them  
None serve two Masters at a time;  
Nay, whether none among them be,  
Who Servants are this day to Three,  
And false to all; observe of those  
Whom we for Public service chose,  
How many fail the People's Trust,  
To private persons how unjust  
They are; how little good effect  
The King or People can expect,  
Concerning Peace, while such as they  
The Cunning Ambodexters play.  
Ask them who sit to take Accounts,  
To what their two years' pains amounts?  
Or, what the Commonwealth it betters,  
When they have found who are her debtors;  
If when their falsehood shall be known,  
(And published throughout the Town)  
A Cheating Shark may outface them  
Who justly have convicted him,  
And be employed as before,  
Or else where he may cheat us more.  
Ask if they have not power to call  
As well the great Thiefs, as the small,  
To give account; those whom we hear  
Cumprivilegio, as it were,  
Have plundered at an easy rate,  
Coin, Jewels, Householdstuff and Plate:  
And if you find they have not leave  
To question all men who deceive  
The Public Trust; know we are yet  
For Peace with Righteousness unfit.  
Then mark what Favours many have,  
Who sought this Nation to enslave;  
How some exposed are to scorn,  
Who of this War the brunt have born;  
And having heedfully survay'd  
How Good with Evil is repaid,  
Mind well the Doctrine, and the Use,  
And what that may at last produce.  
Inquire moreover how you find  
To works of Mercy men inclined;  
How honest Causes are preferred,  
How grieved Petitioners are heard;  
How Offices conferred be;  
Whether some have not two or three,  
Who for the Public neither spent,  
Nor gave, nor hazarded, nor lent,  
When many better men had none,  
Who in your service were undone.  
Observe those Pensions how you share,  
Which for Relief allotted are;  
How little best deservers get,  
How many of them not a whit;  
How often ill, how seldom well  
Rewards and Punishments you deal;  
Which are the Pillars whereon stand  
The Peace and Honour of the Land.  
Observe, if when we spend a day  
In praises, or to fast and pray,  
If more Hypocrisy therein,  
Then true Devotion, hath not bin●:  
If Preaching tend not more to strife,  
Then to sound Doctrine, or good Life:  
If more we seek not to fulfil  
Our sensual humours, and our will,  
Then to perform a Thank-oblation,  
Or duties of Humiliation;  
Or if the Worship we profess,  
Be not an Outside Holiness,  
No deeper rooted than the tongue,  
Or fruits that fade as soon as sprung:  
For, as it proveth when you see  
These things to trial brought shall be,  
You may without much failing guess  
What likelihood there is of Peace.  
An ear, an eye sometimes too have ye  
Upon the Army and the Navy;  
An eye severely to behold,  
An ear to hear what hath been told  
Of some who much entrusted were,  
With Stores, Arms, and Provisions there;  
Or had Commissions to Array,  
To furnish, fortify and pay  
Ships, Forts or Men; and those in chief,  
Employed for Ireland's first relief,  
And your first Armies; (even when all  
Did lie at stake, and seem to call  
For faithful, stout and honest men)  
Observe how they discharged then  
The Trust reposed; how some were made  
Commanders, Pay and Titles had,  
But scarce a Man: How others now  
Defraud the Public; and if you  
(As Fame reports) among them find  
Deceit in this accursed kind,  
Excuse not them; yea, though at last,  
Acts of Oblivion should be passed  
For open Foes, no Grace provide  
For men untrue to their own side;  
Lest, as your Peace they have deferred,  
They mar it likewise afterward:  
For, where employed such are found  
When Peace is made, 'twill not be sound.  
Inquire (if you can tell of whom  
To make Enquiry) what's become  
Of all the Public Protestations,  
Engaged for private Reparations;  
What of that Vow which did profess  
A mutual Aid in all distress:  
What of the selfdenying Vote,  
Which goodly Hopes in us begot:  
What of those Orders whereupon  
Some trusted till they were undone.  
What of the Public Faith, in which  
We thought ourselves exceeding rich,  
Though all were lost, so that remained  
Inviolated, and unstained.  
Inquire (I say) throughout the Land,  
In what condition these now stand;  
For, when of these you have obtained  
That Certainty which may be gained,  
It will undoubtedly appear  
What we may either hope or fear.  
Inquire yet further (lest you may  
Expect perhaps a Sunshine day,  
And meet a Storm) in what good mind  
That sort of People you shall find,  
Yclept the Clergy; for the stem  
Of our late Troubles, was in them.  
Their Factions, Avarice and Pride,  
Did first of all these Isles divide:  
From them at first, the Firebrands came,  
That set this Empire in a flame:  
When 'twas nigh quenched again, they blew  
Those coals which did the flame renew.  
The Nations they did re-engage,  
The People's vexed minds enrage,  
By feigned Wiles, and false pretences,  
Abusing tender Consciences:  
The Course long since by them begun,  
Is to this day continued on:  
And therefore take this Truth for me,  
(For you shall find it Truth to be)  
That till you see these much estranged  
From what they are, their posture ehanged,  
Till they shall better their Conditions,  
Confine● themselves to their Commissions,  
Leave off to jangle, fool and fiddle  
With what they should not intermeddle,  
And be as pious, and as wise,  
As they are outwardly precise,  
(Or, as those few among them are,  
For whose sakes GOD abates this War)  
Nor King, nor Peers, the Commons neither,  
Nor these united altogether,  
Shall able be that Peace to make,  
Which their Contentions will not shake.  
Make one Enquiry more to see  
And search what most of those men be  
On whose Endeavours you depend,  
To bring our troubles to an end.  
Mark how their Duties they attend  
In private, how their time they spend:  
What Company they most frequent,  
What matters give them best content:  
What by their neighbours they were thought,  
Till they obtained what they sought;  
And to what purpose they employ  
The Power and Places they enjoy.  
Then cast an eye upon the Rabble,  
And, taking view (if you be able)  
Of all together, great and small,  
Mark well the Tantamount of all.  
Mark if we be not like an Host  
That's routed when the battle's lost.  
And if we deal not gifts and blows,  
Like mad men, both to Friends and Foes.  
Mark how those Hypocrites, who here  
Promoters of the Truth appear,  
Walk in their Masking Suits abroad,  
As if they thought to cozen GOD  
As they do men; mark too, that Crew,  
Which is profane in open view,  
How blindly, and how daringly  
(Even where GOD's Thunderbolts do fly)  
They still offend; and whether we  
May not to them compared be,  
Who sawing are those Planks asunder,  
Whereon they stand, when Hell is under.  
When these Inquiries you have made,  
To see what light may thence be had;  
And, when you know as well as I,  
Those hind'rances, and Reasons why  
That Voice of Peace yet goes not on  
Which this time twelve Months was begun;  
And, shall observe with due regard,  
Whath hath been since done, and declared;  
It will disclose a great deal more,  
Then I have told you heretofore:  
But not till then. Yet lest some may  
Despair or faint before that day,  
I will deliver, ere you go,  
A comfortable word or two.  
" There may be Peace at last, though yet  
" We nor know how, nor merit it:  
" For GOD oft shows great Mercies where  
" The greatest of all Sinners are.  
" And, if Self-seekers be discri'de,  
" Before this Isle they more divide;  
" If Factions, wrongs, and discontent,  
" Endanger not this Parliament;  
" And if the Faithful Members can  
" But cast out from them now and then  
" A Trouble-house, and timely suage  
" The vexed People's rising rage,  
" By offering out of their Committees  
" (What reign in Counties, Towns and Cities)  
" But two or three such Peace-oblations,  
" As that was of th' EXAMINATIONS,  
" And by their Prudence act it so  
" That honesty more prized may grow;  
" That Priest and People down may lay  
" The works of Stubble and of Hay,  
" Their Names and Terms of Separation,  
" And meekly seek the preservation  
" Of Truth in Love: Then in one year  
" If Peace be not established here,  
" My Loans and Losses yet unpaid,  
" With my Arrears three years delayed,  
" I'll forfeit wholly to the State,  
" And live still as I do of late,  
" By swallowing wrongs and empty Air,  
" And Patience kept through faith and prayer.  
Thus to the Question made▪ you have  
That Answer which your Prisoner gave,  
Who other News will tell, if he  
Much longer shall a Prisoner be.  
Your Spaniels beaten, at your feet will lie,  
Your English Mastiffs at your face will fly.  
Remember that also.   

An ADDRESS to the Members of PARLIAMENT in their single Capacities. Imprinted 1657.  
THE Author having been compelled to make use of such Extravagant Means as this, during the sitting of the Long Parliament and thereby left unrelieved; was constrained to prosecute the like ordinary and extraordinary Expedients during those Parliaments which were called by Oliver Cromwell, and his Successor; among which, this was one, left at their Threshold, thus superscribed, To that Member of Parliament who shall take up this Paper.  
SIR, if you are not of this Parliament,  
Hereby to greet you, 'tis not my intent.  
But, if a Member of this House you are,  
Your taking up these Papers (as it were  
By Lot) engageth you to manage those  
Petitions, which I therewith did enclose,  
As you would have another use his Power  
For your avail, if now my Case were your:  
Whereof take this Account why I thus play  
My Cards confused, in this unusual way.  
I shall hereby at least guests at the length  
Of my Oppressions, or how well my strength  
May be improved to bear them; how Contracts,  
Sales, Bargains, and your other Public Acts  
Will be performed; That as I by presage  
Of many things to come, foretold this Age  
Before fulfilled; so I might likewise tell  
The next Age what I saw done ill or well.  
I have oft wooed you to entertain  
My just Requests, but hitherto in vain;  
Though I have many several ways assayed,  
To gain respect to what was humbly prayed.  
Now therefore, having at your door attended  
Six Months at least together unbefriended;  
And seeing to obstruct me, every day  
New Suitors so increase to stop the way,  
That I had little hope with Friends to meet  
To hand this in, I laid it at your feet  
Who pass in thither, hoping that it may  
For an Admission make the quicker way,  
And not be kept here waiting at your Gate,  
Till hearing and relief shall come too late.  
He who shall take this up, and get it read,  
Where it shall with respect be answered,  
An Obligation will (by doing so)  
Impose both upon me, and many moe:  
For, if my Suits obtain deserved heed,  
Some other will have hope as well to speed,  
Who now almost despair Relief to have;  
And, future Cost and trouble I shall save.  
Three Parliaments (the eldest of which three  
Might, had it pleased our Lord, have outlived me)  
Are dead and gone, since first I did complain  
Of Grievances, which unredrest remain:  
And now to see a Fourth I have survived,  
Which I fear hath it self almost outlived,  
Unless GOD grant it Power and Will to do  
What they in duty are obliged unto;  
That they from wrongs the wronged may release,  
Proceed with Honour, and conclude in Peace.  
To such Achievements there's a middle way  
'Twixt This and That; 'twixt Haste and long delayed:  
Which if mistaken, or not timely found,  
May (as it hath done) lead into a Round,  
(Or Labyrinth) whereby we may be brought  
To Pits and Snares, which have no passage out;  
And multiply distractions, till our Prayers  
Are turned to Indignation, or Despairs;  
Which is their drift, and not their least Design,  
Who seek our Liberties to undermine.  
When Public Wants with speed must be supplied,  
A Private Plaint may then be laid aside;  
But not too long deferred, lest it become  
A festering sore, not meanly perilsome.  
For since an universal Weal consists  
Of many Individual Interests,  
A perfect Body cannot be enjoyed,  
Where one by one the Members are destroyed;  
And when the Eye or Ear unheedful grows  
Of what afflicts the Fingers and the Toes:  
Much less when they neglect what appertains  
To keep it from an Ulcer in the Brains.  
The Cures therefore, of private Wants, betwixt  
Public Transactions, should be intermixed  
(At least sometimes) in those emergent things,  
Wherein delay of Justice, losses brings  
Beyond Repair; or when the State at last  
Must bear the damage, when the Care is past;  
Or else in point of Honour, suffer more  
Than all the Public Treasure will restore.  
I grudge not, when GOD's Glory is at stake,  
That they who of his Honour Conscience make,  
Should take the freedom to debate at large  
What may their duties unto him discharge;  
Or, when the Common Safety doth appear  
In hazard, though my Life in danger were:  
But, when those brunts are over, if men please  
For their mere pleasure, profit, or their ease,  
To leave us in a perishing condition,  
Then of their Faithfulness they give suspicion,  
And I more grieved for what I thereby see  
Befalls my Country, then for wrongs to me.  
There's time enough in all straight whatsoever,  
For all things, if it well divided were:  
And, for our not opportioning aright  
The Time we have, (as wise men know we might)  
GOD cuts off half the days we should have had,  
And our Designments are abortive made.  
As we from week to week, from day to day,  
Do put off those who for our sorrows pray,  
So likewise we our hopes and suits put by  
By him on whose Assistance we rely.  
An hour therefore, should other-while be spent  
To give Reward, as well as Punishment:  
As well to make Repayments, as to borrow:  
To think on them who help us in our sorrow,  
We are obliged, and forth our fruits to bring  
In season, like trees planted by a Spring;  
Not nine or ten years after they are dead,  
(Who by our timely fruit should have been fed)  
Lest we be felled by the Wood-man's hand,  
Or, like the Figtree, whither where we stand.  
One day is as well spared sometimes to save  
An honest man, as nine to doom a Knave.  
Of useful Plants we should have as much care,  
As from the good Corn to weed out a Tare.  
Some private acts of Justice, with our zeal  
To Piety, and to the Public Weal;  
And Works of Mercy sprinkled here and there  
Among them, like Embroydries would appear  
On Flowers of Gold, with Silver interwove,  
And helpful be your Grand Work to improve.  
But, where few Private Grievances are heard.  
God gives their Public Prayers small regard;  
And few are in that Commonwealth much joyed,  
By whom their whole well-being is destroyed;  
Or which is senseless of their sad estate  
Who did help save it from a sadder Fate.  
Among such Suffrers, I may self am one,  
Who gladly would be better thought upon;  
I have as many years already spent,  
As are to two men's lives equivalent,  
To seek for Justice, with such cost, such trouble,  
And loss of time, as makes my Losses double.  
So that if but one Suit more at this Rate  
I had depending, ten times my Estate,  
And ten men's lives, would not afford me time  
And means enough, whereby to finish them:  
For, my Petitions either were deferred  
From month to month, from year to year unheard,  
Or answered so, that when my Suit seemed done,  
My Case proved worse than when it first begun:  
And to obstruct the Justice I implore,  
They voice me to be rich, who make me poor.  
With mock-shews of Relief I have been fed,  
With stones in my distress, instead of bread,  
Which had ere this day starved me, but that GOD  
Turned many of them into wholesome food,  
And raised me a subsistence out of that  
Which was designed to ruin my Estate.  
If I who had a few Friends, have thus fared,  
Alas! how speed poor men whom none regard?  
And who from none can claim an obligation,  
Either by Friendship, Faction, or Relation?  
But now new Misadventures me beset,  
Which by delay of Justice do beget  
Increasing Mischiefs, that admit no cure  
Save what must from a Legislative Power  
Derived be; and this befalleth so  
Perhaps, that I in every Change may know  
The gen'ral temper, by the pulse that beats  
Both in Superior and inferior Seats;  
That I and other men may timely see  
How little confidence reposed may be  
In Lords or Commons, Parliaments or Kings,  
Or in the best of all Terrestrial things;  
And that henceforth we might depend upon  
GOD's Providence, and upon him alone.  
If this displease, it cannot make me more  
Exposed to sufferings, than I was before.  
They who to neither side, nor back, nor further  
Can move themselves, need no Restraint by Order:  
Nor greatly be afraid what next will come,  
Their just Resolving to divert them from:  
And that whereto Necessities compel,  
Is done excusably, though not done well.  
If much Oppression cracks a wise man's brain,  
Who knows whereto it may a fool constrain?  
Or how it may the meekest men provoke  
To that whereby the Common Peace is broke?  
They whom delay of Justice doth make poor,  
Do lose but their Estates, and may get more;  
If otherwhile they are of Life deprived,  
They feel not what to feel they might have lived:  
But he who doth in life-time, thereby lose  
Estate and Credit, shall to Friends and Foes  
Become a scorn; whereat if mad he be,  
And makes ten thousands grow as mad as he,  
Who knows whereto it may at last extend,  
Or what will thereon follow in the end?  
The fault is theirs who without Mercy stretch  
A weak man's Patience further than 'twill reach,  
As if he of his Sufferings, sense had none,  
Because they no more feel them, than a stone.  
My Principle (for which I am abused)  
Injoins me, when I scurvily am used,  
Where I expect Relief, to show my wrongs,  
And Vengeance leave, to whom the same belongs;  
But all men cannot be content to stay  
GOD's leisure; or, for Justice in his way:  
And, what their Wants, Neglects, and Indignation  
May tempt them to, is worth consideration.  
There is to all things an appointed date,  
And they are not wise, who are wise too late.  
" One sin remains unacted to the height,  
" Which when complete, will ruin all outright.  
" And that is this; There are yet in the gap  
" Some standing, who with life do yet escape;  
" If these removed were, that Abomination  
" Which next precedes an utter Desolation,  
" Will be set up; and then shall be inflicted  
" At full, all those Plagues heretofore predicted.  
" Oh God prevent that Grand, that fatal Gild,  
" I humbly pray; and I believe thou wilt,  
" By raising still to stand before thy face,  
" An acceptable number in this place,  
" For whose sake thou wilt spare it from the dooms  
" Now threatened, till our great deliverer comes;  
" And keep them constant to true self-denial,  
" Faith, Love and Patience in their fiery trial:  
" For, nor thine, or their Glory it advances  
" So much, as when they have deliverances  
" From Sufferings in their height, and when they are  
" Within a burning Furnace, as they were  
" Who had it heated for them seven times more  
" Than ere it was at any time before.  
This, as were all this Author's other Addresses, were tendered to the late Parliaments without success, whether expreffed in a serious or extravagant Mode. And thereby perhaps the true constitution of those times will the better appear to the glorifying of GOD's Justice; because the personal experience which he had by feeling those oppressions whereof many others complained, were to him much more evidenced thereby to be real, than they could be, by what he seemed to see, or to hear only by report.   

HALELUJAH. Or, Britan's Second Remembrancer. Imprinted 1641.  
THis First Part of a Review of Neglected Precautions, Predictions and Remembrances, was begun with the Author's first Book, called Britan's Remembrancer; and this Second Remembrancer shall conclude it: For, though composed in a Mode much differing from the former, it was an Expedient which might have produced good Effects, had it not been as much neglected as all other good means are to this day. It is our duty to make trial of another way, when one fails; and the Prophets are herein exemplary to us, who often declared the same Truths in various dress, and otherwhile in the same words, when the same or like Occasions were given. That Book containing Two hundred thirty three spiritual Hymns and Songs; is too large to be abreviated; and therefore to instance the usefulness of the rest, here shall be inserted but two or three Hymns out of each Book, the first relating to particular Occasions; the second to Times; the third to Persons; that all men of all sorts, might be thereby minded of their Duties at all Times, and upon all Occasions, as appears by this brief Narration.  
A Friend of the Author's, much affecting that Expedient, (as tending to the advance both of Morality and Virtue, distributed many of the Books among his Acquaintance, at his own cost, and recommended one of them to a Person of Quality, who loved Song and Music; but before he had read two lines thereof, he rejected it with much contempt; whereupon the other somewhat grieved, asked the reason of his dislike, and received this Answer; Such a Character of it hath (said he) been given by a Learned and Pious Divine, upon whose Judgement I rely, that I will not lose time in perusing it. Yet at last being importuned, he took it up, and turning to a Song which was to him instanced as demonstrating the frothiness of all the rest, he began to read it aloud in slighting manner, and in a ridiculous Tone; but after the reading of a few lines, changing his voice, sat still a good space, perusing it in silence; then suddenly starting up, said thus to his Friend, I heartily thank you for this Book, and for importuning me to read it; I hope also, it shall teach me whilst I live, not to depend upon the Judgement of other men, (how religious or judicious soever they shall be reputed) in those things wherein I ought to use my own understanding as well as theirs. This is the effect of what was told the Author, and it is here inserted, in hope it may make some other as wise as that Gentleman.  
The Author in his Epistles before the whole, and each particular Book of that Volume, hath expressed by way of Preoccupation, somewhat to prevent prejudice▪ and if it had been contemplatively and actually made use of according to his intention and proposals, might perhaps have reduced this Generation to a better temper than Precepts without Practice have effected; and made those vain Songs less delighted in, which are become so numerous, and so affected, that pious Meditations are nigh quite out of fashion with many; for, not in private only, but at public Feasts and Meetings also, scurrilous and obscene Songs are impudently sung without respect to the presence of Matrons, Virgins, Magistrates and Divines; yea, sometimes are in their despite called for, sung, and acted with such abominable gesticulations, as are offensive to all modest hearers and beholders; and befitting only the Solemnities of Bacchus, Venus, and Priapus; for the abolishing of which Abuse, the Author was a Petitioner that some provision might be made; and prepared also this Expedient to promove it; but the carnal profaneness of some, and the sullen Religiousness of others, who causelessly pretended a Superstitious Design to be therein couched, hath hitherto vacated both his hope and pious Endeavours, notwithstanding all his Precautions.  

An Occasional Hymn when we first awake in the Morning.  

DEar GOD! who watch dost keep  
Round all that honour thee,  
To thy Beloved givest sleep,  
When Rest shall needful be.  
My Soul returns thee praise,  
That thus refreshed I am,  
And that my Tongue a Voice can raise,  
To praise thee for the same.   

2 As now my soul doth shake  
Dull sleep out of mine eyes,  
So let thy Spirit me awake,  
That I from sin may rise.  
The Night is passed away,  
Which filled us full of fears,  
And we enjoy another Day,  
Wherein thy Grace appears.   

3 Oh! let me therefore shun  
All Errors of the Night;  
Thy Righteousness let me put on,  
And walk as in the Light.  
Protect me from his Power,  
(Since I on thee rely)  
Who walks in darkness to devour,  
When our long sleep draws nigh.   

4 Grant when the Trump shall sound  
A summons from the Grave,  
My Body then may from the ground  
A blessed rising have.  
That whatsoever the dreams  
Of my Corruption be,  
The Vision of thy glorious Beams  
May bring full joys to me.    

A Hymn when daylight appears.  

LOok forth mine eye, look up and view  
How bright the daylight shines on me;  
And, as the Morning doth renew,  
Mark how renewed GOD's Mercies be.  
Behold, the splendours of the Day  
Disperse the shadows of the Night;  
And, they who late in darkness lay,  
Have now the Comfort of the light.   

2 Nor Twilight-Plagues, nor Midnight-fears,  
Nor mortal or immortal Foes,  
Had power to take us in their snares;  
But safe we slept, and safe arose.  
And to those days which we have had,  
He that is Lord of Day and Night,  
Another Day vouchsafes to add,  
That our lost hours redeem we might.   

3 It is too much to have made void  
So many days already past;  
Let this therefore be so employed,  
As if we knew it were our last.  
Most creatures now themselves advance,  
Their Morning-sacrifice to bring;  
The Herds do skip, the Flocks do dance,  
The Winds do pipe, the Birds do sing.   

4 Lord, why should these that were decreed  
To serve thee in a lower place,  
In thankful duties us exceed,  
Who have obtained special Grace?  
We are obliged much more than those,  
Our Voice in thankfulness to raise;  
Therefore, oh GOD! our lips unclose,  
And teach our Tongues to sing thy praise.   

5 Let heart, and hand, and voice accord  
This day to magnify thy Name;  
And let us every day, oh Lord!  
Endeavour to perform the same.  
So, when that Morning doth appear,  
In which thou shalt all flesh destroy,  
We shall not then awake in fear,  
But rise to meet thy Son with joy.    

A Hymn when we are putting on our APPAREL.  

LORD, had not man sought out by sin  
What was untimely known,  
His nakedness unfelt had been,  
And wiser he had grown.  
But in the stead of what he thought  
By lawless means to know,  
The knowledge of those things was taught,  
Which bringeth sense of wo.   

2 Had he as forward strove to be,  
The Fruit of Life to taste,  
As on the Death-procuring-Tree  
A lustful eye to cast,  
The happiness for him prepared  
In soul he had obtained,  
And in his Body also shared  
The bliss for him ordained.   

3 But since the flesh did press to see  
Her wants before the time,  
Both soul and flesh afflicted be  
For that presumptuous Crime.  
And cumbered so with pain and care,  
For Clothing and for Food,  
That little their Endeavours are,  
To seek their chiefest good.   

4 Lord, with a Rose of Innocence,  
Thy Servant so array,  
That it may take the painful sense  
Of outward wants away.  
So cloth me with thy Righteousness,  
That (though defiled I am)  
I may not by my nakedness  
Exposed be to shame.   

5 Let not the Garments which I wear  
My tender flesh to hide,  
Be either made a lustful Snare,  
Or nourishments of Pride;  
But be remembrances to show  
The folly of that deed  
By which man fell, and fell so low,  
As those base Rags to need.    

The Second Temporary Hymn. A Temporary Hymn for the First Day of the Week, commonly called the Lordsday, or Sunday.  

GReat Lord of Time, great King of Heaven,  
Since weekly thou renew'st my days,  
To thee shall daily thanks be given,  
And weekly Sacrifice of Praise.  
This day the Light (Time's eldest born)  
Her glorious Beams did first display;  
And then the Evening and the Morn  
Did first obtain the Name of Day.   

2 The Depth with Darkness then impaled,  
(That out of which the World was made)  
And, which deep Waters thou hast called,  
Upon this Day beginning had.  
And, as upon this Day it was  
In which Creation first begun,  
So on this Day the work of Grace  
In every circumstance was done.   

3 For, on this Day thy Christ arose,  
And Victor over Death became▪  
This Day he conquered all his Foes,  
And put them to perpetual shame.  
Upon this Day it pleased thee  
Thy holy Spirit down to send,  
That men with Gifts might furnished be,  
Thy Gospel's Preaching to attend.   

4 This day therefore we set apart  
For holy Rest, and holy Rites;  
And every sanctified heart  
To celebrate this day delights.  
Except thereto compelled by need,  
Works for the Body we forbear,  
That in those works we may proceed,  
Which for the souls health needful are.   

5 Therefore that now to thee, oh Lord,  
A due Oblation bring I may,  
Thus to thine Honour I record,  
And sing the Blessings of this day.  
So let me sing, so mind them still,  
And all my life so thankful be,  
That when my Course I shall fulfil,  
I may acceptance find with thee.   

6 Discretion grant me so to know  
What Sabbath-Rites thou dost require;  
And Grace my duty so to do,  
That I may keep thy Law entire.  
Not doing what should not be done,  
Nor aught omitting, fit to do;  
Nor over-burth'ning any one  
With more than thou enjoin'st them to.   

7 But, let me rest my body so,  
That to my Soul I do no wrong;  
Or, in Devotion heedless grow,  
What to my Body's rest belong:  
That both in Soul and Body, Lord,  
I may still hollow every day  
According to thy Holy Word,  
And have true Rest in thee for ay.    

The Third Temporary Hymn. For MONDAY.  

THis Morning brings to mind, oh GOD,  
Thy forming of this Airy Sphere,  
And spreading of that Orb abroed,  
Wherewith we now surrounded are.  
It was the Fabric which thy hand  
Vouchsafed upon this day to frame;  
And, bounding Waters under land  
From those which are above the same.   

2 This Airy Firmament both keeps  
All breathing Creatures here below,  
From suffocation in those Deeps  
Whereon, till then, no wind did blow.  
To us this Firmament conveys  
Those Dews and Showers which oft we need,  
And all those pleasant Summer-days  
Whence Profits and Delights proceed.   

3 Yea, by this Firmament we gain  
The Vision of refreshing Light;  
And thereby do as well obtain  
The use of hearing, and of sight.  
For this day's Workmanship, oh Lord,  
I praise thee now, and humbly pray,  
That I may thankfully record  
Thy daily Blessings every day.    

A Personal Hymn for a Sovereign PRINCE.  

BY me, or by my Father's House  
Deserved it could not be,  
That I, or any one of us  
Obtained this Degree.  
But GOD who dealeth forth his own,  
As him it liketh best,  
On me those Honours hath bestown,  
Whereof I am poffest.   

2 Great hazards many undergo,  
Such Titles to acquire,  
Yet neither find content below,  
Or means of rising higher.  
What therefore can I less repay,  
To him whose Gift it is,  
Then otherwhile to sing or say  
Some such like Hymn as this?   

3 Let me, O Lord, my Diadem  
Unto thy Glory wear,  
And be a Blessing unto them  
Who my Liege People are.  
Let not thy favours make my heart  
To swell with wanton Pride;  
Or, from those Precepts to depart,  
Which ought to be my Guide.   

4 But make me still in mind to bear,  
From whom this Throne I had,  
And that they my own Brethren are  
Who Ruler I was made.  
Yea, cause me evermore to heed  
That I and they are thine,  
Although to serve the Public need,  
Their Goods and Lives are mine.   

5 Since every Subjects Cause to me  
Should equally be dear,  
In Judgement let the poor man be  
As precious as the Peer.  
And, lest for them we snares may make  
At my chief Council-bo'rd,  
Lord let me daily Counsel take  
From thy Truth-speaking-Word.   

6 Those Traitors chase out of my Court,  
Who dare pervert the Laws,  
Or, cause me by a false report,  
To wrong an honest Cause.  
And, let thy Judgements them devour,  
How high soe'er they stand  
Who shall abuse my Royal Power,  
To hinder thy Command.   

7 Within my Realms let no man dare  
My Statutes to gainsay;  
And, let me live in as much fear,  
Thy Laws to disobey.  
So I and they whom thou on me,  
For Subjects hast bestown,  
Shall in each other blessed be,  
And keep Sedition down.   

8 Preserve to me my Royal Deuce,  
And Grace vouchsafe me still,  
My just Prerogative to use  
According to thy Will;  
That evil men may dread my frown,  
The Righteous comfort find,  
And I obtain a better Crown  
When this must be resigned.    
Here ends the First Part of this Review, to which a Second Part shall be added as GOD enables and permits.   

A POSTSCRIPT.  
THE uncertainty and changeableness of all temporal things, make us accordingly mutable in our Purposes. And whereas the Author of the several Books here abreviated, intended a Retirement to a solitary Habitation in the place of his Nativity, (upon such Considerations as were expressed in the Preface of this Review) his Friends resident in and near London, not approving thereof, have persuaded him to the contrary, by making it probable, That future Inconveniences would be thereby rather multiplied then diminished: Now therefore, by considering therewithal, That where GOD's Judgements are most visible, his Mercy will be there as much evidenced to all who love and trust unfeignedly in him, he resolveth to continue where he is, until he can stay there no longer, lest he may bury himself alive by removing far from them, by whose Charity GOD hath hitherto preserved him.  
There are Faults escaped in the Imprinting or Transcribing of this Review; which the Author's late Sickness disabled him to take notice of: The Readers are therefore desired to correct and amend them according to their own discretion.   

The Names of those Printed Books heretofore written by GEORGE WHITHER, out of which this First Part of this Review of Neglected Remembrances, Precautions and Predictions was collected; mentioning the years in which they were the First or Second time Imprinted.  

Britans' Remembrancer, Imprinted 1627. pag. 1.  
The Author's Motto, Nec Habeo, Nec Careo, Nec Curo, Imprinted 1618. p. 47.  
Campo Musae, or Field-musing, Impr. 1644. p. 49.  
The Dark Lantern, Imprinted 1650. p. 57  
The Perpetual Parliament, Imprinted 1650. p. 69.  
The Author's Emblems, Imprinted 1634. p. 78.  
An Interjection, being a sudden Ejaculation cast in, at the Collecting of this Review, p. 85.  
Vaticinium Causuale, Imprinted 1655. p. 100  
Verses to the King's Majesty, Imprinted 1662. p. 103.  
A Thankful Retribution, Imprinted 1649. p. 109.  
Boni Ominis Votum, Imprinted 1656. p. 115.  
A Si Quis, or Queries, Imprinted 1648. p. 119.  
The Author's Petition, Imprinted 1648. p. 125.  
The Tired Petitioner, Imprinted without date p. 128.  
Se Defendendo, Imprinted without date. p. 132.  
Justitiarius Justificatus, Impr. without date. p. 131.  
Vox Pacifica, Imprinted 1645. p. 132.  
Carmen Expostulatorium, Imprinted 1647. p. 146.  
Letters of Advice, Imprinted 1644. p. 152.  
A Cause Allegorically stated, Impr. 1657. p. 159.  
Mercurius Rusticus, Imprinted without date. p. 161.  
What Peace to the Wicked, Imprinted 1646. p. 163.  
An Address to the Members of Parliament, imprinted 1657. p. 175.  
hallelujah, or Britan's Second Remembrancer, imprinted 1641. p. 183.   
FINIS.