NEWS FROM HELL; Or the Relation of a VISION.  

ME thought I saw before mine eyes  
A meager Ghost to stand:  
And if my fancy judged aright  
'Twas one of Pluto's Band.  
Thou ghastly Ghost I charge thee speak,  
And show the reason why  
Thou waftest through the Stygian Lake  
To fright mortality.   

Yes mortal wretch, see I am come  
From our infernal King,  
From whom to ' th' English Nation  
Strange doleful News do bring:  
Such News it is will make men's hearts  
To quake for dismal fear,  
To what I therefore shall relate  
Lend an attentive Eare.   

A great man lately to us came  
And tidings thither brought  
That treason 'gainst great Pluto's State  
The English Nation wrought.  
That very word of Treason did  
Belzebub so affright,  
That of all courage for a while  
He was bereft quite.   

At length recovered he burst forth,  
And thus in fury spoke,  
Thou wretch with this thy cursed news  
How dared thou me provoke?  
What? England my sweet darling dear  
Against me Treason-plot!  
England so late by us regained?  
Tush I believe it not.   

How many of my trusty spirits  
Have I therein employed,  
In whose successful labours I  
These sixteen years have joyed;  
My first born spirit of Pride I sent,  
Who Acts so well his part,  
There's scarce a man but he hath took  
possession of his heart.   

The Spirit of Mammon also is  
Of all so deified,  
As if the English Nation knew  
No other God beside;  
The Spirit of Lust and of the world,  
I, of envy and of lies,  
Have also place allotted them  
For their solemnities.   

But what black Sugar-candid tricks  
Doth th' Spirit of error play?  
Who as the Wind, the Weathercock,  
men's Brains turns every way.  
Now this opinion they embrace,  
And by and by another,  
Both these disliked, a third is best,  
Taught by an holy Brother.   

Shall all this labour care and pains  
(My England to regain)  
Which I, and all my Spiris have ta'en,  
Prove fruitless and in vane,  
Will England now from me revolt,  
And plot against my State?  
Without whose help and council they  
Themselves will ruinated.   

'Tis true, they broke their Oaths and Vows  
Which they to Heaven made,  
But yet with me to break their League  
I am sure they are afraid.  
May it please your horrid Devilship?  
The new come Guest doth cry,  
May not the News I brought disturb  
Your hellish Majesty.   

But if it be not treason too  
What is the truth to tell,  
For truth should not (it is confessed)  
At all be spoke in Hell;  
But truth it is, there is sprung up  
In England, late, a Sect,  
Who teach, Salvation doth belong  
To all, without respect.   

Make haste now to return again,  
Assume some body strate,  
And tell some Mortal Wight who may,  
What I shall speak, relate;  
Tell them although they do prevent  
Me in my great design,  
Yet shall they not my vengeance scape  
For I have Rods in Brine.   

I'll muster Legions of my Spirits,  
And with them council take,  
How 'mong the sottish Elves I may  
Greatest confusion make.  
This Mortal Wight's the news which I  
Came hither thee to tell;  
My Errand's done, and I must now  
Return again to Hell.   
March: 28 1660  
FINIS.