Numb. 1.  
THE DIVINE PENITENTIAL MEDITATIONS AND VOWS OF HIS LATE Sacred Majesty IN HIS SOLITUDE AT HOLMBY-HOUSE, Faithfully turned into Verse.  
By E. R. Gentleman.  — Respiciat Deus. Bene cogitata— Senec. 
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1649.   

To the READER  
I Here present unto thee a flower plucked out of that most excellent store-yard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meanly turned into verse, therefore I may boldly applaud, and admire the one, and refer my own unto thy censure, yet if this finds acceptance (from Loyal Subjects) it will incite me to proceed with the other Meditations; which if I shall not be so fortunate as to perform, I hope some more happier, & Diviner Muse will with an Elaborate Pen Dilucidate unto the world what is deficient in my Skill, but not in will, I am far from desiring any plaudit; 
Menander.  Omnis insipience arrogantia & plausibus capitor Every fool is won with pride and his own flattering applaud, but as I should be sorry to affect the one, so I hate, and disrespect the other, it shall be sufficient to me, if I please them, who are Ravished with these Divine Meditations; which like A Diamond cannot lose their Luster although they were mantled in Cimmerian-Darkness; The world must confess with me that they are obstacles to our profound Mercuralists, who can extract such Senses out of the Sacred Scripture, that are again the sense of common reason, which yet catch poor silly people by schools, as Fishermen with Drag nets take their Fishes, yet are not (or will not) our Trumpeters be sensible of it, but either encourage them, or remain silent as in a Lethargy; And thus, since neither our former, nor present sufferings can refine, or cleanse our drossy & leprous souls: HOW may we hope that our correction is ended? or that the rod shall be burnt?  

Marius' Nictor.  Nil hosts, nil dira fames, nil deing morbi  
Egerunt, fuimus qui nunc sumus ijsque periclis  
Tentati, nihilo meliores reddimur unquam,  
Sub vitijs nullo colparum finum manentes.  

Nor foes, nor famine, nor diseases have  
Worked any change in us, that which we were,  
We constantly remain, and still do crave  
To be entangled in the selfsame snare.   

No time can our depraved manners move,  
In vice we dwell, in endless sin's our love.   
Which as it is too true, so must we still expect heavier Judgements, & none but such who have the grape of Canaan. A good conscience will be able with patience to endure them; 
Acts 27.  'twas that made PAUL courageous in the turbulent Adriatical Sea (when the Mariners dispaired) the tempestuous Euroclidon blowing, and suffering 14. days want of meat and light; 
Homer.  'Tis a good Conscience that is like the Herb Nepenthes which driveth away all sadness, 'tis a good Conscience that without Music, or Wealth, or Honour, or Liberty, nay in a forced and unlawful Death, is happy, and merry alone, 
1 Pet. 2.17.  And it is that which I wish unto all who fear God and honour the King; For Conscience is individual and inseparable, there is no putting of it to flight, or flying from it; 
Lyps●pol:  nec fugere, nec fugare poteris, it was bread and borne with us, and saith (as Ruth to Naomi) I will go with thee whither soever thou goest. Therefore since our Kingdom is become a Pantheon (next after the Scripture,) I may well prescribe this Panacea, which sure none will refuse for, 

Seneca.  Miser esse mavult, esse qui faelix potest?  
Who miserable doth desire to be,  
That may be linked to felicity?   
Yet if any shall (as I am confident many will) find fault with me, I only desire them, either to mend what I have most willingly begun, or lay them away, and not afford them any spare time for reading.  
Farewell.   

Penitential Meditations AND Vows in the KING'S Solitude at Holmby.  

GIve ear to my words O Lord, consider my Meditations, and hearken to the voice or my cry my King, and my God, for unto thee will I pray.  

GIve ear unto my words (O Lord)  
My Meditations think upon  
To●… voice of my sad cry accord.  
My King my God to thee alone,  
I'll offer up my supplication.    

I said in my haste, I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes: nevertheless, thou hearest the voice of my supplication, when I cry unto Thee.  

I unadvisedly did say,  
That I am cast out of thy sight,  
Of thy clear eyes more bright than day.  
Yet thou to hear me dost delight.  
When I with cries to thee show my sad plight.    

If thou Lord shouldest be extreme to mark what's done amiss, who can abide it? But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayst be feared; therefore shall sinners fly unto thee.  

If thou (sweet Lord) shouldst be extreme  
To notify what's done amiss,  
Who can abideed? but thy bright beam  
Shines mercy, which with fear must kiss,  
Therefore shall sinners fly to thee for bliss.    

I acknowledge my sins before thee, which have the aggravation of my condition; the eminency of my place, adding weight to my offences.  

My leprous sins I with contrition  
Acknowledge now before thy Grace,  
Which ponderous are by my condition,  
The Eminency of my place  
Adding much weight to them, which me deface.    

Forgive I beseech thee, my Personal, and my People's sins; which are so fare mine, as I have not improved the ●…wer thou gav●…t me, to thy Glory, and my Subjects good.  

Forget, forgive, I thee implore,  
My Pers●nall, and my People's ill  
Which are so added to my store,  
As I improved nos power, and skill,  
Thou gav'st me, for thee, & their hurt to kill.    

Thou hast now brought me from the glory and freedom of a King, to be a Prisoner to my own Subjects.  

And now thou hast dejected me,  
From what my Glory did disclose,  
And freedom of a Majesty,  
To be a Prisoner unto those,  
Who'd my own Subjects, yet their King oppose.    

Justly O Lord as to thy overruling hand, because in many things I have rebelled against Thee.  

But justly 'tis (most mighty Lord)  
As to thy over ruling hand,  
Because that I thy will deferred,  
And contrary to thy Command,  
In opposition against thee did stand.    

Though thou hast restrained my Person, yet enlarge my heart to thee, and thy grace towards me.  

And yet although thou hast restrained  
My Person, O enlarge my Heart,  
To thee my God, my God unfeigned,  
And let me have a greater part  
Of thy good Grace, for to o'er way my smart    

I come fare short of David's Piety, yet since I may equal David's afflictions, give me also the comforts, and the sure mercies of David.  

I come far short of David's zeal,  
Yet since in afflictions equal his  
I only unto thee appeal,  
For David's Comforts (happy bliss!)  
And the sure mercies which he did not miss.    

Let the penitent sense I have of my Sins, be an evidence to me thou hast Pardoned them.  

O let the feeling penitent sense  
Which of my numerous sins I have,  
Be unto me an evidence,  
That thy sealed pardon will me save,  
And that thoust buried them within Christ's grave.    

Let not the evils which I & my Kingdoms have suffered, seem little unto thee, though thou hast not punished us according to our sins.  

Let not the evils which both I,  
And all my Realms have suffered,  
Seem little to thy Majesty,  
Although thou hast not punished  
Us; with such pains as our great sins have bred    

Turn thee (O Lord) unto me; have mercy upon me, for I am desolate, and afflicted.  

Turn thee (O Lord) turn unto me,  
Have mercy on thy Servant God,  
For I am fraught with misery,  
O I am desolate, and thy rod  
Hath much afflicted me my God my God    

The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my troubles.  

The sorrows of my bleeding heart  
Increased be, enlarged are,  
O from thy mercy do not part,  
But fetter from me lean despair,  
Bring thou me out from troubles, and my care.    

Hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure.  

Hast thou forgotten for to be  
A gracious and a loving Lord?  
Hast thou shut up thy bowels free,  
Thy loving kindness and thy word  
In black displeasure, not for to be stirred    

O remember thy Compassions of old, and thy loving Kindnesses, which have been for many generations.  

O now remember, call to mind,  
Of old thy sweet compassion,  
Thy kindnesses which all did find,  
And which had a Relation,  
To all thy Saints for many a Generation.    

I had utterly fainted, if I had not believed to see thy goodness in the land of the Living.  

Lord! I had fainted utterly  
If that my faith had not confirmed  
My drooping heart to know that I,  
Should see thy goodness great enthroned,  
Within the Land of th' living, ever owned.    

Let not the sins of our prosperity deprive us of the benefit of thy afflictions.  

Let not the gilded swelling sins  
Of our prosperity be shown,  
To take from us thy sweet blessings,  
To take from us most wretched ones.  
The benefit of thy afflictions.    

Let this fiery Trial consume the dross, which in long peace and plenty we had contracted.  

O let this purging fiery Trial  
Consume the Canker and the dross,  
Which we (who never used denial)  
In our long peace and plenty gross,  
Contracted had, not to our gain but loss.    

Though thou continuest miseries, yet withdraw not thy grace what is wanting of prosperity, make up in patience, and repentance.  

Though thou continuest miseries,  
Thy grace yet do not Lord withdraw,  
What's wanting of prosperities,  
Make up in patience and in awe,  
As in repentance that 've broke thy Law.    

And if thy anger be not yet to be turned away, but thy hand of justice must be stretched out still.  

And if thy anger be not yet  
For to be turned from us away,  
But that thou dost account it fit,  
Thy hand of Justice still should stay,  
Stretch out, sharp punishment on us to lay.    

Then will I make all the world to see, and my very enemies to enjoy the benefit of this Vow and Resolution of Christian Charity, which I now make unto thee O Lord.  

Then will I make the world to see,  
And all my foes joy with content,  
The benefit of my Vow so free,  
And Christian Charity's intent,  
Which now to thee (O Lord) from me is sent.    

As I do freely pardon for Christ's sake those that have offended me in any kind.  

As I do freely now forgive  
For Christ my worthy Saviour's sake,  
All those who any ways did strive  
Me miserable for to make,  
Or yet their malice on me for to stake.    

So my hand shall never be against any man to revenge what is past, in regard of any particular injury done to me.  

So shall my hand (which hate doth shun)  
ne'er lifted be 'gainst any one,  
For to revenge what's past and done,  
In reference unto what was shown,  
Particularly 'gainst me, or yet my Throne.    

We have been mutually punished in our unnatural divisions for thy sake O Lord, and for the love of my Redeemer have I purposed this in my heart.  

We mutually were punished,  
By civil Wars unnatural,  
For thy sweet sake (O Lord my Head)  
And for's sake who for me did fall,  
This have I purposed in my heart to all.    

That I will use all means in the ways of honesty and indemnity; which may most fully remove all fears, and bury all jealousies in forgetfulness.  

That all means I will use to stay  
In the blessed ways of honesty,  
Indemnity to give, which may  
Must fully make all fear to f●y,  
And in forgetfulness ●…combe jealousy.    

Let thy mercies be towards me and mine, as my resolutions of Truth and Peace are towards my People.  

O let thy mercies be to me  
Thy Servant Lord, and unto mine,  
As these my Resolutions free,  
Of candied Peace and Truth incline,  
To those, whom thou didst unto me design.    

Hear my Prayer O Lord, which goeth not out of feigned lips.  
Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my Prayer, nor taken his mercy from me.  

O Lord my God my prayer hear,  
Which out of lips feigned go not out  
Blessed be God, who from my prayer,  
H●th never turned himself about,  
Nor taken his mercy from me so to doubt.    

O my soul, commit thy way to the Lord, trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass.  

O my poor humble seeking soul,  
Commit thy way to the Lord alone  
Trust in him, who doth all control,  
And then be sure (as it will be known)  
That he shall bring to pass, for what you moan.    

But if thou wilt not restore me and mine, what am I that I should charge thee foolishly?  

But if thou (from thy Providence)  
Nor me, nor mine wilt not restore,  
What am I, what pre-eminence,  
Have I a silly worm most poor,  
To charge thee foolishly, whom I adore?    

Thou, O Lord, hast given, and thou hast taken, Blessed be thy Name.  

Thou, thou O God, omnipotent Lord,  
Hast, given, each thing from thee came,  
And thou who rulest with a word,  
Hast taken from us worms the same,  
Observed be! O blessed be thy Name!    

Let it I beseech thee be against me, and my Father's house; as for these sheep, what have they done?  

O let it Lord (I thee entreat)  
Be turned from them, on me to light,  
And on my Father's House and Seat,  
For as these poor sheep in right  
What have they done? what hurt is in their sight    

Let my sufferings satiate the malice of mine, and thy Church's Enemies.  
But let their cruelty never exceed the measure of my chaity.  

Let these my sufferings satiate  
The cankered malice of my foe,  
And such who thy pure Church do hate.  
But let their cruelty never outgo,  
My charity which I would have here flow.    

Banish from me all thoughts of revenge, that I may not lose the reward nor thou the glory of my patience.  

Banish from me revengeful thoughts,  
That so I may not with offence.  
Lose the reward which will be brought,  
And which to me thou wilt despence,  
Nor thou the glory of my patience.    

As thou givest me a heart to forgive them, so I beseech thee forgive what they have done against thee and me.  

As thou to me dost give a heart  
To pardon, and forgive them free,  
So I beseech thy love impart  
Forgiveness to them speedily,  
For what 've done against, both thee and me.    

And now (O Lord) as thou hast given me an heart to pray unto thee: so hear and accept this vow which I make before thee.  

And now (O Lord) as thou hast gave  
Me such a pliant heart to pray,  
To thee, who solely canst me save,  
So hear, and take without delay,  
This vow, which I before thee make this day    

If thou wilt in mercy remember me and my Kingdoms, in continuing the light of thy Gospel, and settling thy true Religion among us.  

If that thou wilt in mercy (Lord)  
Think on me, and my Kingdoms too,  
Continuing the light of th'word,  
And settling of Religion true,  
Amongst us all so errors to escew,    

In restoring unto us the benefit of the Laws, and the due execution of justice.  

And in restoring (from thy might)  
The benefit to every one,  
Of th'fundamental Laws upright,  
With the due execution  
Of real Justice, seated in her Throne.    

In suppressing the many Schisms in Church, and Factions in State.  

In weeding, and suppressing all  
The poisonous Schisms which from hate,  
Upon the Church in weight do fall,  
And suddenly to dissipate,  
The Hydra factions of the State,    

If thou wilt, restore me and mine to the ancient Rights, and Glory of my Predecessors.  

If that thou wilt Lord me restore,  
And those who are unto me nigh.  
To what we did enjoy before,  
To th'ancient Rights, and Majesty  
Of my true Predecessors seated high,    

If thou wilt, turn the hearts of my people to thyself in Piety, to me in Loyalty, and to one another in Charity.  

If thou my people's hearts will turn,  
Unto thyself in pious Love,  
And make their loyal zeal to burn  
To me their King, and cause them move,  
To Charity, and only it to prove.    

If thou wilt, quench the flames, and withdraw the fuel of these civil Wars.  

If that thou wilt extinguish quite,  
The flames which cause such during scars,  
And from thy goodness infinite  
Withdraw our mind for moving jars,  
And the apt fuel of continued Wars.    

If thou wilt, bless us with the freedom of public Counsels, and deliver the honour of Parliaments from the insolency of the vulgar.  

If for to bless us thou'rt content,  
With public Counsels to be free,  
And keep the power of Parliament  
From the insolence of such, who be  
Breakers of Laws, and vulgar in Degree.    

If thou wilt, keep me from the great offence of enacting any thing against my Conscience, and especially from consenting to sacrilegious rapines & spoilings of thy Church.  

If thou'lt keep me from that great sin  
Of acting any thing, which I  
By conscience know should not have been  
And chief, not to consent to fly  
To spoil thy Church most sacreligiously.    

If thou wilt, restore me to a capacity of doing good, both to the Church and State.  

If that thou (Lord) will't me restore  
To a capacity, that so  
I may endeavour more and more  
To praise thee in the good I ‛ le do  
But to the Church, and State, which now is low.    

Then shall my soul praise thee, and magnify thy name before my people.  

Then shall my never fainting soul,  
Praise thee thou Lord of glorious might.  
Then will I laud without control  
And Magnify (as it is right)  
Thy blessed name before my people's sight.    

Then shall thy glory be dearer to me then my Crown, and the advancement of true religion both in purity and power, be my chiefest care.  

Then shall thy glory be more dear  
Unto me, than my Crowns now are,  
And true Religion in its fear  
As in its purity most fair,  
For to advance, shall be my chiefest care.    

Then will I rule my people with justice, and my Kingdom with Equity.  

Then will I rule impartially  
My People all as they will find,  
With Justice, which shall hate defy,  
And all my Kingdoms to their mind  
With equity, which is with love combined.    

To thy more immediate hand shall I ever own as the rightful succession, to the merciful restauration of my Kingdoms, and the glory of them.  

As I ‛ le the true succession own  
Unto thy more immediate power.  
So the kind restauration  
Of these my Kingdoms evermore  
To thee I yield, with all their glorious store,    

If thou wilt bring me again with Peace, Safety, and Honour, to my chiefest City, and my Parliament.  

If thou wilt bring me from thy pity  
With Peace, with safety, and with Fame,  
Again unto my chiefest City,  
And my true Parliament, whose Name  
I honour, nor do it desire to shame.    

If thou again wilt put the Sword of justice into my hand, to punish and protect.  

If Lord, thou once wilt put again  
The Sword of Justice in my hand  
Impartially for to remain,  
To punish those who hate Command,  
And a Protector for the good to stand.    

May my People and the Church be happy, if not by me, yet without me.  

O may my people every one,  
And thy pure Church (thy beauteous love)  
Be happy, let their joy be known,  
If not by me, yet (God above)  
Without me sinner let them prosperous prove.     

June 18. 1649.  
Imprimatur  
JOHN DOWNAME.   
FINIS