HULS' PILLAR OF Providence erected: OR The providential Column, setting out Heaven's care for Deliverance of that people, with extraordinary Power and Providence from the bloodsucking Cavaliers, who had for six weeks closely besieged them.  
By T. C. Minister of God's Word.  ISAIAH 26.1. 
In that day shall this Song be sung in the Land of Judah, we have astrong City, Salvation shall God appoint for walls and bulwarks.  ZECH. 3.2. 
Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire.  
Imprimatur  
CHARLES HERLE.  
LONDON, Printed for Ralph Rounthwait, 1644.   

To the Reader.  
But where are the nine (saith Christ.) The Lord longs much to see us after he hath freed us; in our distress we long for deliverance, and being delivered he longs for acknowledgement. Deborah after her victory awakened herself with so loud an instigation, on purpose to awaken others, That she might not return with the leprous Samaritan alone in her acknowledgement. Thus this holyman, God's faithful Minister, and our dear brother, an eyewitness to the great and wonderful work done by our God for that beleaguered Town, the deliverance, a mercy he had a share in, and thousands, and ourselves: It was the place of refuge to many persecuted and plundered Families, and to ours and his; here were met in one from the two spoilt Counties of York and Lincoln, of all sorts a great multitude. Here we comfortably enjoyed our peace; here publicly and privately we jointly sought its peace, of the fruit whereof it is now a partaker from the God of peace. And therefore in all places and ages, that it may be said for Hull, what God hath done, as we can do no more, so no less than clap our hands, and being of the number of the Lords redeemed one's, cry out and say, God hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad: And O let all places be filled with the same glory.  


Tho: Micclethwait.  
Philip Nye.  
Th: Coleman.     

To the Lords dispersed and scattered ones, beloved of the Father in the Son, gathered together from divers Quarters and Countries into Hull, the Nest of God's providence, Grace Divine, and greeting Christian.  
TO you beloved the fair and strong hand of heaven hath been fully manifested, at first plucking you as a brand out of the fire of the enemy's fury, that watched for you where you lived, and now again the same hand of heaven hath visited you with new favour, putting the proud adversary by, and cutting his comb, when he was ready to chop you for the pot, in the place where you sojourned. Remember now salomon's Scripture, The Lord was angry with him, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice. He has twice appeared marvellous in mercy to you, and looked upon you as no stranger in the place where you were strangers. Remember the day, wherein these thoughts took you up continually, what shall we do, whither shall we go, what way shall we fly, what course shall we take, that may be pleasing to God, safe for us. And now let me tell you whither you shall fly, even unto the Lord with thankful hearts who hath so wonderfully magnified his favour towards you. I have seen a failing in the Town hitherto, as secure as if never in danger, as proud as if no matter of humbling, as profane as if great deliverances did not bring great engagements to holiness, as unthankful, as if not beholding to God, as superstitious, as if the master of Ceremonies, and not the Father of mercies had saved them. But do not you fail too, let the Town be beholding to you for your prayers and your praises, be you their Masons to help to make up the breaches of their walls, their country husbands to amend their hedges, and make up gaps where God's wrath might thou. The Lord give you patiented hearts in these oppressing times and hard charges, and abundance of thankfulness to Jehovah Nissi the Lord your Banner, that both you and the Church of God may be clothed with the garments of salvation.   

Divinae Providentiae Sacrum,  
THat Indian Hand had some reason it seems, which put upon it that name of the I'll of Providence, the special hand of heaven ruling and leading the searching adventurers to this place; and bringing them through long labours and hard endeavours to pitch and plant on that ground. And before I have done with this narrative and discourse; I shall make it good, that there is ground for the naming of this Kingston or Hull, A Town of Providence.  
Where, as on a Stage of Mercy, Divine Providence has of late acted parts of love, care, power, kindness gloriously, before, and for unworthy both Spectators and receivers: The Lord hath so done his marvellous works, that they ought to be had in remembrance of all them that fear him.  
If any be such a stranger in jerusalem, as has not heard nor known the things, that are come to pass in these days, I will inform him, (to quicken myself, and others to gratefulness,) how the Lord has heated the furnace of his love, and care for Hull, seven times hotter than he has done for any town in England. And gladly would I have the Land to take notice of it, because though the Sun rise in one corner of the Heavens the East; yet the light, heat and influence of the Sun fills the whole Earth, and cherishes every creature. So, though the best part of the Kernel of this deliverance falls particularly into Hulls mouth, and the people there, both in-dwellers and the Lords sojourners, yet doubtless it sends much good influence, & reviving beams into the Gospels' cause, now quarrelled for, into the Church, into this Kingdom, into the Parliament, into the armies on foot, for the rescuing of our Realm, from the paws of the Lion, and the bear: the Church's Lion, that would oppress it with Antichristianisme, and popish prelacy, and the Common wealths savage Bear, that would devour Truth, justice and righteousness, and leave neither law, nor liberty nor rights, for the Subject, but what must come out of the bosom of licentious Atheism, where will and power shall create Magistracy and the acts of it. Now that the Lord hath banished such bloody and cruel Gaolers, which laid upon all that came under their power, iron yokes and fetters, how can we do less than seek out the author of this deliverance, and give him the cordial and real acknowledgements of thankful spirits, which either speaking, writing or printing may make known to our little world of England, lest the glory of God, which, of all other things should never know a funeral, and be buried in oblivion, be any way obscured or eclipsed. And surely if we inquire after the father, and mother, and nurse of this amiable and comfortable child of salvation, which we can never look in the face, but it makes us smile with joy: we can find none to own it, but only Providence divine, which has done all. This hath been so clearly and manifestly stirring, from the Alpha to the Omega of the action, that we silence all subservient Ministers, and ministered helps, as strength, guns, swords, munition, care and industry, and only write God with great letters and figures, and make all other great helps, to be but as a great cipher without divine concurrence. When we name Providence, as the superintendent and superefficient of all, we understand not chance or fortune, the Ethnics providence, nor that of the Stoics, who made providence a fortune or fate-telling old-woman, to administer all things, as the universal soul of the world. But by it we understand the special care, and love of God towards his, which is at great cost, and charges of infinite power, foresight and wisdom, to work in all and every individual thing for his people, 
Lilius. Cyrald. de dijs Gent. Syntag. 76.  and having wrought it, to make it again be directed to work for their good. And if at Delos the blind Heathens for some conceived blessing could erect a Temple and call it, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, The Temple of Providence: Do not Christians owe as much to Jehovah, as they to their Jove? Shall not our Delos, our Hull be called, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, The Temple of Providence, where it hath been most admirably conspicuous, and efficacious for deliverance. It is well known, how heavenly care did at first reserve this Town; that at first it fell not under the unruly rule of those unworthy Royalists, who never think they do any thing royally, but when they make Rome blush, with being more superstitious and idolatrous than she is: or when they make beasts blush, with being more savage and cruel than they: or make Pagans and Heathens blush, in being more unjust and unhonest than they: or make the devil and bell blush, to see them more zealous and deep blasphemers, than they. In these actions all their royalty and cavalerisme consist. What a special hand of heaven was that, prevented this marquis (whom blood not in his own veins, but blood plenteously shed out of all the veins of the North, hath raised to this title of marquis) from being governor of it at first, when his Majesty sent him and offered him for that purpose to the Town. The prevention of such a Hornet, that he was not set over his Beehive, deserves our tongues to speak as loud as the Egyptian Magicians, and to say, this was Digitus Dei, the finger of God. For say he had been the resident ruler here; what an influence of mischief would he have sent hence against London, Parliament, and all the places under the rule of well ordered justice and peace? How would this have been the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the scumme-pot, into which would have been gathered all the living and working villainy or Atheism of Dunkirk, France, Holland, Flanders, etc. And what Country soever would have sent men-beasts, that in a mercenary souldiarie are willing, to sell their souls in any war, yea will take the pay of hell, to fight against heaven? But blessed be the eye of heaven, that watched, and the hand of heaven that wrought another way, and brought this key of the kingdom to hang at the Parliaments girdle, that they should not be in an hourly fear of this, as of a Northern Algiers, or nest of Sea and land Pirates. Why is Newcastle and not Hull in their power, a continual vexation to the good cause? There is no reason of it, but what lies in God's breast and bosom, so he liked, so he would have it.  
Under Sir John Hotham the Lord began to put this Town, as a signet ring on his finger. How did the Lord animate the Governor and his small forces to stand unappaled before his Majesty, when he comes in his own person, and with all his power he could then make, to demand, nay to command the rendering of the Town into his power, yet even then God made worms stronger than the Lion, when Hotham royally stood and feared neither Herald, nor Proclamation, nor the voice of a provoked King, which is the messenger of death O that this fine gold had never changed! But O the misery of foolish man, made drunk with authority and power! Hotham honoured like a King, feared as an Emperor; sitting in peace, that might have had the Country for the good cause wait on his whistle; how has he degenerated and soiled all his fair burning light, in ending with a ducking down of the socket, breathing at last with a vaporous, & ill savoured exit. Time will try, and justice will boult out (I fore-judge not, nor anticipate our judges of this cause.) Whether justly father or son Hotham, or both, be guilty of miscarriages in the North, at York, of the Queen's entrance u● interrupted, of Scarboroughs and Chomeleyes base Apostasy, of the West crying out of the rising Sun, and saying, all her misery came from the East, where Egyptian reeds did not only fail them, but pierce them, and help them to be covered in that Chaos of tyranny, wherein that good and goodly Country now lies low and poor, only rich (besides God's secret favour) in fullness of oppressions and cruelty. I leave these servants to the judgement of their master, who will make their sins appear as midnight, or their righteousness as midday in due time: I know it is indeed thought and said, in relation to Hotham and Cholmley, that Scorborough and Scarborough are the springs of most of our misery in the North. Let others say as they please, God's candle in fit season will seek out darkest corners. Let the just have his righteousness for clothing, and let the unjust be arrayed with his own confusion, and shame as with a cloak. Proceed we to the change of Governors and see miracles, and great pieces of extraordinary providence in that. In one morning gates, walls, blockhouses, arms, men, commanders, guns, ships, all that is called strong, is easily and quickly yielded to the power of the Town, no bloodshed, no soul lies gasping, no streets know streams of blood, but water, for all this, why, this is wonderful, friends, kindred, dear ones, in places of trust, yet none resisting, but yielding up office and power, as being overcome with power and reason for it, or both. So great a thing, so long and strongly settled, so easily altered and turned without combustion & broil, would make an Atheist, that saw it, name God and Providence, for that very actions sake. Besides, the enraged Town, against their suspected Governor, being so calmed into justice, and prudently reserving father and son, to be weighed by the Parliaments balance, and not precipitately cutting out for themselves, was a special favour of God, to honour them with so well a carried business. Then lo again the Artifice, and rare working of architectonical providence; verily thou art a God that hidest thyself O God of Israel the Saviour. At this present, things are thus carried at Hull, the noble Fairfax is in his Western declination, and Beverly is ready to be chopped for the pot, by the assaulting enemy. Mark how the wheel runs. From Beverly the enemy is repulsed with shame and loss. But in the West, two or three days after, the swarms of New Castles wasps sting the Army of the honoured Fairfax, there he and his heroic Son, after fair hopes lose the day, quit the field (though to the great cost of the adversary) and leave that noblest part of the Country in the hands of the ignoblest men (if inhumanity be ignobility) where as they were bred and principled, so they maintain it, there is no good play unless some play the devil in it. How have they imitated that infernal paternity of theirs, by being as cruel and unmerciful to that worthy people, as hell could make them. Then through what dangerous paths and parts of Countries did the Lord bring honoured Fairfax, and his son, and the remainders of his scattered Army? How did the Lord hard before this fore defeat, make Hull ready for them, whose prayers and long waited for such a Governor at the gates of heaven? Compare but the times of these things falling out, that Hul should be made fit to receive a Governor, fit to secure a dispersed people, who fled from a bloody sword and spear. Let Hull and Western dispersed ones, and the whole kingdom contend about it, which of them has the largest share of fatherly providence in this thing. O the providence is much for us, may Hull say, that we should receive so faithful and right a Governor in our necessity. It is providence for us may West say, that we should get succour there. It is providence for us, may the whole kingdom say, that so quickly the government was settled there, and though there was so great a wound, yet the Lord quickly prepared a good and great plaster. How deep is the Lords wisdom in his do? How can he strangely, at one and the same time, win and lose, cut and cure, wound and heal, throw down and raise up his people, and make one and the same cloud both dark and lightsome?  
Let the people of God observe it, they never have any notable fall or affliction, but God gives them some notable rise after it, to stand on high ground again, and to meet with some comfort and blessing succeeding it, of such a depth and latitude, as entered not into their imaginations. And now Rabshakeh rails and Thrasoes boast, and every 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, now opens his mouth, and laughs to see Christ lie loaden with a cross in the streets of Leedes and Bradford. Now the Irish Prelate, the bishop of Derry, must turn the Psalms of David into a scornful Jig, and must not only abuse the Saints of God, but the Scripture of God. The Minister's pulpit is his stage, which hath been commonly the: Maypole where scorners of God's Saints have danced themselves giddy, and there he pretends he will stir them up to give thanks to God, and to God alone, in these words of David: I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my Sword save me, but thou hast saved us from our enemies, etc. Ps. 44.6, 7. But he forgetting his theme, so dotes on his marquis, 
Si pergan ad acuta rerum, plus toge laesêre rempub. quam toricae. Tertull de pallio.  that he must needs make him the bow and the sword, as though he by his care and wise carriage had freed now all Yorkshire from oppression and from the crushing of the Parliaments friends, and now there was nothing but one poor corner of caitiffs, all sedition and faction now laid gasping within the walls of Hull. Let not Bishops speak of oppression, for they have been Pharaohs most cursed taskmasters, set up to afflict the Israel of God. Nor let York be the tribunal at this time, to judge the dispersed of Christ, that are met in Hull. After that way, Sir Bishop, which you call sedition, there are such Saints serve God, as the latchet of whose shoes (saving the reverence of your bicorned mitre) you are not worthy to lose. Well sedition and faction lies gasping within the walls of Hull; what then? Why then Newcastle and his Army must come hither to the funeral of it, if it lie gasping, it will die shortly, and they will be so officious, as to come and close our eyes, and carry us to our grave; or if we be not so near death, they can think of such a thing as this, Come let us kill them that the inheritance may be ours.  
About the 4th of September, that goodly Town of Beverley falls into the hands of a merciless adversary; ours beholding their great numbers, and considering the state of the Town to be such, as it could not be held against them, though our numbers had been trebled. Whereupon warning is given to retire and leave it, and some no doubt were to blame, that left some lesser pieces of Ordnance there, and did not timely convey them away, which they might have done. Beverley smarted then on all sides by enemy's cruelty, by friend's negligence, presently is the Town made bare and stripped naked, and compelled to speak largely of the little charity, & mercy of the promoters of the Catholic cause, who are semperiden, inhuman & barbarous. Hard before their coming, one Bushel a kinsman of the infamous Bushel (who is filled with more than four pecks of an Iscarioticall spirit) came with a Tinker, himself acting a bad mettle man with him, to view both Beverleyes' and Huls works, having done it, were at length taken prisoners, and found to be bad mettle. Having swallowed Beverley they make Hull ready for the dresser, and their cursed Cooks made a great fire, hoping this Town should be their roast-meat. They begin their siege, and have all kind of furies redressed with snakes to torment us. With them are come, as goads in their sides, to set them on, and as candles in the dark to guide them, the fox-heads, subtle, cunning, and busy spirits of Hull, which she had vomited out, whose names are in the book of the generation of vipers, which have watering teeth to eat through their mother's bowels. The poor arrayed and forced souls are made to tug and work worse than the slaves at Adrianople, day and night, to raise Mounts and Works with turfs and baskets, to brew our ruin. It will not be amiss, to see how God works the deliverance of his people with many cross thirds, and makes a smooth web in the end of that, which has many knots in the beginning. Whereas at their first coming we had a springtide that might have flown with streams of molestation to them, and hindered their works, if ours could have agreed to cut the banks, and lend them some salt water, yet so it pleased God to divide the consults and conclusions of men about it, that this is hindered, and thereby they exceedingly furthered, in hopes to warm themselves at our fire. Nay, when afterward there were found Propositions, upon rational grounds, of daming up the fresh water, so as it should overflow very much to the much annoying of them, it may be to loss of all their pieces, and for much comfort to us, out of Town for ground and cattles, for helping them within Town with sufficiency of fresh waters; yet it pleased the Lord to throw all these devices out. Divine providence bids this humane providence stand by and step out of the way, that not Joab, but David might have the name of the day. Humane help and industry is good, though oftentimes evil in the abuse, when men make them vails and curtains to hid the divine face, that we do not so much see and admire the beauty of it. God thus in one and the same business weds together our comfort and his glory, even by those things that seem to forbid the banes. Ours had soon after the beginning of the siege, a sally out with a good number of men upon them in their quarters at Anlabie, they had some intelligence, though it was early in the morning, ours had some prevalence, and our soldiers some were too busy fingering their carriages, and looking after pocketings, so as though we brought divers of theirs prisoners, and some of them were slain, yet we also had some of ours taken, that we might take ourselves for our sin, that must needs pick the Lord's day morning for such a work, as we being the assaulters, might have well found another day for it. Every night the enemy gets a fresh work, and with new incroaches and approaches, comes nigher us, so that in the morning we stand wondering, to see what is done that night. In the space of 6 week's siege, they seem to have so bestraitned us, as there is no hopes of deliverance; but that their hopes and ours are not alike. The Cater-pillars that follow the camp, are invited from York, and those parts, to come, and carry away the plunder of the rich and goodly Town of Hull.  
I shall dispatch the particulars of Gods singular providence in the remaining part, to the happy upshot of the business, by borrowing 15 branches of this salvation, as I find them fitly summed upon a Sermon at the low-Church, on the solemn day of thanksgiving, and celebration of so rare a piece of providence in the forenoon, Octob. 18. being the seven-night after, only putting in some additions of enlargement, as quickening colours to make the picture look more lively. The text discoursed on, as the bellows to blow up the flame of praise was Isa. 25.9. And it shall be said in that day, lo this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. In which, after many other things the Sermon proceeded to urge rejoicing in God's salvation after this manner. We should not only speak of God's acts, but as the Prophet David saith, we should wisely consider of God's do, and gather up ramenta auri, all the filings and little sparks of gold, because mercies are a singular and rare mettle.  
From the 120. Psalm there are 15. Psalms, which are called Psalms of degrees, which it is thought by some are so called, because there were 15. steps or degrees to that part of the Temple, where men were to worship the Lord, on which the sacred Choristers of divine music sung these 15. Psalms. How ever that were so or no, our Temple of praise has 15. notable steps or stairs, on which we may stand and sing our Psalms of degrees, which have in them contained so many Hallellujahs for so many remarkable branches of our salvation. That we may the better take notice of them, let us gather them together and make them faggots of juniper or sweet-wood, to kindle our fire of thankfulness.  
1. The first branch of this salvation, is the special providence of God, in making such an union, as soldiers, townsmen, seamen, strangers were all united closely as one man, to stand courageously against the common enemy; whereas they without did hope there would have been a division within, and that division would have been the mother and sure seminary of confusion and ruin. For dividing and destroying commonly go together, as Ps. 55.9. or are but a very little while parted asunder, A kingdom (a town) an house divided against itself cannot stand, Divide and Impera come from the brains of the old dividend, who set up a school of Arithmetic in paradise, and taught the unhappy rule of division betwixt God and man. Division commonly puts an enemy into the Imperative mood. But blessed be the God of union, who is but one, and made this people of one heart, and one way in this business, though a people as likely to fall into bad pieces as any.  
2. A second branch, with sweet berries growing on it, was the Lords care to give food to his people and preservation of the mills, which in all probability they might have attempted to beat down, or fire at the first, as well as they attempted it at the last, by raising a work hard behind one of them. Yea though they had pinned us fast in 6 weeks together, yet the Lord provided better meat than Quails, and though we had not Manna from heaven, yet we had rain from heaven, which stood us in very good stead, when our fresh water was cut off. So many Beefs and sheep were preserved from those great  stealers, that meat a good while was cheaper in the siege then out of it, and I believe the proud enemy in a great part of the Army, would have licked their lips at our fragments. David thinks we have good reason to praise the Lord with our whole heart, even for giving meat to them that fear him. Ps. 111.1. & 5. verses.  
3. A third branch of saving mercy, was in the firing of the North blockhouse blown up in a part, where the powder-barrels and hand Granado's, ill companions being together, and some fire coming to that Assembly, it blew up with a terrible blast, a part of that strong building, yet for all this God's power and mercy ordered it excellently, the Lord commanding the fire and fury to be within on our side and not to the enemy's part, that they might have no advantage at all by it. The Lord if he had so pleased might have made a fearful rapture by it, and opened a gap for them, which they that were so prodigal of man's blood, would with fury have set upon, though it had cost them a thousand men. Further when the blast in one room had beaten open the window into another, and the flame entered into it, where there were 12. barrels of powder more, and some with lose covers being opened, it pleased the divine dispenser to suspend the flame, and it reverently held and drew back from seizing upon that powder, which in all likelihood might have done far more harm, both to murdering of more men, and dismounting the ordnance. Nor did the enemy scape in this kind, for they had a magazine blown up and their store of Granado's, which they had provided for us. Ours, as it did us some hurt, so it did them no good at all. Blessed be the Lord, for so special a branch of his salvation.  
4. When their great bullets of 35. lb. weight, both roast and raw, hot and cold, came so fast and frequently into the Town, and all over it, they having a great mark to shoot at, and likely to speed where ever they fell; yet though day and night they came into streets, houses, beds, the Lord so charmed and charged them, that but 3 were slain by them, a man, a woman, and a child. Heaven found strange means, to conjure these bullets into quietness, and stop their force. One quarrelled with a powdering-tub, another stuck in paste, which was a providing for food, and was choked in dough; another drunk itself our friend in a barrel of wine; another burned the bed-clothes, and spared a woman in the bed, so as she slept still sound and quietly, having so hot a bedfellow, till she was by neighbours wakened and pulled out from the fiery danger. They aimed at our Churches, when we were met together for the word and prayer, yet never hurt any in the Church, going or returning. But in their quarters and at York fame rang another peal, of many hundreds slain in the town, and divers coming to, and going from the Church. We allow those two Universities of lies, the one of Oxford, the other of York their poetical and lying licence. We have found those two Africaes always bringing forth monstrous things, and lies of a prime magnitude. We are begun to think, that it may almost gain the strength of a proverb, that Yorks printer, minter and minster, (when they print or preach of the Parliaments affairs) seldom vent small lies. The soldiers complain of their minter, for minting too much false money, and for their ministers Sermons, aiming at our cause, they smell very little of truth or charitable divinity; and their printed Pamphlets are notorious. Pardon this digression and going out of the way to cudgel a liar.  
5. When they were so near, as within reach of Granado's as they trusted, yet we heard but only of 3 or 4 of them, and those were either short or over: where they digged deep into guts of earth, but touched not any man. What would they have done, if the Lord had given these hot officers of his anger leave to come into market, Churches, streets, houses, what terrible marks would they have left of their burning and tearing footsteps.  
6. Our issue out proved mostly successful to us, though with small strength, but always hurtful, to the cost and loss of the enemy, losing men, and having some work pulled down by ours, they flying as driven away.  
7. Our horse were happily preserved, and safely conveyed into Lincolnshire, when our fresh water & fodder was so little, as staying they should have had short commons, and many of them would have perished being foodles, and all of them would have been useless, because of the enemy's propinquity and nearness. God reserved them for another place, where they were serviceable in a glorious victory.  
8. When the state of the Town was very depressed, and earthly hopes were at a low nepe, our men being few, and worn out with day labours and night-watching and fightings from their works, there being not sufficient for number to manage the works well, and cloth the walls, if the enemy should approach nearer. In that very nick of necessity, God sent us a competent number of soldiers, with that good Commander Sr John Meldram, that did exceedingly animate and put fresh spirits into our wearied soldiers, and very much conduce to our great help.  
9 When on a sudden, a company of their picked and resolute spirits, with fury and strength had almost got one of our best works, the west jutty, and were in a manner possessors of it, yet ours slew and discomfited them, so as divers of them were slain, some 15. and some taken prisoners. The rest fled away with wounds & shame, as full of cold fear, as they came full of strong water, of which the slain and taken notably savoured, having fired their spirits into a desperatenes with the spirits of hot waters. In all the time God so wrought for us, we held the works we had. And this deserves a finger to point at it, a tongue to praise for it.  
10. The Lord pared away from the strength of their numerous Army, by a reigning sickness among them, by the running away of many, and by diverting a part of their forces into Lincolnshire, that they might be something weaker, and more fit for us to deal with them, though still their numbers did triple ours.  
11. Marvellous was the Lord in the prevention of their firing the Town & shipping, which they were mad to do, and confident would be done, either by their wildfire, or wild bullets glowing hot (they imitating the fiery darts of their father, the wicked one) yet the Lord kept them from lighting on combustible matter, or easily fire-catching stuff. They were so confident of burning us, that they caused country people divers times to stand on an hill, & promised them with great oaths and damning language, they should presently see Hull on a light fire, but God sent no fire to consume their sacrifice in token of acceptation. They are served with the German proverb, Deus non audit felium preces, God hears not cats prayers to accept them, that is curses and execrations, more unwelcome to God than the harsh cries of cats. No, when their Apostle M. Thruscrosse (who no doubt is wel-pleased that the cross is found in his name) speaks of winning Hull, he tells them they must fast and pray, or else never think to win it: for, saith he, you fight against a praying people. He foresaw curses, that come from a tongue and heart set on fire of hell, could never set on fire Hull, and therefore he gave them more ghostly counsel. And they report from Pomfret, which I annex, that a man, and they name the man, came from that Town towards Hull, big with expectation and hope to see it on fire, and when he returned he found his own housing fired. So wisely and justly doth God meet with men in unjust and cruel ways. Besides firing, they were by the same providence prevented of blocking up the river, when on Lincolnshires' side and Holdernesses, they were begun to make forts, but by some of our men landing were driven away, and the fort was razed down.  
12. In compass of six weeks, all which time they begird us with that straight and troublesome girdle of a siege, by our sallying out, and all their bullets sallying in among us, not 60. persons as 'tis thought were slain in all of ours, few or none of note, when 'tis certain of theirs above 2000 are perished by sword, bullet, sickness and abundance of them fairly tried their heels and deserted them. Some of their Commanders of note, Lieutenant-Col. Levinston, Serj. maj. Boyard, Cap. Knight, and many others, which they conceal from us in the dark book of secrecy, went to their last bed in the dark chambers of death before Hull. Divers of their Captains that had complete companies went back to York with ragged remains of some 9 or 6 of those they carried out thence, and many in great numbers, grievously wounded to make up their black triumph some went with them, and after them others, to adorn their glorious carriages.  
13. It was a notable favour of heaven, that such a resolute and courageous spirit was raised in ours, as that they went out, and set upon the enemy, the wednesday 7 night before, being Oct. 4. and beat them out of two of their works, slew and took some, and brought in many of their muskets, which they running away left. One of those works they h●d newly raised behind our windmill, which was a very hopeful one for them, and was likely to be very damagefull to us, had it been let alone but that night. But God was in some sort visible that day, giving ours power to beat those wild and furious cocks on and off their own dunghill. And that Wednesday was a fairly ominous preface to the next Wednesday, which was voluminous to us in big mercies.  
14. Further, when this day of blessings, Oct. 11. the day whereon the siege was raised, was well gone on for us, the other gathering much fresh force, came on formidably against ours, insomuch as our soldiers are body and soul for a retreat, and shameful retire. See now how hoavenly providence comes in to secure. Ours were basely timid, and prophesied dangerous things to themselves, from the enemies fresh and full appearance, where one sudden cloud of fear, was likely to be the black mantle or curtain, to hid the light of a very hopeful day. Some good spirits of Captains and soldiers were as much tormented with shame, to see so sick a fit upon our army, as the retreaters were tormented with fear; whereupon some Commanders, and by-standing spectators did earnestly beg and beseech they would turn again and face the enemy, and some of the horse courageously leading the way, and giving a f●esh onset, it animated the foot, where the Spirit of the Lord set up a Standard in their spirits, and they fell on bravely, and out of weakness were made strong, Heb. 11.34. and turned the enemy into smoke, which fled before them as driven by the wind, showing many backs, but few faces against ours, in which backs they see fair printed the adversaries defeat, and their own victory. God so blesses this new assault, that they take from them their great guns, 9 of them, some greater, some less, beats them from their strong & great works with very little and small loss of ours, in which great pecces and works many of them trusted, more than in the great God. Our Cap. Rainsborow by a mistake was taken, but for him we had many of theirs fell prisoners into our hands.  
This 11. of Oct. was a great and glorious day, that such multitudes of men out of many and strong works, from many and great guns should be beaten and driven away by them, that came to assault them in the open field, is a rare example of success to the Parlia. battles, and is as notable a piece of pure military valour, as has fallen out since the beginning of these wars. The soldiers, that went home by weeping and bleeding cross, do cry out of our stratagem to retreat on purpose, and then with renewed strength to come and ruin them. Indeed it was a brave stratagem and a rare plot, but it was God's stratagem and a plot of providence, which we never contrived nor thought on, till his waking thoughts brought it about. How comfortably did the whole Town almost look over the walls that whole day, and see this salvation of God?  
15. Lastly, being thus breakfasted on wednesday, that night they sup with fears and curses, and hasty purposes of being gone from us. The Lord on a sudden sweeps them away, they steal away the remaining Ordnance in the night. A spirit of fear lends them wings to fly, they go away with shame, loss and stinging consciences: So that the siege is raised, which we expected not; the enemy is gone suddenly, we looked not for it. Many of them left their muskets and other weapons in the works, and though it was a very sore day of rain, yet away they must, they dare not stay for fair weather. Presently our state is marvellously changed, we hear not of their guns, we receive no more ridings of their fiery bullets, we are delivered and yet doubt whether we do but dream of it. How are our fears and foes suddenly vanished, & we quickly restored to walking on fresh ground, breathing in fresh air, having enough of fresh water, & many comforts our enemies had straitened us in? They gave out they raised the siege, because of the wet weather, & I believe it; for they had some case-shot among them, with store of other bullets; which made that a wet day, though it was very fair, in that it could not but rain good store of bad blood. God has overcome us and overflown us in our desires: we looked but for a little, and the sea of mercy has broke out and drowned us with a deluge and cataclysme of blessings.  
The Country mourns, yet God made us to laugh. They are impoverished every way in their moneys and goods and men: their best tables, trees, timber are taken and laid in the ditches by the enemy, to help the conveyance of carriages & ordnance from work to work Only their hasty and Eagle-flighted fear has done some this kindness not intended, that they have filled the barns with corn, and in an unkind kindness (as having no time to thresh it out, to sell it, or carry it away) have left it for the owners, who find it, at their repossession, gathered to their hands by servants whom they never set on work. Nor is this all, God when in his mercy he flows, he overflows. On the same 11h of Oct. he gives us a glorious victory in Lincolnshire, as free, fair and full as the most have been got since the unhappy hatching of these wars, so as that day hath given them an astonishing blow, that they have staggered ever since, & know not on what ground to tread, God following them with soul-stupifying terrors. These are the full branches of the Lords saving providence, the first fruits of our expected harvest in this miserable country of Yorkshire, where some 80 not of the meanest Gentry have proved drunk with the Queen's cup, full of Roman intoxicating spice, and have made a mad market-venture of their names, families, estates, bodies, souls, only to preserve the Papists relics, and the Prelate's micers and damask cassocks among us. Now these furious Salamanders and fansie-frantick spirits, begin to see, their busy action may come to end in miserable passion, because they doted on their lady Mary, & have forsaken the Lord jesus in his cause. Take we but these 15. acts of grace, put we them together as so many letters, & see if they do not evidently compose these a words, Divine Providence, which ran in & thorough the whole action, & therefore all tongues should sold the divine Praise. Especially o Hull thou hast by this day fallen into great debt to God, who has taken away thine Alastor's and Furies from thee. Let thy Motto be that of the L. Boils in Ireland, as I have heard, God's Providence is mine Inheritance. Bless God from the ground of thy heart, that though they were proudly & audaciously disposing of thy houses, streets, & great men's estates, thus & thus, this to, that commander, that to this officer, & gladding themselves with the rich spoils of their presently to be caught prey, yet there is not one of the to be found in thy town or houses as possessors, but only as prisoners. What a mercy is it, that thou art not filled with that lustful and lecherous vermin, with that spawn of cruelty, that to their power would destroy souls as well as bodies. Let a Minister of ours of good credit witness their virtues, who being late their prisoner at Cottingham, was carried into a chamber, where an Officer of theirs lay in bed with 2 whors at once, and there was another bed at feet, where another lay with another whore. 
* This virtuous provost Martial shown the whares to him, & told him he did this to vex the round heads, not caring at all, or remembering that it vexes God more.  Surely Rome has need to send out a new Bull, for the comfort and pardon of these beasts. Without doubt this is the only way to maintain the Liberty of the Subject, & the known Laws of the Land, & these men go the direct way to set up the Protestant Religior. It were well they had grace to purge their hearts, as well as these unholy ways to purge their reins But God hath given them over to act all wickedness with greediness and impudence, so far as they have a famous whore, a minion to one of their. Lords, who goes openly among them with her pistols, & bears the name of one that has a troop. All these virtue's Catholic & Cardinal should have been acted in thy streets & houses o Hull, to make thee as miserable a seen as unhappy York. Either study Hallelujabs & holiness all thy days, & set forward some new act of reformation for thy men & manners, to the honour of God, or else thou art the unhappiest Town, that this day stands upon English ground. Set up a royal pillar in the marketplace, & in golden letters engrave this deliverance: or set up an holy statue of heavenly purposes in your hearts, to be a more holy Town, less proud, luxurious, etc. or else by this I testify to all the land, God has some other scourge for thee, to which he will reserve thee, who has hither to preserved thee. O that you were wise, that as God has been All for you, so you would be something more than heretofore for him, or else this great mercy will undo you. Be persuaded to sing the mercies of this day, so long as you have a day. Call it not the soldiers, nor the seamans' work, but only the Lords, who only doth wondrous things. When God is found so much a blessed Dative, 
Calv. in opusc. in praefat. ad Bald. con.  take heed thou be not a cursed and unjust Ablative, as Calvin saith, one Baldwin was named for lurching things from his fellow-students.  
By this I have endeavoured to lay out in plain colours this large salvation, that the land may know it, and when they hear of extraordinary mercies, they may name London's mercies, Glocesters' deliverance, and Hills salvation. By this, as a performance of my vows in part, I publish the goodness of God to me and those with me, that under the shadow of Divine Feathers were preserved in the circumvallation of Atheistical and cruel spirits. And by this let me admonish all the Lords scattered one's, 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 2 Pet. 2.4.  who have found the salutary and saving breathe and blasts of the celestial Zephyrus of special providence, to fall down & say with Heze. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth The Lord was ready to save me: there fore we will sing our songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life, Isa 38 19, 10 Henceforth let Cavendish remember the signs in Nottinghamshire, armed with his Arms and Motto, Cavendo Tutus. This will be as good a Monitor for setting upon Hull, as for them that enter a Tavern or Ale house: & as it is his own, let him betime draw practical Rules from it. For his shattered and bullet-battered Army, let them fly to their old Litany, From Hell, Hull, Halifax deliver us, and leave out their God damn me, for their damnation in hell will be worse than their confusion at Hull. Nor need they wish it, and so earnestly desire it; for S Peter saith, the damnation of such sleeps not, and if it did sleep, I am sure this sect of God damnists are likely to wake it, that it shall have but a short sleep. I conclude with a Text for thee O Kingston upon Hull, comment upon this thy deliverance with Ezra's words, and with suitable works. Seeing thou our God hast given us such a deliverance as this, 
〈◊〉 9.13, 14.  should we again break thy commandments, and join in league with the people of these abominations? Wouldst thou not be angry with us, till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor escaping? Admiration was the mother of Philosophy, let it be the mother of your Divinity, in this thing to admire the Lords wonderful mercy, wisdom and power, that did so act and work for an handful of his people, whom he might have thrown out of the way, and there could no judge or jury have found him guilty of any thing for it, but justice and righteousness in the action. Wherefore season all your hearts with sense of unworthiness on our part, and ample apprehensions of goodness on his part, that the flame within and without, may always keep you in heat with this fire, burning you up with admiration of spirit, and exaltation of God, both in language and life, till you be ready to live and die in David's temper, Ps 72, 18.19. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doth wondrove things. And blessed be his glorious Name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.  
FINIS.