The Arch Cheat, or the Cheat of Cheats: OR A notable discovery of some parts of the mystery of iniquity, plainly showing that this is the Prelate's War, managed under the King's Name, only to advance the Hierarchy above the temporality, yet leave them some externals to deceive all sides, and all sorts, a choice piece of gullery trimely set out. 'Cause we are more for the Senses than Sense. Thus our conceptions we do commence. depiction of puppet show P. The Puppets. F. A fellow pointing. C. All sorts of common people. H. The country Husbandman or Farmer. B. The Prelate ordering of all. K. The King. N. Nobles. S. The Shark or Cavalier enforcing the Damsel. The voting Puppets each eye descries, But it's 1 The Wise see further, then with eyes. Sophia hath the seeing ey●s. 2 Common understandings reach not things, things out reach them. Plebeians move in lowest Sphere, But its wisdom mouts the highest career. The 3 To the Sects and the rude people all is attributed. Puppets seemingly do brawl, But its Mercurial 4 But its the crafty Prelates, and their Athisticall Faction under several species, pretences sets all together by the ears Hocus. governs all. Though 5 Wisdom not craft should govern. Pallas should, whose deuce 6 All excellencies belonging to wisdom, and the wise. the golden ball. But the goddess 7 In a threatening way, and in time of remedy, Justice shall be told of all her pranks. Astrea shall know all. London printed for M. W. at Grays-Inne Gate, October 4. 1644. Courteous Reader, here is but a little Poetry, and yet its lame of its fee●●, Not to fail when all fail were to be singular, which is the greatest failing. let thy ingenuity relieve it, for it's thy only strength to bear with its weakness, and it's therefore weak to try thy strength, and it hath therefore failed that it might not fail. S. H. The Arch Cheat, OR The Cheat of Cheats: OR A notable Discovery of some parts of the Mystery of Iniquity, plainly showing, that this is the Prelate's War, managed under the King's name, only to advance the Hierarchy, above the Temporality, Yet leave them, some externals, to deceive all sides and all sorts, a choice piece of Gullery trimely set out. Writ at the beginning of these troubles, but occasionally confined till now. THere is a Crew which * In their ay●es and in●entions & are Athists also. crows and crowns themselves with Rose-Buddes of beauty, sweetness and delight (of with the Prelates and popishly affected, irreligious religious men are chief) who aiming at greatness and all kind of licentiousness, etc. and withal to advance thereto nimbly also without toil yea to Soveranize and King themselves and govern kingdoms, do break through all laws, Devine, Humane, Moral, Rational, etc. to attain thereto. 2. This to bring about, they find lies in the interressing themselves into the favours and good opinions of Princes, under the pretence of amplifying their greatness and Prerogatives, etc. next by gaining all the powers into their hand as for the empty titular titles, and some externals, they leave them to the temporal * Laike Kings and Peers to colour the business, that the Cheat may not 1. Thus they render them in contempt. be seen, etc. 3. Their own names will not carry it, they wanting Law, Right, Title and opinion▪ etc. 4. Besides they must not appear in the action, but lie close snug, and close hid as doth in shows the lurking spirit that guideth the oculer motions, which 2. As in Puppet plays or other motions under neath guides all. The King's Name, Hand, Person, etc. dec●ave● and conquers the Kingdom. IGNOTO. are only seen to act all, and all to them is attributed, but cunning Hocus plays his pranks under board. 5. With Princes than they tamper, who have law, right and title on their side, and opinion too, that foolish goddess, and goddess of fools, their names they advance, magnify, yea deify, etc. but prostrate prerogative, etc. 6. It takes Herod-like with some too much with all to their falls. 7. More Princes fall in Court by Flatterrers charms. Then in the field by the Aversaries' arms, etc. 8. On they go and pinnacle Princes with Prerogatives about God, but sure they will be to mount with them, as did the Devil with our Saviour: and then 3. Their profane Hierarchy. on, with condition of his dismounting, prostration and 3 worshipping beastly monsters, with seven Heads and ten Horns, they will do wonders, if not 4. The riches powers and honours of Kingdoms: done before they come,— why, they will give him all the 4 Kingdoms of the Earth, and subdue the 5 Nations to him, with an Iron Rod, or rather than fail— 6 with a flail. 9 Great is the Temple of the goddess Diana, but were it not for her silver 5. England. Scotland. Ireland. Puppetts the godless gods and her Temple might go fiddle— so might Prerogatives, etc. 6. Any way. 10. These graceless youngsters, 7 gracious yet with Princes, and are seemingly 7. Ignorant of their Roguery. very officious to accommodate them with Honour, Greatness, Majesty, etc. 11. A Golden bait, but the forked hook appears not. 12. By this they attain to be their Counsellors and next the betrust of places of command and power which was the white they aimed at, as the only way to King themselves, and depose Princes, oppose others. 13. These they bestow into hands of their own faction, such as can flatter and abuse Princes out of their prerogatives, as well as themselves — Birds of a Feather, 14. Now who but these are the only men with 8 Kings I and Queens to, 8. Ignorant, ●● afore of their Roguery. Oh they are wily Mercuries and have curious blandishments to insinuate in●o and infatuate all sorts, and fatten themselves, etc. 15. Well Princes conceive the power in their own hands, but P. O. for that, it's the 9 Prelates prize, of which he must not know any thing till their ends be 9 Or the Priest's bit. 1 Sam. 2. 13, 14. compassed 16. As for him he may go 10 sleep, sport, hunt, or tennis it, they will order matters well enough for his greatness, and renown if ill enough be well enough, 10. Out geerers of Prince's so all sorts. etc. 17. The Popish government under the cheating name of Religion they mainly aim at, but mum not a word of either not intentions but pranct up pretensions like gaudy Dianah must gad abroad to bewitch the foolish Sechemites but Simeon and Levi brothers of iniquity drive on their designs like furious Jehu, to circumvent the credulous Sechemites, with universal Ruin. The wicked Laity and Clergy of all sorts. 18. The King's name still carries out all things, but he is kept ignorant of whatsoever is oftensive to his nature or disposition, or else they do palliate it with pretexes' qualifications, etc. 19 They * rail of all their adversaries, from access or prepare antidores against by threaten so by keeping them at distance, as with a●ile●. their poison as against belief, infidelity and villefie with names to contemptablenesse. 20. But with the people, they magnify an implicit faith believe as the Church believes the trump of Cheats, etc. 21. Mountain promises are made, of justice's liberty laws, and Religion, but not a dust or grain made good, except jering as Children and Fools for their easy credulity. It's glory to betray any way disglory to be betrayed. 22. If Robbing, murchering, ravashing, yea all kind of injustice be justice than none more just more faithful in performance, twice twelve to the dussen. 23 Quarrels are picked, pretences found, on purpose to rout out all oposers either Religious or Morralists. 24. It is easy to find a staff to beat a Dog, with the quarrelsome. It's as easy to find a Dog for a staff. 25. Other pretences are found to raise Arms, any thing is just with the powerful any thing seems so with the simple. 26. Some on hopes, promises, preferments rewards, offices, and others, a licentious Nobles. Gentry, Commons all sorts comply. libertine course of life others errors of judgement, Scruples of conscience, opinion pretences of one kind or other. Most, a fool's paradise— here. or a ports Elysium— hereafter. 28. What should I say it asketh an eternity to rectify all these giddy brains. 29. If they be not Traitors, Rebels, Murderers, Thiefs, and punshable as such here, and damnable hereafter who are on the offensive side, and sight against Religion the liberty of the people, and privileges of Parliament all established by law. The name of a King is so dazzling that it prostrates all behoulders— except — Bell whom Danill must prostrate. 30. Beauty in Heaven and Earth this grace doth win. ●gnoto. It supplies rigour, and it lessens sin etc. 31. Soldiers are raised, why, john for the King, so all, and who nor, they see none other, they spy not Hocus under the Board, nor that joabs' hand is in all this they are light Angels but not Angels of light. 32. If monies be wanting, than Nimrod like that mighty hunter plundering, robbing whole Countries, Counties to mount their Babel battlements, parallel with those of Heaven, is lawful and under the name of warring to perpetrat any villainy is excellent villainy— if any villainy be excellent. 33. That which even now was a hanging matter to do, is now a hanging matter not to do. Thus a moment, can Invert, pervert circularly. For themselves in the King's name. 34. Out goes Summons, Proclamations, Threats &c. to amate awe, etc. Trained, Bands comes in as if to the Golden Sceptre— poor folks, Hocus is to hard for you, it's to the Crosiers staff which like Muse's rod hath champt up the Sceptre, and now begins with its cammock nose to catch hold of them as did the bush of Ablahams' Ram, they are plundered, they fleed of their fleeces as of Horse, Arms judas is no judas to this Judas. money, and sent away like a piled sheep, or as a Dog with his tailo clapped betwixt his legs. 35. Horse, Arms, money, throng in as if to homage it to the burnished throne which so dazzleth and a stoninisheth all behoulders that they spy not lurking Hocus the judas who for thirty pence will fallen his Master and all his Desciples— grinning like a Satier or as Moss his Mare simpered when she eat thistles to see of the wise. these s● infatuated fools purchase themselves halters, manacles, fetters at so dear a He cannot help it He is their Prisoner Jeering Hocus ●ate, and like Salome us fools, go to the Stocks for correction. 36. If the Throne conquer, yet Hocus is victor, who slily conveys away the throne and sets his tressells in the place nimbly over layning them wiith a watchet covering embroidered with golden Flower deuces, and as nimbly claps a Mitre thereon instaed of a Crown all so dexterously handled as unespied of any but Glorious Titles etc. the wise * Bribes are promised in the King's name to betray thus that Fort Castle, etc. and it's all by these Traitors for themselves, they rob to pay the bribe or pays it, and 10. times more out of the places delivered up to them ❧ Virtue that is power is gone from me. For you shall he kept under like beasts by the sword and with implicit factions, Law, but will and that of barbarous villains Sophia, whose intentions discovers the cloven head of the Mitre just like that of the Devil's foot out she cries of the cheat, Oh you fools how long will you continue in your folly but all in vain as I do hear, for fools though brayed in Mortars will not forsake their folly, nor will deaf Adders hear charm you never so wisely. 37. Now they soveragnize it yet, the King's name colours all still, I and now he begins to colour it also with anger and shame to see the gullery but * noe force patience, perforce, he is as fast as Mars and Venus in Vulcan's weary net, the more he sprawls and kicks, the more he is entangled * at this, sly * Mercury laughs a main but unespsed of any, but only the wise * Sophia who still carries out, but is not heard, Oh you fools etc. 38. Yet ex●ernalls are allowed as gay as the Chamblet ribbons, Hocus pulls out of his mouth, to delude the filly Spectators. 39 So have I seen at children's festivals the gaudy King and Queen followed by an awful black Coat neither crowned nor Robed, yet well maced who cold at pleasure; though a pawn give Check mate to both Rex et Regina inbeati. 41. Great matters are promised, hoped for as a● * but who shall now force to performance, they are Atheists, yea worse, not Moralists, not any Bonds, Oaths, lies will hold any more than Samsons, Hairlaces fillets, or head-bands, etc. you challenge them of this and that, &c except ●ave exclaim what care they, they know you not, how now, away, avaunt your workers of Iniquity. 42. Helpe o King a rails not how can I saith he seeing that the Lord Prelat pleaseth not to look upon either of us. 43. Is not this fine that you have unkinged your King and enslaved yourselves and your posterities to the forked Mitre, instead of the arched Crown, and must now ask and wait for what was once your own, but it may be never shall be. 44. All are their Prisoners and Captives from the throne to the cottage, not Kings The Government of Spain and France is in the Hierarchy their 〈◊〉 is, not the Kings. not Nobles, not Gentry; not any are free, but lie at their mercy for favours or frowns. 45. And now are the commons of England putting on Canvas Breeches and wooden shoes, and the Peers are but so, ad placitum the Gentry, and are but Gentiles an● aliens to the Commonweal o● Israel there. 46. Former freedom and liberty— for like to foolish and profane Esau, all sort and all degrees have sold their birth rights for a Mess of Pottage (as red as the 'slud of Martyrs. 47. Certain 21 things called religious men, murder, steal, rape, oppress, what not, by their temporal agents, who act all, like the apparent Pupitts, but while As the Popish Prelates. Mercury still plays his pranks underboard, or slinkes behind the Curtain, like a snarling Cur. 48. Then lastly they jeer to see how finely with the King's names have S●ale, shows, promises, personal presence, protests, threats, and flowrishes, messengers, ●an ●. Nations put up this. I am of opinion whilst the K. is in such ●●cksters handling, nothing should 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉, but refeled with scorn, as from these, &c Let not our Nobles and Gentry, nor the Scot also. Flatter they do, using the King's name O this our worthy Subject, etc. To raise, prefer, confer honour as they l●st, then jeer ●t the Gulls that the King doth all, and its themselves by him to purchase the Kingdom. O let respite be till convincement, which doth in●●●cement is just. etc. they have befooled all sorts, out of their Religion, Laws Liberties, and estates each one holding what they have of them simply: nothing in fee-simple, and so simpletons all are. 49. Now Esau his rough hands gripe like a Griffen &c, 50. In the name of foreign Prince's aid comes in, as if to Princes, their mutual names, colours, all but it is oft from faction to faction from Cheater to Cheater, and the poor Princes are pruned of all, O you Princes how long will you suffer yourselves to be gulled of your Prerogatives, under pretence of maintaining Prerogative, is it not time to give over these wilily beguiles? 51. Trust not I say, your lives, nor your Posterities in the hands of Traitors, Rebels, to whom if you comply not, they will send you packing— and not comply, but defy, etc. 52. Suffer their King, so themselves to be overtopped by the Prelacy once more, and the government translated to the Hierarchy, shall their wiles, suggestions, and pretences so far delude as not to see, it its not pretences, but by-intentions which they steer to, rouse up your spirit and quicken your understandings and vindicate your King and yourselves, and your Country from their inslavements, and redeem yourselves from their jeers, serious insulations, down with them, and for other matters settle with Wisdom in its opportunity. 53. Call to mind the miseries, the Irish, so this Nation have endured by their means. 54. Be as faithful to your country, as the Scots to theirs. 55. As the ten Tribes to one poor wronged Levit. 56. Are we not your Brethren, flesh of your flesh, bone of your bones. 57 And for Religious severity which oweth all sorts. If you dare trust a mortal such dispensations shall be found as shall content all sides without gain saying, though nothing remove mean then your means. 58. This cruel crew make riddance of, lest it rid us all which God and you for bid. 59 I Protest the King and you are abused by their suggestions, their tenants so their practices are destructive to the prerogatives, yea safety of Princes, States, Law, then are they thus suffered? who should suffer. 60. What hurt do the Protestants, or sects in Holland, France, etc. are they not faithful every where some follies, humours opinions they Mass and hold that are troublesome but treacherous they are not, they stab not, nor poison, betray, forswear, burn fire not down houses, Cities, whole Kingdoms, they delight not in blood and massacres, as the Papists do, Oh murder them not by neglect, for neglect is murder, Robery, Rape etc. 61. I end as did the Levite to the ten Tribes, see, consider, judge and give sentence. 62. And do as in the twentieth of Judges, the Tribes did all at their own charge for our levite assembled, etc. Read and fail not. 63. They delayed not, but met as one man, and accommodated to right, and revenge the injury done to the said one poor Levit, but oh our Levity, etc. 64. Forget not then, Oh all you whom it may concern, as it doth all. who in any kind can do good, lest not only a mother in Israel, but the mother of Israel, yea Israel herself be destroyed. which God and you forbidden, and you will forbid if men you be, that is have the bowels of men, of mercy, and resolution of manhood in you. Oh why doth not the Kingdom like an inundation, or deluge overwhelm these rascal crew of Egyptian Gypsies. Lest they Cheat the King and State of the Kingdom, and we be a jeer to all Nations. Vale. A short Summary of the premises for plain Capacities, ALL the Atheists, inhumanes, Traitors, Rebels, Rogues Thiefs, Cheats, Cutpurses, Murderers, so all idle and lawless persons of the Kingdom are met together, and have got the King amongst them to colour, and credit their roguery, his person and name they seem to magnify to the people, the King, the King, the Lords anointed, but Jeer, and scorn both him, and all Lords, just as did the Demetrians Diana, who magnified her only to make themselves, and as did the Prince's abuse, and overthrow Darius and made pretence of godding him, unmade him, and made colour of Prerogating him, precipitated him, etc. These now with the Kings, Person, Name, Scale, Warrants, Proclamations, Letters, Threats, Messengers, & c. ●●asse all sides, especially the simple, whose opinions, Idolatrize the name and persons of Kings, and at this advantage the villainous adversary presumes, glories, insults and jeers. For what ever they have a mind to do, they do it, and the King must, or they will enforce his person, or name, or both to bear it out; Thus Towns, Cities, Forts, etc. are summoned, so Horse, Arms, money are taken up, as if for the King's use, when it may be he knows not of it, or knowing, cannot help it, enjoy all they do, not he, any thing, but in name, so with commands, Proclamations are abroad & it's not the King, but this faction is accommodated, scornfully, 〈◊〉 they urge, what keep Forts, Towns, and what from your King, Sovereign. Lo●● Anointed? cause they should be delivered to him, what not obey your King caus● they would be obeyed, what fight against your King! the Lords Anointed, caus● they would command, rule, do all things as they list, and have no resistance thus all are fools, or knaves, or both, and take part with Traitors (as they say to aid the King) but it's to keep him their prisoner. Foreign Sta●es are thus gu●●, or would gull, for in thinking to aid the King, they aid Traitors against him, ●● politicly intent the King, and so support their own faction against him, and the State, thus which simple to us, or Knaves, the loyal that fight for to rescue him, seen against, etc. so traitorous, and rebellious, and those true Traitors (cause locally on his side) seem to fight for him, and they do so indeed, for it's to hold him their prisoner, to colour, and credit their Roguery as afore, so they are seemingly loyal, who are most absolute desolute loyalists. Now seeing it's discovered, let fools Knaves, and Malignants see to it, their pretend not, no longer ●o abuse King and State, and fight, and speak against him, in seeming to speak. and fight for him, as did DEMETRIUS Humanis, and the Princes of Darius all birds of the same Feather, for neither their bauleing, nor sophistical pretended prate can quit them of being Traitors and Rebels to King and State at large, or content, so also there are Hypocrites murderers, thiefs and Cheaters, etc. and who are so, are base, base then as they are, they must pass for, and fools let them pass for who are so cheated. FINIS.