A puritan Set forth In his Lively Colours: OR, K. JAMES his description of a Puritan.  
Whereunto is added, THE roundheads Character, WITH The Character of an Holy Sister.  
All fitted for the times.  
Ignes profundi, fraudes Capitisque Rotundi,  
Et Judae suavium, debt Deus ut caveam.  
 illustration  
Aug: 23 LONDON, Printed for N. B. 1642.   

A puritan Set forth In his Lively Colours.  
WHosoever will look with an impartial eye upon the face of things, and consider aright the head-strong and unruly zeal of those preposterous maligners of monarchical Government,( who shaking off all Civill and ecclesiastical Order, would( if it were in their power, and they do endeavour as much as in them possibly lies for to effect it) introduce a Presbyterian in the Church, and Aristocratical in the State, if any at all, for they are truly, as they would seem to be, Libertines, & seek to live without Laws as they list) He cannot but confess, what K. James of happy memory( whose motto was Beati Pacifici, blessed are the peacemakers, though their actions be the contrary, counting them only happy, which are the Peace-breakers) was the King of Prophets in these later times, and a Prophetical King. For he wisely fore-seeing with the Promethean eye of judgement, what miserable consequents, & dangerous effects, would ensue and happen unto this kingdom, if these turbulent spirits should get a head, or come into any place of authority, did in the second Book of his Basilicon Doron, that Kingly gift, which he bequeathed unto our royal King Charles,( whom God long prosper with his just and religious designs) as his last Will and Testament, among other of his Princely Admonitions, gave him this caveat, to beware of this monstrous brood. Take heed( saith he) of these Puritans, the very pests( or plagues) in the Church & Common-wealth; whom no deserts can oblige; neither oaths, nor promises bind; breathing nothing but sedition and calumnies; aspiring without measure, railing without reason, and making their own imaginations( without any warrant of the Word) the square of their conscience▪ I protest before the great God, and since I am here, as upon my Testament, it is no place for me to lye in, that you shall never find, with any Highland, or Border-theeves, greater ingratitude, and more lies, and vile perjuries, then with these fanatic spirits. And suffer not the principals of them to brook your land, if you like to sit at rest; except you would keep them for trying your patience, as Socrates did an evil wife. And( in the page. before) he speaks thus of them: I was oft-times calunniated by these fiery-spirited men in their popular Sermons; not for any evil or 'vice in me; but because I was a King: which they thought the highest evil. So that then, if any man shall propound that old Quaere, What is a Puritan? We may resolve the Question, and describe him in his true colours, out of K. James, after this manner: A Puritan, is one of the pestilent party, the very plague of the Church and Common-wealth, whom no deserts can oblige, nor oaths, nor promises bind; one that breaths nothing but sedition and calumnies; aspiring without measure, and railing without reason; making his own imaginations( without warrant of the Word) the square of his conscience. He is a fanatic spirit; with whom you may find greater ingratitude, more lies, and viler perjuries, then amongst the most infamous thieves. And if the principals of them be suffered in a kingdom, it can be to no other good purpose, but for the trial of the Kings patience: for when they speak evil of Kings, it is not because Kings deserve it; but because it is natural in these men to deprave them.  
This was the judgement and opinion of K. James of happy memory and learned experience: in whose dayes, we enjoyed the flourishing estate of the Gospel, with a great deal of peace, plenty, and prosperity. But now to our grief we see the truth of his Divine Prediction, and by woeful experience are too too sensible of their conditions.  
And thus having shown you K. James his opinion of these kind of creatures, which he directed in Prose; please you to see the character of them, though under another notion, in Verse; it is, as followeth.   

The ROVND-HEADS Character,  

If you will see the Character  
Of a Round-head, lo it is here.   

HE that would holy seem in all mens sight,  
When as he truly is an Hypocrite;  
Would be thought humble, and not have descride  
His obstinacy and spiritual pride;  
Who hath enough of saving knowledge, though  
He never yet could red his Christ-cros row;  
That cries down learning, 'cause the simplo spirit  
Doth him inspire with all things against merit.  
Who hates a Papist, yet approves this notion,  
That ignorance is mother of devotion:  
That's a good Christian, yet doth disallow,  
At Jesus name, his stubborn knee to bow  
Though God commands it; will cut close his head,  
Because he saith Saint Paul doth him so bid;  
Loves decent things at home, at Church nought fitting,  
And will not take the Sacrament but sitting;  
That will not cross his child in baptism,  
Because 'tis contrary to Round-head-isme,  
That in a morning seven long miles on foot  
Will stretch, to hear a Lay-Priest pray by root,  
Ricking in zealous sweat; that boldly dares  
Reject our Saviours, and our Churches Prayers;  
That hates a Scholar 'cause he's Orthodox,  
Yet posts to hear such as in nasty frocks  
do prate at Conventicles; will be sick,  
If he but hears of a Church catholic,  
Yet's well at the next Article; nor faints  
When he's amid the communion of Saints.  
That will not swear, when's found fast with a sister,  
But yet, by Yea and Nay, deny he kist her:  
That will not do his neighbour the least evil,  
Yet thinks to cousin him, God, and the devil:  
That utterly detests strange innovation,  
Yet daily schisms doth procreate in our Nation:  
Who hates, yet makes division, 'cause the sway  
Of this our kingdom should be ruled his way:  
Who's never well employed, yet still in action,  
Loves outward peace, but inward's lined with faction:  
That is religious, will oppose nothing  
But what's authorized by the Church and King:  
That would be counted blameless from his youth,  
This is a very Round-head in good truth.   
Now because you seldom or never can meet a puritan or a Round-head( they are termini aequivalentes) without a holy sister, which they dearly love, I think it not amiss to adjoine her character under him, that so you may the better take notice of both.   

The Holy-Sisters Character.  

SHee that can sit three Sermons in a day,  
And of those three, scarce bear three words away;  
Shee that can rob her husband, to repair  
A Budget-Priest that noses along prayer;  
Shee that with Lamb-black purifies her shoes,  
And with half eyes, and Bible, softly goes;  
Shee that her pocket with Lay gospel stuffs,  
And edifies her looks with little ruffs;  
Shee that loves Sermons, as shee does the rest,  
Still standing stiff, that longest are the best;  
Shee that will lye, yet swears shee hates a liar,  
Except it be that man that will ly by her;  
Shee that at christenings thirsteth for most sack.  
And draws the broadest handkerchief for Cake;  
Shee that sings psalms devoutly next the street,  
And beats her maid i'th kitchen, where none seet;  
Shee that will sit in shops for five howr's space,  
And register the sins of all that pass;  
damn at first sight, and proudly dares to say,  
That none can possibly be saved but they;  
That hangs Religion in a naked ear,  
And judge mens hearts, according to their hair;  
That could afford to doubt, who wrote best sense,  
Moses, or Dod on the Commandements.  
Shee that can sigh and cry, Queen Elizabeth,  
rail at the Pope, and scratch out sudden death;  
And for all this can give no reason why,  
This is an Holy Sister verily.    
FINIS.