THE LAMENTATION of the Ruling LAY-ELDERS.  
Sadly bemoaning the death of their late foster-Father Sir John Presbyter, deceased.  
With the Resolutions both of them, and the Presbyterian Priests, in all obedience to the Parliament and people in whatsoever they shall or will command.  
Printed in the year 1647. July .29.   

The Elders Lamentation, for the untimely End of Sir John Presbyter.  
WHereas to the unspeakable grief of our hearts, wee the Lay-Elders of the City of London and Westminster have lately had just occasion to humble ourselves for the untimely death of our indulgent Father Sir John Presbyter, lately deceased, since whose death we are become a scorn and reproach to all the Commons of England &c. We therefore out of a pious care of the preservation of us, our wives, and families; and as well to shelter ourselves from the storm we so evidently see falling upon us, have thought fit to demonstrate to all the world our real intentions and resolutions, as well in our own behalfs, as the behalfs of all those that have or do exercise the Presbyterian Function, whether Pastors, Deacons, or Elders &c.  
1. We shall forbear the catechizing of all that are of more knowledge, and better judgements then ourselves, and shall sand our servant or Minister to every house respectively in your Parish to give you timely notice thereof, and to invite you to the spiri●uall banquet, that we may once more unite ourselves in a band of unity and concord, and be at charity amongst our slves, and so the better enabled to stand up as on man against that damnable demanding and commanding Army of Sir Thomas Fairefax.  
2. We shall hereafter forbear the frequenting of all taverns, Alehouses, Brothells, and the like, on the Sunday or Sabbath dayes, and whereas we were wont to go six or seven together, wee shall hereafter visit them one by one on the working dayes, dealing with sinners by all faire means, and not by force or c●mpulsion drawing them and wooing them to leave their lewd courses, even as two of our Predecessors wooed Susanna. though many have likened us to be Leeks, with white hoary-heads, and green tails, not considering we are Ealdermen, that is as much as to say Eldermen, and so of more honour then Aldermen, and so without doubt derived from the word earls, as you may re●d in Verstegan: We deny ourselves to be spir●●ual Elders, and shall deny t● join( if y●u think meet) with ecclesiastical aff●ires, and turn Aldermen or earls, or whatsoever you shall think us fitting to be: We shall also if you please be called Seniors, and G●andees of the times; but we b●seech you brethren not to term us by the odious neck names of heaven drivers, Dotterells, and the like; and we do hereafter pro●ise and vow in our own names, and in the names of ou● God-●●●●●rs and God-mo●hers, of the kingdom of Scotl●n●, 〈…〉 moneys that we have already taken from you, 〈…〉 and from a company of dry fellowes( that must ne●des d●inke a sundays) shall be employed to these religious uses following, viz.  
To build a large and spacious stews, accommodated with faire walks, A●bours, and fountains, and the like; and that there be chosen out of our several Parishes( by us the Civill Lay-Elders) ten of the fairest young Virgins of every Parish, or as need requires( when ten sometimes will hardly serve one) provided they be Presbyterian, being more proper for us old men, that are become twice children, to be fu●nished with playfellowes fitting for us, then to have the rule of Churches: To which purpose, that one Elder of every Parish shall be forthwith sent to Dr. Cornelius B. who hath lately left him by will certain Timber, and Frieze-stones, by his Father Sir John Presbyter, that he the said Dr. be desired to give, or sell at some easy rate, the said timber and stones for the pious uses aforesaid. And that the said Dr. shall have egress and regress through the same, both for him and his wife, or any of the rest of his venerable Brethren, and stable-roome for his nag: And the said structure to be raised with all speed.  
3. Being very sensible of our present condition, That we requi●● the said Ministers or servants belonging to our several Parishes to be more moderate, and a little to forbear their treasonous expressions against his Majesty, to rave or rail against Independents, and to blame the Parliament in some measure; in that they have lately sought their own private interests, and not the glory of God, and good of his Church; That the great work of Reformation hath been carried on very coldly, very deadly, and not with that vigour and life, that so great and religious a work requires; by which means we shall by degrees creep into the aff●ctions of the people, and the better side with the dissenting Members of the House of Commons, persuading the people, that the Independents have no real intentions towards his Majesty; but that they will proclaim him guilty of all the blood that hath lately been  shed in these wars, and bring him to a trial for the same after they have effected their own treasonous designs; therefore let us make diligent search in all the books put out by the said Independents formerly against his Majesty, which will be very advantageous to our design in hand, to make them odious to the people, and to regain our formerly last credits, in which time we may underhand list Souldiers, and quickly get a power sufficient to resist the Army; especially considering the great influence we have over Apprentices, young Freemen, Watermen, and the like, which we are very likely to gain by our late petition in gathering of hands, to which end we have used our old art of specious pretensions being for the good of his Majesty, to place him and his children in their just Rights, and to maintain the Protestant Religion, and the known laws of the Land— but this in private— yet we make no question but some Independent will be ready to say, that we have already divided the King from his Parliament, truct with the Scots for a Religion like themselves, and their Country, and broken all the known laws of the Land, robbed the King of the R●venue belonging to his crown and Dignity, divorst him from his Wife, and dear Children, prosecuted a most horrid and bloody Rebellion that ever was known to be in any Nation; robbed him of the hearts of his Subjects, hanged and butchered many of his loyal Subjects, kept him their prisoner, and plundered free Denizens and Subjects only for maintaining their Oath of Allegiance to his Majesty, according to their bounded duty; and all this acted quiter contrary to the known laws of the Land, and the actors as liable to receive punish●ent for all this, as any thief that ever suffered at Tybu●ne. N●y, they will not stick to tell us, we have not on●y done all this, but we have sought to make all our own, whilst we have brought ourselves to the Proverb, All covet, all lose.  
Alas poor Independents, this you m●y pretend, and lay to the charge of us innocent Presbyters, that have no more harm in us then a devil of ten yeares old, though we are hardly christened or known by our names in this kingdom; yet we are become more odious in this our infancy, then ever the Bishops were in old age: We were fully contented with their places, and fat benefice, and would have been very well content to have kept their wives with the sweat of our bodies, on condition if we might enjoy them quickly: And truly brethren our Ministers should have choked the people with dusting the cushion in their spiritual pangs, till wee were( by the help of a Scotch Midwife) delivered of so dreadful a 
A child like the Father, or the true character of a Presbyter.  Monster, that all her Majesties bears could never lick into any form: In his mouth were to be seen blasphemies, treasons, tautologies, and the like, under his forked tongue was the poison of asps, railings, and cursed speeches, his face was like the face of a Presbyter, in his claws was a bloody devouring sword, his feet were swift to  shed innocent blood, from him proceeded rebellions, pride, lust, sacrilege, and the like; with such an abominable abundance of impieties never before thought of. This Monster was born in nasty Scotland, wrapped up in an old cloakbagge, and sent to Westminster to nruse, and in the space of 4 yeeres, is become so untoward a Chit, that to give you his true character, or draw him forth to the life, would add blackness to my ink, and paleness to my paper, and infuse a kind of trembling palsy into my fainting hand, that I should be forced abruptly to break off, and writ only Finis, &c.  

The Priests resolution, and motion to the People.  
WEe shall in the next place demonstrate our obedience unto the Parliament and people, steadfastly purposing to turn over a new leaf, and learn a new lesson: and to side with what Religion soever the State shall think fit: If you will have us be Anabaptists, Brownists, or the like, we good honest minded Priests, shall be content, so you will but let us still enjoy our fat benefice, and confirm on us the Bishops Lands, and the holy Ordinance for Tithes, wee shall in all obedience conform to any thing you will have us. I● you desire to have the Service book red again in your Churches, you shall have it: if the Directory, 'tis all one to us: if you will hav● Altars again, Crosses and cringing, with holy water, Auricular Confession, Penance, Altar-worship, and Saint-worship too, we shall bee content, so it contents you: and truly( if you shall think it fitting) we shall be content that there be some harmless Recreations allowed the Youth both of the City and Country, on the Sabbath or Lords day; as Dancing, Bowling, Drinking, Drabbing, or the like, it may prove a great encouragement to the young men, and will make them the willinger to perform their labours on the working dayes. And whereas we have formerly altered our Religions, even as the Prince, or the times required; as in the reign of King Henry the Eight, when he was a Papist, we( good men) made no scruple to be Papists; when he turned Protestant, we turned Protestants too: then in the reign of queen Mary presently after, we turned Papists again: then Protestants again in queen Elizabeths reign; and so wee shall still turn to whatsoever you will have us, so you will not turn us out of our goodly fat benefice, that were an ill turn indeed, to expose us to The good will of the vulgar; that vexes us to the guts, and makes our very bowels to earn: Oh the heavenly consideration of the blessed tithe pigs, capons, goose, &c. O let s but quietly enjoy our livings, and tithes, and wee shall give you all cause to rejoice, from the highest to the lowest, from the King to the beggar, then we shall be as free from fear as from honesty: then we shall have a brave world for them that shall live in't; you shall have free exercise of your Religion in houses, or any where else: you shall not be nick-named, Anabaptists, Brownists, Antinomians, and the like; you shall have the ancient Holy dayes observed, Crosses restored to their golden glory( and by the leave of Dr. burgess) Pauls shall once mor● recover his ancient Organ-pipes, Saints-dayes; Feasts, and Wakes shall be again solemnized, by the friendly assistance of fiddlers, Players, jugglers, May-poles, and Morrice-dances; if this New Reformation will please you, it will assuredly please us; this will questionless produce a peace to some purpose; then farewell fears, farewell jealousies, farewell plots, farewel● petition●, and gathering of hands, all things that you can wish shal be g anted, without asking. What think you of this Independents? will it not be a happy age? will you not fling down your arms for joy, and side with us now? we are your kindred, your friends and neighbours; wee can allow you to have the placing of the King in his Throne, be the restorers of the kingdoms laws, and regainers of your lately lost Liberties, release your Prisoners, choose a new Parliament, and have the freedom of the gospel: We beseech you to accept of the honour whilst it is offered you: if ye will not listen unto us, we purpose to continue our old trades still, in renewing and prosecuting dissensions, of raising a bloody war, till we( like the tyrant Nero) have ript up the tender bowels of our dear Mother, our Native Country, and make no conscience to fight against our own lawful King, the anointed of the Lord, and against our own laws, and dearly purchased Liberties, though wee become even the prodigy of the times, and the shane of all Nations.   

Postscript.  
MOst wicked Elders, and Presbyterian Priests, if you persist in your desperate designs to renew a second war, where will you hereafter bestow yourselves while ye live, and whether will ye go when ye die? What country will entertain you? What people will trust you? Heaven doubtless will exclude you? And Hell be too hot for you: Therefore blushy for shane ye Bastards of England( for legitimate children ye cannot be) that prosecute such horrid actions, and hatch such crocodiles eggs of Rebellion and murder, that the very infidels, Pagans, Turkes, Saracens, and no Nation( thoagh never so barbarous and cruel) but would shane to own. Though ye fear not man, yet you ought to fear God, whose al-seeing eye beholds your closest plots, and contrivances, and will undoubtedly repay vengeance to all the enemies of peace and truth, Vale.  
God save King Charles, and Sir Thomas Fairefax, and preserve this Nation.   

The Elders Lamentation.  
I Cannot choose but laugh at your distress,  
And joyful be at your great heaviness.  
Since you such pains have tane in making way  
To others ruins, now see your own decay:  
You roote and branch did pull the Bishops up,  
And now yourselves must drink of the same cup.  
You'd best complain toth' King, and let him know,  
That you want truth, and justice here below,  
Make him to know your wants, perhap; that he  
May prescribe you hemp, to ease your misery.  
The only way I know to make you well,  
And sand you to your Father Jack in hell  
Is to let all the people say Amen.    
FINIS.