THE MAIDS PROPHECIES OR ENGLANDS LOOKING-GLASSE. Dedicated to both Houses of PARLIAMENT, Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the Lord-Major of the City of LONDON. 1 Cor. 14.22. prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. allegorical female figure Despise not Prophesies though by a Maid. They are pronounst good Sir, be not afraid Tis worth your money, buy and you shall see Things that are past, and what must one day be Here is a parfect metor, wondrous true Where every one may their perfections view Come buy this Looking-glass●, tho twill not flatter If you have honest faces, tis no matter. IT is the witty part of a witty Orator to begin his preface with so he pleasing discourse wherewith he may chain the ears of his Auditors to his Tongue with most atentive head. But I will with no Syrens voice enchant you, Nor shall my language be so rude to daunt you. Tis not usually to see our Sex in print, but things customary, do common pass, without regard, but this is the last age of the world, and in the latter dayes the spirit shall be poured out on all flesh: I●●l 2.28. Isa 44.3. Acts 2.17. old men will dream, young men see strange visions, and Maids prophesy as for dreams. I understand none but the Elders: neither fe I any visions, but some fine painted Cassells in the air built by the Cavaliers: and the shadow of a very glorious Church founded I know not where, and we may fi●d it I know not when. Some curious soul may question whence I came what my condition is, or what my name, but I will tell you true what not I am. I am not that wise woman, that beat out Abi●●●l●cks brain●● nor Debara amother in Israell, but Cassandra a Daughter in England that would fain beat good counsel into your brains that have worn out your wits like M●ll-stones grinding against one another to rub out a new Religion, which we nor ove Fathers never knew nor heard of. Illuminating love beyond my merit, hath filled my soul with a divining spirit, which bids me tell the Synod they have sit to find the truth, till they have lost their wit. They will hammer so long upon the anvil of their own brain, till the sparkles fly into their eyes where they may consume by the same light which themselves have kindled: England hath been plunged in an unsivill course of ivill Warres so long, for the laws of the Land, the privilege of Parliament, and liberty of the Subject, till the Land hath no Law, the Parliament no privilege, neither hath the Subject any liberty at all, so much as to serve God publicly or yeld obedience to the King, although we have Christ example to pay him tribute. But our reverend Synod hath learnedly consulted to reform the words of our Saviour, the ways of the Apostles and the works of ancient Fathers. Abolishing all old seremonies with a new directory, to bring us to Heaven a nearer way then the protistant Church could ever have imagined. Their wisdoms have promised very much, and performed as little, like that labouring mountain 〈◇〉 brought forth a mou●● to the great amazement of the beholders whose lingering patience hath been tired with fruitless expectation, these wise reformer have been sircumspect in tithing min● and coming, but let sl●● things of weightier matter, they have been soveer to punish Rochets, surplice, Copes, and mitre, and pluck down Crosses, Pictures, Organs, Altars, with a gallant new broom to sweep the rags of Rome out of the church, till at length they will sweep the church out of large windows, where some of our valiant soldiery have made long breaches, invading the painted ●lasse as desperately as ever Donquickeshot encountered with the Wind-mills. Twas an act indeed of zeal and valour to fight with tombs, deface Monuments, and blot out the Commandements, because say They, they are no Rules to walk by, for the wicked have nothing to do to take Gods Law in their mouths therefore they would not have it before their eyes, this house of Prayer hath been turned into a Den of theefes, witness their often mustering and quartering in several Churches of this kingdom, where some on the Lords day sat clouting their shoes, and patching their coats, prating and making a noise whilst the Minister was delivering the word of God in the Pulpit, their sacreligious hands have robd and plundered those consecrated Garments wherewith the Priest according to the word should be adorned with desency and honour but they whose power and authority have employed them to this unwarantable act may be warned by the Eagle in the fable, who, filching a piece of flesh from the Altar brought with a coal wherewith she set her Nest on fire, so these ill gotten goods will frot and wast like a canker till it consume all that partaines of right to the detainers thereof by wrongfullnesse and might, How many honest men and Orthodox divines for discharging the duty of a good conscience to God and the King, have been persecuted, plundered, sequestered, and imprisoned by them that would have none Lorded over their Brethren, but would level themselves with the Lords antointed, it is the lot of Gods people to suffer tribulation, Iesabell persecuted the Prophets: Ahab plundered Naboths Vineard, daniel was cast into the lions Den, because he did not forsake his old common prayer for a new Directory, composed by Darious and his Nobles. It is a sad thing when a tender conscience shall be compelled to make shipwreck of a good faith for Cowardly fear, or base preferment which is worse, for Salmanders which love to live in the fire of contention here who will without repentance live in the fire unquentionable hereafter they bind heavy burdens with the Pharisee w●●● they will not touch with one of their fingers, they tie us to a government of Presbytery, but let loose the ratignes to licentious liberty, as for me I have binm sled a 6 years progress to find a way to paradise, but have been m sled with so many Ignus sa●uus by the way that my faitth was tired till at last I fixed upon the old opinion of Pithagoras, and believe the Transmigration of the soul from whence I am ass●red the Spirit of the Trojan Princes Cassandra is infufed into me, Whereby I am inspired to prophesy, And sith I am sent, why should I not show myself, yes, that I may do and say nothing, for, Maids should be seen and not heard, neither is it safe to speak all know truth. What then shall I run away and hid myself with Jonas; but if I should meet with a tempestuous storm at Sea, and be cast into the close prison of a Whales belly, I were better endure the storm of a Grand Committee, and be cast into some earthly prison by their favourable appointment. Therefore I will stay and deliver my Message. As Cassandra sent her cries Through the Streets of Troy so must I through the streets of London, She was a frantic dansel So am I Or else could have no power to prophesy. She was the Daughter of an undone Father and Mother, So is the Kings, And I am no other: Her Prophesies were true, so are mine, but not believed no more will mine, but yet her grieved soul did thus divine. Cassandra's Prophesies, Cry Trojans cry a helen and a woe Cry Cry Troy burns, or else let helen go. These were her words with whom I sympathise which makes me through the City sand these cries. Cry London ●ry, a fatal Parliament, dissolve it quickly or you will repent. Cry England Cry, a Fairfax and a King, Advance him to hi● Throne, or Heaven will fling more plagues on you then the egyptians were whilst you like pharaoh will no threatening fear. Cry Ireland Cry plunged in a Sea of woe. C●y for revenge on them that use the s● Thou mightst have been relieved but w●rt neglected cry till the Authors plots shall be detected Cry against them that caused thy discontent Cry against London and the Parliament, That bought and sold their Lands and made them t●y such desperate means with so much cruelty Cry Scotland Cry that ere your Blew Caps came to Order us remunerate the same, Cry ●ocky's Cry for selling of your King, There is a restoration day will bring you to account. The Parliament is free And will reward you for your Loyalty If you will come your Bretheren to aid in their distress you shall be bravely paid Tis feared some will besiege the Directory come and relieve it will be for your glory To rescue the Meneran of your brains which you have prepogated with such pains Cry England cr● for driving of your Queen to sad exile the like hath not been seen Cursed be they that partend man and wife unite them speedily compose the strife For till the King, queen Princes all appear like constellations fixed in their sphere Shall never Father, son, Wife, Daughter, Mother in England find true joy in one another For they that driven the King from of his throne shall shorttly have no dwelling of their own Some of those that forced the Queen to go from her Husband shall run from their own wives; They that compelled the Princely heir of England to leave his father in distress, shal leave their Children in distraction Confusion flies throughout all England in strange disguise, Old Jealousies and fears shall newly fall together by the ears but how long shall we hault between two opinions if Charles be King let us obey him if the Parliament he kings let- us fear them. I know there will be cause when the wicked bear rule the people sigh, Pro. 29.2. but when the righteous are in Authority the people rejoice. Servants may ride when princes go on foot. I have heard of a Tyrant which took four Kings captive compelling them to draw his chariot, One of them looking back smiled, Eccles. 10.7. which the Tyrant perceiving demanded the cause to whom the dejected King replied it joys me to see those spokes of the wheels which were lowest advanced to the hi●hest and those which are above to re●●● a● low for which observation he was immediately released, and tha● we see there is no stability infortune but time and chance 'haps alike to all 〈…〉 there is not storm but hath his calm: no ebb, but hath his Flood, No winter but hath its summer, no Autumn but hath its Spring, no night but hath its day. Time that makes man miserable, make the same man happy time that Saints hypocrisy with a seeming face of truth will one day pluck of that Vizard and discover their wickedness to the World who under a pretence of long prayers, devour widows hou●e, professing to do right with Judgement, but have executed Iudgement against all right or reason, Pretending peace like joab to Amasa, but working Treasons Time, will strip the sheeps skins over their Wolvish ears who instead of feeding the flock wait an opportunity to destroy them, Time that draw out scandalous Cavaliers Ministers to put in scandalous Presbyter-Ministers will now supply their places with gifted independents that were never Ministers, Time pays every one in his own coin, and now they may say with Adonibezeck as I have done unto others, so God hath don unto me, The devil made our Saviours ne●●ssity his opportunity by tempting him with promise of a kingdom which was not his to give, the Parlia●●●t uses the like temptation to his Majesty. It is said of Satan he forced him not, he touched him not, he only said cast thyself down I● may be said of them they force him and have striven to touch 〈◇〉 if he yield to their unreasonable propositions he will cast himself down to his utter ruin. A true prediction of his Majesties coming to London, Char●es shall not enjoy his crown till o houses vot● him down, 〈◇〉 when th●y have done their worst He shall be gr 〈…〉 r then at first time th●● drov● him from his throne Will restor● him to his one when these clouds are overblowne His Majesty, was outwitted when he was pers●aded to leave Hampton Court for ●ea●● of the Adjut●●●rs but time will put a Trick upon their wits that so cunningly 〈…〉 trayed him. I am confirmed by Inspiration of the spirit to second Mr. Saltm●●●shes predictions which i● that the Lord is departed from the Army yet a lying spirit shall deceive them, as it did the King of Israell when he was persuaded to go up and prosper, so shall they go up against the Scots whom the Lord hath stirred up to destroy their ungodly designs. And though there be little good to be expected from those who have been authors of so much misery yet he that brings light out of darkness, Good out of evil, will make them instruments of the true protestant deliverance who having been long obscured, shall like the clear beams of the Sun, break through these horrid mil●s of error, in spite of opposition being established w●th unity, peace and concord. The King, Queen, and Prince shall enjoy their former rights and titles, but not without much trouble, because the iniquity of the Amalecks is not yet full. There shall be much blood spilled, and that not of the meanest part of Merlins prophesy shall be found about the marquis of Worcesters house in Wales which prediction foreshoweth very high and hidden things, not easily understood, Two shall contest whilst the ●hird carrieth the prise, the ban●shed shall be recalled it shall go ill with Ireland, not well with England, the Spaniard hath a design against that, the French against this, and the Pope upon both here shall be a great Mortality, many shall die of the calenture, others shall dy distracted, laying violent hands on themselves, the pestilence shall increase, a famine shall follow not only of br●●d, nor of flesh, but of the word, the Jewish religion shall abound very much in London, by reason of a false prophet which shall delude them. the Sha●ers and quakers shall declare strange ●●velation, but if an ●ng●ll from heaven should teach any o●her doctrine then what you have learned ye ought not to believe them, Isa 30. 2●.2●, For though the Lord give you b●ead of adversity and water of affliction, yet shall not thy ●●●●hers be re●●ved in to a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy re●●●●ers. For thou shalt here a voice beh●●●d thee saying this is the way walk in it for till the true protestant Church be established not one in the three divided kingdoms shall be truly ●appy. Time that produced an Order against Scandalous pamphlets will take any the occasion of Scandalous actions when the wood crea●●● the ●●e go●●● out. reform in time your scandalous abuses And time shall reconsile our bitter Muses in time do justice to his Majesty O House of Parliament why will you die? God and the King will a free pardon give Except their clemency, break up and live in both their favours be advised by me Wh● th●s in time conclude my prophecies With Swan like long if any s●ek to have Accomp 〈…〉 me, their find me in my Grave In tomb without inscult or Ellegie 〈◇〉 that myself fo●e●●●s my destiny This Epitaph with my own pencil writ Here lies a piece of strange santastique wit. YOu City roundheaded crew Be jolly and prick up your ears Shake hands an● bid a due To the turbulent Cavaliers Now they are twenty mile hench You need not fear your lives, Nor can they give offence To your affectionate Wiv●●. You saw their gallantry Did merit all respect Whilst your fond jealousy Produced your own neglect Your worthless sights appear Like Candles in the Son Whilst they lived shining here You were esteemed by none. For which your wits device By virtue of a Plot On them to cicatrise though no ●●e knows for what But s●re it must be thought As credable a thing As that of la●●●as wrought To murder Charles our King. Both which were Plots indeed But acted on your side That one may run and red Your malice rage and pride As lately hath been show● When we on Christmas day Were left in Church alone O●● teachers called away. To answer their offence For hallowing the times Which Z●lo●● insolence profane with horrid crimes But these are winged Spurs To quicken our devotion Whilst 〈◇〉 like invious Cho●us Braul at bright Cyniheus motion How did my good Lord mayor Like Salum urge his ass To spoil a Cundet where Much superstition was But the devinor beast Religiously abhorred His saucy chaps to feast Till forced by his Lord. A bit of Ivy green And Baize from thence he snapped But then oh, had you seen How strangely he was rapet With more then common strength Run prancing through the street until his Lord at length Had almost kist his feet. A Boy without remorse His tail with Holly pricks That banks his dancing horse Nare shewed such lofty tricks Thus was his Lordship made In spite of his in●ent A Gam-ba●ll by his Ga 〈…〉 The Boyes 〈◇〉 to agment. Which close about him throng He being or a pelt The Horse still kicked and flung And blows amongst them dealt Whilst they into th● air Threw up th ir Caps with joy To see my good Lord mayor Begin the Christmas play. FINI●