A New-yeers Gift for the Kings most excellent Majesty now at windsor, from his loyal and faithful Subjects residing in and about the Cities of London and Westminster; and a Declaration of the Kings Majesties speedy coming to London. depiction of a haggard Charles I C R London: Printed for T. G. 1649. A shores Gift for the King. SOrrow may endure for a night, but Joy cometh in the morning,( saith the musical King and Prophet.) England hath had a long night of sorrow, the Sun of her glory( which was wont to ejaculate the splendent rays of opulent magnificency, through all known Lands) hath of late years been so eclipsed, that all her former lustre hath been involved in Cymerian darkness, the glittering of her own unnatural Sword did so dazzle her( purblind) eyes, that she could not see his own miserable state, and precipitation unto utter ruin: nor move her hand to retex that unnatural cord which ties her fast to destruction. To reiterate the story of Englands late condition, would not be suitable to my present discourse, for my theme is joy, and as I am a most joyful Subject myself, by the nourishing of my hopes, I desire to excite others, by this subject of joy to be joyful Subjects too. Give way thou sable night of sorrow to this illustrious morning of joy: Aurora is risen in the East, and the Northern Star is become our Hyperion: the tenebrous Clouds which did invelop our happiness, are dissipated by the approaching splendour of the Sun. Briefly, he whom we for a long time sought, and for whom we have sighed, sobbed, wept, prayed, fasted, I and fought too, to gain, that is, our most gracious and truly dread sovereign Gods anointed King Charles, is now by divine motion, with peace and joy, with serenity and affection, after so long absence, coming to capitulate with his great council the Parliament, concerning our malady and cure; to express this general exultation in it's true dimensions, let us form in our fantasy the Idea of the Tribes of Israel when they came to Hebron 2. Sam. 5.1. to choose David for their King, after the death of Saul and ●shbosheth his son, we are, said they, thy bones and thy flesh, ah sweet expressions: so near a connexion is there between all good Kings and their loyal Subjects; Such congratulations, or the like, doth royal Charles with in his Princely journal; yet there are in England too many Jebusits that will say to King Charles as those did to K. David, v. 6. unless thou take away the lame and the blind thou shalt not come hither, these lame judgements and blind affections, cause them as they do so misconstrue his royal actions, making a Mountain of every mole-hill of his imperfections; but a religious David must expect a graceless Shemei to curse him and to call him bloody man, and man of belial, 2. Sam 7. but on the contrary, all true hearted Subjects will raise up a loyal strife, and stir up a zealous contention among themselves; who shall have the most or first place or part, in bringing the King home to his house, and I doubt not but many good and grateful men, remembering old grace, and favours, will like Mephibosheth, and Barzilai, 2. Sam. 19.22.23. meet their long absent sovereign with contratulary entertainments and expressions of extraordinary Joy, for his return. Come then beloved King unto thy beloved people, make glad the places of thy royal presence, and while thou abidest in one place, mayst thou be with longing desire wished for in all places of thy kingdom; may thy Subjects flow to the Sea of thy virtues as small rivers to the main Ocean, and like faithful Bees, let them bring sweet honey of obedience unto the just hive of thy protection. Let them in the softest hearts hatch the promises, and let their tongues sing of thy honor. Let thy Adamantine goodness draw the iron hearts of those that are refractory unto their duty. Let them be turned back and put to confusion that seek thy hurt, Psal. 70.2. Let these be the reward of thine adversaries from the Lord, and of them that speak evil against thy soul, Psal. 109.10. Let thy heart be sound in the Statutes of the Lord, and enter thou with thy people, into the Covenant of the Lord, Deut. 2.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 1. Rev. 2.3. Let thy Princely Sons be as plants up in their youth, Psal. 143.12. Let thy Daughters be as stones polished after the similitude of a Palace. Let all thine enemies be clothed with shane, but upon thy royal head let thy crown flourish, Psal. 132.18. Let Peace be in all thy Lands, and plenty in all thy borders, let England( Gods Israel) rejoice in their maker, and let the children of Zion rejoice in their King, Psal. 89.36. Let thy seed endure for ever, and thy throne as the Sun before God. Let not the foot of Pride come against thee, and let not the hand of the wicked remove thee, Psal. 36.11. Let not them that are thine Enemies rejoice over thee, neither let them wink with the eye that hate thee without a cause. Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour thy righteous Cause. Yea, let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the posterity of his servant. Let thy trust( o my King) be in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most high, thou shalt not be moved, Psal. 21.7. Let thy daies be as the daies of heaven, and let thy seed be as the Stars. Let all mistakings, jealousies, and misconstruction between thee and thy People be moved as far as the East is from the West, or he North from the South. Let thine ears be attentive to hear the sound advice of thy People, and let thine heart incline to the wholesome admonitions of thy great and grave counsel the two Houses of Parliament. Let the counsel of honest Hushais prevail with thy pious thoughts, 2. Samuel 17.15.23. and let all false and traitorous Achitophels go hang themselves, or the hangman do it for them. Let all faction and pertakings be laid aside, and let charity and unity bind thee and thy People firmly together. Let thy exemplary conversation convert or confounded all thine enemies. Let them all be ashamed who have spoken evil against thy sacred Majesty, when the universal eye shall see( and aclowledge) all thy actions to be grounded upon the foundation of grace and goodness, and thy innocency purge thee from all infamous and treacherous Calumnies. Let thy Piety and zeal towards God and his Church make all heretics, Shismaticks and blinded Sectaries recant their damnable opinions, and return to their obedience of God, and his true Church, and of thee their lawful King and the anointed of God. These humble admonitions,( and hearty wishes most gracious and dread sovereign) our loyal Subjects present unto your royal Majesty: not that they deem your Grace, to want divine endocuments,( having been always taught and lead by the spirit of truth) but to show their inward zeal to your Highnesses happiness, honour, and safety: For out of the abundance of the heart the tongue speaketh( saith the author of truth) and now gentle Readers( and Christian Country-men) I have spoken as is weak to the Kings Majesty himself. Many of his Majesties old Servants are come to read-minister their duty and service unto him their sovereign master, and 'tis too probably conjectured that all our former clouds of sorrow and discontent shall soon be exhaled by the beams of benignity on both sides, either party inclining to St. Pauls counsel, are willing to bear one anothers burden, and the Sea of Love which covers a multitude of sins shall drown all State grudges. The King shall comply with his Parliament, the Parliament agree with the King, the People in general shall yield to Caesar his due, and Caesar( as he hath been) shall continue a gracious sovereign to them. Briefly, The kingdom shall have Peace and Truth, the Churches Uniformity, and Concord almost quiter lost, Ireland hopes of a speedy reduction, Sectaries and Blasphemers shall be bridled( if not extirpated) and Church Government with true Religion established. God grant it may, Amen. But now I think on't I should do evil in omission of one thing very well worthy of recital, which is this; Since his Sacred Majesty was first delivered by the Scottish Commissioners to our English Lords, a various rumour hath been whispered by vox populi as what they mean to do with the King, and though life, words( and thoughts) of some being nourished by loyal fear, and of others by fantasy, but my conclusion shall be with the confidence that I have in the reality,[ and integrity] of the Parliament, whose serious Protestations,( both Vocal and literal) have so often promised to the world, that not an hair of his royal head shall perish, nor any hurt betide his Sacred Person, which lies in their power to anticipate, but on the contrary that they will rather add to, then subtract from him any of( either) his just Prerogatives or Revenues, making him a greater Monarch then before, either he or any of his Ancestors or Predecessors, were this if it be certain( as questionless it is) we shall( by Gods gracious permission) see very suddenly, that the King shall rejoice in God, Psal. 63.11. who swear by him shall have glory, for the mouths( of evil speakers or) them that speak lies shall be stopped, Amen. Postscript. MOst Sacred sovereign even with my soul, I wish thee re-inthron'd( without control,) I am a Citizen that very fain, Would vie● thy royal Person here again; Oh how both I and many thousands more, Think long to see thee as thou wert before, The Princely off-spring, and the mournful Spouse; ( To whom this age no Joy but grief allows,) O might I see you altogether come; To make St. James'es or White-hall your home; That day I'll count a day of Jubilation; A day that bringeth joy to all our Nation: I'th' interim I'll rejoice( and think me blessed,) To see thee first to usher in the rest; And on that blessed day( or night when 'tis) That show to London comes with joy and bliss, He who spares Wood or Ropes to burn and ring, I wish him hanged and burned, God save the King, The Parliament likewise. And kerb their Enemies. Amen. FINIS.