AMYGDALA BRITANNICA, Almonds for Parrots.  
A Dish of STONE-FRUIT, partly sheled and partly unsheled; WHICH (If cracked, picked, and well digested) May be wholesome against those Epidemic Distempers of the Brain, now predominant; and prevent some Malignant Diseases, likely to ensue.  
Composed, heretofore, by a well-known Modern Author; and, now published according to a Copy, found written with his own Hand.  Qui bene latuit, bene vixit. MATTH. XIII. XIII, XIV, XV. 
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing, see not: and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand.  
And in them is fulfilled the Prophecy of Esaias which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive.  
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, left at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and healed.  
Anno M. D.C.XLVII.   

AMYGDALA BRITANNICA, Almonds for Parrots.  

When Wisemen found plaindealing did offend,  
In Hieroglyphics they their Muse penned;  
And, to the meek, conveyed in a cloud,  
The light, which was disdained by the proud;  
That, so, the scorner, hearing, might not hear,  
Nor seeing, see, what plainly doth appear:  
For, just it is, that they should lose their sight,  
Who would not see their safety, when they might.   

'Tis much observed, that this Generation  
Hath taken up the Parrots inclination,  
Who loves, on shells, to exercise his beak,  
And, words not understood, delights to speak:  
We, therefore, (since the labour may be spared)  
For private entertainment, have prepared  
This dish of Stone-fruits; whereof, there are some,  
That yield a kernel, better than the plumb;  
And, such, that, if they well digested be,  
Will clear their eyes, who have a mind to see.   

Here, till affairs are wholly mis-transposed,  
You shall perceive, in Parables, disclosed,  
Upon what actions, and contingencies,  
The Fortune of this British Empire lies;  
And, by what symptoms, you may truly know,  
Which way the Public Fate will ebb, or flow.  
Thus he conceives, who seriously hath weighed  
Those things; & in these words his thoughts arrayed.   

ALL things terrestrial have their dates,  
Kings, Kingdoms, and the greatest States;  
And, warnings do appear, to, some,  
Of all such changes, ere they come;  
Whereby, were timely means assayed,  
Plagues might be scaped, or allayed:  
And, peradventure, to that use,  
This, which ensueth, may conduce.   

The time draws near, and hasteth on,  
In which strange works will be begun;  
And, prosecutions, whereon shall  
Depend much future bliss or bale.  
If, to the lefthand, you decline,  
Assured destruction they divine;  
But if the right-hand course ye take,  
This Island it will happy make.   

A time draws near, in which you may,  
As you shall please, the Chesse-men play:  
Remove, confine, check, leave, or take,  
Dispose; depose, undo, or make,  
Pawn, Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, or King,  
And, act your wills in every thing:  
But, if that time let slip you shall,  
For yesterday, in vain you call.   

A time draws near, in which the Sun  
Will give more light, than he hath done:  
Then, also, you shall see the Moon  
Shine brighter than the Sun at noon:  
And, many Stars, now seeming dull,  
Give shadows, like the Moon at full.  
Yet, then, shall some, who think they see,  
Wrapped in Egyptian darkness be.   

A time draws near, when, with your blood,  
You shall preserve the Viper's brood,  
And starve your own; yet, fancy, than,  
That, you have played the Pelican:  
But, when you think, the frozen Snakes  
Have changed their natures, for your sakes,  
They, in requital, will contrive  
Your mischief, who did them revive.   

A time will come, when, they that wake,  
Shall dream; and sleepers undertake  
The grand-Affaires: yet, few men know,  
Which are the Dreamers of these two;  
And, fewer care, by which of these  
They guided be, so they have ease:  
But, an Alarm shall advance  
Your drowsy spirits, from that trance.   

A time shall come, ere long, in which  
Mere Beggars shall grow soon rich;  
The rich with wants be pinched more,  
Then such as go from door to door;  
The honourable by the base  
Shall be despighted, to their face;  
The truth defamed be with lies;  
The fool preferred before the wise;  
And he that fighteh to be free,  
By conquering, enslaved shall be.   

A Time shall come, when they that would  
Discredit truths, which were foretold,  
Of every news will stand in fear,  
And, credit every lie they hear;  
Till they, by penance done, have paid  
For every truth they have gainsaid.  
Then, they who have expected Fish,  
Shall find a Scorpion in their dish:  
The children shall have stones for bread,  
And, starved be, whilst dogs are fed:  
Then also shall each work you do,  
Ere it be finished, make you two;  
And, render all, when much is done,  
Far worse, than when the Plague begun.   

A time draws near, in which your peace  
Shall make your quarrels more increase:  
Then shall you by false-brethrens lose  
More, then by all your openfoes:  
Then one-mans' hate shall rob of more  
Than five times twenty can restore:  
Three men shall act more mischiefs here,  
Then three great Kingdoms well can bear:  
And then shall they be better prized,  
Whose counsels have been long despised.   

The time is drawing near, when we  
Our own Antipodes shall be:  
When our most dangerous disease  
Shall be the Scribes and Pharises:  
When Seamen shall usurp the whip;  
Plowmen presume to guide the ship;  
The children frequently begin,  
To teach their grandams how to spin:  
And, then shall that, which was a crime,  
Be deemed the virtue of the time;  
And, that, impiety be thought,  
Which hath, for sanctity, been taught.   

A time will come, in which the Flocks,  
Shall see their Shepherd play the Fox,  
And range and ramble up and down,  
Till he into a wolf be grown;  
Then, they that hounds and sleugh-dogs keep,  
Shall hunt him, till he grows a Sheep;  
And, then, if what he seems, he be  
He shall be safe; and, so, shall we.   

A time will come, when see you shall  
Toads fly aloft, and Eagles crawl;  
Wolves walk abroad in humane shapes;  
Men, turn to asses, hogs, and apes:  
But, when that cursed time is come,  
Well's he that is both deaf, and dumb;  
That nothing speaketh, nothing hears,  
And, neither hopes, desires, nor fears.   

The time will come when you shall see  
A Headlesse-body active be,  
And, many actions full of dread,  
Performed by a Trunklesse-head;  
Which Head, and Body, being brought  
To knit together, as they ought,  
Might prove to be, in time to come,  
The joy, and awe, of Chiristendome.   

But,  such happy days be seen,  
There will some changes intervene  
Our hopes and them, to make or mar  
the sequel, as they managed are;  
And, therefore, that discern you may  
When these approach; and, which are they;  
And, what to do, when they are known,  
Here, they in easy types are shown;  
Or, by those tokens, which fore-hint,  
What you should labour to prevent.   

When, you see many things effected,  
Which were nor feared nor suspected;  
The Mountains sink, the Valleys climb;  
Stars rise, and set, before their time;  
Gross Meteors from the mud exhaled,  
To highest Spheres, and Planets called;  
And, utter darkness termed light;  
Then, bid your happy days, good-night.   

When, you imbrued, in their blood,  
Behold three Lions of one brood;  
If, then, a fourth shall interpose,  
It will but more increase their woes;  
Till but one head, possess they shall,  
And, but one heart, among them all.  
Which, whosoever to pass can bring.  
Shall be the darling of a King.   

His prickles, when the Thistle shows,  
Whithin the borders of the Rose,  
If, with the Flower-de-Luce it close,  
Designing what the Orange does,  
The stile of blessed it shall lose;  
Yea, cursed be, where e'er it grows;  
And, by such faithlesness, expose  
If self, and others, to their Foes.   

But, being, only, for a time,  
(To cure the Fevers or that Clime)  
Transplanted ; if it spread,  
And root, no further than the bed,  
Where, by the Gardener, it was set,  
To cure us of our Ague-fit;  
It, of our Garden, shall be free,  
And, called the blessed-Thistle be.   

When Charles his wain, gins to reel,  
And, retrograde shall seem to wheel;  
If, rambling forth, the Driver be.  
Without his Orb, but one degree;  
What hope soe'er he hath of help,  
From Lioness, or Lions-whelp,  
'Twill be a hundred unto one  
If he return, when he is gone.   

When from one hand, let slip, you view.  
Two Dogs, one Leopard to pursue;  
Though every passage you beset  
And ride, and run until you sweat,  
The Game will at the last get free,  
If Patch, one of your Gray-hounds be;  
Or, if you think, to take the beast,  
By Huntsmen, who are such professed.   

When Britain's Geryon you shall see,  
With Single head, on body's three,  
Put forth his face, in a disguise,  
(Undecently betwixt his thighs)  
Be wary then, and take great heed,  
In your affairs, how ye proceed;  
Lest, you be laid in little ease,  
Betwixt the French and King's disease.   

When frequently, observe you shall,  
S. Peter robbed, to pay S. Paul;  
When Butterflies, Silk-wormes outbrave;  
When Maggots waste, what Aunts did save,  
And, wasps, and drones, and hornets drive  
Your Bees, to seek a Forraign-hive;  
Then, fly to providence-divine,  
And, do, as that shall you incline.   

When, you see breaking Stones, and glasses,  
For zeal in true Religion passes:  
Aswell the Clergy, as the Lay,  
Learn, how at fast, and lose, to play:  
Hermaphrodites begot with child;  
Herod, and Pilate, reconciled:  
The Moralist, his light abuse;  
And, Chritstians turning Semi-Jewes;  
You may, where e'er you go, or ride,  
Have Ignis fatuus, for your guide.   

When, in this Isle observe you shall  
The tenth part of great Babel fall,  
And, Reformation, fully made  
Of them, and their mysterious trade,  
Who merchandise most holy things;  
Then GOD to speedy vengeance brings,  
With Gog, with Magog, and the Whore,  
The Beast, which Nations, yet, adore.   

When you perceive the Common-Creed,  
Renounced; and, whimsies in it steed;  
The words, which our chief Rabbi taught,  
Despised, or out of practice brought;  
And, some abuse the Godhead, more  
Than all the Gentiles heretofore;  
They, who his nature do mistake,  
Shall then grow like the God they make;  
And, think it, when they do oppress,  
But sanctity, and righteousness.   

When, they, that are of Babel ,  
Shall further into Babel fly;  
When, they, who Superstition eat,  
To greater Superstitions run,  
And, to escape profaneness, shall  
Into mere Atheism fall;  
Then, will, at full, those plagues appear,  
Which, now, are but beginning, here;  
And, they, who live those days to know,  
Will think of him, who told you so.   

When, in this Isle, the people sees  
A confused heptarchy of Pees,  
Their peace, disturbing, by distraction;  
Their power, become a threesquare faction  
Of equal sides, and, each inclined  
To what, it fancy hath designed;  
And, few regarding Common-good:  
Then, shall the Moon be turned to blood,  
Unless, you can by Chemistry,  
The Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury  
So temper; that produce it shall  
The true Elixir from them all.   

When, loud the British waters roar,  
And, flow up to the Senate door,  
If, then, the wind shall also blow,  
To make their swell higher grow:  
Then whether you to them give way,  
Or, seek to stop them, by a bay,  
In vain, to curb them, strive you shall,  
Without the Balsome-box, and scale;  
Though you diversions make (in hope  
To do it) and, cast Mountains up.   

When, you observe the Civil-sword,  
Usurp the power of the word;  
And, (where declining Babel stood)  
Men, laying Zions walls, in blood;  
Then, some, who for the Lamb profess,  
The Dragon's Kingdom will increase,  
Until, they shall be better taught  
How, living Temples should be wrought.   

When, you have pulled the great Popes down,  
And, set up one in every Town;  
When, in each house, a Church shall be,  
And, in one house, a part of three;  
When, one shall tell you Christ, is here;  
Another say, lo, he is ●ere;  
More comfort they shall then receive,  
Who love; then they, who these believe.   

When, only, numbered out, you see.  
What, weighed, and measured, too, should be;  
When all, that you shall save, or lose,  
Dependeth on their yeas, and no's,  
Who, peradventure, may intent,  
Self-will, selfe-profit, or selfe-end;  
Then, selfe-deniall must proceed  
From words, into a real deed;  
And, more regardfully you must  
Consider, whom you ought to trust;  
Lest,  this tragedy be played,  
You, and your Freedoms be betrayed.   

When, clothed like lambs, the wolves appear,  
When, Foxes preach, and Goslings hear,  
When, Hawks to guard the Doves are chose,  
When, wounds must cured be with blows,  
And, when your frogs and mice renew  
Their foolish war; Then, will ensue  
What hath by wisemen been foretell,  
In tales and parables, of old;  
Unless, your keeper's eye affrights  
The Romish Eagles, and the Kites.   

When, you perceive the Harper play  
His Harpstrings, and his Harp away;  
The Mitre, hazarding the Crown;  
The sword, instructing of the Gown;  
The members, that in darkness be,  
Informing, how the Eyes should see;  
And, hands, and feet, aspiring to  
That, which the Head, and Heart should do;  
Then, you, a while, their lots must share,  
Who, in their guts, their brains do bear.   

When, you shall see Death richly clad,  
With what, the living should have had;  
And, then, behold a Church bespread  
With rags, and relics of the dead,  
Exposing that to open scorn,  
Which was in public triumph born:  
If, then, with seriousness you heed  
The simple doer, and the deed,  
It shall occasion shame to some,  
Who thought, much honoured, to become:  
And, let a just occasion in  
To rake up, what might hid have been.   

When Blocks, and Stones, offence shall take,]  
And riots in your Cities make;  
Beware: for, if heed be not took,  
A spark shall casually be struck,  
From some rough flint, which will devour  
Your wealth, your glory, and your power;  
That future times may not despise  
The wrath, and spleen, of Aunts and Flies.   

When you see Gallants take their vies,  
As if they would ore-skip the skies,  
Or, give the Sun, and Moon, a Law,  
Yet, then, scarce overleap a straw;  
Or, when conceptions-mountainous  
Shall bring forth nothing, but a mouse,  
(After great throes, 'twixt hopes, and fears,  
Sustained, by you, many years)  
Then, your declining state deplore,  
And, take a does of Hellebore.   

When, here, you shall re-act the sin  
Of Pharaoh, and of Benjamin;  
Keep Jezabels, and Ahabs Fast;  
In Jehu's mould Reformers cast;  
Give honour unto Golden Calves,  
And Idols, setting up themselves;  
You shall but bring, to quench your flame,  
That oil, which will increase the same:  
And, GOD, your Offerings will despise;  
Till Justice be your sacrifice.   

When Outlaws shall themselves propose  
For your Lawgivers to be chose;  
Felons, grow makers of your Laws;  
Effects, producers of their Cause;  
Th' accused, his own Judge become;  
The thief, pronounce the truemans' doom;  
Your greatest foes, turn seeming-friends;  
And, greatest wrongs get least amends:  
Then, to no earthly hopes aspire;  
But, unto GOD, alone, retire.   

When, most the Charmers-voice shall hear,  
And, like deaf Adders, stop their ear;  
When, they who sit in Judgement, be  
Inexorable, more than He  
Who did both GOD, and Man, despise;  
(And, slight even Importunities,  
Continued without intermission)  
Then, fear, O Britain! thy condition.   

When, most that hear, and pray, and fast,  
No sweetness, in those duties taste;  
But, formally, in them go on,  
Depending upon what is done;  
And, others, so believing grow,  
As, that, they no good works will do:  
Or, when small difference shall appear  
'Twixt persons, times, or places, here;  
And, those Ideas, men embrace,  
Which have nor body, form, nor face;  
And, run vagaries without bound,  
As if, no mediums could be found,  
'Twixt two extremes: Even then, shall they  
Who love the light, enjoy the day;  
And, then, shall looked for be, or some,  
A Kingdom, that will never come.   

When, in your City-paramount,  
This Realm is called to Account,  
(And, they, who do receive and pay,  
Forsake the old Exchequer way)  
If those may then their trial shun,  
By whom, the greatest wrongs are done,  
Your hypocrites will soon appear  
So many, and so powerful, here,  
That, GOD himself th' Accounts will take,  
Which they unwilling are to make.   

When folly, avarice, and pride,  
Upon the publike-Asse shall ride,  
And, labour to subject the State  
Unto that base Triumvirate;  
Such justice, piety, and knowledge,  
Will, then, proceed from Gotham-Colledge,  
That, blinde-men, plainly shall perceive,  
What, they, who see, will not believe.   

Then, they who now delight in lies,  
(Which their own malice did devise)  
And, those predictions do deride,  
Which they see daily verified;  
Shall view with shame, and feel with fear,  
Those truths, of which they would not hear;  
And, they who, their despites have borne,  
Shall laugh their pride, and hate, to scorn.   

When, you hear thousands make their moans,  
And prayers, unto Blocks and Stones;  
Poor Suitors, prosecuting Causes  
In circles, labyrinths, and mazes,  
Till scarce a neighbour, friend, or brother,  
Believes, or loveth one the other;  
Or, till they have nor house, nor bread,  
Who, for the Kingdomes-cause, have bled;  
Then, you fulfilled shall behold  
So much, that, more needs not be told.   

When, you shall hear your Pipers play  
Till none will either dance, or pay;  
Or, till among you doth begin  
A second bloody matachin;  
Then, will clean hands, and honest hearts,  
Besteed you more, than Irish darts;  
Secure you better from your foes,  
Then guards of guns, of bills or bows;  
And, then, will they, whom Pride doth scorn,  
More happy be, then Princes-borne.   

When, you most sleight what Tel-troth saith;  
When, you have proved the Punick-faith;  
When, you see those, who have misdone,  
In spite of Council, still, go on,  
To prosecute their wild designs;  
Then take you heed of those Divines,  
Who, to effect their carnal end,  
For GOD and CHRIST, will much pretend:  
And, that, you no way do abuse  
The Flatcaps, or the Clouted-shooes.   

When, they who greatest Traitors are,  
With Patriots, reward shall share,  
And, be with large allowance fed,  
Whilst, your best servants, scarce have bread:  
When doing justice, shall be thought  
Ill manners; and, they men untaught,  
Who are so daring, to afford  
A poor man, right against a Lord;  
Then, shall men purchase land, and fee,  
For little price; which dear will be,  
To every purchaser, unless  
By piety, and righteousness,  
The sale be sanctified; and you  
Give both to GOD, and men, their due.   

When your Reformers, shall begin  
To outdo those men in their sin,  
Whom to reform they did pretend;  
And, like sour ale in summer, mend:  
When, they the Rule shall misapply;  
And give by deeds, their words the lie;  
Till, that, be mentioned with scorn,  
Which is your praise, and saving-horne,  
Then, Jehu's temper will undo you,  
Unless you can invite unto you  
Eliah's spirit duplified  
On some Elisha, to provide  
A speedy cure, for that disease,  
Which on your Vitall-parts will seize.   

When, men and women blushless grow  
In filthiness; and act it so,  
As if, a Stallion to be known,  
A Princely quality were grown;  
Or, when your Ladies do appear  
(As if old heathenish Rome were here)  
By Coachfulls', with a brazen face,  
To see men run a naked-race:  
And, when sin to a rankness springs,  
Beyond the reach of libel;  
And, libel so common be,  
That none shall from their dirt be free,  
Though ne'er so innocent (but those  
Whom no man hates, envies, or knows)  
Then, look for that which will ensue  
Such impudence; if God be true.   

When, men shall generally confess  
Their folly, and their wickedness;  
Yet, act, as if there neither were  
Among them, conscience, wit, or fear:  
When, they shall talk as if they had  
Some brains; yet, do, as they were mad;  
And, nor by reason, nor by noise,  
By humane, or by heav'nly-voice,  
By being praised, or reproved,  
By judgements, or by mercies moved:  
Then, look for so much sword, and fire,  
As such a temper doth require.   

When, in this Isle, you shall behold,  
What's termed, the Devil's ring of gold,  
To be in use; and, then, shall see,  
Both, pawned, and, forfeited, to be,  
The richest-Jewell of the State;  
Take order, therefore, ere too late,  
To save your credits: For, you know,  
That, London is not Mexico.  
Or, if it were, we plainly view,  
By Genoa, what may ensue.   

When, your Betrayers shall divide,  
And, seem of a contrary side,  
That they the better may contrive  
Their own Designments; or, perceive,  
What is endeavoured, to prevent  
Those mischiefs, whereto they are bend.  
Then, look about you; or, be sure,  
Your safety you shall not secure:  
But, when you hear it often said,  
By whom, you should have been betrayed,  
In what, they, false, with you have played;  
And, how they gave your spoilers aid,  
With such like falsehoods; and then, see,  
Such common Fames, neglected be:  
Th' accused countenanced; and, those  
Traduced, and, punished, as foes,  
Who, out of conscience, and, of zeal,  
To save this drooping Commonweal,  
Their knowledge, and, their fear declare;  
Then, of a sudden blow, beware.   

When, they, who, but the other day,  
As low, as in the channel, lay;  
And; had nor presence, wealth, not wit,  
(And, scarce the meanest of them, yet)  
Your most pragmatick-men become,  
And, places of chief trust assume:  
Your Mastiffs, then, shall Spaniels grow;  
Your Hens, and Capons, learn to crow,  
Disarm, and silence, all your Cocks;  
And, men, wear petticoats, and smocks.   

When you, who, at the first, begun  
With honesty (and, thereby, won  
Advantages) shall act, or plot  
Ill means, to keep what you have got;  
As, if the GOD, you seemed to serve,  
Can not, as well, to you preserve,  
By real virtue, what was gained,  
As, give it, by a virtue feigned:  
Then, you shall thrive, as did that King,  
Who was overcome, by conquering;  
Because he served false gods, whose lands  
The true GOD gave into his hands:  
And, you shall then, the difference know,  
'Twixt being just, and seeming so.   

When, Justice cuts of Hydra's heads,  
And, sees arising, in their steads,  
More, and more monstrous ones, than they  
Whom Reformation pared away:  
When Tyranny begins to   
The form and shape, of arbitrary  
And willfull-rule; when, she enslaves  
By mean, and despicable knaves;  
When, they who 'scape the Lions-pawes,  
The teeth of Wolves, and Harpies-clawes;  
Shall look for safety, and for ease,  
And, then, be eat by Lice and Fleas;  
Or, be in pieces, rend and torn  
By vermin, once, below their scorn;  
Then; then, shall you begin to see  
Your masked Foes; and who they be  
That sought your weal: and, then, in vain  
Shall wish for, what you now disdain.   

Then, some, shall much persuade you to  
What, none but such as they would do,  
Who whet their knives, and cut their throats,  
To cure a colic, in their guts:  
For, then shall they, who seek your harm,  
Seek how to cut off your right-arm,  
That, of your chiefest guard bereft  
There may be no hand but the left  
To save your heads: And, then, perchance,  
You will perceive your ignorance.   

For, then, new troubles will begin,  
Whereby, they who have blamed been,  
Shall suffer much: But, they shall bear  
Most burdens, who most guilty were;  
And, many, then, who now despise  
These Lines, will think them Prophecies.   

Then, shall they seek, and crouch, and bow,  
Who are most proud, and surely, now;  
Petition long, without regard;  
Make prayers, which will not be heard;  
And, find as little mercy, then,  
As they have shown to other men.   

They, from the sword shall thither ' fly,  
Where they for want of bread shall die;  
Or, hoping Famine to avoid,  
Be, by the Pestilence, destroyed;  
Or, (that they may one sorrow shun)  
Into a hundred mischiefs run,  
And, find no rest, till they repent  
Their pride, or, meet due punishment.   

Then, shall the principles that lurk  
Within men's hearts begin to work,  
Upon their humours; and, purge out  
Much poison, now dispersed about  
Through every Member: yet, at first,  
That, shall seem best, which would be worst,  
And, few men be so wise to know,  
What they were best resolve to do.  
For, you shall in a Medium stand,  
'Twixt Aegyt, and the Holy-Land,  
As in suspense, whether to make  
A progress thither, or turn bacl  
To your old servitude, or worse:  
And, that will seem the safest course,  
Unless the Masters of your School  
Shall take the counsel of a Fool;  
And be directed and advised  
To act the thing they have despised.   

Which if they do; your foes shall be  
Your friends; and both be safe and free  
From what is feared; and, live together  
A mutual strength to one another;  
Whose factions, if they long endure,  
Will prove a plague, without a cure.   

But, mark (oh City!) mark this well;  
(Thou, who dost all this Realm excel,  
In sin, and virtue) That, when thou  
Shalt see thy trusties partial grow  
In doing Justice; with respect  
Of persons; and, with high neglect  
Of truth and judgement: Then, unless  
The mercy and the righteousness  
Which thou pretendest, shall increase  
To fortify thee in that peace  
Thou yet enjoyest; and, teach thine eyes.  
To see, wherein thy safety lies:  
Thou, wilt but treasure up thy store,  
To make thee miserably poor;  
Grow, by a new-Militia strong,  
To ruin thine own strength, e'er long;  
Draw, day by day, occasions hither,  
Of discords, and of plagues together;  
Till all the plagues, through Britain spread,  
In thee, be gathered to a head;  
And, break upon thee, in conclusion,  
To thy dishonour, and confusion.   

 long the welfare, of this Land,  
Upon a ticklish point will stand;  
And, at that time, if you perceive  
The Body representative,  
Act by two Factions; and, admit  
Their Grandees, to invassall it  
To their designs; and captivate  
Their equals: you, shall after that  
Find little comfort, till you see  
Extracted a third Party be  
From out of those, to search into  
Their actions, and with courage do  
As they find cause: But, then, you shall  
Perceive a turn will joy you all.   

And to draw nearer to the But,  
At which, all these our shafts are shot,  
When, those two Diamonds of this Land,  
Which are the basis, whereon stand  
The publike-welfare, polish shall  
Each other; and, quite rub off all  
The rotten pieces, rags, and flaws,  
Which disesteem upon them draws;  
And, perfect make, in every thing,  
Our ancient threefold Gimell-ring,  
That's lately broke; Then, you shall see  
A change, that worth your praise will be:  
And, he that gives you stones to crack,  
(Which cause, perhaps, your hearts to ache)  
Will, when that blessed season comes,  
Give you a dish of sugar-plumbs.   

But, know, that while this Empery  
Neglects her Triple-Trinitie;  
To wit, three Realms, beneath one Throne;  
Within each Realm, three States in one.  
And, GODHEAD one, in Persons three,  
You shall not without troubles be:  
Or, possibly attain to that  
Which your well-willer aimeth at,  
Till, you shall, purely, God adore;  
And to the common use, restore  
At least th' Essentials of that power  
Which makes your Earthly-saving-Tower.  
Which much the stronger, might be made  
And fairer too, if you could add  
To strengthen and adorn the same,  
Some parts of the Venetian Frame.   

And, know; that, when a Declaration,  
As public, as a Proclamation,  
Shall offer to consideration,  
The many failings of this Nation;  
If, then, you seek not preservation,  
By prayer, and humiliation,  
And, by a serious Recantation;  
GOD, threatens sudden desolation.   

Now, much good do't you; And, yet, stay:  
Before I send you quite away,  
Take these blanched Almonds without shells,  
(Whereto are added nothing else  
But, some few kernels in their stones)  
For, though they seem but bitter ones,  
Yet, if you taste them, we believe  
They'll prove a good preservative.   

First, chaw on this; that, you in vain,  
Seek, here a blessed peace to gain,  
Till justice, and till mercy, more  
Advanced be, than heretofore;  
And, till you shall have more regard  
To punishment, and to reward.   

Next, know, as vainly you presume  
Informed, rightly, to become  
In things of faith, whilst you depart  
From what is written in the heart;  
And, act contrary to the natures,  
And Laws, of reasonable creatures:  
For, how shall they who cannot learn  
Things moral, things divine discern?   

Next, be informed; even you, who had  
The righteoust cause; that, you have made.  
Defaults enough, to let all see  
The best had need forgiven be:  
And, let that make your hearts inclined.  
To pardon all, in whom you find.  
That penitence which doth intent  
Crimes past, sincerely to amend:  
Yea, if ye mean, in peace, to live,  
Let all strive, who shall most forgive;  
That by so doing, all may move  
Each other, to a mutuall-love;  
Which grace, they only are denied,  
Who could be true to neither side.   

And, lastly, let no more despites  
Unto your Fundamentall-rights,  
And, Constitutions, now, be done:  
For, if the Groundworks, be overthrown,  
What, can the wise, or just man do?  
What to sustain it, add thereto?  
Or, what will council be, but wind,  
To them, whose ruin is designed?   

Some, little hope is left: And, yet,  
Lest no effect, our words beget,  
That, then, the times to come, may know  
A Messenger was sent to show  
What would befall this age, before  
It came to pass. This one pearl more,  
Is cast before you, (without fear  
Of such, as would in pieces tear)  
Observe it well, O Generation,  
Regardless of thy visitation.   

When, you have had hard work to do,  
And, added five, to forty two;  
You shall perceive a good Play spoiled,  
And, by unworthy Actors, foiled;  
The Scenes transposed, the Acts confused;  
The Poet shamefully abused:  
The first intention of the Plot,  
By those confusions, quite forgot:  
Yea, them, to Tragick-Acts designed,  
Who entered with a Comick-mind;  
And, then, what now our eye foresee,  
(Like him, who saw men walk, like trees)  
Shall be discovered, by that light,  
Which, never doth deceive the sight.   

Then, they who mark it, shall perceive  
Your Politicians, will contrive  
Their own indemnity, whilst they  
Pretend for yours; that, so, they may  
Secure themselves, from answering that,  
Whereby, they have abused the State:  
And, than (unless you can prevent  
The fraudfulnesse of that intent)  
They, who did most their wealth increase,  
By cheating you, will buy their peace;  
And, sell your Freedoms, unto those,  
With whom, they do design to close.   

Then, will such Juggling-tricks be played,  
That, publike-debts will ne'er be paid,  
As long, as either fool, or knave,  
Shall have the power to give, or crave;  
Or, they enjoy a trusties place,  
Who have put on a Janus-face.   

Then, most men, plainly shall behold,  
What, few believed, though foretell.  
The noblest parts, worst played shall be,  
Till, men their errors come to fee;  
Good-action, shall be much mistake;  
Ill-meanings, will be fairly spoke;  
Some, for ill-doing, shall have meeds;  
Some, shall have blame for lawful deeds.  
Some, personating double parts,  
With double tongues, and double hearts,  
Shall, from one side, to tother run,  
Till they are scorned of every one.  
Fools, Clowns, and very dunghill things,  
Shall act the parts, of Lords, and Kings,  
Till, few know what to do or say;  
How to command, or to obey.   

Your Fountain shall be turned to puddle;  
Yea, all reduced to such a huddle;  
That, your Ill-willers will be glad;  
Your much abused Spectators mad;  
And, in their furiousness go near  
The Player's rags, from them to tear;  
Or, pull the Stage, and Playhouse down;  
Unless a medicine, yet, unknown,  
Be soon applied: Or, on the Stage,  
(To stop the people's rising rage)  
Some quick-devise, and pleasing-straine,  
Be brought, to charm them down again.   

With which Catastrophe, we pray,  
The Tragedy, conclude you may,  
And, see the Scenes, and Acts, to come,  
Less bloody, and less troublesome;  
For, if Conjectures fail him not,  
Who hath considered well the plot,  
(And, whose fore-warnings, none believes,  
Till 'tis too late), he plain perceives  
A Storm will in the South be bred  
Whilst you a Northern-Tempest dread,  
And conjured hither, by some Friends,  
Who, seem to have much better ends  
Than they pursue: And, then, unless  
JUDAH, and ISR'EL shall confess  
Their sins, and, reconcile, betimes;  
Manasses pray, repent his crimes  
Unfeignedly (as David did,  
When, from Jerusalem he fled)  
And, with full resolution, do  
What, prudence would advise him to:  
The Babylonians will conspire  
With Amaiek; your neighbour Tyre  
Shall (as a sly spectator) stand,  
To take advantage underhand:  
And, by those means (when peace seems near)  
The troubles, which did first appear  
In thirty nine, prolonged will be,  
Till fifty two, and fifty three.   

And, what new courses will be took,  
When those years wheel about, Go look:  
For, here, already, we fore-show  
More, than you can deserve to know;  
Till, you more lovingly shall deal  
With such, as labour, for your weal;  
And, their estates, and time, have spent,  
Your likely ruin to prevent.   

Ere, GOD, his wrath on Balaam wreaks,  
First, by his Ass to him he speaks;  
Then, shows him, in an Angel's hand,  
A sword, his courses to withstand;  
But, seeing, still, he forward went,  
Quite through his heart, a sword he sent;  
And, GOD, will thus, if thus they do,  
Still deal with Kings, and Subjects, too:  
That, where his grace despised is grown,  
He, by his judgements, may be known.   
Fiat Voluntas Dei.  
GoD eXpeCreth our repentanCe, gIVing express Warnings InVItIng there Unto; haVe early respeCt therefore, Unto such Warnings, and repent not slightly your offensIVe VanItIes.