Withers REMEMBRANCER: OR, EXTRACTS Out of Master WITHERS his Book, CALLED, Britain's Remembrancer.  
Worthy of the review and consideration of himself, and all other men.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year of our Lord, 1643.   

TO THE READER.  
THere fly abroad cetaine Pamphlets in the world, being Extracts of a Poem written by Mr George Withers, called Britain's Remembrancer: As if there were something in them to tell the world, from the prophetical provisions of the Author, of such things as are now to befall it. It were yet some happiness unto us, if that Author, on whom the severer sort of men look with some admiration, might with his book be brought forth to let us see the just and true measure of our condition at this time, which he hath there as prophetically as any thing else set down, with such remedies and advices as he thinks necessary for our recovery; this were to give us some hopes yet to outlive our misery. But since we cannot for the present command him, (being in a posture of war above our power) we shall however become master of his book; out of which some material passages are extracted, That tanquam ex ungue Leonem, we may discover the sense of so popularly Magistral an Author. With me I must confess they prevail, etc.   

Withers his Remembrancer, OR, Extracts out of Mr WITHERS his Book, called BRITAIN'S REMEMBRANCER.  
WIth me I must confess they prevail the more, because I have had a great opinion of the piety and spiritual irradications of the man; (otherwise to me unknown) and especially of that work of which this is part: and in which he seems to be warranted by a special calling to speak boldly of great matters, and to censure where none else dares give any judgement. What therefore he says, is not to be contemned; or else we must, as the Scripture commands us, try the spirit whether it be of God. Now since it is known, that for a long time Master George Withers hath command of a Troop of Horse in the service of the Parliament, and been quartered at Maid-stone in Kent, (an act in the first motion and progress of it without the commands of the King, and expressly against his Proclamations since:) and hath executed some things in the County, beyond the sense of his book at least, and needing the omnipotency of Peter's chair, to make, not barbarous words, but actions good; and to reconcile what hath been there done and here written: It is not only convenient, but necessary (for the advantage of the cause, and other Christian respects) that Master George Withers, who hath given to many weak ones public offence and scandal, do as publicly, and as becomes a man of such a sanctified and religious profession, inform the world upon what grounds of conscience or reason he first undertook such a charge. And I have warrant to press this upon him, not only from mine own scruples, but his own invitation, expressed in the latter end of his Premonition to his book. If you find aught else that may be doubted of, or for which I may seem reprovable or needing advice; Let me christianly and charitably receive intelligence thereof: And if I make not a reasonable defence, I will humbly acknowledge, and give the best satisfaction for my errors that I am able. When this shall be done, I shall be either converted or confirmed: In either of which I shall adhere to truth; in whose defence if I perish, it shall be to me a victory.  

In Pag. 195. 196. etc. He is so large in reprehending of the seditious and schismatical ways of separation; and commends so justly the heretofore happy government of the Church by Bishops, that the Reader is to be referred thither for M. Withers opinion therein. The reproofs he bestows on London, p. 207. 208. etc. Are likewise too large t● be here insisted, I desire the Londoners to have recourse to his book.  

The Church revenues for the present need 
218. a. b.   
Sequestered are (to stand a while instead  
Of Temp'ralties:) And some themselves persuade  
That they will now be lay-possessions made.  
But God forbidden: for he that shall bereave  
The Church of her inheritance, doth leave  
A curse upon his children, which shall stay  
Until his whole descent be worn away.    

In Pag. 219. a. He hath a proper Elegy of the virtues of that illustrious Princess and her issue, the Queen of Bohemia.  

— That illustrious Dame  
(To whom I own, even more than all, I am:)    

Whether then, is it fit the Parliament should trust him with a Troop of Horse? lest if Prince Rupert should come into Kent, he might be as good as his word.  


225. a: — Neither art thou solely [He speaks of the Nation.]  
Despised and dishonoured by thy folly:  
But in those mischiefs which thy sin procure  
Thy Prince a disadvantage doth endure:  
His virtues are repulsed from that height  
Of Honour, whereunto assured thy might,  
Were't thou less wicked! He whom as our eyes  
We seemed as but yesterday to prise;  
He for whose absence we so much 
a In Spain.  complained,  
And wept, & prayed, & vowed, whilst he remained  
Divided from us: and at whose return,  
We did so many piles to ashes burn.  
Even he hath not received that content  
From us, which he expected, and we meant.  
Some spirit of dissension loosed hath been,  
Some sparks of discord have been hurled in  
And blown among us: so that he and we  
Not so well pleased in each other be  
As both desire: And should this flame increase  
God knows how much it would offend our Peace.   

My Prince and Country, 
226. a. b.  though perhaps I be  
Not much to them, are both most dear to me:  
☞ And may I perish, if to safe my life  
I would betwixt that couple nourish strife:  
Or if for one of them, I that would say  
Which might from others due take aught away.   

— to have power and aim  

226. b.  To touch the Lords anointed I disclaim:  
I have no warrant; neither know I ought  
To reprehend him, for although I might.   

For as my Prince's faults I may not blaze,  
So, I am also bound (as there is cause)  
To justify what virtues I do hear  
To be in him: and see in him appear.  
The General faults of others mine own eyes  
Have seen; and that's enough to warrantize  
A general reproof: but never yet  
In him beheld I what did not befit,  
His person or his place: much have I seen  
That rather hath an honour to him been.  
And whatsoever shall muttered be of some,  
There reigns not any King in Christendom  
Of whom there was divulged a better fame,  
Dr, whom a royal Throne so well became:  
And what is lately done to blot the story  
Of his deserts, or to deface his glory?  
Or wherewithal can any tongue traduce  
His actions which admitteth no excuse?  
What if the people have expected more  
(From hopes by them conceived heretofore)  
Then yet succeeds? What can from thence redound  
To prove his virtues and his ways unsound?  
Why may not this effect arise from them  
That so suspect much rather then from him:  
As God long since unto the Jews did say  
(Who judged him unequal in his way)  
So say I; England; Is thy Sovereign's path  
Unequal? or is't rather thine which hath  
Such indirectness? wherefore may not all  
Which is amiss by thine own fault befall?   


228. a.  Let every one examine well his way,  
And for himself and for all others pray:  
For this is fare more likely to redress  
The present mischiefs, than our forwardness.  
The party that hath innocence shall  
Be sure to stand; though all about him fall:  
And, if we all perversely wicked prove,  
We shall have all one judgement from above.  
If in thy King, O Britain, ought amiss  
Appears to be 'twixt God and him it is.  
Of him he shall be judged: what to thee  
Pertaineth it his censurer to be?  
If thou shalt suffer with him thine offence  
Deserved it, and nought else but penitence  
Becomes thy practice; neither shall there aught  
That's wrong, by other means to right be brought.   


228. b.  Why may it not be possible that thou  
Demandest what he might not well allow,  
Without dishonour? Or, if all were right  
Which thou required'st, yet the manner might  
Distaste him? or, who certain is but some  
(Pretending public grievances) might come  
With private spleen and malice to pursue  
Those faults in others, which their conscience knew  
Themselves are guilty of—  
If so it be, I do admire the less  
That thy Petitions had an ill success.   


229. a.  Of Reformation thou dost show great Zeal,  
But some corruption mayst thou not conceal  
That mars the blessing? art thou sure thou hast  
No just occasion given to distaste  
Thy King? Do thy complain all intent  
The public welfare, without private end?  
And in preferring them dost thou commit  
No errors? or no deceits forget?  
I will not say thou didst; but I do fear  
That they who wisest are, in some things err.   

There also were—  
Unwise and undiscreet ones, 
232. a.  mixed among  
Our Parliaments, who did those meetings wrong,  

232. b.  By controverting of Religion there,  
And moving questions that improper are  
To that assembly. For there is provided  
A Synod, wherein aught to be decided  
Such matters: and what they determine shall  
The Parliament may ratify—  
But we may blush to see how much amiss  
Some stretch the Parliamental power in this.    

He would not be mistaken, as if he would not have Parliaments look after the exercises of Religion.  

But my desire is also that they further  
The Church affairs in their own place and order.  
— though some threaten fearful things to those  
Who dare a Parliamental power enclose  
Within a bound: yea though, some talking things  
Prate as if they might make, and unmake Kings.  
Coin new Religions—   


234. b.  What their forefathers unto them did leave  
Let them not suffer any to bereave  
Their children of. For they may that deny  
Even to their King; provided legally  
They do it, in resisting his demands  
By legal plead, not by force of hands.   

Let them therefore their ancient rights retain  
By all just means; and let them yield again  
The Royal deuce: 
235. a.  for those things prosper not  
Which are amiss from God or Caesar got.  
All wrongs shall be revenged, but none brings  
Such vengeance, as the wrong to God, or Kings.  
If but in word alone (nay but in thought)  
We have against our Prince committed aught  
Which is disloyal, hide it shall not lie,  
But be revealed by a winged spy.   

Nor let us as we do in corners prate,  
As if the sovereign power, or the State  
Encroacht injuriously; and so defame  
The Government; disgrace the royal name;  
And nourish by degrees an evil spirit,  
That us of all our peace will disinherit.   

— Bring not when ye come to plead with Kings  
Against their claims, some bare conjecturings:  
For what thou hast no utter evidence  
To be the right, the right is in thy Prince;  
It is a Royalty to Monarches due—   

— Let pure humility  
True piety, 
235. b.  due love, and charity  
Be brought along: and when all these ye bring  
Then go with loyalty and meet your King,  
In his and your affairs without mistrust,  
And then (as certainly as God is just)  
In every due respect ye shall prevail,  
Or gain some great advantage if ye fail.  
Go cast yourselves before him with submission;  
Present him with Petition on Petition  
With one accord, and with a fearful face  
Inform him how much hindrance and disgrace,  

236. a.  Or danger to the land there may accrue,  
If he your loyal Counsel shall eschew.  
For God, because his laws we disobey,  
Us at our Sovereign's feet doth mean to lay  
To humble us a while. If we repent  
To all our loyal suits he will assent;  
If otherwise, God will give up this land,  
Our lives and fortunes, all into his hand.  
Go offer, while to offer you are free;  
And what you give him, shall peace offerings be:  
If that which for atonement you provide  
With love and patience be sanctified.    

Speaking of our own inheritable rights and freeholds.  


269. b.  Those deuce we should preserve with all our might  
By pleading of our just and ancient right  
In humble wise; if so the sovereign state  
Our freedom shall attempt to violate.  
But when by peaceful means we cannot save it,  
We to the pleasure of the King must leave it,  
And unto God our judge: For all the power  
In us consists, in saying, This is our.   

This therefore is my rule; 
266.  That Government.  
(What ere it be) in which to me God lent  
My birth and breeding; that until my end,  
I will obey and to my power defend.  
Yea though it tyrannize, I will denay  
No more obedience, then by Law I may;  
Even by those Laws and customs that do stand  
In force, and unrepealed in that Land.   

— If any faction shall constrain ☜  
That I one fact must take, I will maintain  
What bore the Sovereignty when I came thither,  
And I and that will stand and fall together.    

To close up all, as in a fit place let us here insert some more of Mr Withers his own lines; which will serve for a reason too of the Title to these few Extracts.  

Let all those Observations I have had  
Of others errors be occasions made  
To mind me of my own: 
Cant. 8. pa. 282.  and lest I err,  
Let every man be my Remembrancer.  
With so much charity, as I have sought  
To bring their duty more in thought.  
And, if in any sin I linger long  
☞ Without repentance: Lord, let every tongue  
That names me check me for it: and to me  
Become what I to others feign would be.   
Amen  
FINIS.