THE Christian's encouragement EARNESTLY to CONTEND  
or Christ his gospel & for all  
Our Christian liberties in thrall  
Which who refuseth let him be  
For aye Accursed.  
Written By J. Ward Gant.  


Read  
Consider   and 

Judge  
Censure   To which is added Ireland's Greivanc's  
LONDON Printed for Io. Hancock 1643    

AN encouragement TO war.  
WHat odds is twixt this Breach? and that late plot,  
Laid by the Prelates 'gainst the harmless Scot.  
What difference I say? is't not the same  
In its Effect? save 't hath another name?  
That done by Popish Prelates: but this bears  
The name of Popish lawless, Cavaliers.  
That only 'gainst the Scot, but this is made  
Th' English, Scottish, Irish, Liberties t' invade  
At once: and strike the parliamental power  
Of the three Kingdoms dead, (even in an hour)  
That power whereby the freedom of these Lands  
In their perfection, strength, and union stands.  
And which once lost, we all must presently  
Turn to that old Egyptian slavery.  
What could the Prelates than aspire unto,  
That Cavaliers, now not attempt to do?  
Was not the quarrel then, and now all one?  
The aims of both, 'gainst true Religion.  
Did not the Prelates then (as these do now)  
Persuade the King, the Scots would overthrow  
His just Prerogative: because they would  
Not by their Romish power be controlled.  
Because they would not (as the Scripture saith)  
Make them as Lords, and Rulers, of their Faith?  
And did they not in our dread sovereign's name,  
As Rebels, all the Covenanters proclaim?  
Cause their heroic Spirits would not yield  
The episcopal Liturgy the field.  
And (though free born) cause they would not consent  
To slavery: far worse than Banishment.  
And in a word, because they would not be  
Enthralled to that hard yoke of Popery.  
And do not these French prosolites endeavour  
To make divisions that may last for ever  
Twixt King and Subject? Misinterpreting  
All Messages that pass betwixt the King  
And his great council: Making such construction  
Of grave advice, as needs must bring destruction.  
And though they understand the sense of Laws,  
Yet cause themselves have broke them; and because  
Th'intend to live as outlaws: and as men  
That never mean to live by Law again.  
Therefore they wrest them from their proper sense,  
Stamp them with false interpretations: whence  
(The King being once possessed therewith) proceeds  
Such tears and threats of civil hostile deeds.  
Hence 'tis so many fruitless words are spent  
In vain betwixt the King and Parliament.  
Hence 'tis the king declares the Law to have  
Another sense than Parliament conceive?  
Hence 'tis so many slight and so contemn  
The Parliament: and speak so base of them  
And their proceedings: hence the misery  
Of England doth most necessarily  
Its pedigree derive: and till Misprisions  
Disunions, Alienations, and Divisions  
Twixt king and Parliament united be:  
And right constructions made, yea till we see  
These spirits of division, severed from  
His majesty: and quite cashiered and gone.  
England will not be England, but will be,  
And so remain, Babel perpetually.  
But when these base Malignant spirits are  
(Through God's free mercy, and the tender care  
Of our good Parliament) scattered, dispersed,  
As those were that for Scottish blood did thirst.  
When th'head of that same serpent's brood is broke,  
And their deceitful Projects want a cloak,  
To carry their hid poison in, and when  
The Prelates lord●nesse is laid again  
As low as when it first began to spring  
'Twards that Exorbitancy that 'twas in,  
Till these few months last past, yea when the Land  
Shall freely, stoutly, valiantly stand  
In every part from Beersheba to Dan,  
United in their Members, as one Man.  
For Christ, and for the Gospel, and for all  
Just Rights and privileges both great and small,  
For our dread sovereign's just Prerogative:  
Neither to add thereto, or to deprive  
Him of a hair that's due to him: (the one  
Is to detract from him that wears the Crown:  
The other wrongs the Subject) and likewise  
For privilege of Parley: Th'Liberties  
And Rights of Subjects. And to stand unto  
Each promise made in our late solemn Vow;  
(Which he that does refuse, O let him be  
For evermore Anathema (for me)  
Then shall our British Island that hath been  
The Receptacle, yea the common inn  
Where all Idolatry, and Superstition,  
Profaneness, armenism, and Sedition,  
Atheism, Oppression, Blood, and cruelty,  
Extortion, Persecution, bribery,  
Excess, Oaths, Blasphemy, and every sin,  
With great applause hath been persisted in.  
Be as the Holy Land: like Israel  
The people shall be blessed, that therein dwell.  
This City shall be like Jerusalem,  
Each town, like Zion fair; And as for them  
That dwell in country Villages, they shall  
Them Christ's beloved, Redeemed people call.  
Then shall Rome's pride abate, then shall the three  
Distempered Kingdoms be at unity.  
Then shall we praise our God, and serve our King  
Unanimously: without murmuring.  
When these Sanballets and Tobiah'ss, shall  
(Enforced thereto) let us build up the wall  
Of our own peace and safety, and shall say  
That a more just and honourable way  
Then settling the Militia cannot be  
Thought on, t'advance Britain's prosperity,  
And their destruction, which already they  
Know to be true, and therefore plots they lay  
To cross it: but I trust shall never be  
Of such considerable ability,  
To perfect their Intentions; for where e'er  
Hushais good counsel is received, even there  
Achitophel's rejected is, and then  
We know the common end of such wise men.  
But since it is our present misery  
By such lewd sons of violence to be  
Opposed and maligned, yea since it is  
To question parliamental privileges:  
Their chief endeavour, yea and to disdain  
And scorn that power that in them doth remain:  
And scoff at their proceedings, as they were  
Objects too base for them to flout and jeer.  
And since there's left for us no other way,  
Our God, our King, our liberties t'enjoy:  
But all hopes else are fled, and they alone  
Next under God, (or surely we have none)  
Are left to be a means to bring this (late  
Apostate) Land to a reform estate.  
O then let every one that knows the prize  
And worth of such a Parliament, be wise,  
And not discert them; But let every one  
Call former Racks and Impositions  
Into their memory: O let them call  
Those Popish Rites and Innovations all,  
That burdened many a conscience to their mind,  
And seriously search if they cannot find  
Their spirits greatly eased; and than consider  
So many unjust Courts cast down together,  
(The vastness of whose arbitrary power  
Did many a loyal Subjects state devour;  
And spoil them of their Liberties) which we  
Without a Parliaments authority  
Had ne'er attained: and call to mind the cause  
Why they were called: wast not because the Laws  
Were trampled on? When all things out of order  
Were rudely cast on every several border  
Throughout the Kingdom: and when civil war  
Did threat our former (Slighted) peace to mar.  
Had they not been, our freedoms, lives, estates  
Had been a prey to Popish Runagates.  
And think upon the call that brought them hither,  
To sit so long a time in parley together.  
When all the Kingdom was distracted so,  
God moved the Lords, they to the King did go,  
In humble manner him petitioning,  
That heed convoke a Parliament, to bring  
An end to these distempers, and possessed  
Him, with the justice of this their Request.  
And furthermore advised his Majesty,  
That that alone would work an unity.  
Or else confusion would straight way step in,  
And all to ruin and destruction bring.  
The King approved and granted their Petition,  
Called for a Parley with all expedition;  
To settle peace betwixt the Lands divided,  
And t'have things controverted and decided  
Twixt King and Subject; that exactions might  
Be eased, that long against all Law and right,  
Have been imposed; and that Religion  
So long exposed unto derision,  
Might have just vindication 'gainst all those  
That have been known to be her godless foes.  
We see the cause then why the Parliament  
Was called together, and for what intent:  
Their call stand good in point of Law we see,  
From God, and Man, King, Peers and commonalty.  
So's their continuance too, the King hath sealed  
Their sitting: which is not to be repealed:  
Till Church and State have past and overcome  
These Agues, fevers, and Consumptions;  
That make them sick to death: When these are cured,  
The Court may be adjourned: yet they assured,  
They have discharged their duties, and the Land  
Shall evermore to them obliged stand  
For their good service: and all thought to be  
Too mean to answer their fidelity.  
Let these considerations work upon  
Th'affections and desires of every one,  
That do desire to lead a Christian life,  
And to live free from civil wars and strife.  
Or that desire that wholesome Law should be  
The Rule whereby to judge indifferently.  
As they their God, Laws, King, selves, Liberties,  
Wives, children, country, and their substance prize;  
Or any thing that unto them is dear,  
I'th' City, or i'th' Field, or anywhere:  
O let them stand courageously for those  
That have stood so for them against their Foes.  
Have not our Worthies for us sacrificed  
Lives, Honours, States (and what so highly prized)  
For our enlargement? What conspiracies,  
devices, plots, and Hell-hatch policies,  
By Jesuits and Papists have been laid,  
(And all to have their good proceedings stayed)  
Against their lives what threats have been belched out  
Against them by that superstitions Rout.  
What scandalous aspersions have been cast,  
And what gross censures vulgarly have past,  
Their candid Reputations to bespot  
With some pretended ignominious blot:  
As if they traitorously should undermine  
Our government politic and Divine:  
And set an Arbitrary Course of power,  
To wrong the King in's right, and to devour  
The Subjects state, and overthrow the right  
Of King and Subject by their (Lawless) might.  
How have our Anti-sabbatists, and those  
Arminian sots (true Reformations foes)  
In our corrupted Springs of Litterature,  
And at our inns of Court, and (I am sure)  
In many other places, (though of late  
theyare grown more wary) in their common prate.  
Spoke ill of Reformation, and all such  
Ith' Parliament, that stand for it so much.  
Yea, how have they by every rustic swain,  
And Ignoramus, (that can scarce speak plain  
And tolerable English;) been defamed  
Miscallde, abused, and barbarously nick-namde:  
If any shall presume to say, I lie,  
I'll bring the world this truth to testify;  
For scarce is there that city, town, or place,  
Where some have not endeavoured their disgrace:  
Nor is't unknown t'th' Houses, for themselves  
Hear of the rude behaviour of these Elves,  
By Information, and perhaps the times  
May come when such may answer for their crimes.  
But yet, have they been daunted? or dismayed?  
At what these envious Spirits did or said?  
Have they given o'er the work they had in hand,  
Can any say, that slavishly they stand,  
In fear of any? No: whose there? will say;  
He that dares rouse a lion from his Prey?  
And force wild Beasts, to fly from den to den,  
And fright them, that they dare not turn again:  
Fears any Colours? Who can say of them,  
That worthily have played the parts of men,  
Of noble Spirits: but that they should be,  
Spoke of with honour, thought of reverently.  
They have not flinched a step out of the way,  
Although these curs have held them at a bay;  
But (as the spiritful Horse no notice takes  
Of the shrill noise that every mongrel makes)  
Have in their pious course persisted still,  
Promoting good, not fearing any ill.  
So let them still proceed, till they have run  
The race of Reformation, that's begun;  
So let the Spirit of grace and wisdom be,  
Redoubled on their heads in each degree  
So let their courage be increased, and so  
Let them Rome's power (in England overthrow;  
So let their legal Orders be obeyed,  
And all their black mouthed enemies destroyed:  
So let the Lord of hosts himself as he  
In all things hath been with them formerly;  
So finish what's begun; and though their foes  
Be twenty times in number, more than those  
That came against King Asa; let the same  
Dismal destruction than overcame  
Those Egyptian Nigers, seize upon  
These bloody minded villains every one  
And if no other way, to public peace  
Be found, but civil war; or we must cease  
To be a privileged people; and must yield  
Base tyrannising Cavileers the field,  
Without resistance; and like conquered slaves,  
Crouch to their yoke (Outlaws and bankrupt knav●)  
Whose mercies are but Heathenish cruelties,  
And their best acts murders and robberies.  
O then Great Britain (Everywhere) be ready,  
To oppose such deeds so tyrannous and heady,  
Assemble all your strength with joint consent,  
To fight for God, the King, and Parliament.  
'tis time ye Western Counties (that have been  
So backward, and remiss) now to begin  
To stand upon your guard, (now ye are made  
The seat of war) O let it not be said,  
Amongst those rebels, that your slackness lost  
The Victory, and so much blood hath cost.  
As may be shed in such a civil war:  
Meet them i'th' face, and drive them back as far  
As they can fly for Sea; and when they can  
Shun you no farther, cast them every man  
Into the Ocean: Or if she disdain  
Such base degenerate Spirits t' entertain;  
As Britain hath spude out: O then to show  
How unworthily they got the overthrow;  
And how unworthy they themselves have made,  
As not to get room t' have their corpse laid  
In British ground: Let them on Gibbets hang  
Till th'aiery fowls consume them every one.  
And as for those that by the Sword shall fall,  
●et none of them obtain a Grave at all;  
●et dogs and ravenous Wolves (if such were here)  
And Vermin with their entrails make them cheer,  
Until their paunches burst▪ that so the guilt  
Of all the causeless blood that hath been spilled,  
May be took off, and may no longer stand,  
Upon the general score of all the Land.  
Th' almighty will destroy them certainly  
Before us, if we be not backwardly  
And fearful to oppose them, God hath quite  
Forsaken them; yet he for us will fight,  
If we will fight for him: These are the times  
When God will visit Rome for all the crimes  
She hath committed, since the Brothers twain,  
Strove which the regal Power should obtain.  
Now must must they pay for all the Christian blood,  
That for almost two thousand years they shed;  
Now must they pay for all their blasphemies,  
Their oaths, their curses, and Idolatries:  
This is the time that all the Popish powers,  
Must be exiled this English Coast of ours;  
This is the time wherein the Lord hath said,  
Babel is fallen, ruined, and destroyed:  
This is the time wherein that Whore of Rome,  
Must to perpetual desolation come:  
And God hath made us instruments, whereby  
To bring to pass that ancient prophecy.  
Therefore may we return glory and praise,  
And honour to his Name, that in these days;  
Th●se hard and iron days hath honoured us  
To be his people, fight his Battles thus:  
Who when all power, authority, and hope  
Of any good, was frustrate, void, and broke;  
Reviude our drooping Spirits, and translated  
The ruledom of the State, from such as hated  
Justice and Right, to such as are ambitious  
To honour good men, and correct the vicious,  
And hath infused a Spirit of life and power,  
Into these liveless carcases of our.  
And hath stirred up the body of our Nation,  
To speak for, stand for, fight for Reformation,  
Against a crew of rebel Cavilcers,  
Composed of Popish and Arminian heirs;  
Whose maxims, are the blood of Kings to shed,  
And then affirmeed a meritorious deed.  
Whose purer Language is in pieces small,  
To tear Christ's body, blood, heart, nails and all;  
With horrid Oaths, and fearful Imprecations,  
Provoking God to hasten their damnations:  
Whose best expressions are to breathe out threats;  
Whose perjurde practice is to break all treats;  
T'abolish laws, and bring poor people under  
Their slavish yoke, (or the Pope's dreadful thunder.)  
Our Ancestors, did long desire to see  
These times, and yet could not permitted be;  
Yet did rejoice to think that bloody Rome,  
Should once to final desolation come.  
What they esteemed therefore of such weight,  
(Though in reversion) lets not rudely slight,  
That see it now approaching, 'tis no small  
Nor common mercy to see Babel's fall.  
Such fair occasion comes not every day,  
To right ourselves; let's do it whilst we may:  
For now both heaven and earth together joins,  
To purge the base corruptions of these times.  
Occasions bald behind, time once past over,  
Not all the Indian gold can ere recover.  
Then you the Thousands of our Judah, go  
Sheath all your Swords i'th' bowels of your foe;  
Be clothed with Valour, let your resolution  
Be bent to bring all traitors to confusion;  
Let not fair words entice you, but let fly  
As thick as hail, 'gainst such an enemy:  
Break thorough their guilty ranks, and overthrow  
That commonwealth of rebels at a blow.  
That that vast treasure they so long a time  
Have whorded up, to use in this design:  
And all the arms they have so slily got,  
And kept so close as if they had them not:  
Their Horses, pistols, Swords, and Carabines,  
Their Muskets, Pikes, Callivers. Magazines  
Of Powder, Shot, and Bullets; and what ere  
From France, or Spain, or from the Hollander,  
Hath been transported hither, to help out  
To ruin us at such a civil bout.  
We as our due may seize on for a prey,  
When they be slain (or run for fear away;  
That the surviving part may once again,  
Their freedoms, laws, and Liberties obtain.  
That when this corrupt generation shall,  
Be cut by heavens bright Sword of Justice all:  
The next ensuing age, may quite forget,  
And scorn those rites that we admire at yet;  
And may set up the true Discipline and Order,  
Of Jesus Christ in every British border.  
Now you whose forward Spirits countrymen,  
Affect the justness of our cause, yet when  
You hear that odious name of Cavalier  
Opposing you; that mazes you with fear;  
That traitorous, bloody, branded name, casts down  
Your drooping Spirits equal to the ground;  
So that for fear of such an Impious crew,  
Y● had rather (shave) like part from all your dues,  
And privilege, then seek how to obtain  
Your freedoms, laws, and Liberties again.  
Y● had rather loose all that you do possess,  
Then take up lawful arms to seek redress.  
How plainly do such Cowards show to be,  
Given up to base pus●…lanimitie:  
Scorn then to be afraid of such a name,  
Which unto them is but a brand of shame,  
And not of honour: Can a worthless name  
Crown them with glory, or our deeds with shame:  
Think you? Shall arrogated Titles make  
You such a just and pious cause forsake?  
Can painted shows, true substances exceed?  
Can liveless Statues do a manly deed?  
Or does the Spirit of Valour rest on them,  
Because base swearing domineering men?  
Y' are all deceived, the valiant man is, that  
Hath fewest sins to be affrighted at;  
True soldiers, will ne'er use violence,  
Nor fight but to secure their conscience;  
Thy are no profane swearers, nor will curse  
Or ban, when things are bad, to make them worse:  
Nor will they cry, God damn them, or them sink,  
Nor over charge themselves with too much drink.  
Nor will they civil war seek to prefer,  
In hopes that they may all prove conquerors;  
But do abhor all Motions that may lead  
To the execution of so base a deed.  
But being once debarred their proper right:  
And finding that their liberties, by might  
Are torn in pieces, and their freedoms made  
A life of bondage, though they have assayed  
All ways for their enlargement, do prepare  
Unwillingly to right themselves by war,  
'Gainst their injurious enemies: which shows  
Our preparation 'gainst mad captain foes,  
Is upright, just, and legal: cause we stand  
To ●old up the foundation of the Land  
From sudden ruin: and to fortify  
Our laws against the rage of tyranny.  
Our preparation for a civil war,  
Is to keep the body from a mortal scar,  
By taking off some pieces of proud flesh,  
Which will in time her miseries increase;  
And cause her death if let a while alone,  
But help her health if once cut off and gone.  
Our Parliament this legal war begins,  
To cut off some superfluous useless limbs;  
Whose preter natural vigour being infused  
Through every part, hath every part abused  
With monstrous principles, such as were ne'er  
Afloote (I think) in any place but here.  
And drawn the Subjects of our English Nation,  
T'admit a change, t'admit an alteration  
Of Government, as well divine as civil,  
(A violent Floodgate to let in all evil.)  
This likewise doth demonstrate unto you,  
The desperate madness of our envious foe;  
Who like distracted Bedlams run about,  
Their own and others' ruin to seek out.  
These damned Cavaliers, and all what ere  
They be that help them out of love or fear.  
It shows the base unworthiness of those,  
That to their country prove such mortal foes;  
O what Malignant Spirits them possess,  
That they envy their country's happiness!  
What Empire, kingdom, age, or generation,  
Since Babel's rise, or since the world's foundation,  
Can sh●w the like, that ever England should  
Nurse up a sort of men, that if they could  
Would cut poor England's throat: was't ever known  
That any people did envy their own  
Prosperity? Sure no● yet England hath  
Foster such hideous Monsters, that would bathe  
Their swords in friends, kindred, and neighbour's blood,  
Till down the fields there run a crimson flood.  
What judgements this great Britain? that thy walls  
And streets are filled with such rude cannibals,  
That throw out all thy Courts, Errinnis fell,  
That cruel, fierce and hellish Fiend doth dwell?  
Thy sins are sure unparrallelled, which makes  
Thy judgements peerless, for their odious sakes:  
Fire, pestilence, and war, and many more  
Inferior judgements, waste thy kingdom sore.  
What's to be done? to quit us of this grief,  
Since we have been so long without relief.  
Thou must return from thine apostasies,  
Thy superstitions and Idolatries:  
And down before thy Maker in the name  
Of his dear son (that on him took the blame  
Of all thy sins) thy Saviour, thou must fall,  
Desiring him to free thee from them all,  
And show thee mercy: and especially  
Invoke him now again, thine enemy,  
Beseech him to vouchsafe his helping hand,  
This one time more to this distressed Land,  
And let him know, if he'll be pleased, to give  
Thee victory, he shall much praise receive.  
And add to this thy martial strength and force  
Of Muskets, Pikes, Swords, Pistols, men and horse,  
And all munition else, what ere it be  
That may annoy thy vaunting enemy:  
And he that hath preserved thee hitherto,  
Both teach thee and direct thee what to do.  
But specially, O Gloustershire, improve  
My counsel; 'tis a pledge of native love,  
Go muster up your Volunteers, whose number  
May strike your damned Foe with dread and wonder.  
And thou my native * Teuk●bury. Town especially,  
Whom I respect, that hast been backwardly  
In this defensive service stir thee now,  
Make it appear that thou hast paid thy vow.  
Where are the scores of Horse, thou hast set forth,  
To answer thy external shows and worth?  
Where are thy voluntary youths, that dare  
Defend their country in this civil war?  
Some two or three are gone indeed, but they  
Were fain (Courageously) to steal away  
Unknown, lest if they should themselves disclose▪  
Thy male-affected would account them foes,  
And them discourage; yea, since our adieu,  
They have maligned us with reports untrue.  
But I forgive them, and do thee advise,  
As for thy private good thou wouldst be wise,  
(If public good thou slight''st) that thou'dst but make  
Inferior towns thy precedent, and take  
Them for a pattern: here, as little towns  
As are the least that coast upon thy bounds,  
Have set forth fifty Horse: young men and maids  
Of all sorts, as th' are able, lend their aids,  
Some six pence, twelve pence some, as they are willing  
And stored, some five, some ten, some twenty shilling;  
Or more, or less, as God hath blessed them  
With means, and hearts to part from it again.  
Up therefore quickly, be not like the drone  
That eats up others' sweetness, but gets none.  
If nothing but dead trading might persuade  
To this, that might in common sense be made  
A motive to stir up the drowsiest heart  
From somewhat towards this great design to part:  
For be assure that till the kingdom be  
Reduced to perfect peace and unity,  
And freed from civil war; your trading shall  
Continually decay, not mend at all.  
And this methinks should stir up every place  
To do the like, because it is the case  
Of all the kingdom; For my part, had I  
A thousand lives, and for each life, lying by  
A thousand pound (which are above my sphere,  
I'd hazard all to free the State from fear.  
But some there be will say, do what I can,  
These ravenous vultures will not wrong a man:  
Alas, say they, here's great mistrusts and fears,  
Where needs not any): of the Cavaliers,  
Alas good men, they do no hurt, they strive  
For nothing but the King's Prerogative;  
They be religious men, and they will go  
To Church as well as other people do;  
And speak as well as most men in the town,  
Where e'er they live, few men can put them down▪  
And shall we fight against them (God forbid)  
Shall we do what good Subjects never did?  
Make war against the King: we'll rather do  
The servil'st work he shall command us to.  
Is it not better give the King his way,  
In settling the Commission of Array,  
And to be peaceful: Then to have the Land  
In a perpetual combustion stand?  
Alas poor silly gulls, that neither see  
Nor understand th'approaching misery,  
That such as they have brought upon us all,  
If by the Sword of civil war we fall:  
These men given up to slavish fear, have brought  
Themselves and us and all the Land to nought.  
Did these but apprehend at what dear rates  
Our Ancestors, our freedoms and Estates  
For us have purchased? What a world of pains  
They undertook, that we might reap the gains.  
What sums they paid; With what great industry,  
Th'obtained our Suffrages, and liberty:  
Sure then they would not be so easily won  
To part from them (as many have begun)  
Who Edom-like have for a mess of broth  
Sold birthright, freedom, substance, faith, and troth.  
Did such but know experimentally  
The value of the freedom they enjoy;  
Had they but noble spirits; they would scorn  
To live in slavery, that were free born.  
But rather choose to die a noble death,  
Then to live here ignobly underneath  
The feet of tyranny: For when our Laws  
Are changed: and when our liberty withdraws,  
Straight every upstart scoundrill will out-braves,  
And English States shall live like Turkish slaves.  
As for the carriage of the Cavaliers,  
Their tyranny and wickedness appears  
So gross, and palpable, that it will be  
But needless labour, and time lost for me  
Their rude and barbarous actions to repeat;  
Their robberies and murders are so great  
In Yorkshire, Leicestershire, at Coventry:  
Northamptonshire, Bath, Portsmouth, Banbury,  
And superstitious Oxford, that was glad  
At their first entrance; but are since grown sad,  
To see their rude behaviour, and what preys  
They make of all things that fall in their ways.  
And now 'tis scarce unknown to any Nation,  
That Papists have a general dispensation  
From their unholy Father; and they may  
Now go to Church, and hear Don Bletro say  
His Enigmattick Legend, and may hear  
A temporizing Sermon without fear,  
So they advance his work: and do their bests  
Through Europe to set up his papal hests.  
Which now are falling down, and those that be  
Church Papists, as men term them certainly  
Are our most dangerous enemies; and do  
Oppose, malign and undermine us too.  
If any Ignoramus yet there be,  
That will not his own privileges see,  
Not will retain them: But will side with those  
That are both Gods, the Kings, and country's foes,  
And will of such proceedings brag and vaunt,  
Let them I say remain still ignorant.  
Let the Concomitants of such a war  
Attend them; and let them wax worse by far,  
Till God hath finished his good work, upon  
This Land, and brought them to confusion.  
Now little book fly on the wings of fame,  
As far beyond the place from whence I came  
As it is thither: that both North and South,  
And all the winds may have thee in their mouth,  
And take thy counsel: that from Cornwell and  
From th'utmost limits of Northumberland,  
And Durham: yea from Dover in the East,  
To th'utmost bounds of Chester in the West,  
Thou mayest have audience: that our Heroes may  
Muster their Forces 'gainst that fatal day.  
Grave Essex the chief Leader of us all,  
And Bedford our Lieutenant general,  
Not all the Roman States can make us fear,  
Nor the great Turk himself if he were here.  
Our Cause is just, therefore though thousands die,  
We are confident to get the victory.  
It is credibly affirmed that the Cavaliers do usually drink this wicked and blasphemous health. viz.  

1. A Health to his majesty by whom we live, move, and have our being.  
2 A Health to the Confusion of Pym, his God and his Gospel.   
FINIS.   

The Humble Petition of the Protestant Inhabitants of the Counties of Antrim down, Tyrone, &c. part of the Province of Ulster, in the kingdom of Ireland. As it was humbly Presented to the Right Honourable Assembly of Knights. Citizens, and Burges●es in this present Parliament. And accepted of that Honourable House.  
Your Petitioners,  
HUmbly representeth unto your grave wisdoms, and judicious considerations, that your Petitioners having translated themselves out of several parts of his majesty's kingdoms of England and Scotland, to promote the infant Plantation of Ireland, wherein your Petitioners by their great labour and industry, so much contribute to the settlement of that kingdom: As they were in a most hopeful way of a comfortable abode, and when they expected to reap the fruit of their great and long labour, partly by the cruel severity and arbitrary proceedings, of the civil Magistrate, but principally through the unblessed way of the Prelacy with their f●ction, our souls are starved, our estates undone, our families impoverished, and many lives among us, cut off and destroyed;  
The Prelates, (whose pretended authority, though by some published to be by divine right, as we humbly conceive is directly against the same) have by their Canons of late, their Fines, fees, and Imprisonments at their pleasure; their Silencing, Suspending, Banishing, and Excommunicating of our learned and conscionable Ministers, their obtruding upon us, ignorant, erroneous, and profane persons to be our Teachers, their censuring of many hundreds even to Excommunication, for matters acknowledged by all to be indifferent and not necessary, their favouring Popery (in this kingdom a double fault) their persecuting purity, and endeavouring to bring all to a liveless formality, divers of them being notorious incendiaries of the unquietness and unsettled estate between these kingdoms, with many the like; too tedious to relate, as more fully in our ensuing Grievances doth appear. These our cruel taskmasters have made of us, who were once a people, to become (as it were) no people, an astonishment to ourselves, the object of pity and amazement to others, and hopeless of remedy, unless he with whom are bowels of compassion work in you an heart to interpose for your Petitioners relief.  
They therefore most humbly pray, that this unlawful hierarchical government with all their appendices may be utterly extirpate, such course laid down, as to your great wisdoms shall seem meet, for reparation in some measure of our unutterable damages sustained by the parties thus injuriously grieved; your Petitioners settled in a way, whereby their persecuted Ministers may have leave to return from exile, and be freed from the unjust censure imposed on them, and an open door continued unto us for provision of a powerful and able Ministry, the only best way to promote Plantation, and settle the kingdom in the profession and practice of true religion; which as it is the earnest expectation, so it shall be the daily prayer of many thousands your Petitioners, who will ever entreat the Lord for your direction herein, and in all other your weighty and important affairs, as becometh your poor Petitioners, &c.  

A particular of manifold Evils, and heavy pressures caused, and occasioned by the prelacy, and their dependants.  
1 BEfore they had so much as a pretended Canon, for their warrant the Prelates urged their Ceremonies with such vehemency, that divers of our most learned and painful Ministers for not obeying them were Silenced, and many of us for the like oppressed in their Courts.  
2 In the year 1634. they made such Canons and constitutions ecclesiastical, as enjoined many corruptions in the worship of God, and government of the Church, which exceedingly retarded the work of reformation to the true Protestant Religion, animated Papists, and made way for divers popish superstitions.  
3 Our most painful, godly, and learned Ministers were by the Bishops and their Commissaries silenced and deprived for not Subscribing and Conforming to the said unlawful Canons; yea, through the hotness of their persecution forced to flee the Land, and afterwards Excommunicated, to the danger of all, and loss of some of their lives.  
4 In their places others were obtruded, not only ignorant, lazy, and lukewarm, but many of them unsound in doctrine, profane in life, and cruel in persecution.  
5 Many, though sufficiently furnished, were not admitted to the ministry, only for not swallowing down their groundless innovations, yea some, though conform, yet for strictness in life, were likewise kept out.  
6 Good and painful Ministers are not suffered to exercise that function which God hath called them unto, nor suffered to enjoy any living, whereas the Bishops do hold by Commendum many livings, besides those proper to their bishoprics; and do confer livings upon their children and retainers, studendi gratiâ (as is pretended) and divers Benefices, as four, five, six, or more upon their favourites; Hence  
7 The cure of souls are committed to hirelings, who receive 5, 6, 8: or 10. pounds by the year for their cures; Divers of which are put together to the charge of some illiterate curate, by which means, the people perish for want of food, though the Parson or Vicat, through connivance of the Bishop is utterly non resident, and by each one of the many Benefices he enjoyeth, hath a competent allowance for a moderately-minded man, to maintain himself and family upon.  
8 Whereas the Bishops should give all good example, by painful preaching and holy conversation, they preach very rarely themselves; and like these in the gospel, who will neither enter themselves, nor suffer others to enter, they have suppressed divers others from preaching, both on the afternoon on the Lord's day, and in many places where weekly Lectures were maintained, either by the freewill of the Minister, or cost of the people, they have utterly forbidden the same, and shown all manner of discountenance to those who were forward therein, so that a Lecturing Minister appeared before them, under more prejudice than a popish Priest, or undermining Jesuite;  
9 Lest those who could not be admitted into the ministry, undertaking to teach school, should there lay impressions of piety and good learning, they urge on the very schoolmasters a subscription beyond what is enjoined by their own Canon, and punish by Excommunication, and otherwise the refusers thereof; So as the schools formerly much frequented, are now utterly desolate, to the spoil of youth and promoting of profaneness and ignorance.  
10 Thus whiles they proceed so severely and unjustly in punishing the refusers to their unlawful commands, though otherwise never so honest and able men, they favour popery to the continuance, and great increase thereof; Hence,  
11 Popish titulary Bishops are by them winked at in the exercise of jurisdiction from foreign power; mass priests are frequent, and pretend a title to every parish in the kingdom, Masses publicly celebrated without controlment, to the great grief of God's people, and increase of idolatry and superstition.  
12 They permit friaries and Nunneries to be within their dioceses, whereby they continue and increase of late in many places, yea divers of them suffered to remain in the very places where some of the Bishops have their special residence.  
13 In many places of the Land where Protestants are forbidden and restrained, Papists are permitted to keep schools; unto some whereof such multitudes of children and young men do resort, that they may be esteemed rather Universities, teaching therein not only the tongues, but likewise the liberal Arts and Sciences.  
14 They set forth and suffer to be published wicked libels and ungodly Pamphlets, tending to sedition, faction, and disunion of the British Inhabitants, such as Examen conjurationis Scoticae, Lysimachus, Nicanor, &c. And in their Sermons, Prayers, and ordinary tabletalk, divers of the Bishops in matters quite besides their Calling, have not desisted to rail, curse, and most bitterly inveigh against the kingdom of Scotland, and all their proceedings labouring to make them odious, thereby proving themselves firebrands of sedition between the two Nations; yea, proclaiming their profaneness by drinking healths to the confusion of that Nation.  
15 The most learned and seemingly moderate and pious of the prelates, publicly in Sermons at Dublin, exclaimed against, and condemned the Scottish Covenant and Religion professed in that kingdom with most invective terms; And in the star-chamber in Dublin, at the censure of Henry Stewart Esquire, his Wife and two Daughters, and James Gray, for refusing to take an oath, for which there was no other ground then the Earl of Straffords command, which was against the Covenant of Scotland, uttered these words; These people with Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, do withstand the ordinance of God, and therefore I leave them to the judgement of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram.  
16 They have frequently made Symonicall pactions and bargains in the conferring of Benefices, and ordinarily permit Ministers to exchange their livings, thereby to nullify Leases of tithes, which the former incumbent Ministers have let at certain rates.  
17 The Prelates have usually appointed such men to be their Commissaries, Officials, and Registers, who altogether neglecting the punishment of vices cognizable in their Courts look only to their own gain; Hence  
18 Though they pretend themselves the advancers of virtue, and punishers of vice, yet they usually without further satisfaction absolve the most scandalous persons for asumme of money, and often question not at all such from whom they privately beforehand receive such a sum, which is a cause that many wickednesses do more and more abound.  
20 If any be presented by their Apparitors (who are usually Papists) if it be but for non-payment of the clerk's groat, or not observing some one of their most frivolous injunctions; yea, though the party presented be not found culpable, yet they require most excessive and unjust fees; And if their demands be not satisfied, (though never so great poverty might plead for mercy) they presently proceed to the censure of excommunication, thus vainly and blasphemously abusing the high ordinance of God, so many hundreds of us remain under that censure, and multitudes constrained to run out of the Land, to the undoing of them and theirs.  
21 The prelates that they might manage Peter's sword as well as his keys have some of them procured that most unlawful Writ of assistance, whereby his majesty's Officers and Ministers are required to yield assistance unto the Bishop his official, or any deputed by him; which Writ is by their Officers most notoriously abused, and many times put into the hands of their apparitors, who under colour thereof apprehend honest men and women, casting them into prison, until they be forced to free themselves by an heavy composition.  
21 They charge Churchwardens with Articles far beyond their understanding; to every particular whereof, if they refuse to answer or present, then are they bound to answer for it at council table, or high Commission court, or both, and though there acquitted, yet no remedy left them for their great damages.  
22 They force Churchwardens to attend all their visitation and circular Courts; And there, for their Articles, oaths, Admissions, and Discharges, they make them pay most excessive and undue fees, never before practised or required.  
23 The communications for penance, which either should not be at all, or if exacted, than set apart for the poor, and other pious uses cometh either to the prelate's kitchen, and Commissaries purse, or both;  
24 The Prelates and their faction, as they inherit then superstition of the Payacy, so of late they exact with all severity the absolute customs of S. Mary-gallous, Mortuaries, Portions, &c. which as they were given by superstition and used to Idolatry, so now they are taken by oppression and applied to riotousness.  
25 They have also constantly practised and suffered, the buying and selling of the Sacraments, which is an heavy burden; And where the poor have not to pay the Minister and clerk's fees, they will not marry them, nor suffer their dead to be buried.  
26 In the high Commission court against all law and equity, they sit as judges in their own cause, and take Cognizance of the highest and smallest matters, going therein without control; Hence  
27 In the said Court they usurp with an high hand the judicature of civil causes, impose Fines, beyond all bounds, and imprison at their pleasure, whereby many have been utterly undone.  
28 They proceed in the said Court, by way of most cruel and lawless inquisition, not only into men's actions and words, but reaching even to their very thoughts, in imposing that most unlawful oath Ex officio, to force to accuse, not only others, but likewise their own selves, contrary to law, and the very maximees of nature; And if any refuse to take this oath, then are they imprisoned, and fined beyond measure, to the ruin of all that fall under the weight of their indignation.  
29 Divers of the Prelates did jointly frame and wickedly contrive with the Earl of Strafford, that most lawless and scandalous oath imposed upon the Scottish-Brittish among us, who were Protestants, for receiving all commands indefinitely; And some of the Prelates were the occasion, that women and maids should be forced thereunto; Hence Commissions issuing to all places for the exacting of it, they were persecuted with so much rigour, that very many as if they had been traitors in the highest degree, were searched for, apprehended, examined, reviled, threatened, imprisoned, fettered together by threes and foures in Iron yokes, some in chains carried up to Dublin, in star-chamber fined in thousands beyond ability, and condemned to perpetual imprisonment; Divers poor women but two days before delivery of children were apprehended, threatened, and terrified; others of them two or three days after childbirth, so narrowly searched for, that they were fain to flee out of all harbour, into woods, mountains, caves, and cornfields, and many days and nights together absent themselves, to the impairing of the health of very many, the death of divers, and loss of their goods, which the enemy at their pleasure made havoc of. These, with many more unexpressible, have been the woeful effects of the Oath drawn up by advice of the Prelates, and so unjustly pressed by authority of the Earl of Strafford.  
30 The Prelates with their faction have been injurious, not only to the spiritual, but also to the temporal estates of most men; for under colour of Church lands they have injuriously seized into their hands, much of the best lands in every County, so that there is scarce a Gentleman of any worth, whom they have not bereaved of some part of his inheritance, few daring to oppose their unjust demands; and if any did, yet none able to maintain their just titles, against their power and oppression.  
31 By their ways have they enivated and undone many families, destroyed and cast away thousands of souls, and moreover in their own persons have been a scandal to the gospel, and a stumbling block even to the common enemy, by their swearing, cursing, drunkenness, Sabbath-breaking, &c. having such servants usually in their Families, as are the most profane in the kingdom, few others countenanced by them, but such, and if any seem to be of an holy life, he is scorned and persecuted by them.  
 
Thus they publishing and proclaiming themselves the children of Ishmael and Esau, we most humbly beseech you as the true sons of Israel to take order with them as God shall direct, whom we shall ever pray to be aiding, and assistant unto you in this great and glorious work of reformation.  
FINIS.    

 

 
* Teuk●bury.