A Looking-Glasse.  
WHEREIN IS DISCOvered the face of Distraction, the cruelty of the Papist, and misery of the Protestant in most parts of this kingdom:  
Together With An Exhortation to all men to be vigilant, and valiant, and to meet approaching mischief far from their own dwellings, lest not able to resist it there, it break into their houses, take all away, and pled Law for it.  
ALSO certain Eminent towns lately pillaged and plundered; do here in their own Persons, Report their own Calamities, and persuade all other free towns in the kingdom, by taking notice of their miseries, to prevent their own ruins.  
London printed by G.W. Feb. 3. 1642.   

A Looking glass.  
he That goes about to end a controversy, must consider the original, lest like a bad physician, he hurts where he might heal. This disease that now spreads itself over all the kingdom, nay, over two kingdoms( and mist the third but narrowly) hath been growing a long time, indeed so long, and hath now got such strength in the whole Body, that the prime Doctors in the kingdom are pussled in the cure.  
We have been here in England( of old) almost generally Papists, Hinc illae lacrimae, this is the roote of all: it is a pleasant Religion, and nothing in the world so hard to part with as pleasure, though we find it hurtful to us, but when it comes countenanced with the highest authority, when protected with the awful name of Religion, no wonder though it be highly affencted, and hardly avoided.  
Now the kingdom in hope of a cure, hath taken the potion, which works with such vehemency, that without some sudden help from heaven, there is small hope of recovery.  
The Protestant and Papist are at this difference, the Papist will be a Protestant, but the Protestant will be no Papist; now if they would but join and make a medley, the business were ended.  
But the quarrel( as absolute as ancient) grows strong and terrible, the Protestant pleads Law, the Papist Antiquity: the first goes a faire way to work, not transcending the bounds of Justice and Conscience, the other bends all his endeavours by close plots and policies to undermine and blow up all opposition, for the re-establishing of their ancient( as you call it) Idolatry, and the utter ruin and confusion of the other; but failing so long, notwithstanding so many damnable conspiracies, and projects, they have now brought it to an open War, and how they have handled their hammers in the business, may easily appear by the fashion of their work.  
Scotland miraculously shifting the stroke of their malice, they presently sent the devil their agent into Ireland, where he hath since bestirred himself, so that all men may guess what house he came of. And lest England should rescue the Protestants there, and so mar their market, they have used the matter so, that we are hardly able to defend ourselves at home; nay▪ they are so voided, as well of shane as grace, that they openly exclaim against all that do not approve of their practise, by suffering their throats to be cut without opposition: Neither is this all, they have conjured a multitude of deboised and igno●●nt spirits with the words of Roundhead and Puritan, to side with them in the action, and so together they endeavour by pulling down the whole building, to cause a general ruin.  
But alas, what's all this? This we know is done, but how have they done this? Or how do they hope to maintain it? O now I must be silent, and yet I cannot; In Ireland they pled an unpattern'd Authority, for their unparalleled villainy, the Kings broad seal to kill by; but suppose that be counterfeit; here they have both his seal and himself, they fight under his own Colours and countenance, and had his Standard too, if they could have kept it.  
Thus they run raging through the Countries with authority in their mouths, and cruelty in their hearts, robbing and pillaging according to Law( for that they have too, as well as conscience and honesty) and where they overcome, all that oppose them in protection of their Estates, are railed at and upbraided as Traytors, for fighting against their King; thus they make it Treason for honest men to keep themselves from robbing: And still in this order they lay all their villainies upon that name that ought to stand a bar betwixt bad men and their actions, and are not ashamed to make him a party in that that wee are ashamed to speak of: But lest I should seem to know more then I do, Ile speak less then I ought. The name of a King alters the course of our discourse, and turns the current of conference.  
Thus you see into what State these Romish Renegadoes have brought us, and by it may perceive what they further intend to do if they be suffered; no doubt they resolve this their last business, they have set up their rest, put their hopes and fears in the Scale, and will either be all, or nothing.  
Now though they have pillaged many of us of our goods, if they have not utterly robbed the rest of us of our brains and judgements, let us not suffer them to run on in those base courses, but rather choose to change lives with them then Religions. O but they fight for the Protestant Religion; Yes, as thieves upon the high way fight for a Purse, to take it from us; this is the true sense of their fighting for the Protestant Religion: we still remember how this Religion was fought for at the Ile of Ree, and Rochell by our innocent Countrymen, where above 30000. poor Protestants were cousoned of their lives, a pretty piece of service; But this was done abroad and concerned another Nation; the action did indeed, but the plot reached to London, and hath still an influence upon these actions; for if the same Religion were aimed at, what need any fighting, why should men kill one another without cause or quarrel? But since we know their hearts, since their plots are now so apparent, their malice so open, and their mischief so fell, how can we be silent, why should we be patient? This were the way to make us guilty of our own ruins, and render them less odious; thus we should lose our fames with our lives, and leave the living in worse case then the dead. No, mischief must not be met with mildness; let us not die slaves, that were born free men, let us according to Law and Conscience leave that to our children that was left us by our fathers, and if men love Truth, the gospel, our laws, our Fames, and freedoms, let's show it by our actions. But our Opposites are great and many; why should we be frighted, either with their names or numbers, we ought not to consider how many, but how just they are, for might consists not in multitude, they have the greatest strength that have the ebst cause. On then brave countrymen, take up such weapons as you have, if ye have not such as ye would, and suffer not yourselves to bee co opt up in your own towns and houses, least the insulting enemy devour your food before your faces, whilst you look on and starve; leave then your habitations to your wives and smallest children, if you wish their safeties, and like an inundation run upon the rebel; in the mean time, least you should fear a back blow, a private robbery, let me tell you, there can be no danger that way, for the Popish Armies have gleaned up all the thieves in the country. By venturing your lives thus, there will be hope to preserve them, and spending part of your means, the rest will be out of danger. But why should you be entreated to secure that ye love dearest, your lives, why to defend that that preserves your lives, your estates; why, to keep that maintains you, your estates, your freedoms, for in the loss of one ye lose all; besides, if you betray yourselves, ye betray your wives, children, and families, your kindred, friends and neighbours, and not be resolute in defence of all is to betray all; and how will your fames come off, when it shall in the Chronicle of, this preposterous age be published, that such a Country, such and such men fell off, cried craven, and turned cowards, to the damage and danger of the whole, in such a cause as this? Is it not better that you meet death with honour, then with infamy, and to have it reported to our posterity that ye died bravely in the cause of God, and your country, then cowards and betraiers? Besides, consider your strength, you have Truth and Religion on your sides, the laws and liberties, and Parliament on your sides, all good and honest men on your sides, the hope of preserving your lives and liberties, your estates, wives and families, and fames to all eternity; and doubt not but you shall have God and a good conscience to attend you to the hour of death.   


Redding.  
I That was lately wealthy, strong, and free,  
Now want my wealth, my strength, my liberty,  
And pitty too, the more's my misery:  
For having plenty, I neglected it,  
And stood not to defend it as 'twas fit,  
God sand all honest towns more Grace and wit.   

Banbury.  
I Have long flourished, plenty in my Streets  
For many Ages past, hath strowed her sweets;  
But now I am undone, my goods, my Lands,  
And houses too are all in hucksters hands:  
Thus must I live a slave, till good men shall  
led their assistance to redeem 'em all.   

Kingston.  
MY seat is faire, my fate is fowle, alas,  
Empty my houses are, where plenty was.  
I( a Malignant) rudely thrust out those  
That were my friends, to entertain my foes.  
Now clad in naked misery I stand  
A Beacon, for a warning to the Land.   

Brainford.  
THough guilty, pardon me, for I am spent,  
Left by my error poor and penitent,  
And yet am confident my name shall shine  
( Proud Kingston) in a higher sphere then thine;  
For the bold Rebels that resolved to see  
The City burnt, and sacked, were stopped in me.   

Marlebrough.  
YOu that are honest, have a special care,  
And of( friend-seeming) enemies beware;  
I had good strength, good courage, a good cause,  
And to maintain the Liberties and Laws  
Fought stiffly, but( betrayed) I left the work,  
Gave over, and was taken by the turk.   

✚ A●●ington.  
THough rich my cross, my cross hath made me poor,  
Though ever crost, thus never crost before:  
Though long by Faith I stood and prospered well,  
Yet now( alas) at length by Faith I fell.  
Admire my cross then you that think it fit,  
Ile ne're trust any more that trust in it.   

Newbury.  
CAll you this Law? and must I be content,  
To suffer thus for being innocent?  
No, Ile complain, the King of kings shall know  
That there's no truth nor justice here below:  
No shane, no grace, no pitty, all are gone,  
And The every maintains Religion?   

Manchester.  
FRiends I am grieved to hear of your distress,  
And yet again am joyful I confess,  
That ye repent as much for making way,  
To others ruins as your own decay,  
Through neglect, or ignorance; 'twill strike  
Your neighbours ears, and make 'em fear the like.  
O had ye had my soul, ye had been free,  
And equal now in wealth and famed with me;  
I do not onely keep my own, but give  
My neighbours freedom, strength, and means to live.  
By mean army's raised, with which I drive  
The superstitious Drones from Hive to Hive:  
Had I been careless, senseless, faithless, dull,  
lain still, and eat and slept my belly full,  
My famed, my friends, my fortunes had been then  
Left to the mercies of Malignant men;  
I had been beggard, all my friends distressed,  
And my famed lost, as deere as all the rest.  
think on't my friends, be warned by these poor towns,  
And to defend your Angells, spend your Crownes.   
FINIS.