Britains Remembrancer, Poem · Canto 1

Britains Remembrancer · Poem · Canto 1

p. 15Canto the first.

Our Author first with GOD beginnes;

Describ…s his anger for our si…nes;

Of all his Iudgements mus…er makes;

Declar…s how Mercy under…akes

The pleading of this Kingdome's Ca…se,

To bring G…d's wrath unto apawse;

And (for the common …eader) sutes

High things, with lowly Attrioutes.

Then, steps into a praisefull straine

Of CHARLES his new-beginning Reigne;

Empl…res that well-suc…e…d be …,

And, for his weale … …ercy pr…y.

He Iusti…e al…o, in…roduces,

Complaining on our grosse abuses,

Who proveth so, our si…full Nation

To merit utter Desolation,

That all Gods Plagues had …s encl…sed,

If Mercy had not…nterposed.

But, after pleading of the case;

With Iustice, Mercy do…h embrace,

Who (that our sinnes may pun…sht be)

To send the Pestilence agree;

Their oth…r: Plagues a while suspending,

To prove how that will worke amending.

ONe Storm is past, & though some cl…uds appear,

A peacefull ayre becalmes our Hemispheare.

That frighting Angell whose devouring blade,

Among the People such ahavock made,

Is now departed, and hath tooke from hence

His pois'ned Arrowes of the Pestilence.

God smoothes his b…ow; and lo, we no… obtaine

The cheerfull brightnesse of hi… …ace againe.

Oh, boundlesse Mercy! what a change is this▪

And what a joy unto my heart … is!

Run quickly Mus… ▪ to cary thy Oblation;

And, (twixt that Angell, and the Congregation)

Some swee… perfume to our Preserver bu…ne,

Before that bloody Messenger returne.

… Let all affaires keepe of…, and give thee way;

For, though my faire…t outward Fortunes lay

This houre at spoyle, I would not be advis'd▪

To speake for them, till I had sacrifis'd;

Nor will I, to the world, one line allow,

Till I have made p…formance of my Vo….

Most awfull Pow'r, by whom hath formed …in

The Globe of Heav'n and Ear…h, and all …herein;

Thou Alpha, and Omega of my Songs,

To whom all glory, and all fame belongs;

To thee, thrice holy and Almighty King,

Of Iu…g…ment, …nd of Mercy, now I sing.

Thou hast unclos'd my lips, and I will raise

My thankfull v…ice in setting out thy pr…ise:

Thou hast pr…serv'd thy Children in the flame,

And we ascribe the glory to thy Name:

Thou saved hast thy people from …heir crimes;

And, here, I publish unto …uture Times,

What I have s…ene. Oh! le… my Poeme be

A sanctified Sacrifice to t…ee.

Acce…t this poore Oblation I prefer▪

These drams of Incens…, and these drops of M…r…h,

(Which fired in Afflictions Flame, perfume

Thy sacred Altars) gratiously assu…e▪

p. 16And give my Lines a date to last as long

As there are speakers of our En…lish tongue▪

That Children, yet unborne, may reade the Story

Which now I sing, to thy pe…petuall glory.

And, harke ye People: harken you, I pray,

That were preserv'd with me to see this day;

And listen you that shall be brought upon

This Stage of action, when our Scaene is done:

Come harken all; and let no soule refraine

To heare; nor let it heare my words in vaine.

For, from the …laughter-house of Deat…, and …ro…

The habitations of the Dead I come.

I am escaped from the greedy Iawes

Of Hell, and from the furious Lions pawes;

With sorrowes I have lodged; and I have

Experience in the horrors of the Grave;

In those discomfor…s which, by day, assaile;

And those black terrors which, by night, prevaile:

Despaire, with her grim Furies, I have seene;

Spectator of Gods Iustice I have beene;

And, passing through Gods Iudgements, had a sight

Of those his Mercies which are infinite:

And here, I tell the world what I observed▪

For, to this purpose is my soule preserved.

That fatall Yeare, in which the forward …pring

Be…ame an Autumne to our peacefull King;

When Iames his Crowne and Scepter did forgoe,

That Charles (of whom this Kingdome hopeth so)

Might shew, when he did weare hir Diadem,

How worthily we plac'd our hopes on him▪

Yea, when within the compasse of one hou…e,

Two King both had, and had not, …gall pow'r▪

Ev'n then, by Thames faire Banks▪ I did reside,

Where her swe…t waters washeth ev'ry Tide

The spacious verge of that well peopled Towne,

Which with most princely Pallaces doth crowne

Her goodly streame, and at her Ports and Keyes,

Take in the wealth of Kingdomes and of Seas.

Our soueraigne Citie, then I did espie

VponUpon the couch of soft security;

And, how with Peace and Plenty being fed,

She toyed like a wanton, on her bed.

I saw her drest in all that rich attire,

Which doth inflame her Lovers with desire;

And how her idle Children, ev'ry day,

Sate downe to eate, and drinke, and rose to play.

For, she was growne insensible of cares;

She had almost forgot…en, sighes, and teares;

And all this Iland in her cup of Pleasure,

With her had quaf…ed (so much out of measure)

Till they gr…w drunke together through excesse,

And wilde and giddy in their drunkennesse▪

They h…d almost forgotten him, from whom

Their ease and their prosperity d…d come.

They spent their houres in laughter and in song,

And grew regardlesse of the poore mans wro…g.

They alwayes clothed went in soft aray;

They fed themselues with dainties, day by day;

And, that no outward meane… of pleasure might

Be wanting to accomplish their delight,

Those iollities, wherein they did appeare,

Were further'd by the season of the yeare.

The windes then breathed on them wholsome aire

T…e G…oves, th…ir su…er clothings did repaire;

The frui…full F…eld… wit… f…esh gr…ene gownes were clad,

Which Flor… curiou…ly embroydered had:

The pleasant G…rdens their choyce plaints displaid,

… Orch…rd with gay blossomes wore arraid;

p. 17The winged Choristers did sweetly sing,

And with choice Musicke welcome in the Spring:

Their streets with m…chlesse bravery did shine;

Their Parlers many beauties did enshrine▪

Their costly Bowres with rarities were hung,

And alwayes filled with a merry throng▪

Of nought but sports & triumphs were their dreams

Wealth, health & honor, were their studied theam…s

No noisome Plagues, within their Gates were found,

Of Grones, their dwellings did but rarely sound▪

Nor was there …y storme or danger feared:

For, in this Hemisphere so bright appeared

New CHARLES his waine, that sunlike he did chase

All fogs of discontentment from each place,

And, all those clouds of griefe, expelled farre,

VVhichWhich rose at settin… of our IACOB Starre.

But, oh how …stlesse are those lying showes

Of happinesse, on which most men repose

Their greatest confidence? And from our fight

How swiftl… did these pleasures take their flight▪

For, whether he, who from his heav'nly sphere

Beholde…h all our though…s and actions here,

Did with a searching ey…, examine more

Our cours… at that present then before:

Or, whether hee our carelesnesse had cyde,

Or our hypocrisie, or else our pride,

O… our impiety; or wh…th…r he

Did in this Iland, or this Kingdome see

Our old Idolatr…es come creeping in;

Or, whether he some new devised sinne

Descride to sprout among us here; yea, whether

It were some one of these, or all together,

Or what it was, I know not: But it prov'd.

A crying s…ne; and so extreamly moov'd▪

God's gentleness… that angry he became;

His browes were bended, and his eyes did flame.

Me thought … saw it so: and (though I were

Afraid within his presence to appeare)

My Soule was rais'd above her common station;

Where what en…ues I view'd be Contemplation.

There is … spacious Round which bravely reares

Her Arch above the top of all the Spheares,

Vntill her bright Circumference doth rise

Above the r…ach of Mans, or Angels eyes;

Conveying through the Bodies christalline

Those Rayes which on our lower Globe doe shine,

And, all the great and lesser Orbes, doe lye

Within the compasse of that Canopy.

In this large Roome of State is fixt a Throne,

From whence the wise Creator looks upon

His workmanship; and thence doth heare and see,

All sounds, all pl…es, and all thi…gs that be.

Here sate the King of Gods; and from about

His eye-lids, so much terror sparkled out,

That ev'ry circle of the Heav'ns it shooke,

And all the World did …remble at his looke;

The prospect of the Skie, …hat earst was cleare,

Did with a low…ing countenance appeare:

The troubled Ayre, before his presence …led;

T…e Earth into her bosome …hrunk her head;

The Dee…s did ro…re; the Heights did stand amaz'd;

The Moone an… Stars upon each other gaz'd;

T…e Sun did stand unmoved in his path;

The Hoast of Heav'n w…s frig…t…d at his wrath;

And with a voice which made all Creatures quake,

To this effect, the great ETERNALL spake.

Are we a GOD? and is there pow'r in us

Ta s…artle all our whole Creati…n thus?

p. 18And yet, are we despis'd, as if these Pow'rs

Were either lesser growne, or none of ours?

Are we, that with our …entles… breath can blow

All things to nothing, still abused so?

Hath our long suffring hardned so our Foes,

That now our Godhead into question growe…?

N…y (which is worse) have we compassion showne,

Till we are quite neglected of our owne?

Is this the Land whom we have lov'd so long,

And, in our love, elected from among

The Heathen Iles (and at the first was burl'd

Into the utmo…t corner of the world)

That we might raise the glory of her name,

To equall King domes of the greatest fame?

Is this that Iland, which our love did place

(Within our bosome) in the safe embrace

Of great Oceanus? and, garden like

Did whar…e about (within her watry Dike)

With mighty Rocks, and Cliffes, whose tops were higher,

Then any foming Billow da…es aspire?

Is this the Kingdome, which our band h…th made

The Schoole and Shop, of ev'ry Art, and Trad…?

The Cornucopia of all needfull plenties?

The Storehouse, and the Closset of our dainties?

Our Iewell house, and Palace royall, where

The fairest of our Loves maintained are?

Is this the Cou…t…y which our bounty served

With store of bread, when many Lands were starved?

And whom we have pres…rved from the spoiles

Of Foes abroad, and from domesticke b…oyles?

Are theirs the Cities, which doe weare the Flag

Of Peace, while Rochel, Heidleb…rg, and Prague,

And …ll the Christian world engaged are,

In some offensive, or defensive warre?

Are their's the Cities, to whose fleets were showne,

The pathlesse wayes through many seas unknowne?

Whose wealthy Merchants have encreast their trade

From ev'ry Port and Creek, that we have made?

Whose vessel… have, by our protection, gone

Past both the Tropicks, and through every Zone,

And made their petty Villages, become

Acquainted with more worlds, then ancient Rome?

Is this that people unto whom we gave,

More lovely Bodies, then most Nations have?

And in whose minds (of our especiall grace)

We did the best …pproved temper place?

Is this that People, whom we did restore

To humane shape, when as the sca…let-whore

Had with her charmed Cup of poisned wine,

Tran…form'd them into Asses, A…es and swine?

Did we in pers…cution heare their cries?

T…ke off, the s…les of blindnesse from t…eir eyes▪

Win…ke at their follies, when they most offended?

Forbeare the punishments …hat were intende…?

From diverse Plagues inflicted them release?

Make Europe stand and wonder at their peace?

Yea▪ save them f…om the malice of their Foe,

When all were like to perish at a blow?

And, grace and fav…ur undeserved shew,

Wh…n they their owne dest…ction did purs…e?

H…ve we, these threesc…re yeares and upwards b…est

Th…ir Kingdomes …rom those troubles that i…fest

Most other States? And (when their soules had been

Nigh famisht else) did we provide a Queene,

(A maiden Queene; with vertues masculine)

To nurse them up in holy Discipline?

Did we provide, when she her cou…se had …un,

A King who favor'd, what her hand begun?

p. 19And now another, who doth both re…tore

Those hopes they lost in him, and promise more?

Did we but here, of late, when they had lost

Their Prince (that now is King) when they almos…

Despair'd of his returne, for evermore,

When he remained on th' Iberian shore?

Did we a…cept their vowes? observe their teares?

Com…assionate their jealousies and feares?

And send their Darling home, when few did know

Whereon to build a hope it should be so?

Yea, when throughout the world no other pow'r,

Could such a work have compassed but our?

H…ve we endur'd their frowardnesse so long?

Forgiven and forgotten so much wrong?

Sought after them, when they …ad us forsaken?

So of…, their counte…feit Repentance taken?

So many times appa…an… made unto them,

Wha… mischiefes their owne …oolish projects doe them?

Yea, did we freely▪ sundry blessings daigne

Vnaskt, which other Lands could not obtaine

By labors, vowes, and prayers? And have they thus,

For all those benefits requited us?

Is that their vowed thankfulnesse? Are these

The fruits of all their zealous promises?

Is this their Piety? Goe, draw together

Thy Forces, Vengeance: quickly march them th…her,

With all our Armies; and consume them so,

That we ma… never more displeased grow

At their unkindnesse; or be cheated by

The fained weepings of Hypocrisie.

No sooner had he spoken, but, behold,

An Hoast (which he doth alway keepe enrold,

To execute his wrath) did straight appeare▪

And in his awfull pres…nce mustred were.

So many Troups, did …ound about him throng,

That, all the wo…ld with Plagues, was ove…hung:

For not a Iudgement is there, which hath name,

But, thither to attend his Will it came.

Sterne visag'd WAR (whose very look doth strike)

Came driving on his Charret, Iehu like;

Arm'd and beset with holberts, bills, and glaves,

Bowes, a…rowes, pikes pole axes, darting staves,

Guns, balls of fire, and ev'ry thing that furthers

The worke of Desolation, Wounds, and Murthers.

His prime c…mpanions, The…t and Rapine were,

With all those Vices wh…ch most c…uell are.

And at their heeles pursu…d all those Bands

Of raging mischiefes, that afflict the La…ds

On which he falls. This is that roring Fiend

Who Lawes, and Leagues, doth into pieces rend.

This is that bloody Tyrant, who o're-turnes

The goodl'est Monument…, and spoiles and b…rnes

The fairest Dwellings. This, is he that raze…

Renowned Cities, and the strongest places.

This is that sacrilegious Theefe, who spares

Nor Hospitall nor Temple ▪ neither heares

The …uits or cries of …ged or of young;

Nor is regardfull of men we…ke or …trong.

The Suckling from his Mo…hers brest be snatcheth

And braines it in her sight: The Wife he c…tcheth

Ev'n from her Husbands bed▪ and Virgins …rom

Their Lovers armes, his Strumpets to become.

A sertile Soile he makes a Wildernesse,

And Wolves, and Beares, and Foxes, to possesse

Those places, wherein Arts did once abound;

And where have dwelled Nations most …enown'd▪

However, he's an instrument of God's;

And usually, the l…st of all those rod…

p. 20Which on a thankless… Kingdome he do…h lay,

Befo…e he finally remove away

The mean…s of Grace. Next him, came sneaking in

Leane Famine, with …are bones, and pa…ched skinne;

With deep sunke eyes, with talons over-growne;

With hungry teeth that would have crackt a s…one;

And, close behind her, and at ei…her hand,

Such Troups did wait, as are at her command.

The crawling Caterpill…rs, wa…full Flye…,

The skipping Locust (that in winter dies)

Floods, Frosts, & Mi…ewes, Blastings, Windes, & Storme…,

Drough, rav'nous Fowles, & Vermine, Weeds, & Worme… ▪

Sloth, Evill busdandry, and such as those,

Which make a Scarcenesse where most plenty grows.

This is that hungry Houswife, who first found

The searching out for meat f…om under ground;

To dig up Roots; to rellish, well, the taft

Of stin…ing Garlick, and of bitter Mast.

She taught poore people …ow to fill their mawes,

With Bramble-berries, Hedge-picks, Hips, & Hawes▪

Twas she who finding on the sandy shore

A …eape of Oisters (all bedaubed o're)

First sought within those dirty shels for meat,

Else we had never dar'd of them to eate;

Nor thought, nor hoped, that so foule a dish

Could bring to table such a dainty fish.

Twa… she that learn'd the Spaniards how to dre…e

Their Frogs; the Frenchman how to cooke a me…se

Of …pu…y Mushromes; Germans how to make

A dinner or a …upper on a Snake;

Italians on the slimy Snaile to feed;

Our Irishme… to live upon a weed

That growes in Marshes. And I dare to say,

That, but for her, we scarce had heard this day

Of Caveär, and twenty such like bables,

VVhichWhich Gluttony now sets upon our Tables.

The broyling of old shooes, was her device;

And so w…s eating Carrion, Rats, and Mice.

Those dainty pallats which could relish no…ght

But what was fet farre off, and dearly bought,

She so hath d…ed, that they could feed

On mouldy scraps; and beg them too for need.

This Hag, hath Townes and Cities famished.

VVith humane flesh, she hungry men hath …ed:

She fo…c't them hath to suck their horses blood:

To feed on Pigeons dung (in stead of food)

And dearly purchase it. Yea, some constrained

To drinke their Vrine, when they drought sustained.

Nay, this is that un…quall'd cruell-one,

VVho urg'd a Mother, once, to kill her Sonne,

And make unnaturally that cursed wombe

VVhichWhich gave him being, to be made his tombe.

Ev'n this is She, God shield us from her cheere,

And g…ant her Plagueship never settle here.

The Pestilence, moreover, thither brought

Her feared forces, and employment sought.

This is that Nimble Fury, wh… did stay

Her three and twenty thousand in one day;

And in th' Assirïan Camp, to death did smite,

Almost two hundred thousand in one night.

Betwixt an evening and a morning-tide,

From ev'ry house a soule she did divide

Throughout the Land of Aegypt; and could mark

Their eldest-borne, although the nigh… were dar….

In little space, she quite hath overthrown…

Great Cities, and dispeopled many a Towne.

She from each other makes acqua…ntance run,

Before that any injuries be don…;

p. 21And of t…e po…s'ning-Art hath found the height,

For, she know…s how to poison by conceit.

A Mantle wrought with purple spots she wore,

Embost wi…h many a Blaine, and many a Sore.

She had a raving Voice, a frantick Lock,

A noys…me Breath, and in her hand she shooke

A venom'd speare, which, where it toucheth, fills

The veines with poison, and distracts, and kills.

Within her Regiment are all Diseases,

And ev'ry Torment which the Body seizes;

Go…ts, Collicks, Lethargies, and Apo…lexies,

Obstruction, which the spleene, or stomack v…xe…;

The …ox of ev'ry kinde, …heumes, aches, Stiches,

Quick-killing Pleurisies, and Scabs, and Itches;

The Burning-Fever, who deserveth well

The place of her Lieutenant-Colonell;

Consumptions, Gangreeves, Coughes, and Squina…cie…,

The Falling-evill, Cramps, and Lunacies,

(VVith other such Diseases, many moe

Then I am able by their names to know)

Besides those maladies the Sea procures,

As, sloath-bred Scurvies, and mad Calentures;

And all those other Griefes, and Sorrowes, which

Those Sicknesses doe bring on poore and rich.

But, of that Hoast which here is mentioned,

The maine Battalion was both rang'd and led

By that slye Prince, (ev'n that malicious one)

VVhichWhich in the ayrie Region hath his throne.

To fu…ther his designes, he brought in Lyes,

Extortion, Bribing, Fraud, and Perjuries;

VVith many thousand stratagems beside,

VVhose dangerous effects are often tride.

All ravenous Beasts, (or rather those of whom

Such Beasts are Emblemes) in his troups did come:

To worke his mis…hiefes (with amaze and wonder)

He furnisht was …ith Lightnings, Winds, & Thunder;

Prodigious apparitions, and those sights

Wherewith mens troubled fancies he affrights;

And, thither did (for soule-assaults) …epaire

His two black Twins, Pr…sumpt…on and Despaire.

Attended by those manifold Temptations,

Wherewith he maketh sure the reprobations

Of all obdurate finners; whom in wrath

Our God, deservedly rej…cted hath.

These greedy Spoilers, hungry for a prey,

Stood ready, Gods commandings to obey:

Who having view'd their well prepared Bands,

(And pointing out his finger to these Lands)

Said; Goe ye Plagues. And (had he not beene staid)

Lay waste, that sinfull Realme, he would have said.

And yet, it seems, these dreadfull shews were ra…her

The threatnings of a wise and loving Father,

(To bring his Children to a filiall feare)

Then such a wrath as doth in Fo…s appeare.

For, ne…ther Chance, nor Time, no… New-desert,

Was interposed on the guilty part:

But, God's owne good…ess… brought the means about

That stopt our Doome, before his words were out.

And thus it was. The great Almighty One

Hath evermore attending on his th…one

Two royall Daughters. One of t…em is she

That's called Iustice; and her Emblemes be

An equall Ballance, and a flaming Blade,

To weigh the Good their due, and fright the …ad:

And, both with hand and eye she threatens those,

That her uprightnesse, any way oppose.

The other for her Hierogliphick weares

A Box of Balme, and in her bosome beare…

p. 22A sucking Lambe, (which meek and ha…mles creature

Doth somewhat intimate her gen…le nat…re)

Betwixt her beauteous brests, a true Co…passion

Erecteth her perpetuall habitation;

And, su…h a lovely sweet aspect hath she,

Thats if Wrath saw her, Wrath in love would be.

We call her Clemency. She o…ten makes

Our peace with God, and his displeasure slakes.

This Princesse, ma…king well with what inte…t

Her Lord would those great Armies forth have sent;

And finding, by that wrath she saw in him,

What Desol…tions would have followed them;

With teares of pitie, to his throne she ran,

To kisse and to embrace hi… feet began;

And (whilst his halfe-spoke sen…ence God delaid)

These words, the faire-well spoken Virgin said.

Deare, …h deare Fa…her! wherefore frownst thou s…?

What fearfull thing art thou about to doe?

Hold (I beseech thee hold) thou backe the doome,

Which from thy lips is now about to come;

And bear (Dread Sov'raign) heare thy Handmaid speak

A word or two, before thy Iustice wreake

Deserv…d vengeance on that wretched place

Which hath so fallen from thy wonted Grace.

Loo… Father ▪ looke upon me: it is I,

Thy best-beloved Daughter CLEMENCIE▪

Tis I whom thou forget…est. I am she

Who in thy bosome lay, belov'd of thee

Before all worlds; and had a sov'raignty

O're all thy creatures from eternity.

Tis I, at whose intreaty thou wert moved

To send thine onelyonly Sonne, thy best-beloved

(For Mans redemption) to assume the nature,

The forme, and frailties, of a finfull creature.

Tis I that have presu…ed to become

A suitor now, to stay thy heavy d…ome:

And, why should I be doubtfull to make triall

Of thy regard, or fearfull of deniall?

In Iudgement, thou hast promised, oh Lord!

To thi…ke on Me (ev'n in thy w…itten word)

Yea, Heav'n and E…rth have often heard thee say,

Thou nev…r woul…t, for ever, cast away

Thy Loving-Mercy; and, I k…ow, thou mus…

And wilt, be found in all thy sayings, just.

But, then, to what intents, doe These appeare?

Why are thy dreadfull Armies mustred he…e?

VVhat fav…ur is it possible to show,

VVhere such a Rablement as this, shall goe?

VVhy may not Pit…e shew her selfe as well

VVithin the bottome of the low…st Hell

As where these revell? Doubtlesse, these rude Bands

VVill spare nor Lawes nor Temples in those Lands

To which thou send them shalt; but, from each plac…

Root out (with ev'…y present meanes of Grace)

All outward helps of present knowing thee,

If equall to their hate, their pow'r may be.

And, what if then their breathlesse fury shall

Leave some few trifles which are temporall?

For what will they reserve them, but to breed

A race of Infidels? a wicked seed,

For them to prey upon? a Brood, to whom

The Blessings left Damnation shall become.

Thou hast upon that Iland (I confesse)

Bestowed Favours, great and numberlesse.

I know that they may justly blush for shame,

To heare how grossely they abuse thy Name;

Yea, th…y now are, and have a long time bin,

Growne out of measure sinfull in their sin.

p. 23Yet, if thou look upon them, thou shalt see

Some there, who bend not unto …aal their knee;

Some left, who for thine honour sirme ha…e …ood;

Some, who have garments washed in the blood

Of thy unspotted Lamb: and some, which beare

Those marks, that Seales of thy free pardon are.

Oh! let not them enclos'd w…th Sinners be,

Nor swallowed up with such who know not thee.

But, for the sakes o… those forb…are thou, rath…r,

The Tares, untill thy Harvest thou shalt gather:

So, by those Follies which in them abound,

Thy Goodnesse shall the farther be renown'd.

If, therefore, thou this Kingdome shouldst not spare,

Because, repleat with sin her dwellings are,

What Nation is there, or what Habitation,

That merits not perpetuall reprobation?

Where wilt t…ou finde a People, under Heav'n,

Which hath not ev'ry way occasion giv'n

Of thy displeasure? Or, what Man is there

That in thy sight could justifi…d appeare,

If thou shouldst mark him with a frowning eye?

And, what a pretty Nothing, then were I,

If no man lived, that amisse had done,

For me, to exercise my pity on?

Nay, if Transg…ession had but finite been,

How should thy Mercies infinite. be seene?

Though on this Field (which thou hast plow'd & sown

With purest Wheat) some wicked-ones have throwne

Their Tares, by night; yet, somewhat it hath borne

For which it may be …ald thy Field of Corne.

Thy Fence is yet about it; and there stands

A Fort, and Wine-presse, builded by thy hands.

There are thy Sacraments, thy Word divine,

There, is the Schoole of Christian Discipline.

There, may the me…nes of Grace be kept in s…ore

For those who will hereaf…er prise them more.

Thy poo…e …fflicted Servants ▪ thither may

From forraine persecutions flye away;

…d sheltred in a Storme, there s…f…ly tary,

As in a Fortresse, or a …anctuary.

But, whither shall they flye when that lyes wast?

Where shall thy sacred Oracles be plac'd?

Or whither with her Sonne that Woman goe,

Who by the Dragon is pursued so?

I know that if thou please thou canst provid…

A place for her, securely to abide,

Amid the Westerne wilderness… (and where

Scarce glimmerings of thy favo…rs yet appeare)

By moulding out the Heathen Salvages

To be a people far surpassing these.

This, Lord, thou couldst effect▪ and make of them

Thy people, whom these most of all contemne.

And, since this Nation, in their weal…y peace,

Have sent out Colonies, but to en…rease

Their private gaine: since they faire show…s have made

Of publishing thy Gospell ▪ when the Trade

For cursed lucre (as the Times reveale)

Was chiefest founder of their fained zeale:

Since they in that, and other things, pretend

Religion, when tis farthest from their end:

Thou didst but right, if thou shouldst force their se…d

To set…le on some barbarous Coast for reed;

And, there, thy Truth, to those, with sorrow preach,

Whom they neglected, in their weale, to teach.

But, since it were no more for thee to doe,

This Land to save, and call ano…her too,

Then one such worke so compasse; why I pray

Shouldst thou remove their Candlestick away?

p. 24Why maist not Thou, who all compassion art,

Thy people, rather, by thy pow'r convert,

Then quite destroy them? wherefore shouldst thou no…

Their errors forth …f thy remembrance blot,

As heretofore? And alwayes praised be

For that abundant Love, which is in thee?

Why should their Foes and thine, with jeering say,

Now, …ow we see our long-expected Day▪

Why w…lt thou give them cause to domineere?

Ev'n those, who love not thee, to laugh, and fleere

A… their destruction, who, thy Truth profest,

(If not u…fainedly) in shew, at least.

Though t…ey have ill-deserv'd, why should the shame

Of their off…nces fall upon thy Name?

And, thy Blasphemers (by thy Peoples fall)

Assume the …oldnesse on themselves, to call

Thy Gospel into question? Or, thereby,

T…ei… shamelesse falshoods seeke to justifie?

Why should the wicked, take occasion from

Th…se …lagues, to say▪ Where is their God become?

Where is their pow'r, on which they did r…pose?

Where is their …aith? where are the hopes of those

Their s…rvices? Oh! for thine owne deare sake,

(However they des…rve) compassion take.

Deare SIR, have pittie: and, as often, thou

Hast granted my request, vouchsafe it now.

Yea, to those many thousands, heretofore,

From thy abundance, adde one favour more▪

By these, and other Motives (breathed from

A zealous brest) the heav'ns are overcome.

His love of us, doth so our Sampson wound,

That, he hath taught us, how he may be bound.

Yea, Holy-writ informeth us, that He,

By such like Charmings, will compelled be.

And, now they so prevailed, that the rage

Of our great God, they partly did aswage.

Which, MER…Y by his looke, had quickly heeded;

And taking that a…vantage, thus proceeded,

Oh! what a co…fort is it, to behold▪

Thine Eye speak Mercy, and thy Brow unfold

A reconcilement! Now, I seeme to see

Thy gracious face, to shine againe on me.

I finde it is the jealousie of Love,

(And no effect of hatred) which doth mov…

Thy wronged Patience: and, that when thou hides…

Thy presence in an angry Cloud, or chidest,

It … not alwayes in consuming wrath,

(…o punish, as the faul… deserved hath)

But, that thy frighting Iudgements might prevaile,

To worke a…endment, when thy Love doth faile.

That People whom so much thou didst aff…ct,

How canst tho… have a purpose to reject,

So long as in their Co…fines doth remaine

That Number, which thy Vengeance doth restraine?

Who can beleeve …hat thou defra…a'st such cost,

To purchase what, thou meanest shall be lost?

Or, labour to erect them, didst bestow,

For nothing else, but them away …o throw?

VVhy should I thinke, thy endlesse▪ goodnesse, had

So little care, to save what thou hast made,

That Sathans Hate, shou…d for their Desolation,

Out-worke thy Love, in working their Salvation?

Or, that the boundlesnesse of M…ns transgression,

Could over-match thine Infini…e Compassion?

It m…y not be beleeved; Or, that this

Pre…ended warre, for finall ruine is.

Since, if in summoning thy Iudgement…, now,

Thou hadst propos'd their u…ter overthrow,

p. 25Thou wouldst not have discovered an assection,

…y still co…tinu…ng them, in thy prote…tion,

As yet thou dost: Nor …a…ly s…nd unto them

Love-tokens, (as if kindnesse, thou wouldst doe them

VVhichWhich they should never know of) nor, make show

Os having …eft them, when tis nothing so

Thus hav… I seene, on ea…th, a Lover use

His Best-beloved, when she did abuse

His true affection. Though he seeme unkind…,

That her unkindnesse she may thereby find…;

Yea, though he faine some outward disrespec…,

Yet, in his hea…t, so truly he affects,

That, whats…ever good, he can, he does her:

By meanes unscene, to her lost vertues, wo…es her:

For h…r well-doing, takes a thousand cares:

Of her ill-doing, hath ten thousand seares:

Wakes not, but thoughts of her, in waking, keepes;

Sleeps not, but dreameth of her, when he sleep…s.

Not ceasing to end…avour, … he see

Some sparkes of lost affection kindled be.

And, as her over sights she doth deplore,

So, he his love discovers, more and more;

Vntill the fire, that was a long tim… bid,

Breake forth, and flame as high as e're it did.

I never knew thee, yet, to rui…ate

A wicked Kingdom…, or a sinfull State,

Professing thee; but, thou didst first withdr…w

From those Offenders, thy abused Law.

And, as in Christian Realmes, the temp'rall Sword

Cuts off no Preacher of thy blessed Word,

(For any Crime committed) untill he

Of Holy-orders, first degraded be:

So, thou (most frequently) dost first remove

The Scales of Grace, and Pledges of thy Love,

B…fore thou give up Lands into their pow'r,

W…o them, and theirs, shall finally devoure:

For, till thy holy things, be fetched from

Th…ir Coast, such Desolation shall not come.

Those, they retaine. And, if conclude I shall

From hope of any blessing temporall,

That yet thou lovest them (and dost intend

Their Land, with future favours, to befriend)

That King which thou hast now on them bestowne,

Some token of thy Clemency hath showne.

For, if man may by good externall signes,

Conjecture whereunto his heart enclines:

If Thou, to whom all secrets open be,

See'st that in him, which mortalls hope they see;

And hast not mockt that People, sor their sinne,

With shewes of things that have not reall bin:

(As Lord forbid) No Kingdome hath a Prince,

Whose infant yeares, gave …etter …vidence,

…hat with an earthly Crowne he should inherit,

A plentious portion of thy sacred Spirit.

None liveth now, on whom the gen'rall eye

Did so much gaze, and so few scapes espy.

F…w private men were in their youth so fr…e

From all those vanities, which frequent be

In these rude times (he having meanes to doe

His pleasure, and, perhaps, s…rong temptings too)

Who seemed of those knowledges, more faine

That might informe him, to obey, and raigne?

How well those crossings was he thought to beare,

Which in the times of his subjection were?

And, with how brave a temper to neglect,

To be aveng'd of wrongs and disrespect?

…hat Sonne, did in his Fathers life time, show

… …iliall feare and love, united so?

Or, which of all thy Vice-royes d…dst thou see

App…are more zealously devout then …e?

Thou knowest which: But, if they doe not erre

Who, things by probability, inferre,

It might be said, The world had not his peere

In all those vertues, that are mention'd here.

And should conf…ssed be, ev'n of his soe,

They had not flattred who affi…med so:

Since, what was of his worth, at home conceiv…d,

All Europe for a verity received.

And lo…; now by thy Grace he sitteth on

The seat of Rule, and in his Fathers Th…one;

VVho giveth signes of truer love to thee?

Or of more conscience, of his Charge, the… He?

VVhat Monarke, in appearance, better preache…h

By good Examples, what thy Precepts teacheth?

Or which of all his reverend Prelacy,

In shewes of true religious constancie,

Outgoes or equals him? Oh! if so cleare

His vertues prove▪ as yet they doe appeare,

How glorious will they grow? And, what a light

VVill he become, when he ascends the height

Of his great Orbe? And, oh! what pitty 'twere

His minde should ever fall below that spheare

Of Grace which he hath climb'd! or, that thy Love

Should wanting be, to keepe him still above!

How grievous would it be, that his beginning

(So hopefull, and such l…ve and honour winning)

Should faile that expectation, which it hath?

And, make thee shut thy favour up, in wrath?

Let not oh God! let not the sins of others

Nor any fog (which Vertues glorie smothers)

Ascending from his frailties, make obscure

His rising honor, which yet seemeth pure.

If might, in him, be w…nting of that worth

Which to the publike view is blaz…d sorth,

Forgive, and perfect him, that he may grow,

To be in deed, what he appeares in show.

Yea, Lord (as farre as humane frailty can

Permit the sa…e) make him, ev'n such a Man

As now that Kingdome needs; and spare that Nation

For him, which else deserveth Desolation.

… If he be what he seemeth; Thou (I know)

…ilt save his Land from utter overthrow.

Thou, in the life-time of a p…ous King,

Wert never yet, accustomed to bring

Destruction: For, thou shewedst him compassion,

Who did but once, well act humiliation;

…v'n wicked Ahab; and within his Times

Thou wouldst not pun…sh (no no…) his owne Crimes.

Oh! be as mercifull, as thou hast bin;

And let this King ▪ thy favours triumph in.

…et that exceeding Grace already shew'd him,

(Ev'n that wherewith thy Spirit hath indu'd him)

Be Pledges of some greater Gifts, with whic…

Thou shalt in future times, his heart enrich.

His br…st inflame thou, with a sacred fire;

Teach him to aske, and give him his desire:

Grant him thy Wìsdome, and thy Righteousnesse,

The wrongs of all his People to redresse.

Let him the Widow, and the Orphane save,

Releeving all, that need of succour have:

And, let his Mountaines, and each lesser Hill,

Hi… humbler Dales, with peace, and plenty fill.

As he was honor'd in his Preservation,

So, let him glory still in thy Salvation.

As he persisteth to relie on thee;

So, let him sure of thy protection be.

p. 27Be thou his onelyonly joy. Be thou I pray

His Triumph on his Coronation-…ay.

Crowne thou his head with purified gold:

Make st…ong his Scepter, …nd his Throne uphold,

To be renowned by thy Grace divine,

As long as either Sunne, or Moone shall shine.

Since thou to rule thine Isr…el dost appoint him,

Let thy most holy Spirit, Lord, anoint him.

Make thou a league with him, as thou hast done

With David, and adopt him for thy Sonn….

To thee, Thou art my Father, let him say,

My God, my Rocke of safety, and my stay.

Throghout those Lāds, where thou to raign shalt place him

With Title, of thy First-begotten, grace him.

And, let his Kingdomes harbor none of them,

Who shall deny him to be their Supreme.

So guard, and so enclose him with thine Arme,

The Man of Sinne; may nev…r doe him harme.

To him, his Adversaries all subject,

And, prosper none that him shall disaffect.

Lead thou his Armies, when his Warre beginnes;

Make thou his Peace, when he the Battle winnes.

Let still thy Truth, and Love, with him abide;

Let in thy Name, his name be glorifi'd.

Doe thou the Seas into his pow'r d…liver;

Make thou his right hand reach beyond the River;

And, plant so strongly on the Banks of Rhyne,

Those fruitfull Branches of his Fathers Vine,

(VVhom late the salvage Bore (with tripled pow'r)

Hath rooted up, with purpose to devoure)

That they may spread their Clusters, far and nigh;

And fill, and top, the Germane Empery.

Yea, minde thou, Lord, the scorn…s and de…amations,

Which they have borne among their neighboring nations▪

And, please to comfort them, and make them glad,

According to the sorrowes they have had.

To them, so sanctifie their great affliction,

That it may bring their vertues to perfection;

And, fit them for some place, in which they shall

Helpe reare againe, decaying Sions wall.

Oh! keep for them, a favour still in store;

Preserve them in thy League, for evermore;

Blesse thou that Race, which is or shall be given:

As lasting make it, as the day…s of heav'n:

And, if thy Lawes or Iudgements, they forsake,

Or, if thy League, or Covenant, they breake,

With Rods, let them, in merciemercy, be corrected;

But, never fall, for aye, to be rejected.

The like for this new Monark, I emplore:

In him, encrease thy Graces, more, and more.

Make …im a Blessing, for all Christendome:

Make him, a Patterne, for all Times to come:

Make him, in ev'ry happy course persever;

And, let him live, for ever and for ever.

His Royall Robe, he hath but new put on;

And, I my prayers have but new begun.

Oh let me to thy Majestie prefer

These few Petitions, in particular:

And place them where, they may both day and night,

Stand, evermore, unfolded in thy sight.

First, teach him, to consider, how and why,

T…ou hast enthron'd him on a seat so high▪

And, so to think on his great charge; and trust,

As one who knowes he come to reckning m…st:

Fo…, honors if by thee they be not blest,

Make wisest men as brutish as a beast.

Teach him to minde, how great the favour wa…,

When thou, of thy meere motion, and thy Grace,

p. 28Didst from so many millions chuse out him,

To weare this Kingdomes fourefold Diadem:

And, make thy Servants, favour'd in his sight▪

As thou hast made of him, thy Favorite.

Teach him, the fittest meanes to take away

(And let none murmure at his just delay)

Those Groves, and those Hill-Altars in the Land,

Which suffred are unt…ll his dayes to stand:

And, give him wisedome, wisely to foresee,

That Wheat from Chaffe, may well distinguisht be.

For, some will, else, bring Truth into suspition,

Condemne good Discipline, for Superstition;

And with faire shewes, of Piety, beguile,

That underhand they may encroach, the while,

On Gods Inheritance; and from her teare

Those outward Ornam…nts his Bride doth weare.

Oh! let him purge from Church and Commonweale,

Those inflammations of corrupted zeale,

And indigested humors, which doe spread

Distempers through the Stomacke; paine the Head:

And, by prepost'rous courses, raise a storme

To rend that Body, which it would reforme.

Let him, his Reformations, first begin,

Like David, with himselfe: and search within

The closset of his heart, what he can finde,

Which may annoy him there, in any kinde:

And let him thence expell it, though it were,

As deare unto him as his eye-bals are.

His Houshold, let him next enquire into,

And, well informed be, what there they doe▪

That, so he may expect thy Comming-day

With heart upright, and in a perfect way.

Let him in no prophanenesse take del…ght,

Nor brook a wicked person in his sight.

…e… no Blasphemer in his presence tarry;

Nor they that falshoods, to and fro, doe carry.

L…t him acquai…tance with all such refrain…;

The lowly cherish; h…ughty mindes restrain…;

Enquire for them that vertuou…ly excell,

And take in honest men with him to dwell.

No such Projector, who doth put in vse

Great Injuries, to mend a small abuse;

Nor such, who in reforming, doe no other

B…t rob one Knave, to helpe enrich another;

And prove themselves, when tryall doth befall,

To be, perhaps, the veriest K…aves of all.

Let him be curst with no base Officer,

Who doth before true Honor, Gold prefer;

And, …o enrich his Ches…, a little more,

Would in his Reputation, make him poore:

Or with some needlesse Treasure, to supply him,

Lose him more Lo…e, then all his Lands can buy him.

Let no man of his daily bread partake,

VVho at thy holy Boord shall him forsake;

And, lay thou open their dissimul…tion,

Who shall approve of Na…mans Tol…ration.

K…epe from his Counsells, though their wit excels,

All Hypocrites, and all Achitophels.

Yea, let thy Wisdome, hi… discretion blesse,

From Rehoboams childish wilfulnesse,

VVho lef… his ancient Princes good directions,

…o follow his young Nobles raw projections.

Or, if …e like their Counsels, and receive them,

Harme let th…m bring to none but those wh… gave them:

And, if to him some dammage they procure,

Let present losse his future peace procure.

Make him perceive that humane Policy

… H…nd m…id to rel…ious H…ne…ty;

p. 29And that, the man who doth foundation… lay

On Iustice, (and proves co…stant in his w…y)

Shall mad the Politician; and …ake vaine

His underminings without fear…, or paine.

For, as a Fowler seldome doth su…prise

That wary Bird, which can her s…lfe suffise,

With what thy …and provideth in the fi…lds,

Or, what the …orrest, for h…r die… yeelds:

So, sl…ights of Policy (although, perchance,

They seeme, a while, to worke some hinderance)

Can disadvantage no…e, but those, who leaving

The pathes of Vertue, and themselves deceiving

With some false hopes (which were before them laid)

Made them the meanes, whereby they were betrayd.

Make him as precious in his Peoples eyes

As their owne blood. Far higher let them prise

His honor then their fortunes; and let him,

Be ev'ry way as tender over them.

Yea, let the mutuall love, betwixt them bred,

Vnite them as the Body, and the Head.

…or, such a blessed Vnion doth procure

More saf…ty then foure Kingdomes can assure;

Commands mens hearts, their fortunes, and their lives,

Is chiefe of all his chiefe Pre…ogatives;

And shall more comfort, and more profit doe him,

Then all those frui…lesse claimes can bring unto him;

Whereto, perchance, they urge him will, who shall

Pretend his honor, when they seeke his fall.

Such men in Princes Courts were …ver found,

But, thou their l…wd Projections wilt confound;

And, when their vaine devise b…ing on them,

Confusion, w…o thi… r…all Truth contemne;

When such men's fool…sh counsels, shall have brought

Th…se mischiefs o… them which thei… hāds have wrou…

(Yea, when opprest, with feares and discontent,

They shall, too late, perhaps, their course repent)

Then, they in heart shall forced be to say,

That, what they sleighted was the safest way.

Blesse him from those, who censure his Intents,

His Counsel…, or his Actions by events:

An… saw…ily, his Iudges dare appeare

On ev'ry sla…d'rous Rumor they shall hea…e.

Preserve him from those Minions (who do raise

Their credits by another mans dispraise)

That Machivillian crew, who to endeare

Their base immerits, fill the royall eare

With tales, and false reports, concerning those

Who their misdoings legally oppose:

They, who gr…wne great with rapine, and made strong,

With w…alth extorted to the publike wrong,

Still add (to cover what misdone hath bin)

New w…ongs; and make new partners in their sin,

In hope their number …eep them shall unshent:

And, silence and condemne the Innocent.

Make him ab…or such Apes, and such Baboones,

As Parasi…es, and impudent Buffoone…:

Such, as would make their Princes glad with lies:

Such, as with filthy tales of ribaldries,

With …curvile songs, with unbese…ming j…sts,

And stuffe which ev'ry civill …are detests,

Abuse Kings Chambers. Let all those who buy

Their Offices (which is lay Simony)

H…ve alwayes his dislike; and not recover

His good esteeme againe, till they give ove…

Their evill gotten places. Let all such

Who for the seats o… Iudgement, do as much,

A…peare to him as men who are detected

Of … crimes; and ever be suspected

p. 30Of some Corruption: for, it may be thought,

That mony must be made of wh…t is bought.

Let him the causes of Abuse discerne;

Let him the cure of ev'ry mischi…f… learne;

Let him of what he knowe…h, practice make;

Let all his People, his example take.

Give them repentance for their passed crimes;

As…ist them by thy grace, in future times;

And send thy Holy-Spi…i… through their Lands,

To keep them in the way of thy Commands.

So, thou in their Devotions wilt …e p…eas'd,

So, all thine anger will be quite appeas'd;

So, King and People, praise thee shall▪ together;

And, then, thou need'st not send these Armies thithe….

Thus MERCIEMERCY spake; & more she would have said

(For, she could everlastingly have praid)

To this effect. But▪ IVSTICE having spy'd

Gods eye to ma…ke, how she seem'd satisfi'd;

(And looki…g somewh…t sternly, to betoken

That MERCIEMERCY in her injury had spoken)

Thus interrupted her. Faire Sister, stay;

And, doe not think to beare my right away

With smoo…hed words. Thou art an Advocate

Well knowne to be the most importunate

That ever pleaded: and, thou hast a trick

With these moist eyes, beyond all Rhetorick.

So that, unlesse I make it still appeare,

What grosse offenders all thy Clients are,

A Bill of mine (how just soe're the case)

Would seldome in this great Star-chamber passe.

No place, no pe…sons, are so dissolute,

But if they whine to thee, thou makest sute

On their behalfes. Thou wert Soliciter

For King Manasses (that Idolater

And gotst his pardon. Thou hast Proctresse bin

For Ieroboam (who m…de Isr'el sin)

That hand recuring which he did extend,

The Messenger of God, to apprehend.

Thou art f…r any who in thee beleeves,

Though Tray…ers, Strumpets, Murtherers, or Th…eves.

Thou prayd'st for N…neveh; yea thou hast prayd

For Sodome; and my hand had sure beene staid

When I consum'd them, if there had beene, then,

In five great Cities, b…t tenne righteou… men.

I never yet could get a verdict past

On any Sinner, but thou crost it hast,

VponUpon the teast repentance. And if …ver

To serve an Execution I endeavor,

Thou; still, one meanes or other dost procure,

To mi…igate the strictest forfeiture.

Thee, for delaying Iudgements, I prefer

Ev'n farre before the Courts at Westminster.

And, if I longer these thy deal…ngs beare,

Thou here wilt use me, as they use me there.

For, lat…ly I survey…d it; and saw

Their Chauncery had halfe devour'd their Law.

Sweet Lady call to minde, there is a due

Pertaining equally to me and you.

As nothing without MERCIEMERCY should be done;

So IVSTICE shoul… not be encroa…ht upon.

I claime a Daughters part, and I d…sire

To keepe min… owne inh…ritance in…ire.

I, for your sake, huge Armies, often save,

When they had, else, beene rotting in the grave.

I suffer you to wipe more sinnes away

Then twice tenne thousand millions in a day.

There's none whom I doe punish for his crimes,

B…t I doescarre him first, a thousand times

p. 31(At your entreaty) when, if I had pleased,

I might so many times his life have seized.

Yea, I shoul… none have injur'd▪ though I had

Of all the World, long since, a Bone-fire made.

For, what effects hath your Compassi…n wrought?

What Offring…, to Gods Altars, now are brought

By my long sparing them? Nay, have they not

H…m, and his aw…ull pow'r, the more forgot?

What did I say? forgot him? If they had

Vs'd him and his Indulgence but so bad,

Thou might'st have spoken for them; and I could

Have left thy supplications uncontroll'd.

But, they have aggravated their neglect,

With such base villanies, such disrespect,

And such contempt of Him, of Thee, and Mee,

That if we beare it, we shall scorned be.

They so presumptuous are, that well I know,

Were but a petty-Iustice used so,

He would not brooke it: But, so rough appeare,

That all the sin-professing houses neare,

Of Reformation would be much in doubt;

And feare they should not buy his Ange… out,

Though they presented him with coyne and wares;

And b…ib'd his Clarke, with whom, tis thought he s…ares.

I will not the…efore palliate their despight;

I will not be debarred of my right;

I will not make my selfe a publike scorne;

Nor will I longer beare what I have borne.

Here with (as if she thought it were in vaine,

For Vengeance, unto MERCIEMERCY to complaine)

She rais'd her eyes; she fixed them upon

The …hrone of heav'n, and Him that sate thereon:

Then bowed thrice, and, then to her complaint▪

She …hus proceeded lik… an An…ry Saint

Great IVDGE of all the world just, wise, and holy;

Who sin abhorrest, and correctest folly:

Who drivest all uncleannesse from thy sight,

And feared art, ev'n of the most upright:

Consider well my Cause, and let thou not

Thy IVSTICE in thy MERCIEMERCY be forgot▪

As well as this my sister, so am I

Vnited unto thee essentially

Before all Time; and there is cause for me

To boast thy favour, full as much as she.

For, to maintaine thy Iustice (and approve

Th…t sacred, never violated Love

Thou bearest me) great Monarkies have drunk

Thy cup of wrath; and into ruine sunk.

For their contempt of me, thou hast rejected

The Nation, of all Nations, most affected.

Once, thou the Globe of Earth didst wholly drowne;

From Heav'n thou threw…st the sinfull Angels down…:

And (which is more) thy Best beloved dy'd,

That my displeasure might be satisfi'd.

But, l…t no former favour me availe,

If now of Reason on my side I faile.

I n…ver did a Vengeance, yet pursue

Before it was requir'd by double due.

I never plagued any in despight,

Nor in the death of sinners took delight.

Why therefore thus is my proceeding staid?

And thy just wrath so suddenly alaid?

Hath Mercy their offences vailed so,

That thou beholdest not what faults th…y do?

And wilt thou still continue thy compassion

To this unthankfull and forgetfull Nation?

What are they, but a most corrupted breed?

A wicked, a perverse, ingratefull seed?

p. 32A peopl… for instruction so untoward,

So stubborne in their courses, and so …roward,

That, neither t…reats, nor plagues, nor lo…e can mend …hem,

And therefore Desolation must attend them.

Me they have injured, past all …ompare;

They flout me to my face; they me out dare

Ev'n on my Iudgement-se…ts; they truth deny▪

Although they knew, their hear…rs know they lye.

They use my Titles, and my Offices,

But as a meanes to rob, or to oppresse

The poorer sort: and he that wrong sustaines,

Is sure of more, if he for right complaines.

Search thou their Streets, their Markets, & their Courts;

Note where the greatest multitude resorts,

And if thou finde a man among them, th…re,

That hath of Truth or Iudgement any care,

Him let thine Angell save. But, thou shalt see

That nothing else from heele to head they be,

But swellings, wounds, and sores: that they are wholly

O'regrowne with leprosies of noysome folly;

And that, among them, there abideth none,

Whose path is right and p…rfect, no not one.

Their studies, are in che…ting trickes, and shifts.

Their practice, is to compass bribes, and gifts.

Their silver is but dross. Their wine impure.

Th…ir finest gold, will not the touch endure.

The poore oppresse the poore. The Childe ass…mes

An El…ers place. The basest Groome presu…es

B…fore t…e Noble. Wom…n t…ke on them

Mens habits and subjection doe contemne.

Men grow …ffemin…te. Age dotes, Youth raves,

The begger's proud. The rich man, basely craves.

The neighbour of his neighbour goes in danger;

The brother to the brother growes a stranger.

There is no kin, but Cousnage. Few professe

Affection, Amity, or Friendlinesse,

But to dec…ive. If men each …ther greet,

With shewes of wondrous friendship, when they meet,

They doe but practise kin…ly to betray;

And jeere, and scoffe, when th…y depart away:

Th…y labour, and they study, ly…s to make:

To grow more wicked, serious paines they take:

Wolves are as mercifull: Their Dogs as holy:

Vertue, th…y count a Foole: Religion, folly.

Their Lawes are but their nets, and ginn…s, to take

Those whom they hate, and seeke their prey to make:

The patronage of …ruth, no…e standeth for:

The way of Piety, they doe abhor:

They meet u…seene, the harmlesse to …eceive▪

They h…tch the Cocatrice: They s…ely weave

The Spiders web; and, when in bed they a…e,

They lye and study pl…ts of mischiefe …here.

And, why thus fares it? b…t, because they see

That (how unjust soe're their Courses b…)

They prosper in t…eir wicked nesse, and …hrive,

Whilst th…y who honor thee a…fl…ted live.

If any man reprove their damned way,

They persecute, and slander him, and say;

Come, let us smite him with our tongue, that he,

And his reproofes, may unregarded be.

They desp'rately resolve a wicked Course;

And, ev'ry day proceed from bad▪ to wo…se.

Themselves they sooth in evill: and professe

In publike manner, Trades of wickednesse▪

They impudently boast of their Transgressions,

And madly, glory in their great Opp…essions.

Yea, some so farre have …ver-gone the Devils

In shamelesnesse, that they make bragge of evils

p. 33Which they committed not (as if th…y fear'd

That else they had not lewd enough a…p…ar'd)

Whereas, they from themselves would strive to flie,

If they could s…e their owne defo…mity.

For, what remaineth to be termed ill

Which they are guil…lesse of, in act, or will?

Th…y, gall unto the hungry prof…r'd have:

They, vine…er unto the thirsty gave:

With brutish fiercenesse they themselves aray:

Vnsatisfied in their lust are they,

And neither earth nor heav'n escapes the w…ongs

Of their injurious and blasph…mous tongue….

With ev'ry member, they dishonor Thee,

No part of them from wick…dnesse is free:

Their Eyes, are wandring after vanitie,

And l…ere about, advantages to spye.

Their Eares are deafe to goodnesse; but most pro…e

To heare a sl…nder told of any one:

And h…ve an itching after ev'ry thin…,

Which, newes of sensualitie, may bring.

Their braz…n Foreheads, without shame appeare:

Their Teeth are sharper then a sword o… speare:

Their Lips, as keenly cut, as Razors doe;

And, under them, is Add…rs poison too.

Their Mouthes with bitter cu…sings, over-flow:

Their oily Tongues, contention dail… sow:

In Heart, they Falshood before Truth, preferre:

Their Throats, are like a gaping Sepulcher:

Foule belchings from their Stomacks doe arise,

Ev'n filthie speeches; and ranke bl…sphemies.

Their Hands (their right hands) lawlesse gifts receive:

With Bribes, their Fingers, they desiled have.

Their Feet, are swift in executing ill,

And, run the blood of innocents to spill.

They are corrupt in ev'ry Facultie;

In Vnde…standing, Will, and Memorie;

Yea, th…ir most specious works of pietie

Are little else, but meere hypocrisie.

All stain'd with Murthers, Thef…s, Adulteries,

And other unrepented Villanies

Thy House they enter, as if they were cle…re,

Or, thither came, but to out brave thee there.

There, they display their pride: there, they contemne

Thy Messengers ▪ or, sit and censure them.

There, they disturbe thy Children in their pray'rs,

By tatling of impertinent affaires.

The many roving lookes, they throw about,

Doe prove them, far more wanton, than devout.

And, say, they bring devotion for a fit:

Alas! what pleasure canst thou take in it?

Or, what doe they but mocke thee, when they pray,

Vnlesse their wickednesse they cast away?

What profits it, to kneele sometime an houre?

To fast a day? to look demure, or soure?

To raise the hands aloft? the brest to strike?

To shake the head, or hang it Bulrush like?

And, all that while to have no thought of thee;

But on base projects, musing, there, to be?

I many such enormities might name,

Wherein this People have beene much to blame.

And, shall they still, thy gentlenesse contemne?

Wilt thou forbeare, for this, to punish them?

Shall such devotion be regarded more,

Then if they brought the …yring of a whore?

Or sacrific'd a Dog? Nay, though they had

Of farre fet Calamus an Offring made,

Or, incense brought from Sheba; doe they think

The smoke of that, shall take away the stink

p. 34Of their corruption? shall this wicked Throng▪

(Who partners are in ev'rie kind of wrong,

And Reformation hate) still spared be

Because they can a little prate of thee?

Make zealous outward shewes; and preach thy word,

Whose pow'r they have deny'd? (if not abhorr'd:)

Let me consume them rather. For, Compassion

So often hath prevailed for this Nation,

That, all my threatnings are no whit regarded,

Thy Pittìe is with disrespect rewarded;

Thy Blowes doe nothing soften them: but, more

Hard hearted, rather, make them then before.

They neither know nor s…eke thee. They scarce daigne

So much as thoughts of thee to entertaine.

Or if they doe; yet, thou in kindnesse, hast

So frequently, their errors over past

With gentle stripes; that they conjecture, now

That thou art like to them, and dost allow

Their wick…d courses. For, Is there (say they)

In God, or sight, or knowledge of our way?

Doth he behold, or car… what things we doe?

Will he take vengeance? Tush, it is not so.

Such fables were devis'd in times of old,

And of strange judgements, stories have beene told;

But, who hath seene them? or, when will appeare

That Day of Doome, whereof so oft we heare?

Sure never. For the wo…ld doth still remaine

The same it was; and these are feares in vaine.

Oh! what will this increase unto, if thus

Thou suffer them to make a scorne of us?

Where is thy feare, if thou a Master be?

Why, (if a God) should they not honour thee?

What meanes thy long long-suffring? and, what way

To worke amendment wilt thou next assay?

Thou hast already mov'd them to repent,

By Threats, Gifts, Precepts, and by Punishment.

To stop their wi…kednesse, thou Flouds, and Drought,

Frosts, F…es, and Tempests, hast upon them brought.

Distempers, F…ights, and (many times of late)

Distrusts, and hazzards of the publike State.

With ev'ry kind of Sicknesse, thou hast try'd them;

With Pestilence, and Famine, mortifi'd them:

With Slaughters …hou has… foild them; and betwix…

Each Plague, thou Mercy still hast intermixt▪

Yet▪ all in vaine. Oh! rise, and suffer me

On all at once avenged now to be.

Plucke from thy bosome, thy sure striking hand,

And, let it fall so heavy on that Land,

That, all their Follies may their merit have,

And, they be put to silence in the grave.

Permit them not unplagued to persever,

Blaspheming thus, thy Name and thee for ever.

But, l…t me ev'ry Plague upon them cast,

Which thou, for such as they, prepared hast.

Let them perceive, that they have lov'd and served

Those gods, by whom they cannot be preserved.

Let me transport from their polluted Coast,

Those Holy-things, whereof they vainly boast:

And, let not their prophanenesse be protected

By that, whi…h they so much have disrespect…d.

For, why shouldst thou forbeare this people more

Then ma…y other Nations heretofore?

Since they for their example those have had

The lesse excusable their faults are made.

Yea, though their wickednesse were but the same,

Yet, they are worthy of a greater blame.

… What are they better then the stubborne Iewes?

Wherein, doe they thy blessings lesse abuse?

p. 35What have their Temples, of more worth in them

Then Shilo, Bethel, or Ierusalem,

That we should spare their ma…y sleepled Towres,

Not rather making them the Ne…sts, and Bowres

Of noysome Vermine, and such fatall Fowles,

As croking Ravens, and loud screeching Owles?

Why shouldst thou not, as low this Ile decline,

As Milke and Hony-flowing Palestine?

What …ave they more deserved of thy pittie

Then Sion, thy so much bel…ved Cit…y?

Or, wherefore should their Seed be thought upon

More kindely, the… the br…tts of Babylon?

Why should their Common wealth, more prised be,

Then thos… great Monarchies destroy'd b… me

In former ages, whose transcendent Fate,

…ach Time succeeding, hath admired at?

Yea, since the World thou didst for s…ning, drowne,

Why should such mercy to thi… Land be showne?

If thou a piou… King to them …ast given,

What loseth be, if then from thence to Heav'n

Translate him shall? From earthly Crownes, to weare

Those wreathes of Glory that immortall are?

And from a froward People, to have place

With Angells, and there triumph in thy grace?

If any man be found observing thee,

To him what discontentment can it be

To view my hand prevailing over those

Who me in my proceedings did oppose?

And see those Tyrants ruin'd, who have long

Committed violence, and offred wrong

To him, and his? what b…rme hath he I pray,

To passe through all that sorrow in one day,

And in thy blessed pres…nce to appeare,

Who else might here have lingred many a yeare?

Of what can he complaine, if being borne

Above the reach of ev'ry future scorne,

Within thy heav'nly Mansion, he possesse

A perfect, and an endlesse happinesse?

Why may not IVSTICE glorifie …hy Name,

As well as MERCY can extoll the same?

Why should thy former favours, being lost,

Oblige thee to defray a future cost

On Prodigals, and Vnthrifts, who had rather

Live Swineherds, than returne to th…e their Father?

Why may not that reproach d…verted be,

Which irreligious men will cast on thee

Although thou spare not hypocrites; and them

Who are the causers that thy Foes blaspheme?

What disadvantage can their fall effect

To thy pure honour? or, to thine elect,

Which may not be prevented (if thou …lease)

Although thou be not mer…ifull to these?

Sure, none at all: and, therefore, I will stay

My hand no longer; but breake off delay.

Thy Sword and Ballance, are with me in trust;

To punish Sin, I know it to be just;

They both arraigned, and condemned are;

My warrant…, in thy written Word appea…e:

Their crimes, for Vengeance, loudly crying …e:

Thy Iudgements, ready mustred are, by …hee:

Thine eye doth speake unto me to be gone;

And, loe; I flye to see thy pleasure done.

As when a Mother on a sudden hearing

Her babe to shrieke, (and some disaster fearing

That may befall …he childe) starts up and flyes

To see the reason of her Infants cries:

So quick, was IVSTICE; & e're now, had brought

Her work, to something; and, this Land, to nought.

p. 36…ut, to prevent her purpose, MERCIEMERCY cast

Her arme about that angry Virgins waste▪

Look'd sadly on her; hung about her; kist her,

And (weeping in her bosome) said, Sweet Sister,

I pray thee, doe not thus impatient grow,

Nor prosecute deserved Vengeance, so.

Thou art most beautifull; sincerely just;

Most perf…ctly upright in all thou dost;

For which …h…ne excellency, and p…rfection,

I love thee with an excel…ent a…ection.

And though thou frownest; yet thy frownings be

So lovely, that I cannot part …rom thee.

What though some Worldlings offer thee disgraces▪

Sh…ll they (Sweet heart) make loathed my embraces?

Shall thou, and I, (who near…r are then twinnes)

Fall out, o… be divorced by their sinnes?

Oh never l…t it said, or mutt red be,

That we in any thing can disagr…e.

For what's more lo…ely, or more sweet then thi…,

That we each other may embrace and kisse?

And by our mutuall workings, and agreeings,

Bri…g all Gods Creatures to their perfect beings.

Belee…e me (Deare) Heav'n doth not comprehend

That pleasure, which this pleasure doth transcend:

Nor is our Father better pleas'd in us,

Then when he sees our armes emwined, thus.

For should we jarre, the world would be undone,

And Heav'n, and Earth, into a Chaos runne.

What profit can it bring, or what content,

To see a Kingdome miserably rent,

With manifold afflictions? what great good

To us redoundeth by the death, or b…ood

Of any màn? what honour can we have?

What praise, from those that in the silent gra…e

Lye raked up in ruines dead and rotten?

Or in the Land where all things are forgotten?

Seeke not thy Glory by their Overthrow,

That are pursued by too strong a F…e,

And over-match'd already; thinke upon

The pow'rfull hate of that malicious One.

Rem…mber they were f…amed of the dust;

And that to Cl…y againe returne they must.

When they are dead they passe away for ever,

Ev'n as that vapour which returneth never.

Oh; make them not the Butt of thy displeasure,

Nor give them of Gods wrath the fullest measure.

I grant this Realme is sinfull; But, what hath

That Realme, or people equalling thy wrath?

T'is honourable, when we stoope below

Our selves; that love or favour we may show▪

Or to correct, with purpose to amend:

But if with such we Foe-like should contend▪

It would appeare, as if some Empery

Did arme it selfe, to combat with a Fly.

When we correction, or forgivenesse daigne,

We may correct them, or forgive againe:

But in destroying quite, our selves we wound,

And to our Infinitenesse, set a bound;

For IVSTICE neither MERCY can have pl…ce▪

In subjects, which we totally deface.

We must not seeke for purity divine

In dust and ashes; till we first refine

From earthly drosse the gold that we desire,

By using of the Bellowes and the Fire.

For till we purge it, what (alas) is good,

Or what can holy be in Flesh and Blood?

Who lookes that Figs on Thistles should be borne,

…r that sweet Grapes should grow upon a Thorne?

It cannot be. As therefore hereto…ore

God promis…d, (that he would never more

Contend with man) let us resolve the same;

And by some other meanes, their wildenesse tam….

Keepe, yet a while, this Army where it is▪

And let us try to mend what is amisse,

(As erst we did) by sending jointly thither,

Our Favours, and Corrections, both together:

And if they profit not, there is a Day

In which thine Indi…nation shall have way.

As when a Father, who, in heat of wrath

To give a son correction purpos'd hath,

Enraged is, untill his lovely wife

Doth interpo…e her selfe with friendly strife;

But (pleased in the sweetnesse of her speech,

Who to forgive the Child doth him beseech)

Doth lay aside his whole displeasure, then,

And turne his anger into smiles agen;

So, IVSTICE was by MERCY wrought upon:

And she that would with so much haste be gone,

Forgot her speed; Her louing Sister ey'd

With calmer lookes; and thus to her reply'd.

Thou, and thy charmings have prevail'd upon me,

And to abate mine anger thou hast wonne me.

I …herefore will not cast my plagues on all,

But on worst Livers, onelyonly, let them fall.

Nay, nay, quoth MERCIEMERCY, thou must favour show

To most of them, or thou wilt overthrow

The lawes of Destiny; and crost will be

What God did from eternity decree.

For, some of these have not fulfilled yet

Their sinnes, nor made their number up complete.

Some, that are wandring in the wayes of folly,

Shall be regenerated, and made holy.

Of them some have morality, that may

Be helpfull to Gods childr…n, in their way;

Some, must be left, as were the Cana'nites,

To exercise the faithfull Isr'elites;

Yea some, have in their loynes a generation

Vnborne, which must make up the blessed Nation.

And till that seed bud forth, those trees must s…and,

Although they grow but to annoy the Land.

It seemes (quoth IVSTICE) I must then abide,

(However they off…nd) unsatisfi'd.

Vns…tisfi'd (said MERCIEMERCY) Is it that,

Sweet Sister, which your zeale hath aimed at?

Then, looke you there. And with that word, her eye

She pla…'d on him, who sits in Majesty

At Gods right hand. Behold that Lambe (quoth she)

By him thou fully satisfi'd shalt be.

He poore was made, that He their debt might pay;

He base became, to take their shame away;

He entred bond, their freedome to procure;

He dangers try'd, their safeties to assure;

He scorned was, their honor to advance;

He seem'd a foole, to helpe their ignorance;

He sin was made, their errors to conceale;

He wounded was, that he th…ir wounds might heale;

He thirsted, that their thirst might have an end;

He wept, that joy their sorrow might attend;

He lost his blood, that they their blood might save;

He dy'd, that they eternall life might have.

Nor canst thou any for their sins condemne,

(Since he hath over-paid the price for them)

If by partic'lar faith they shall apply

That pardon, which he granteth gen'rally.

And lest to that whole Kingdome thou deny it,

For want of application, I apply it.

p. 38VVhy then (said IVSTICE) I may quite dismisse

This hoast of Plagues whi…h here assembled is.

Not so, replyed MERCIEMERCY: For no curse

Is greater, n…r is any mischiefe worse

Then want of due correction: And if I

Shoul… yeeld to that, it were not Clemency,

But cruell dealing; and my love no other

Then is the kindnesse of that cock…ing m…ther,

Who spares the rod (out of her pure affection)

And sends unto the Gallowes for correction:

As if she thought her children apt for learning,

If they could take a hanging for a warning▪

I s…eme to cr…sse thy workings, and thou mine,

To those that n…ther know my wayes, nor thi…e:

But, is the motions in a Clocke doe tend

And move together to one purpos'd end,

Although their wheeles contrary courses go…,

And force the even ballance to and f…o.

Ev'n so, although it may to some appeare,

That our proceedings much repugnant are;

Yet in our disagreeings, we agree,

And helpfull to our chi…fe desi…ne they be▪

We therefore, from Gods A…my will select

One Regiment, this people to correct.

Not his that is the Generall: for, he

Resisteth us if he prevail…ng be.

Nor Famine; For, (unlesse permit we shall

That she devoure, untill we starve up all)

She most unequally consumes the poore,

And makes the rich to be enriched more.

Nor will we send the Sword; for, that makes way

For ev'ry plague to follow; yea, doth lay

All open to confusion; and bestowes

The pow'r of God oft times upon his foes.

But, we to punish them, will send from hence,

The dreadfull, and impartiall PESTILENCE.

For, she doth neither Ri…h, nor Poore preferre;

The foolish, and the wise, are one to her:

Nor eloquence, nor beauty, nor complexion,

Prevailes wi…h her; Nor Hatred, nor Affection.

S…e seizeth All alike; she visiteth

The Palace, as the Cottage; and with death,

Or else with sicknesse, strikes at each degree,

Vnlesse our Supersedeas, granted be.

By meanes of her, in any State, or City,

Thou maist avenge, and I may show my pitty

With little noise; and both at once, …ulfill

Our wishes, and accompl…sh all our will.

For, where a noysome we…d is seene to sprout,

She shall, at thy appointment, weed it out.

Or if a plant, or bud, or flow'r we see,

That's ripe for Heav'n, and may impaired be

By standing longer; we the same will gather,

To m…ke a precious Posie for our Father.

And, as t…ou hast thy purpose, by their fall.

Or smart, whom she or wound, or slaught…r shall:

Right so have I: For, if they wicked are

Whom she removes; th… better sh…ll they fare,

Whose Conversations truly honest be;

And from oppression live the longer free.

If righteous men this Iudgements …rey become,

It is appointed to secure them from

Some greater Plague, which must (perhaps) be sent

To scourge this Kingdome, ere it will repent;

Or (peradventure) that my hand may take them

From Earth, the Citizens of Heav'n to make them:

And some, who never e…se on God had thought,

Shall, (by her whip) unto his love be brought.

p. 39This pleased well, and IVSTIC… did agree

With MERCY, that it should all…wed be:

And, for the swift …ulfilling of their minde,

The PESTILENCE, by warrant, was assi…n'd

Great Brittan to invade; and limited

Where to begin the Plague; how far to spread;

How many she should wound; how many slay;

How many grieve; how many fright away;

How long abide; and when her terme was done,

On what conditions (then) she must be gone.

Moreover lest her stroke should not amend u…,

Gods Hoast of Plagues had warrant to attend us;

That if the Pestilence could not prevaile,

Another might our wicked Land assaile;

And then another, till we did repent,

Or were consumed in our chastisement.

The Prince of Darknes, (though he could not gaine

Permission, fully to unloose his Chaine)

His usuall pow'r obtain'd to worke despite

On some offenders, and to use the sleight

Of Lying-wonders: or by strong temptation

To seize upon the Sonnes of Reprobation:

Yea many times to buffet (for correction)

Ev'n those that have the seales of Gods electio….

Dear…h was commanded, that (to make us feare

A Scarceness…) she should scatter here, and the…e,

A Floud, or Tempest; and at sometime bring

A droughty Sum…er, or a frosty Spring,

Or Mel-dewes, to remember us, from whom

The blessings of a plenteous yeare doe come.

Warre, (who had quite forgotten us almost)

Injoyned was to sit upon our Coast;

To saile about our Shore, to view our Forts,

To visit all our Havens, and our Ports:

And with her dreadfull sounds, to rouze and keepe

This Kingdome, f…om securities dead sleepe.

But was commanded, not to seize a hoofe

Of what w…s ours, till God hath made a proofe

How mollifi'd our stony hearts will be;

What fruits of true repentance he shall see;

What change will be effected in this Land,

By his correcting us with his owne hand;

And what oblations of true thankes, and love,

We render will upon this Plagues remove.

Wherein, if we doe faile his expectation,

We shall be made a miserable Nation.

The Sea that now doth close us, like a wall,

Shall be a Sea o… terror; and it shall

Let in our foes upon us, or with …louds

O're-flow our borders, and devoure our goods.

Our wealthy Traffiques, and that forraine Trade,

(Whereby so proud, and wanton we are made)

Cut off shall be, and faile in ev'ry Coast.

Our num'rous Fle…ts (whereof so much we boast,

(And, in whole pow'r and mu…titude, I feare

Ou… trust, and hopes too much reposed are)

By Stormes, and Piracies, that shall pursue them,

Or want of meanes, and trading to renue them,

Shall waste away unheeded; till we see

Our ha…mes beyond our meanes of curing be.

Our H…uses shall by strangers be possessed;

Our goodly Temples, which, (as yet) are blessed

With Gods t…ue worship, shall be raz'd, or bu…ned,

Or into dennes of theevery be turned.

Throughout those champain fields, & forrests, where

We hunted for our pleasure; we by Feare

Shall hunted be: and made a prey for them

Whom we (perhaps) did most of all contemne.

p. 40Our People, (on whose numbers we presume)

Shall by degrees be less…ned, and consume.

Our Nation (late renowned through the World)

Shall be unvalu'd, as old rubbish, hu…l…d

In some by-corner, and quite round about us

Our Foes, our Neighbo…s, & our Friends shal flout us.

O…r Peace, sh…ll make us but effeminate.

Our Riches, and our plentifull estate,

Shall but enrich our enemies; and we

(That of our King so glad, and hopefull be)

Shall (for our sinnes, perchance) be quite d…prived

O… those great comforts, which we have conceived.

For, e…he… God may give an …ll successe

To his be…t Counsells, for our f…owardnesse;

Or leave us some dist…ustings in our heart,

To make us censure in an evill pa…t

His gracious purposes; or give a pow'r

To some ill-willers of his peace, and our,

To sow the seeds of Discord, and divide

Our heart…, which now so lovingly are ty'd:

Or let some Politician wo…ke upon

His Goodnesse; and so cunningly goe on,

That he shall n…ver finde, how he, and his

Are injured, till all things are amisse:

Which God forbid; yea, grant (O Lord) that I

In these su…posals may not prophecie;

As (out of doubt I shall) if any sin

(That may procure it) we continue in.

Yea, though our Projects may a while possesse

Our hearts with flatt'…ing hopes of good successe;

Th…ugh in aff…ires of VVarre, and in our Fights

We thrive a while, as did the Benj…mites;

Although a league with Baalam we began;

And …erodach the sonne of Baladan

Had sent us presents; and though he shall seeme

To have our health and welfa…e in esteeme;

Though to his Lords the treasures we declare,

Which in Gods Temple here among us are:

Yea, though we g…ve those holy things, to buy

His love, and Babylonish amity:

It should but linger us along, till they

(Who seeke our overthrow) their snares doe lay▪

Vntill they have enlarg'd their growing pow'rs,

And by their Policy, befooled ours;

Or, till our sinnes, or our securities

Have ma…e us objects for their Tyrannies,

And, there enthrall'd us, where long since were hung

On willow trees, untuned, and unstrung,

The Harpes of Syon; and where Men contemne

The heav'nly Sonnets of Ierusalem.

Ev'n this shall be our lot, and worse then this,

If we continue still to doe amisse,

Or bring not forth the fruits of Penitence,

When God hath scourg'd us by the Pestilen….

But, if that stirre us to repenting shall,

He will not onelyonly back againe recall

That raging Plague, to which he gave such pow'…

Within our peopled Cities to devoure:

But, he will also on this Realme bestow

New benefits, for entertaining so,

With lowlinesse, his fatherly correction;

And yeelding him our filiall affection.

Then, ev'ry one beneath his Vine shall si…

Without disturbance; and with pleasure eate

The profit of his labours. Men shall goe

In …afety through …he Kingdome, to, and fro.

Their Lands they shall enjoy in peace; and weare

The warmest fleeces, that their flockes do beare.

p. 41No sonnes of Belial, shall from them divert

Their Princes favour (in the smallest part)

Nor shall Seditions Lovers draw from him

Their loyalties, by misinforming them;

But God that blessed union shall maintaine,

Which ought 'twixt King and People to remain….

He, then, will multiply the fruits encrease;

Prese…ve our plenty, sanctifie our peace:

And guide by Land and Sea, our preparations

Of l…wfull warre, to seize upon those Nations

That are our foes, and his. Which, that He may

Vouchsafe unto us; let us ev'ry day

Produce of thankfulnesse some new effect:

Let us observe (with ev'ry due respect)

The progresse of that Plague sent lately hither;

How CLEMENCY & IVSTICE came togeth…r;

Relating to each other what we saw

To kindle love, or keepe our soules in awe;

And so record it, that (should we be rotten)

It may be still p…eserved unforgotten.

For, that we might his honour forth declare,

We bo…h created, and preserved were.

To such a purpose, I doe thus employ

That scorned Faculty, which I enjoy;

And (for the compa…ing of my intention)

Have offr…d up the best of my invention;

And what that is (to those, who doe regard

Such paines) the following Cantoes have declar'd

Behold (O Lord) my purposes from heav'n,

Accept of me the gift that thou hast given.

Permit not those, who spite or malice me,

To interrupt my M…se in praising t…ee.

Let none of those, who finde that I neglect

The way to wealth, which th…y …oo much affect,

Conceive, that I my Time have spent in vaine,

Because their Studies yeeld them greater gaine;

Let them perceive, though this endevour brings

Nor Riches, Honours, nor esteeme of Kings;

But rather wasts my Fortunes, and doth more

Increase my charge, and troubles, then before;

Let them (I say) conceive, and also know,

That I am highly pleas'd, it should be so;

And would not change the bless…ng of my Fate

With those, whom they doe hold more fortunate.

And let not that, which I have here comprised▪

Become (through my unworthinesse) despised;

But grant it such a moderate respect,

Th…t I may see my labours take effect

For their enc…uragements, who shall apply

To such goode…ds, their gift of Poësie;

And let all those, who shall peruse my Story▪

Receive some profit, and give thee, the glory.