Bradshaws Ghost, Text
BRADSHAW'S GHOST: BEING A DIALOGUE Between the ſaid GHOST, AND AN APPARITION OF THE LATE KING CHARLES.
Wherein are laid down ſeverall Tranſactions that did occur in the many Paſſages of his life, never known before.
Patent atri Janua Ditis.
Printed in the Year, 1659.
Bradſhaw's Ghoſt.
AFter the fleeting current of many trancient years, Truth, the daughter of Time, began to ſhew her ſelfe, and by making new diſcoveries of old paſſages, ſo pull'd off that viſor of Hypocriſie, which had too long been worn, that one might diſcover the true Phiſiognomy, and as it were digito monstrare, point out with the finger, the Aſſe ennobled with the Lions skin; for, the Republican State-holders had no ſooner got into the Saddle, but they began to ride in a full cariere: the old Proverb in them was truly verified, Set a Beggar on Horſeback, and he will ride to the Divel; and ſo might they, if they had not been ſtopp'd; for, that State-monſter, Bradſhaw, for the better modelling of what was yet but in Embrio into a form, was mounted on the wings of ambitious malice, and put into an office of the greateſt truſt and profit in the Nation: But if (according to the vulgar opinion) Agues be ſpirits, then was Bradſhaw poſſeſſed, and the Divel being entred, he was now fit for what might in any manner be put upon him; and here, for a while, he lords it, till his Mungrel Maſters now tottering in t…e Saddle, were by the Soldiery, thoſe Sons of Valour, quite diſmounted, and conſequently returned to their firſt original, which was to be Terrae filii.
This purgation wrought ſo ſtrongly, that White-Hall began to ſmell; for the Members defil'd themſelves ſo, that in every corner you would have ſworn had been Atkins: But Bradſhaw being exceeding coſtive, the Divel owing him a ſhame, and now intending to pay it him home, the Phiſick wrought not, but lay grumbling in the gizzard, till what with that, and the ſtrength of conceit, he turn'd up his heels, and like a Jade, yielded the Crow a pudding.
Long had not theſe two companions the Soul and Body been parted, ere his Ghost began to appear, and pacing up and downe the diſmal ſhades of the more frightfull night, ſo terrifying the guilty conſciences of his late Aſſociates, was at laſt encountred, to its owne terror, by the Apparition of the late K. Charles, which upon the ſudden meeting thus accoſted him.
Ch.
And what art thou (bold fiend) that thus dareſt trouble theſe forbidden lodgings, forbidden (I ſay) to the ſteps of ſuch too curious, and more bold than welcome Gueſts: ſpeak, ſpeak, I ſay, whence art thou?
Br.
I am (quoth it) the Ghoſt of Bradſhaw, now condemn'd with unwearied walking, to trace this loathed place, to get a part, wherein was once my ambition, though now too dearly & too late repented.
Ch.
But tell me (fiend) what was the cauſe, in life, of your inveterate hate againſt me?
Br.
To ſpeak the truth, I hated not your perſon, but your ſtate, and that your lofty eye did never caſt a glance upon my ſhrub-like growth, I ſetting a value on my ſelfe, and ſuppoſing you ought with Alexander to have given honour, ſuch as befitted a Princes gift, though by me wholly undeſerved.
Ch.
Was that the cauſe indeed? know you not that Providence guides the hand of blinde Fortune, and though we would, we cannot give beyond our alotment? but ſurely, there were other motives that induced you to after actings, when you and your Complices firſt drew the Sword, you threw away the ſcaherd: ſuch crimes as yours as great in this attempt, ſo ſtill muſt be carried on by acting greater; for, but to ſlack the hand, is as it were to loſe the day: but pray reveale the progreſſe of thoſe furious acts, which in a maze have put the world, and by their various changes almoſt reduced all into a Chaos?
Br.
When firſt the ſound of War was noyſed abroad, it was conſidered by what means to ſteal the hearts of the People, no cloak was thought ſo fitting as that of Religion; nor any bait ſo apt to be caught at, as that of liberty: whereupon an alteration in the one, and a breach upon the other was proclaimed: we did trace Jeroboam in the like caſe; the meaneſt of the People we extolled and applauded, whoſe ignorance of what they would have, encreaſed their fury: 'twas therefore cloſely inſinuated, that ſome great ones muſt be removed, elſe the Work would meet with many dangerous oppoſitions, I need not relate the courſe was taken for perfecting the deſign; who were engaged, who diſcarded, who checked, who countenanced: Reformation was pretended by all, intended by few, for it is more than probable, that the Sword is an ill inſtrument for ſuch a work: but the work was begun, and it muſt be done; yet I verily ſuppoſe, much of the evils that have hapned, might have been prevented, if you had notbeen ſo pitifull.
Ch.
Truly I repent me not however of it, although long before my death, I was told by a great man in my Kingdome, when I had with pity diſmiſſed ſome active perſons against me, which I was adviſed to trye by a Councel of War; well (ſaid he) you may gain the Kingdome of Heaven by theſe doings; but if ever you get the Kingdome of England, I never ſaw the like: how true I have found theſe words, I am ſure you, and all the world know.
Br.
That was it I was comming to; for had you kept the rein of government in your hands with ſome ſtrictneſſe, no one had dar'd to ſuperviſe you: or, if after the War begun, you had driven Jehu-like, you might like him, even but drawing a bow at a venture, have ſmitten your enemies in the joynts of their harneſſe, and your ſelfe ſtill have ſate regnant in the Chariot.
Ch.
But upon what account did you enter the ſtage, and how at laſt did you arrive at that height of impudence, that you, of a whole reduced people, durſt undertake to ſit as my judge? upon what principles did thy ſeared conſcience lay her foundation? or with what peace did it ever think to enjoy any thing ſo injuriouſly, and without all right gotten?
Br.
When now the Cauſe began to thrive, and things did ſucceed, even beyond expectation, Felix & proſperum nefas virtus vocatur: all Oppoſers becoming now Delinquents, and their ſequeſtred Eſtates without controll filling the new-made Treaſuries, I ſtruck in for ſomething, and by application to ſome of the Grandees of the then leading faction, inſinuated my ſelfe, as a Pleader at the bars of their licentious Committees, wherein I ſoon became a great Proficient, for I argued down learning, and endeavoured to ſubvert even the very foundation thereof, the Ʋniverſities: whereby, and ſuch other the like practiſes, I was now thought a fitting ground for any impreſſion; hereupon I became acquainted with many Leaders, and in particular, with that ſink of ſin and forge of Satan, Nich: Machiavels elder brother in their heatheniſh Policies, old Noll, him we looked upon as Soloriens, and all his actions as fitting Precepts for a State to be ruled by: this man hammering in his head how to bring that to paſſe, which he ſo egregiouſly afterward effected, by a counterfeit of zeal gained an opinion of godly; and under that notion his intended villainies paſſed the vote without any ſerious examination. How he did court you into a trap, your ſelfe I believe is too ſenſible; and becauſe he could not himſelf, he undermin'd your moſt intimate friends to betray you: what force could at that time have manacled you, if you had not run into Caresbrook Goal; and there too he was like to have been out-witted, for had you in that perſonall Treaty granted at firſt what you conceded and yielded to at laſt, you had taken Time by the fore-lock, and in all probability had ſtill been King; but, Poſt eſt occaſio calva: which he knowing, and not willing to hazzard his deſigne any more, gets you into his clutches.
Ch.
But was it his intention at that time to uſe me as he did afterwards?
Br.
Yes truly was it, for then was the High Court of Juſtice a framing, and my ſelfe at laſt after much debating, choſen Preſident thereof.
Ch.
But how did you think to look me your King in the face? with what ſpirit were you poſſeſſed? or what inducements had you to move you thereto?
Br.
I knew an act of that height muſt be carried on with that undaunted courage, and when my ſentence was paſt, and you laid aſide, I knew honour and wealth would both attend me.
Ch.
But what ſhould you have done, if I had pleaded as you urged me?
Why the thing had been ſtill the ſame; Cromwell himſelfe ſaid, there was a fatal neceſſity, that either You or He muſt die. Nec Caeſar ſuperiorem nec Pompeius pacem: he joyn'd both humors in his own perſon, for he could brook neither ſuperior nor equal. All things now thus fitted, and reſolved on, I endeavoured to ſtill my conſcience into a beliefe of the legality of my fact, and to that purpoſe I did light on a paſſage that pleaſed me, and the more for that it was out of our own Chronicles; the paſſage was this: In a Parliament time there was a certain head of Wax made by Negromancy (as it was reported) which head at an hour appointed to ſpeak, uttered theſe words following, at three times, and then ceaſed to ſpeak any more: the words are theſe. Firſt, The Head ſhall be cut off. 2. The Head ſhall be lift up aloft. And, 3. The feet ſhall be lift up aloft above the Head. This happened in the time of that Parliament that was called, The mercileſſe Parliament, not long before that which was called, The Parliament that wrought wonders. By this thing was my wickedneſſe heightened, and I ſo confirm'd in my audaciouſneſſe, that I counted it a ſmall matter to imbrew my hands in the ſacred bloud of my King. After that fatall buſineſſe, I began to lord it over my brethren, and forgot the turfe from whence I ſprang: thus continuing for ſome time, at laſt I was arreſted by conſcience, ſera venit ſed certa venit vindicta. Oh the terrors of a guilty conſcience! how oft, in ghaſtly viſions have my thoughts preſented before me your headleſs perſon, whoſe ſprings of bloud have threatned an innundation both to my ſoul and body? then have I weighed the calm though provok'd Majeſty that ſate on your brow, ſcorning fear, and diſdaining the terrors of an enforced death, rather then make a breach o… thoſe principles, wherein God and Nature had tutore you, then is my ſoul torn in peices with amazement and feels in it ſelf the everlaſting torments of a reprobated ſoul, and to add to my griefs, and heap up the meaſure of my woes, I was caſheired out of imploy ments, and by him, for whom I had ventured ſo much, and even hazarded that ſoul which was once purchaſed at a dearer rate.
Ch.
Why? were you turned out of office? what might be the reaſon, and who the perſon or perſons that ſo either diſaffected or feared you?
Br.
Even the ſame that I formerly ſpoke of Cromwel and his crew of bloodſuckers, for afterwards when his deviliſh ambition aſpired to graſp the Scepter into his ſingle hand, and I was conſulted with, how the ſame might with moſt applauſe be brought about, I declared, and told him freely, that if he had ſuch a thought to uſurp the government, he and (by his means we) had committed the moſt horrid Treaſon that ever was heard of, to which he anſwered, his reſolution was fixed and he would go through what ever hapned, and ſo he did; for ſhortly after he thruſt out of doors thoſe Quackſalvers of State, which for 14 yeers before had ſate and hatched nothing but miſchief, and from henceforwards I was diſcarded, and he played abſolutely Rex; and now began a grand diſpute between Liberty and Tyranny (almoſt as hot as in your time) for they are incompatible and cannot meet together, or if they do, they laſt not; every one ſeeks his own perfection, which depending upon the deſtruction of another, they ſeek it there. It ſeems ſtrange to the People that they ſhould be free, and yet ſerve, but is more ſtrange …o the Tyrant that he ſhould be chief Lord and not …ommand, for whilſt by violence Liberty is taken away it enforceth withal a violent Government; for to …ive quietly, it behoves either to be totally free or totally tied to ſervitude. Now Noll, according to old Nick's rule of ingratitude, having pulled down the ſteps by which he roſe, was at firſt followed by many, becauſe he conferred on them authority, but before his end he was hated by them, becauſe he inceſed them by bereaving them of it; he would not endure the Parliament which himſelf called, and becauſe they took him as a Companion, whom they accepted as their Prince, he would make them ſlaves, whom he took for aſſiſtant Officers: thus they grew into factions, till at laſt, after one of his Daughters had died frantick and another lived Pockified, himſelf in a furious ſtorm and tempeſt of wind was hurried away, whether to Heaven or to Hell I will not judge, though probably the latter place was beſt deſerved.
Ch.
'Tis an approved rule among moral men, Turpe eſt doctori cum culpa redarguit ipſum, my raign was thought bad, though like Solomons it abounded in gold and goodneſs, but my Succeſſors little finger was heavier then my loins, Coldius accuſat gracchos, catilina Cethegum, I was accuſed for evil Councellors; but theſe like Catiline made a conjuration againſt the Commonwealth, and carouſed to its confuſion in boles of blood, O Tempora! O Mores! but what ſucceeded after him?
Br.
The people yet contriving in their frenzy, ſet up an Idol after their own imagination: The people gave their eare-rings, & ecce evenit vitatus iſte. Squire Dicke mounts the Stage, but like a young player danted with that he was not accuſtomed, he forgets his part, and ſo after a little pauſe, and a turn or two, with a general hiſs, exit, leaving his ſtink behind him.
Ch.
Why? was He forced to relinquiſh his ill gotten rule, and to retain to a private life?
Br.
Yea verily, and a good ſhift too, he had Hobſons choice, ſo or nothing: and after him returnes the many headed Hydra endeavouring with the Beare to lick themſelves into a model, and to that purpoſe, enter Hieronimo, with the good Old Cauſe, like the man in the Moon with a bundle of buſhes at his back.
Ch.
The Good Old Cauſe, what was that? bid thoſe Phaeton-like drivers return to the firſt principles they had before their rebellion.
Br.
Alas! no ſuch matter, but now as they formerly Martyred you, now they were to drive out another; and here I became uſeful again, now I was looked upon, ſaluted, exalted, and Offices beſtowed upon me; once more I made my felf cock-ſure: but ſee how fickle is our fortune, and how vain are our hopes, even in the height of our riſing, we were ſuddainly overthrown, and all our greatneſs vaniſht into ayr. And as to the thing called the Good Old Cauſe, it is no other then the Quarrel at firſt begun with you, and now newnamed, nicknamed, or indeed rather rebaptiſed, but it was not long reverenced either for its age, or goodneſs, but like an old Almanack laid aſide as uſeleſs, and this was it that broke my heart, the ayr of a Common-wealth, with the profit ariſing thereby, might have lengthned my life, but to ſee Mars triumphant, and yet our ſelves caſheired, would it not even vex a Saint? I took pleaſure in nothing, not in Deanes and Chapters Lands, though enriched by them, nor in my high-builded neſt, whereby I trample on Churches, for, for the Cauſe, the Good Old Cauſe; my heart did bleed: and what with that, the loſs of my employments, and the certainty of never enjoying the like again, made me like Achitophel retire and die, and oh that now I might find that ſo much controverted Purgatory, but ah ex inferno nulla eſt redemptio, I had not ever grace enough to repent, and therefore now muſt my Ghoſt wander reſtleſs up and down, for in hell I find no company; the fact that I did was ſo unparralleld, that it is with me as the Preacher ſaid once it was with the Jeſuites, there was a little Hell prepared for them on purpoſe; leſt they ſhould breed confuſion among all the reſt: ſo I find there is not onelyonly a little Hell, but peculiar torments, for ſuch heaven-daring regicides, for Pluto himſelf is afraid to be condemned and unthroned, if I might be admitted at large in Hell.
Ch.
Then ſtay thou there (foul fiend) & when men ſee A time to murther Kings they'l ſend for thee.
The End.
End of the text · William Bradshaw, Bradshaws Ghost (1659)