The British Appeals with Gods Merciful Replies, Title page – Letter 1
BRITISH APPEALS, WITH GODS Mercifull Replies, On the behalfe of the Common-wealth of England.
Contained in A Briefe Commemorative Poem, Compoſed for a Memorial of ſome of thoſe many ſignall Mercies, lately vouchſafed to this Rebublike; eſpecially, for thoſe deliverances upon the appeales of the Parliaments, and Royall Forces at Naſeby; of the Engliſh and Sccottiſh Armies neer Dunbar in Scotland, and for the late Surrender of Edenburgh-Caſtle, &c.
By GEO. WITHER, Eſquire.
Febr. 1. 1650.
Let this Poem, entituled the Britiſh Appeals, &c. be speedily Printed.
William Lenthall, Speaker.
Printed for the Author, and are to be ſold by Nathaniel Brooks, at the Angel in Corn-hill, 1651.
BOUND BY J.MACKENZIE BOOKBINDER TO THE KING
To the Soveraigne MAIESTY OF THE Parliament of the Engliſh Republike, (by the grace of God) Keepers of the Liberties of England; Protectors of the true Chriſtian Faith, and (within their Territories) Aſſertors of all the juſt Priviledges of the Humane Nature, againſt the Uſurpations of Domeſtick and Forraigne Tyrants, &c. AND, ALSO, To the Right Honourable Councell of STATE, eſtabliſhed by their Authority.
THe praiſe of God, and of praiſe-worthy Men▪
Are proper ſubjects of the Poets pen;
And they, of old (though diſeſteem'd of late)
Had power heroick-titles to create;
Or, Attributes of Honor, to confer
Where, Worth, moſt eminently, did appear;
And, none, have been more glorious under Heaven,
Then thoſe, which they, deſervedly, have given:
No, not thoſe high-priz'd Attributes, with which
The Pope his Royall-Vaſſalls did enrich:
For, this Power, they enjoyed, long before
Popes were; ſo ſhall, when they muſt be no m…
And, of their Holineſſe, had thus much odd…
That, ere they could …
Such as they were; and heretofore great Kings
Ambitious were, of their Canonizings.
But though impostors uſe to make a ſhew,
With counterfeited Jewells, mine, are true;
And this, now being a Triumphall-day,
Expecting all things in their beſt array,
My Muſe, in her Addreſses you ſalutes,
With ſuch New-titles, and high attributes,
As none have yet aſcrib'd; that, I may ſhew
To others, what I know to be your due.
For (though your Juſtice, and your MercieMercy be
The Eſsence of your Glorie) Wiſemen, ſee,
That, theſe are accidents which do belong
To Power; and, which, may help to make it ſtrong,
And, ſhould not be refus'd, when they are brought
By other men, and by your ſelves unſought:
Nor, will they judged be, to overſwell
A modeſt height to him that heedeth well,
What is, in Petty-States, aſcrib'd to them,
Who are inveſted with a Power-Supream.
But theſe, are but a Preface to my gift,
Which, I preſent, out of a nobler drift,
Than by theſe Circumſtances can appear;
For they meer Harbengers, or Uſhers are
Unto that Trophie wherewith I aſſay
To imp, the Publick-duties of this day:
And help to magn…fie his glorious Name,
To whom, your Piety devotes the ſame.
Y…, theſe high Titles are not fixed here,
To make you great, in your own eyes, appear;
But, honourable, in the ſight of thoſe
… whom your just commands you ſhall impoſe:
… to be viewed as Remembrancers,
… hat high truſt, which God on you con…ers.
… to ſerve ſiniſter ends you take them,
… titles of diſhonour make them.
As largely, and as well, as my weak-wit,
(My leaſure and the ſhort time) would permit,
I offer, here, a brief commem'rative,
Of thoſe things, for which, Thanks, this day we give:
That, to Gods praiſe, they may be thought upon,
When this our ſhort Solemnity is done:
That, unborn chlidren, may commemorate
His Mercies in the birth, of this new State,
When they ſhall read, by what throws, rent and torn
The mother was, before it could be born:
And, that, by knowing, what their Freedoms coſt,
They may not let them careleſly, be loſt:
Or, be unthankfull, as now many are,
And, thereby, in that bleſsing, loſe their ſhare.
In lofty ſtrains, I do not ſtrive to ſing,
But, in a plain ſong, humbly forth to bring
Such Charmes, as profitably may be read,
By thoſe, who of my Counſell, have moſt need;
And, ſuch, as may be uſefull, to expell
Thoſe evill ſpirits which amongſt us dwell,
To interrupt the ſetting of that Peace,
Which brings an univerſall happineſs.
I owe a thanks to God; and thanks to you;
And though I cannot pay the half that's due,
Where leaſt I owe; I, truly, have aſſaid
That, of a great debt, ſomewhat might be paid.
Deſpiſe it not, therefore, though much it lacks
Of what ſhould be. Quench not the ſmoking flax;
Break not the bruiſed Reed. But, acceptation
Vouchſafe, to this imperfect Preſentation;
And, as I ſhall deſerve it; ſo, let me
Preſerved in your good opinion be.
…an…ry 30. 1650. Geo. Wi…