Good News from New England, Poem 6
TO populate this howling deſart Land,
The only worke is of Jehovah's band.
Contemn no weakeſt meanes in hand of him:
See here his worke by meanes that weakeſt been.
In thrice five yeares a Common-wealth compleat,
For peace, for war, for actions ſmall and great.
Five hundred Lawes for peoples plaine direction,
Englands addition as naturall Connection.
Preſt to oppoſe haters of peace: with guide
Of Officers, three Regiments abide.
In Middleſex ſeven Enſigns are diſplaid,
There diſciplin'd by Major Sedgwick's aide.
In Suffolk nine, by Major Gibbons led,
Eſſex and Norfolk in one are marſhalled,
By Deniſon, their Major in the field,
Their Generall a yearly choiſe doth yeild.
Eight times a yeare each band inſtructed is,
And once to meet in one they may not miſſe.
Both Horſe & Foot, force, forts and Caſtles are,
Prepar'd in peace for peace, yet fit for War.
To awe bruit men, Juſtice impartially,
Hath hitherto with pale ſuſpitious eye,
Diſperſt the crimes common in many Lands,
Diſgrace for vice, honour for vertue ſtands.
Now notice take, this is the grand complaint,
That Engliſh here from priviledg'd reſtraint,
Have: why I pray, you'l priviledg confound,
If common they with lawrell all not crown'd.
For trades, commerce, Merchants, Sea-affaires,
Great freedoms bad, large gaines their loſſe repaires.
Monopolies is by their lawes forbid,
Ʋnleſſe invention rare from others hid.
All handy-crafts have choiſe of worke at will,
And ordered are, leſt working praiſe they ſpill.
As ſhipping great, built up by timbers ſtrength,
But iron mills their chains of greater length.
Salt, ſope and glaſſe, Tiles, lime and bricke are made,
With orders for well-ordering each Trade.
So ſuted hath his providence, that none.
Can contradict: envy of any one
Shall not prevaile, Juſtice and peace ſhall ſtill,
Perfect this worke, govern for God they will.
For hutbandry, Corne, Cattell, wood and bay,
Good lawes are made for all men to obey.
Liſten a while, I muſt ſpend one word more,
Some rubs remaine, are hardlier gotten o're.
Bipartior in many Court and Cauſe,
Doth dull the edge of Juſtice, Sword and Lawes.
Diſcloſeth Counſels, opens Breaches wide,
That adverſe part ſteps in without a guide.
Makes cauſes good or bad, as men affect it,
Doth what's oppos'd, and what is lik't neglect it.
Tells liberty, authority will ſtop,
And clip her wings, quoth ſhe, I'le ſit on top.
Tells men their cauſe is good, but wanting
Lawes: or Judges are in learn'd, in ſight ſeanting.
More yet remaines, ſwift ſpeakers ſhow but backe,
So counſels loſt words will not fill a ſack.
And now ſay truth doth not great skill appear,
Through ſuch tempeſtuous ſeas and ſtormes to ſteere.
So ſwiftly one grapling with Pirats oft,
For England fain'd, bearing their flag aloft.
To England yet, ungratefull they'l not be,
That governe here, yet little help they ſee.
The more's to come, experience teaches ſure,
You'l pitty more, when you the like endure.
More yet you'l find our enemies are yours,
You'l hurt your ſelves if you encreaſe their powers.
Forgive, that they ſo much your good forget,
Lighter to truth, thoſe they ſhould harder hit.
If England one as truths but one embrace,
Theſe tooke your name, and you will take their eaſe.
If England ſay more wayes then one they wilt
Allow no more then helps reforming ſtill.
Thoſe that are skild in ſtructures modell, make,
A little moddel here is for you, take
What may ſerve turne for oppoſites to awe,
For Kings may rule without a Biſhops law.
Could Biſhops keepe downe all their Lordſhips ſpoile,
And can't higheſt Court awe thoſe Gods word defile.
With blaſphemous horrid interpretation,
As only they knowing Gods explanation.
Ruine now men ſtrive, with words contentious ſtrength,
New-Englands acts ſhall ſpeak, not words at length.
While fogs ariſe from errour breaching braines,
Their juſtice clouded is, and what remaines.
But unto God that they commit their way,
And judgment ſhall burſt forth as ſunny day.
Let England wait with patience for the ſame,
Not drawing backe for coſt, finiſh for ſhame.
Iaſt Prelates proud tollerating deride,
Ye know not truth without their guide.