An English Balm Lately Pressed out of a Shrub, Poem

An English Balm Lately Pressed out of a Shrub · Poem

Opobalſamum Anglicanum: AN ENGLISH BALME, LATELY Preſſed out of a Shrub, and ſpread upon theſe Papers, FOR The Cure of ſome Scabs, Gangreeves and Cancers indangering the Bodie of this Common-Wealth; and, to whom it is now tendred, by the VVELL-AFFECTED Engliſh, in a Double-Speech, disjunctively delivered, by one of their Fellow-ſhip, both to the Faithfull, and Malignant-Members of the Repreſentative-Body of this Kingdome.

Penned, by the Author of Britaines Remembrancer GEO: WITHER Eſquire.

Pſalm: 141.5,6.

Let the righteous ſmite me, and it ſhall be a kindneſſe; and let him reprove me, and it ſhall be an excellent Oyle, which ſhall not breake my head, &c,

VVhen their Judges are overthrowne in ſtonie places, then they ſhall heare my words, &c.

Printed in the Yeare, 1646.

p. 1Opobalſamum Anglicanum. OR, An Engliſh-Balme, lately preſſed out of a Shrub, &c.

THE PREFACE.

GReat hopes I had, of perfecting, e're this,

My VOX-PACIFICA, and ſongs of PEACE:

For, FAIRFAX, with his Victories, begun,

So ſtoutly, and ſucceſſefully, went on,

That, neither Summers heat, nor Winters cold,

Brigade, nor Army, Fortified Hold,

Nor Force, nor Policy; No, nor their wiles,

Who did oppoſe, in ſecret, all the whiles,

Could bring his brave procedeings to a ſtand;

Till he had marched quite throughout the Land,

As in a Tryumph; And, had brought ev'n thoſe

Preſuming, and proud Bragadochean-Foes,

(Who had deſpis'd, and ſleighted his beginnings)

To be the ſad Spectators of his winnings;

And, to be proſtrate-ſuiters, unto them,

For Life, and Mercy, whom they did contemn.

Our BRETHREN, alſo, and their Generall,

If, we impartially conſider all,

From firſt to laſt (and, mar not things, in making,

By raſhly misbelieving; or miſtaking)

Have greatly added, to the hope of that,

VVhichWhich, I, and all good men have aymed at.

At leaſt, I thinke ſo; and will ſo believe,

Till I ſhall know, that they my hopes deceive;

For, I my duty, ſhall diſcharge the better:

And, if they faile, their ſhame will be the greater.

Our PARLIAMENT, hath alſo, done, what they

VVith ſo diſtempered a Body may,

(And ſo diſmembred) labouring about

The Publike-welfare; and, in working out

Her Saving-Health, againſt thoſe interruptions

VVhichWhich are without; and all thoſe hid corruptions

Within her Members, hindring the ſucceſſe

Of their Deſignes, and our deſired Peace:

And, I have waited, now, a compleat-Yeare,

To heare that VOICE proceed, which I did heare

So long agoe; and, which, had then proceeded,

If Juſtice had been done, and Mercy heeded

But, all this time, though oft aſide I, went

(And, many an houre my beſt endeavours bent)

To harken out, and bring unto this Nation,

The long'd for Newes of Reconciliation,

No ſound, I had thereof; yet, ev'ry day,

I heard thoſe Rumours, wherewith others …ay,

And, do delude themſelves; and, muſt, perchance,

Till they repent their wilfull-Ignorance,

And take that courſe, which Avarice, and Pride,

Hath made them wave, and, hitherto deride.

As when a Surgeon, who hath vndergone

A Cure, and, therein, his endeavour done

According to the Art by him profeſſed:

VVhen, he, the ſore hath ſearched, clens'd, and dreſſed,

VVith Tents, and Plaiſters proper thereunto,

(And, all things els, befitting him to do)

If, on the Wound, his Medicine worketh nought

Of that effect, which, thereby hath been ſought;

But, keepes it at a ſtand, or, makes it worſe:

He, preſently, begins another courſe;

And, if that, alſo, failes him, growes aſſured,

It is a Cancer, hardly to be cured;

And, may become a Gangreeve, which will ſtay

His Patient, if it be not cut away.

So, I, obſerving well, how many wayes

The healing-hand of Providence, now, layes

His Plaiſters on our wounds; and, yet, how far

Our Maladies, from perfect healing …re:

I, ſearched for the Cauſe, and, quickly found

There was Malignant-matter in the Wound,

p. 2Which would into a Cancer, be corrupted:

And, peradventure (if not interrupted,

By timely care) into a Gangreeve grow,

Which, will effect the Bodies overthrow:

Or, els (beſide much trouble, griefe, and coſt)

Occaſion many Members to be loſt.

Which, when I had diſcover'd; my true zeale,

(Although I may have little thanke to deale,

In ſuch a Cure) provoked me unto

That, which, moſt Friends and Strangers uſe to do

When one is fallen ſicke: That is, to tell

VVhat, they believe or know, may make him well:

And, I conceiving ſomewhat to that end,

VVould now, performe the duty a Friend.

A dangerous Diſeaſe brookes no delay:

I will not, therefore, trifle time away

In uſeleſſe Prefaces: but, with what ſpeed

Is poſſible, will, to the Cure proceed.

And, lo; the Simple, whence we will inforce

A Balme to cure it, ſhall be this Diſcourſe.

The WEL-AFFECTED, having ſuffred wrong,

By ſome, too ſoone intruſted, and too long,

About thoſe Cures, for which, with joynt-conſent

Our State-Phyſitians call'd a Parliament:

And, they well knowing, that, this Double-Colledge,

Hath neither been, through want of Care or Knowledg,

Defective in their duty, or unjuſt;

(Although ſome Individuals faild their truſt)

VVere ſtudious, how, a courſe they might invent,

To have the Truſt-infringers roundly ſhent,

Yet, all their Faith-full-Friends, kept free from blame:

And, Providence did thus effect the ſame;

(By meanes of one among them, who intends

To loſe himſelfe, e're they ſhall miſſe their ends)

Ʋpon a time (which I remember not)

The Well-affected-Partie, had the lot,

To meet with (but, I know not where it was)

The Members of both Houſes, in one Place;

And, finding ſome occaſion of their ſtay,

(I know not how) till they their minds might ſay;

They, having, intellectively, collected

The WORTHIES, from the Perſons-miſaffected;

And, with humilitie, attention pray'd,

Firſt, to the Faithfull-Members, thus they ſaid.

The Speech of the VVell-affected-Engliſh, to the Faithfull Peers, and to their conſtant Truſtees, being Members of the honourable Houſe of Commons.

STARRES, of the great, and leſſer magnitude;

Behold us not, as if we would intrude

Upon your Orbs; nor think, this Throng appeares

To interrupt the motion of your Spheares;

To hinder your aſpects; or, take offence

At any late effect, or influence,

Derived from your Power; or, at ought done

By you, in both; or either Houſe alone,

When, violence their motion ſuffers not,

Whereby prodigious things may be begot:

For, ſo heroick, and ſo noble, ever,

Hath been your prudence, and your ſtout endeavor,

To keep upright the wheeles of Charles his waine;

And, ev'ry harmfull Vapour to reſtraine,

Exhald by Meteors, to the wrong of them,

Whoſe habitations are within your Clyme;

That, we confeſſe, with praiſe, and admiration,

Your conſtant Labours, in the preſervation,

Of this diſtracted Empire; and, preſent

All humble, and all due acknowledgment,

For perſevering, through thoſe many ſtops,

Obſtructing the fruition of our hopes.

We are not ignorant how many Feares,

How many reall-miſchiefes, Rubs, and Snares,

Great hazards, hardſhips, murm'rings, calumnies,

Scoffes, and almoſt-Impoſſibilities,

You, with untired conſtancy have paſt,

In hope, to wreſtle out, for us, at laſt,

The Bleſſing we deſire: And, we confeſſe

You, are the means of what we, yet, poſſeſſe

We do aſcribe, as to the Second-Cauſe,

The preſervation, of our Lives, our Lawes,

Our Conſcience, Liberties, and of what e're

To us, or ours hath been eſteemed dear,

To be from you: And, we confeſſe, likewiſe,

That, in your Honour, and your ſafetie, lyes

Our ſafety, and our Honour; and, that, we

In your well-being, judge our VVeale to be;

And, ev'ry danger, and diſgrace of your,

To be a danger, and diſgrace, of our.

p. 3Excuſe us therefore, if the Double-due

Of what, we owe, both to our ſelves, and you,

Produceth an Attempt and an effect.

Which you do nor imagine nor expect;

And drew us to the pardonable Fault.

Of making this unlooked-for Aſſault

Upon your patience; ſince, the thing we do,

Is that, which we appear oblig'd unto;

And, tends to nought leſſe, then the preſervations

Of you, of us, and all the Britiſh-Nations.

Suſpect not, our aſſembling, thus, together;

Nor look upon us, as if we were either

Of their Confederacy, or their Condition,

Who come to raiſe an uproare, or Sedition;

Or, to compell you forceably, to do

What our wild Fancie hurried us unto:

But, rather, pleaſed be to underſtand,

That, we are of thoſe people in the Land;

Who are moſt peaceable; and, well content

To be obedient to that Government,

Which doth preſerve the Freedomes of the Nation,

Continuing firmly on the firſt Foundation;

And, free from Superſtructures, which pervert

The works of Nature, by the Quirks of Art.

We are no Partners, with thoſe Factious-Fellowes,

Who bring the fewell, or, who blow the bellowes

Of Civill-Diſcords: nor, of thoſe, that, Dary

Their Principles, when their Deſignes miſcarry:

Nor of their Creed, who will believe no more,

Then, what they have believed heretofore:

Or, what their Grandfires did believe, of old;

Or, what ſhall by their Prieſt, to them be told:

Nor are we of their mind, who, therefore do,

What they have done, becauſe, they have done ſo:

But, we are men, who, good adviſement had

Of what we do (though ſome, yet, think us mad;)

Men, that, have all our beſt endeavours vow'd,

To looſe no Freedome Reaſon hath allow'd;

Men, who reſolve to ſeek a perfect way;

To walk it, as uprightly, as we may;

To keep unchanged, GOD'S and Natures Lawes,

And, change all other things, as there is cauſe.

SIRS, we are they, who, for the Common-right,

Began to ſpeake, e're we began to ſight;

Some of us, are well known to be the men,

Who, with the Purſe, the Perſon, and the Pen,

Engag'd our ſelves, this Quarrell to defend,

Before we had an Armie, or a Friend,

To ayd, or ſecond us. We did expoſe

Our ſelves, againſt the violence of thoſe,

Who exerciſe Oppreſſions of all ſorts,

In Monopolies, Arbitrarie-Courts;

And upſtart Offices; although it coſt

Our liberties, and our preferments loſt,

Whilſt they, who ſuch rewards to us afforded

Were for their Villanies, enricht and Lorded.

And, we are they who, but a while ago,

When Tyrannie did ſo preſumptuous grow,

(And, to ſuch impudency, as to dare

Improve wrongs-private, into open-warre)

Who did oppoſe it: yea, when Superſtition

Was, to oppreſſe us, joyned in Commiſſion

With Tyrannie, and theſe came both together

So furiouſly, and boldly marching hither,

That, juſtly, you began to be a fraid

Of Publike-Ruine, and call'd out for ayd;

We were the men; ev'n we, who firſt of all

Came in, to your Aſſiſtance, at your call.

And, when we came, we came not backward, in,

Or, as if we inſenſible had bin

Of your, as our own dangers: But, came flying,

As if we heard our Wives, or Children crying,

Come helpe, or we are murthred! without ſtay,

Our Callings, and Eſtates we flung away:

Our Plate, our Coyne, our Iewels, and our Rings,

Armes, Ornaments, and all our Pretious-things,

To you we brought as bountifully, in,

As if they had old ruſty horſhooes bin:

Yea, (GOD is witneſſe with us) we, our lives,

Our Parents, our dear Children, and our wives,

Have often valued at ſo low a rate,

And, ſo neglected them to ſerve the State,

At your Command; as if they had not ſeemed

Things, worthy to be any whit eſteemed.

Through heat and cold; through dangers & through Fears;

Through wāts & woūds; & thorow ſwords & ſpears.

Yea (which is worſe) through their neglects & ſcorn,

For whom (in part) we, all theſe things have born,

We have adventur'd; that, we might-uphold

Your Honour, to the uttermoſt we could.

Which we repeat not, to derive from thence,

Selfe-praiſe; but, to beget a confidence

p. 4In you, this day, that, we appeare as Friends

With our firſt-love, and with as loyall ends

As when we firſt came in to offer to you,

The ſervices, we able were to doe you:

And, we are ſtill reſolv'd, if need appear,

To be as free, and forward as we were,

Your Dignitie, and Honor to maintain;

Yea twice mote, yet, and three times thrice, again.

If you (which we ſuſpect not) ſhall goe on,

With faithfulneſſe, to doe the worke begun;

And, ſhall nor faint, nor faile, in your purſuite

Of what, you are about to execute:

We do ingage, with you, to fall or ſtand;

To give aſſiſtance, both with heart, and hand,

To all your juſt Deſignes; and, ſettle them

In ſpight of thoſe, who ſhall our hopes contemn.

Yea, whether your Antagoniſts are they,

Who, here at home, your Counſels would betray;

Or, Enemies who, from abroad, ſhall dare

Invade our Freedomes; we reſolved are

To ſtand the ſhock, of all their threats, & powers,

Be they States, Prelates, Kings, or Emperours,

Or, altogether: For, what, hard can be

To theſe three joyned? GOD, and You, and Wee?

But, You, and Wee, (as reaſonable men)

Muſt, to GODS helpe, adde our endeavors, then;

Or elſe, both You and VVee, in vaine preſume

That, GOD our Coadjutor will become.

Our beſt endeavours, too, muſt be imployed,

Where we moſt likely are to be deſtroyed;

Which, otherwhile, he better may diſcerne

Who trims the Sails, then he that Guides at Stern,

You are the Braine, the Liver, and the Hart

Of this great Bodie, and the Vitall-part

Which gives it motion: But we are the Hands,

Whereby it Acts; The Feet whereon it ſtands;

The Bulk and Bones which muſt the burthens bear:

And, VVee with You, may claime to have a ſhare

In all the ſenſes; and, without offence

In that, which hath been cal'd the Common-ſence.

By us together, therefore, and alone,

Our Duties muſt reſpectively be done,

According to the Common-Intereſt,

(And to the Faculties, by us poſſeſt,

Vnited, and a ſunder) with ſuch care

To heed each others counſels, doubts, and Feare,

And with ſuch mutuall readineſſe to add

All comforts, all good helpes that may be had,

And all endearements, which may knit together

Our Forces, and our Loves to one another,

That, none may come between us; or, find way

To mixe with us, our Counſels to betray.

This laſt, will more endanger us, then all

The ſtrength of Spain and France united ſhall,

If we prevent it not: And, there is need

That, hereof, at this preſent, we take heed:

For, of this Evill, to our griefe, we view

Both ſymptoms and effects; yea, not a few.

Moſt honor'd Peers & Comons; whilſt you wake,

And watchfull are, that we no harmes may take,

We ſleep not ſo ſupinely, as to ſleight

Our own ſecuritie, or, that which might

Indanger You: And, by this meanes, our eyes

And Eares, have made ſome late diſcoveries,

Which, your imployments for the Publike-weale,

(Or truſt-abuſing friends) from you conceale,

With ſuch faire guildings, that, both You and wee

Are loſt, unleſſe, they quickly heeded be;

And, heeded ſo, that, likewiſe, you provide

A remedy, and ſee the ſame applide:

For, we have good Proviſions, oft, and many;

But, little execution made of any.

Your Courage, and your wiſdome we confeſſe,

Your Piety, your Care, and watchfulneſſe,

In your own Perſons; and, that, you oppoſe

With good ſucceſſe, your moſt Malignant Foes

Which are abroad; by meanes of that diſpis'd,

(Yet valiant Armie) lately modelliz'd,

In Gods own time: But, noble SIRS, there be

Worſe Foes within, then thoſe abroad you ſee:

And ſuch they be, as doe require you ſhould

As much reduce your Houſes, if you could,

As you have done your Armie: For, we feare

Diſguiſed Foes doe lurk among you there,

Which need a Privy-ſearch; & one to ſhew them,

Who by their Spots & ſecret marks, doth know them

Foes, that, have put your Friends quite out of grace;

Plead Priviledge of Perſon, and of Place:

Such, as by ſome well-doing, now and then

Have done more harm, then Troops of fighting men,

And Private-Priviledges, have enjoyd,

Till Publike-Freedomes, are almoſt deſtroyd.

p. 5Hîc Dolor, WORTHIES! all our doubts are here;

Hence, is our greateſt Grievance, and our Feare.

We ſleight as Trifles, all the Frights and Foes,

Which, ſome, for our diſcouragement propoſe

To be conſider'd on. We ſleight all that,

Wherewith we have been menaced of late;

Aſwell the threats of open-Foes, at home;

As thoſe, which from beyond-Sea hither come.

The Cavaleers, who ſwagger up and downe,

And mixe among us, now, in every Towne,

And Country village (with their fooliſh brags)

We fear no more, then when their Feather wags.

Although the King ſhould frowardly be bent

Againſt the Propoſitions you have ſent,

Or, by delaying his aſſent, delay

That Bleſſing, which we look for every day;

It would not ſtartle us: Nor, do, we fear

Thoſe Inconveniences which may appear

Drawne on us, by the Prince his running from

The Kingdome, whereto he was praid to come,

To make a miſadventure into France:

Nor, how, the Queene her Projects may advance

By that Occaſion: For, GOD'S providence

Hath, for our good, it may be, ſent him hence:

And, we may find, when all accounts are caſt,

Their Loſſes, will be greateſt at the laſt.

Our hearts it not a whit diſcourage can,

That ſome have hopes, the Hollander or Dane,

May by perſwaſions, their own fingers burne

To do their Neighbours, here, an evill-turne,

Which, (ere the Cup, now filled, hath gone round)

Unto their own deſtruction may redound:

Nor feare we thoſe Alliances, with which

Great Princes, one another doe bewitch,

And, knit themſelves together in a band,

Which binds them, like a Cable made with Sand.

Nor are we frighted, with the Leagues of thoſe,

Which have been old confederated Foes

Againſt this Kingdome, though we often heare

Of mighty men, who, in their Cauſe appear;

And, of great ſums, raiſ'd by their Munks and Fryers

(Whoſe brats, men ſay, ſit by their neighbours fires)

Though Fame reports of many Horſe and Men,

Which they will ſet aflote (they know not when)

With Ships and Armes, and other things in hope,

Beſide the Curſe and Bleſſing of the Pope,

We feare them not: for GOD, before they come,

May, peradventure, find them work at home;

Or they will (as of old) but make a crack,

And ſtinck, and ſmoke a little, and fall back:

Since, they who act their Catholick-Deſignes

Obſerve the Principle, Selfe-Love injoynes,

As men do here; and will no longer drive

Their neighbors Car; then they thereby may thrive:

Yea, we our ſelves, by dear experience, know

That, Ayd ſoone promis'd, is in comming, ſlow.

Nor fear we, that, our Armie, or the Citie,

(As they who more ſuſpitious are then witty,

Suſpect of late) will any thing aſſay,

But, that, which they with your good liking may,

Whilſt firme to your own Principles you ſtand;

And, act not with your left-malignant hand.

Nor do we fear a breaking with the Scot;

For, greater cauſe of fear they give us not,

By ought we ſee then ſome of us have given

To them, of late; So, we and they are even,

In giving Cauſe; as, we hereafter ſhall

In ruines be, if we aſunder fall.

Nor fear we (though reviv'd among us are,

Old-Propheſies, which put Young-fooles in fear)

That they who do with Ireland, now, begin,

Shall not give off, till England they do win:

For, till our wickedneſſe doth here increaſe

To equall us with them, in barbarouſneſſe,

(And bloody crying-ſinnes) there is no dread,

Of being, by thoſe Blood-hounds conquered,

Or, any other; if we will prevent

The threatned Plagues, by being penitent;

And, ere it be too late, ſome courſe foreſee

To ſcape thoſe Foes, that mixt among us be.

Theſe are the Foes, whom moſt of all we fear,

And, thoſe, of whom we wiſh you to beware.

For, without theſe, all other, outward F…s,

Would prove like ragges, ſet up to fear the …rowes;

And, harme us, by their furiouſneſſe, no more,

Then Paper-guns diſcharg'd againſt the ſhore.

Nay, other Foes would be occaſion, rather,

To make us prudently more ſtrength to gather;

Arme us within, againſt our Foes abroad;

And, make us fly unfainedly to GOD.

But, theſe, if long conniv'd at, will be able

To make the meaneſt Raſcals formidable,

p. 6That ſhall oppoſe us: Theſe, will skrew into us,

If ſuffred) Principles, that, will undo us

VVithout another Foe, and draw us, on,

To truſt in our own wits, as they have done;

And leave our Faith and confidence in GOD,

To ſeek our happineſſe, in fleſh and blood:

Theſe, have, already, made us, grow afrayd

Of thoſe, that are our Friends, and bring us ayd;

Yea, fearfull of our ſelves; nay, of our ſhade,

And, things, by meer imagination, made.

Theſe, will deprive us, e're perceiv'd they are,

Both of the Bones and ſinewes, of the VVar;

Steale from us, to be Factors for their ends,

Our Wives, our Children, and our boſome-friends;

Enfeeble, by degrees, the publike-ſtrength,

And, altogether, ruine us at length.

That, you may know, we ſpeak the truth of theſe;

Obſerve it, now, in practiſe, if you pleaſe:

For, you your ſelves, have ſeen with lamentations,

Their practiſes, and their prevarications.

Behold, your Friends and ſervants are disgrac'd;

Malignants, in Authority, are plac'd;

They, who inform you, how we are abuſ'd,

Are, for Suborners, ſhameleſly, accuſ'd,

And, voted ſuch, without due proofe or hearing;

Or, any probability appearing.

They, who came, firſt, our Freedomes to redeem,

Are ſet among the hindmoſt, in eſteem:

Even by their prevalency, who, conceale

Their diſaffections, to the Common-weale.

Theſe, by their cruelty, injuſtice, pride,

And wicked practiſes, have juſtifide

All Courts and Perſons, that corrupt have bin,

Before this Reformation did begin:

And, theſe, by fooling ſome, and failing more;

By making Villaines rich, and good men, poore;

By ſleighting others; by oppreſſing many,

And, ſeldome doing Juſtice unto any,

Have ſo diſpleaſed, and inraged ſo,

The generalitie, that, mad they grow;

And, are upon the point, if none prevent,

Of ſhewing ſymptoms, of their diſcontent.

And, upon whom, do your Malignants lay

The blame of this? who, do theſe (think you) ſay,

Is cauſe of all our Troubles, and diſtractions?

Of our oppreſſions, and our large exactions,

But, ev'n this Parliament? nay, many a one,

VVho for this Parliament, hath ſaid and done,

And ſuffred much; begins to think the ſame,

And, that, the beſt among you are to blame,

In moſt that is amiſſe: becauſe, they ſee

Their known Oppreſſors, kept among you be.

VVhat would this come to, if the many cryes,

Of men oppreſt, ſhould make the People riſe?

And, like a furious whirl-wind, hurry hither,

Newters, Malignants, Friends and Foes together,

In ſuch a poſture, as a Multitude

Diſordered comes? how, could it be withſtood?

VVhat, could be done or ſaid, that, might aſſwage

The roarings, of ſuch Waters, when they rage?

Then, what, your packt and falſe Committees vote,

VVould not be valu'd at an old crackt groat:

Nor would the people, in their fury hear you,

Although both Houſes, ſhould aſſent to clear you.

None, would be able to diſtinguiſh, then,

Betwixt the Faithfull, and the Faithleſſe men,

VVho, had occaſion'd this: But, while you have

Their Company, their ſins to you will cleave;

And, nothing will be able to prevent

Your ſharing, in their ſhame and puniſhment:

For, theſe, we fear, would hardly be ſo tame,

As He, who, but to ſeize Five Members came.

Or, if th'offenders, who, now home are brought,

Should practiſe (as tis likely ſome are taught)

To work upon the peoples diſcontent,

And, ſo much their diſtempratures foment,

As, that, they ſhould withdraw away from you,

Their former Love; or, their obedience due,

To your Commands: or, make them colder, in

Their zeale, then they, in former time, have bin;

How, would it all our preſent hopes indanger?

How, would it hearten an invading-ſtranger?

How, would it pleaſe, and reincourage thoſe,

VVho ſeem your Friends, but, till they may be Foes?

And, then, how nimbly would your Falſe ones prove,

That miſchiefe, for their purpoſe, to improve?

How quickly, then, would many turn upon you,

VVho, hitherto, have outſide-ſervice done you?

How many ſcandals, would there, then, be rais'd,

From actions, which are, at this preſent, prais'd▪

How many flatring Prieſts, who, now applaud

Your courſes? and, aſcribe the praiſe and laud

p. 7Which you deſerve; would ſay as much for them,

VVhoſe practices, both you, and they condemn?

And, then, what will it profit thoſe among

Your Members, who delight in doing wrong,

That they when an apparent wrong they do,

Shall add a greater injury thereto,

To cleare themſelves of what they were accus'd?

What, will it profit them, to have abus'd

The well-affected, by unjuſt proceeding,

And falſe reports, the Parliament miſleading,

To caſt a heavy cenſure upon thoſe

As wilfull Malefactors, or, as Foes,

VVho, if impartially they had been heard,

Inſtead of puniſhment ſhould have reward?

VVhat will it them availe, by ſaving, thus,

Their credit for, a while, by wronging us,

If they at laſt, be to thoſe Judges turn'd,

By whom their power and cenſures will be ſcorn'd?

Excuſe us, if our love and faithfull care

Compell us, plainly to expreſſe our feare,

By theſe Expoſtulations; and to vent

Our councells thus, beyond all preſident:

For, neither have our dangers, nor our crimes,

Had any preſident in former times;

Nor can we think our ſelves, from treaſon free,

If, in theſe perills, we ſhould ſilent bee.

Oh! let us not be judged to exceed

Our Bounders, at a time of ſo much need;

Nor, ſuffer us, who ſeek but to maintain

Your honour, and your lives, to ſpeak in vain:

But, rather, purge, or cure, or cut away

Your Gangreev'd-Members, with what ſpeed you may.

If, you ſuppoſe there are no ſuch among you,

As we ſuſpect; that, thought wil greatly wrong you.

And, bring you all in danger, by degrees,

Of dying without ſenſe of your diſeaſe.

You know, there have been breakers of their truſt,

And, many Members heretofore unjuſt

In both your Houſes: And, why may not there

Be ſuch among you, as aforetime were?

Nay, who can think there are not, who doth ſee

What oppoſitions, yet, among you be?

For, where much diſagreement, ſee you ſhall,

There, out of queſtion, ſome are naught, or all;

Since bitter Factions, rarely have been made,

But, where are to be found, both good, and bad,

Or all corrupted. And, the man who ſayes

That, none, among you, walks corrupted wayes,

Is, doubtleſſe, one of thoſe, who hath deſerv'd,

To have his wayes and walkings well obſerv'd.

Are none of thoſe, think you permitted, yet,

In either Houſe of Parliament, to ſit,

Who, when the City ſhould have been betray'd,

Did know of it? think you, when VValler ſay'd,

(To ſtrengthen his Confederates) that, he

Knew many, who thereto, would aiding be

In either Houſe? think you, he ſhould have had

His pardon; if none fear'd he could have made

The ſaying true? Or, that, he naming none,

Should, into baniſhment, ſo cheap have gone,

Unleſſe, becauſe, he could have nam'd ſo many,

That, if the Houſes ſhould have queſtioned any,

It might have brought upon us, at that ſeaſon,

A danger, almoſt equalling the Treaſon?

VVhat ere ye think, we think, this was the cauſe,

VVhy he, who was in breaking of the Lawes,

The Principall, eſcap'd with life, when they

That Acceſſaries were, their debts did pay:

And, are we bound to think now VVallers gone,

That, here, of his Confederacie are none,

VVhile we perceive Delinquents ſo defended,

As yet, they are, and we ſo ill befriended?

VVho, in both Houſes, would have ſcorned more

To hear ſuch queſtions asked, heretofore,

Then Strafford and the Prelate, who, are now

A headleſſe paire? And, which is he of you

Among the Commons, who injoy'd a name

More honourable, and a fairer fame

Then Hotham had? which of you ſtood ſo ſtrong

A charge as he? and, held it out ſo long

VVithout recoyling? Or, ingag'd this Nation

Unto him, by a greater obligation,

Then he did, for the time? And, yet, at laſt,

You ſaw he fell; becauſe, he had not plac'…,

The Structure, (though 'twere ſtrong) upon thoſe rocks,

That could abide reiterated ſhocks.

And, if men, in deſert ſo eminent,

(Till we diſcover'd in what path they went)

Fell from that bravery in reſolution,

And, ſo much conſtancy in execution,

Then well may we diſtruſt that, ſome of thoſe

VVho, at this preſent make faire ſeeming ſhowes,

p. 8May poſſibly be falſe? At leaſt, when they

Have trodden heretofore beſide the way,

And, are at preſent probably ſuſpected;

Though, they in ſome things, faithfully have acted?

Since, we have oft, experience had, that, none

Have to the Common-wealth, more miſchief done,

Then ſome, who, for a while, have, had the fame

Of Patriots; and, did but play that game,

Till they had opportunity, to catch

That grace at Court, for which they lay at watch.

And wherfore ſhould it ſeem to wrong the reſt,

If, we have jealouſies of ſome expreſt,

Who gave us cauſe? (And, if no cauſe there be)

What mean thoſe ſymptoms, which, thereof we ſee?

VVherefore, do ſome of you, your ſelves bewaile,

As if you felt ſome limbs of your to faile?

VVhy do you halt, ſomtimes, and are ſo ſlow,

At other times, when you ſhould faſter go?

And, find defects among you, now and than,

VVhichWhich fruſtrate good deſigns, do what you can?

VVherefore, ſo frequently, do you divide,

As if you had a Palſie, on one ſide?

And, often, have ſo much ado to ſtay

Your Votes, from running on the left-hand-way?

Yea, wherefore, do the beſt among you find

Some failings, of your fellowes, in this kind,

If none be queſtionable? Or, if we

Offend, in ſaying ſuch among you be,

Why, are there daily, ſtrivings in your wombe,

As if Rebecca's twins, again, were come

To be new born? and, to afflict the Mother,

By ſtrugling how, they may ſupplant each other?

Why, are complainings, if no wrongs be done?

Who can Oppreſſors be, if, there be none

VVithin your Houſes? Or, if none of your

Corrupted-members, have abus'd their Pow'r?

Since, all Oppreſſors, ev'ry other where,

May have, or, ought to have, redreſſes there?

As Samuel ſaid to Saul; if none are ſpar'd

Whom GOD condemns, whence are theſe bleatings heard,

Which fill our cares? How, come th' Amalakites

To be ſo jocund, and the Iſraelites

So much diſ-heart'ned? VVhat mad-men are they,

VVho bring Petitions, almoſt ev'ry day,

Againſt your Members? And, wherefore do ſome

(Although, they pris'ners for it are become)

Still proſecute their charge, and Plaints, as far

As men impriſoned enabled are,

Againſt thoſe men; if, really they be

From Guiltineſſe, and juſt Suspition free?

And, why, are not Accuſers dayly hear'd,

That, knaves may puniſh'd be, and goodmen clear'd?

If, all are in their actions ſo upright,

VVhy do not they, on whom aſperſions light,

Offer themſelves to tryall by the Lawes,

According to the merit of the Cauſe,

VVithout reſpect of Perſons; that, the greev'd

May in their ſuffrings duly be releev'd?

The mouth of clamour ſtop'd, if ſhe hath made

An out-cry, when no cauſe, at all, ſhe had?

And, that, all men who truly guiltleſſe are,

May not in ſcandalls, with men guilty, ſhare?

VVhy ſhould you, like the Benjamites connive

At wickedneſſe, untill Gods Juſtice drive

The much incenſed-people, of the Land,

To come, and to require it, at your hand?

Nay we draw nearer: VVhy, have you ſo long,

Purſu'd the King, becauſe he did us wrong,

To keep from cenſure, thoſe, who merit blame;

If, you your ſelves, have done the very ſame?

VVhy, may not we as juſtly queſtion them,

VVho break their truſt to us; as, you do him?

And, hope, that, GOD will find us out a way,

VVereby, the Common-wealth deliver may

Her ſelf from thoſe, that, her Truſt-breakers be,

(In moſt convenient time) aſwell as he,

Gave us this Parliament, ev'n when elſe, none,

Knew how, without Rebellion, to have done,

VVhat, now, we do? although the King had broke

That Truſt, wherewith, the Crown he undertook.

Conſider this; and, keep your ſelves, and us

From ſtraights, and courſes, which are hazzardous,

Leaſt you both looſe the glory you have got,

And, feel a miſchief, when you fear it not.

For, if you do not wicked men protect;

Yet, while their proſecutions you neglect,

You may incurre the curſe of their offence,

VVho do the work of God, with negligence;

And to deſtruction, all your friends expoſe,

By beeing too indulgent to your Foes.

p. 9Let GOD, or Baal be ſerv'd: For, hate we do

Thoſe, that are alwaies halting between two.

All they, who in ſimplicity of heart,

Adhere to one, though to the worſer part,

Are, ſo far in the way of walking right,

That thoſe we hate not, though with them we fight.

Nor ſhall we fear, when reconcil'd theſe be,

But, that, they will be found as true as we.

Take not we pray you, this free-powring out

Of Gileads Balm, as if we went about

A needleſſe Cure: Or, would have men believe

VVe did annoint, when blowes, & wounds, we give;

Nor think, we rub too hard: For, we are friends

(VVhat ere we may be thought) whoſe love intends

Your honour with your weal: And, having found

How to advance them, do as we are bound.

VVe are no Mountebanks, who would endear

Our Surgery, by putting you in feare

Of greater dangers, then indeed are found:

But, we would ſearch the bottome of the wound;

Becauſe, we cannot perfectly be heal'd,

Till all our kown corruptions, are expel'd.

VVe know no means of ſaving you, and us,

But, by plain dealing; and, by ſpeaking thus;

That you may take ſome wiſe, and ſpeedy courſe,

To ſtop this miſchief, ere it groweth worſe.

The Common remedies, are at a loſſe;

The Sanctuary gold, is mixt with droſſe;

And, there's no meanes to part them, which wee know

But, by attempting that, which we do now:

Nor can you ſave your honor, (though you ſave

Your ſelves) if long, you ill companions have.

For, what your evill Members, have miſ-done,

Upon your ſcore, is ev'ry day ſet on,

As well as your beſt deeds: and, in your faces

Their dirt is hourely fl…ng, to your diſgraces.

Thoſe Reſolutions which conduce unto

The Publike-weale, want but a Voice, or two,

Somtimes, of being loſt: ſuch are their wiles,

Or, ſuch their number: And, if otherwhiles

They carrie on a Vote, in your deſpight,

That ſeems not to advance the publike-right,

You beare the blame thereof, as much as they:

Yea, to the Parliament, the People lay,

Not onelyonly, that which is concluded on

In either Houſe, although the ſame were done

By ſome unjuſt contrivance: But, it beares

The faults of ev'ry Member, too, of theirs,

Whoſe life is ſcandalous; yea, it pertakes

In blame with him, for each known ſcape he makes.

For, when abroad the Common-people heare

A Member of your Houſes, lie, or ſweare,

Or, ſome of them, no conſcience make to pay

Their long due debts; when, well enough they may;

Or, ſee them reeling out of Tavern doores;

Or, impudently, courting of their Whores;

Or ſome ſuch way imployed: Oh! how quick,

They ſhoot at you their Arrowes! and, how thick!

Some ſay in ſcorn; and ſome, in diſcontent;

Theſe, are the Members of our Parliament:

Theſe, are thoſe Worthies, that, muſt ſet us free

From Tyrannie: Theſe, our Deliv'rers be:

Theſe are the Choſen ones, who to this Nation

Muſt bring the bleſſing of a Reformation:

Yea, theſe, whom here you thus debauched ſee,

Pertaining, to the Honeſt-party be,

Or to the Godly; the Malignant ſayes:

And, on them, deſcants many other waies,

With ſuch like ſcoffings, as no modeſt ear

Can without grief, or indignation heare.

All which, reflects on you, who are the beſt;

And, ſo it will, till you reforme the reſt.

How can you be inſenſible of this?

And, ſince an injurie ſuppos'd it is,

To let aſperſions, on one Member fall;

Why brook you them, who ſcandalize you all?

Why keep you thoſe unqueſtion'd, who are thought

Blame-worthie; till, the blame on all is brought?

If you ſeem all concerned, though but one,

Be ſome way toucht, as if he had miſdone;

How much more are you ſcandaliz'd if they

Who juſtly doe accuſe, have cauſe to ſay,

They could not have their Informations heard;

Nor legall-tryall; nor, their due regard?

How doth this ſcandalize you, if, when we

(As by our Covenant injoynd we be)

Have Informations brought, which cloſely touch,

On what concernes the publike-ſafety, much,

We have, not onelyonly, waited with ſubmiſſion,

And hearing ſought by Speech, and by Petition;

But, perſevered, alſo, weeks of dayes,

Nay, months and years; and, then, tir'd with delays,

p. 10Gave off, becauſe, we none, that while, could find,

To heed our Cauſe, or, bear the ſame in mind?

How ſcandalous is this? 'Tis either true,

That, in your Houſes, there be very few

Affecting Juſtice; or, they hardly found;

Or, that in their employments they abound;

Or, elſe, that they perceive the queſtion'd-crime,

Would come to tryall, in an evill time.

This ſaves your Credits: For, God hath a ſeaſon

For every thing: and (though you ſee no reaſon,

Of ſuch, and ſuch obſtructions, or delayes)

Doth all things timely; and walks prudent wayes.

And, peradventure, he will now, begin

To do, what hath ſo long deferred bin.

VVork you, with him; as, alſo, we intend;

And, he ſhall give our hopes, a happy end.

Take not thereat offence, as if, we wrong you,

VVhen we affirme there are falſe-men, among you.

VVhy ſeemes the ſcandall, any whit the more,

To have this ſpoken at the Senate-doore,

Then, to be made the common talke, of all

VVho travaile through the ſtreets, or walk the hall?

VVhat are men leſſe diſhonored, though none dare,

In print, to publiſh, that, they Traytors are?

If ev'ry man, almoſt, who hears their names

Thinks, knowes, & ſpeaks of their deſerved ſhames?

And, wonders, that, no Member, no Committee,

No County, Corporation, Towne, or City,

Takes thought to queſtion them? or, forth to learn

The truth of that, which doth ſo much concern

The Common-Peace? For, 'tis no work for one,

Except for him that meanes to be undone:

So chargeable, ſo troubleſome, they make it;

So long; ſo dangerous, to undertake it.

Theſe things, we mention not to be the leaſt

Detraction from your dues, or intereſt;

Or, from your Honour: or, becauſe, we grudge

You, or your Houſes any Priviledge

That may preſerve your Perſons, or that Power,

VVhichWhich may be for the Publike-weale, with your:

But, we would only mind you, to have care

No other, make them larger, then they are,

Both to th'indamaging of VsUs and You;

VVho know, that, all the Priviledges due

To Publike Perſons, were, at firſt, beſtowne

More for the Publike-ſake, then for their own,

And, preſently are forfeited; if, uſed

Beyond their bound, or, any way abuſed.

VVhen Cato, that great Senator of Rome,

VVhoſe dignity, it did as well become,

As any mans here living, to have claym'd

Thoſe Priviledges, whereat, ſome have aym'd:

Although his Innocence was oft abuſ'd,

And, He, no leſſe, then fifty times accuſ'd

By falſe Informers; and, though, thereupon

The Senate, thought to have decreed, that, none

The boldneſſe ſhould aſſume, in future time,

To charge a Senator, with any crime,

Not fully prov'd againſt him; Cato, roſe,

And, their intention, ſtoutly, did oppoſe.

By this Edict, ſaid He, we ſhould deprive

The Common-wealth, of that preſervative,

VVhereon her Safe-ſubſiſtence, much depends:

This, would ſecure her Foes, deſtroy, her Friends,

And, make it ſafer, Treaſon, to commit;

Then, to endeavour, for preventing it.

He, that ſhall give occaſion of ſuſpition,

Hath, ſo far, forfeited the true condition

Of one in Innocence; that, he muſt bide

The rubbings of the Teſt, till he be tride;

And, cannot, juſtly, ſay, it is a wrong

Yo beare, what to purgation, doth belong:

Since, ev'ry man is bound, as well to ſhun

Appearances of Ill, as, evill-done:

Elſe, to ſubmit (for giving of offence)

Unto the tryall of his Innocence.

Suſpected-men, therefore, if innocent,

VVith noble Cato, rather, are content

To ſtand accus'd; and, guilty to appear

Some ſpace, then, willingly, to leave a fear

Upon the Publike; or, to countenance

A Cuſtome, which might Treacherie advance;

Or, bar a needfull, or, a juſt-proceed,

Againſt thoſe men, who guilty are, indeed.

But, faulty-men accuſ'd (if, ſtill, they find

Their power continue) fee'l another mind.

Unto their guiltineſſe, they malice add;

They grow revengfull, miſchievous, and mad,

Plunge, in the toile, ſtrive, ſtrugle, ſcratch and tear;

Rage like a Tyger, roar out like a Bear;

And are ſo netled, that, you may behold

Their guiltineſſe, before the ſame is told;

p. 11Yea, and by hearing them, e're them you ſee,

May know what Vermin, and, what Beaſts they be.

Theſe things conſider, with a ſerious thought,

And, let to triall, ev'ry man be brought

Who hath deceiv'd his truſt; or, ought, neglected,

Or done, whereby, falſe-dealings, are ſuſpected.

If you intend, in ſafety, to remaine;

Hear all, who, reaſonably, to you complain:

And, judge with Righteous Judgment, that, GOD may

Delight to be among you, all the day;

That, all your Members, may be men approved;

And, Iealouſies and grudgings, be removed;

So, you ſhall ſtrengthned be, in one another,

And, knit, with ſuch aſſurances, together,

That, there ſhall neither be, in all your actions,

Frauds, failings, fears, repentings, or diſtractions.

So ſhall the Peoples hands with you be ſtrong,

And, we in hope, of that which doth belong

To our juſt Rights. Then, all your open-Foes

Their greateſt ſtrength; their greateſt hope ſhal loſe,

And, all their new-deſignes, and jugling plots,

With VsUs, the French, Danes, Hollanders, or Scots,

Shall come to nought; or, by preventing-grace,

Redound unto the welfare of this place.

Then, you ſhall get Confederates, and Friends,

Who, heeding, with your juſt, and prudent ends,

That power and Counſell, timely, you provide;

Will think, they in your Friendſhip, may confide.

And, then, we, likewiſe, whom you oft have tride,

Will, firme to you, at ev'ry need, abide;

Still, freely hazard all our lively-hood,

Our Limbs, our Lives, and our dear Childrens blood,

To vindicate our Birth-rights, and our Lawes,

In ſpight of all th'oppoſers of our Cauſe.

Yea, if the much deſired Reformation,

Of thoſe, who are the Choſen, of our Nation,

You ſhall begin; we, will to you adhere

So cloſely, that, you ſhall not need to fear

Effecting it; although, of Truſtie-men,

There were not, in both Houſes, five times ten:

For, we are confident, halfe of that number,

Well rouz'd, would wake us all, out of our ſlumber:

Strike terrour, into all the hearts, of thoſe

Who dar'd, that undertaking, to oppoſe;

And, make (when their Foundation they had laid)

Malignancie, and Tyrannie, afrayd.

We are as confident, (and, to this Nation,

We dare aſſure it, on our Reputation,

And, on our Lives) that, if, you ſhall go on,

To do this Work, as, yet, it may be done;

You ſhould, not only, ſhew the VVordly-wiſe,

How far, juſt-dealing, out ſtrips Policies;

But, alſo you ſhall honeſtie reduce

To practice; bring true Pietie in uſe;

And, build up ſuch a Fabrick, in this Land,

Of Prudent-Government; that, it ſhould ſtand

To be a pattern, for all Chriſtendome;

And, flouriſh, till the Son of GOD, ſhall come.

But, if you hear us not, with ſuch reſpect,

That our juſt-motion, may have due effect:

Then, know frō us (for, 'twill be worth your knowing)

That, down the Hill of ruine, you are going;

That, all things you ſhall order, or ordaine,

Vote, or debate on, will be done in vaine:

That, by our Contributions, and our Ayd,

Deſtruction, ſhall be, for a while, delayd,

But, not prevented: That, the Hypocrites,

Shall do you, for a while, as great deſpights,

As have been, lately, done unto you, here,

By our prophane, and, Godleſſe-Cavaleer;

And, that, GOD ſhall give back again theſe Lands

Into this Kings, or, ſome worſe Tyrants hands;

Till, his Avenging-power, hath rooted hence,

All thoſe, who, without either care, or ſenſe,

Of publike miſeries; of private woes;

Of their own fall; of others overthrowes;

Of either GOD or man; of heav'n or hell;

Have ſpurned, at the way, of doing-well.

For, let us not ſuppoſe, that, we may truſt

Upon our Cauſe, though, that be very juſt.

The Iewiſh-cauſe was good: yet on them, fell

Deſtruction, for not handling of it well,

And, for Injuſtice; wherein, we offend

So groſly, that, unleſſe we ſoon amend,

GOD will put off (if we can truth preſage)

The VVorke now doing, till the following age:

And, then, ſhall riſe another Generation,

And make compleat, that work of Reformation.

Which now is hindred, by the cunning ſleights

Of Tyrants; Hypocriticall-deceits;

Selfe-ſeekers; and the Avarice and Pride,

Of ſome, who ſeem to take the better ſide.

p. 12And, that, which hath by Iehu, been begun;

Shall, by Eliſha perfectly be done.

But, we, no longer, Noble Senators,

Will tempt your patience, or oppreſſe your ears

With our bold pleadings; leſt, by ſpeaking much,

We unawares, upon ſome ſtrain may touch,

Which by our ill expreſſion, or miſtake,

Us, to miſcenſures, liable may make.

What e're we ſay, be pleaſed to believe

We, would not, willingly, occaſion give,

Of your diſpleaſure; or, of diſcontent

To any Member of this Parliament

That, maketh conſcience of his publike-truſt;

Much leſſe would we in any thing, diſguſt

The whole, conven'd together; or, forget

Our ſelves ſo far, as to diſhonour it:

Or, draw one Line, that really, might ſhame

Or, ſhadow, any Glory of the ſame.

To witneſſe, that we mean the thing we ſay,

The faults now found, our purpoſe is, to lay

On thoſe, with whom we found them, and, with whom

To chide a little, we, are hither come.

On thoſe, alone, to whom reproofes are due;

On thoſe, whoſe falſhoods, have diſhonour'd you,

By thruſting in, among you; Ev'n, on thoſe,

The burthen of our Speech, we will impoſe:

And, (by your Favour) as we cauſe do find,

Speake, now, to them, a parcell of our mind.

"The WELAFFECTED, when they ended had

"This Speech, unto the Faithfull-Members made,

"Paws'd, for a while; to mark, if an aſſent

"Were likely to be granted, with content,

"To their deſire of Leave, to ſpeak their thought,

"Of, and to thoſe, by whom, our Woe is wrought;

"And, gheſſiing (by their grave, & gracious ſmiling)

"Them, to that motion, not to be unwilling;

"They made a low obeyſance: Then, withdrew

"A little back; and, taking into view

"The Truſtleſſe-Members, fixt, on them their eyes;

"And, with a Speaking-frowne; ſpoke, in this wiſe.

The Speech of the WEL-AFFECTED, to their perfidious-Truſtees, diſhonouring the Parliament, by deſerting the ſame, or, by not acting cordially therein.

STand off, ye Traitors; that, me may not ſmutch

A Blameles-Member, whilſt your faults we touch:

Stand further off, we ſay; leſt, whilſt we ſpeak,

S…me Fooliſh-fellow may our words miſtake;

And, think; we have a purpoſed intent

To lay aſperſions on the Parliament.

Stand, yet a little further, from among them;

That, every man may ſee we would not wrong them,

But, rather, do them honour by aſſayng

To helpe prevent their ſcandall and betraying,

By making, ev'ry wronged Subject know

From whom, their troubles, and oppreſſions flow.

So; being ſingled out, as you are, now,

None, but a Brainleſſe-Foole, or, ſome of You,

Can be ſo impudent, as to apply

Our Checks, to that High-Courts indignity;

Or, ſeem diſpleas'd, becauſe, our minds we ſay

As fearleſly, as honeſt Freemen may;

Since, we preſume no further, then to do,

That, which neceſſity compels us to;

And, that, which being longer time delayd,

May come too late; and, quite in vain, be ſaid.

When firſt this Parliament conveen'd together,

Who cal'd for ſuch as you? How came you hither?

Confeſſe the truth; are not you ſome of thoſe,

Who made the Burgers drunk, when you were choſe?

Or, bribed them, with hopes, that, when you dye,

You would bequeath their Towne a Legacie?

Or, be, at leaſt, ſo neighbourly unto them,

As none of thoſe diſcourteſies to do them,

Which, muſt, undoubtedly, have been expected,

If, they your profer'd ſervice, had neglected?

Though now you look upon us, as if we

Your Vaſſals, and your ſlaves, e're long ſhould be;

Are not you ſome of thoſe, who came, and went

And ſpake, and wrote, and ſu'd for our conſent?

Were not you they, who trotted up and down,

To every Inne, and Alehouſe in the Town,

To gain a Voice? Did not you, for your ends,

Crouch to your equals; importune your Friends;

Court your Inferiors; ſcrape acquaintance, with

Meer Strangers; Feaſt, the Cobler, and the Smith?

Nay more; upon the drunken Tapſter fawne,

And, leave your word and promiſes in pawne

With Chamberlaines, and Hoſtlers, that, they might

Be Factors for you, being out of ſight;

p. 13To move their Cuſtomers, who had a Voice,

To make you Objects, of their ſervile choice?

Sure, you are ſome of them, although we ſee,

A Metamorphoſis in you to be,

Which puts great diſtances, 'twixt what you are,

And, what, but ſome few years agoe, you were:

For, we, that were your equals, or your betters,

Are, to your courteſie, no common debters,

If you will condeſcend, to let us know,

We do not out of your acquaintance grow;

Which we ſhall hazard, too, unleſſe we ſeem

To have your wiſdome in moſt high eſteem;

And, in your ſayings, doubtleſly, confide;

Although, you know, we know, your Worſhips li'd.

When, firſt, your Fellowes left us, you, are they

Who, having not the grace to run away,

Abode behind, to ſee that ſervice done,

Which, had been miſt, if all the Knaves had gone.

For, (give the Devill his due) had you not ſtaid,

Our Counſels, and our Cauſe to have betrayd,

This WARRE, whoſe date, as yet, we do not know,

Had quite been ended, nigh four years ago:

Which, whilſt ſuch Vipers, we, among us, cheriſh,

Will have no end, till You, or VVe, ſhall periſh.

Heare, therefore, now, a ſober word or twain,

Leſt, you repent your wilfulneſſe, in vain.

Stop your Career, before it be at height,

And, face about, ye Madmen, to the right.

We wiſh not your deſtruction or your ſhame,

Nor, take we pleaſure to divulge your blame,

Though you maligne our weal: Take therefore, heed.

To what we ſay; and, wherein you proceed.

Be not ſo overdaring in your ſin;

Leſt, ſuch your pay be, as your work hath bin.

Or, leſt, you rowle your ſelves, if you perſever,

Down to that pit, whence no man can deliver.

For, though you think your walkings are conceal'd;

Your ſecret paths and courſes be reveald.

Your private Aymes, your Avarice, your Pride,

Your fraud, and double-dealings are eſpide;

And, we perceive the guildings, and the paint,

Wherewith, your curſed Projects you be-ſaint.

Though ſome of you, your ſelves have falſly nam'd

The GODLY; and ſome other of you ſham'd

The HONEST-partie, by pretending to

What, you had never, yet, the thought to do,

Your grand Hypocriſie, the people notes,

Both in your Vowes, and ſelfe-denying-Votes;

And how you cheat, delude us, and oppreſſe

With mock-ſhowes, of diſſembled Holineſſe.

They mark, how you perform your Declarations;

Your Orders, Covenants, and Proteſtations;

And, when your turnes are ſerved, with what pride,

You caſt your Promiſes, and Friends aſide.

They have obſerved, what Deſignes you drive;

Whoſe game you play; whoſe profit, you contrive;

How, though with faces toward us you row,

Quite from us, your intentions are to go:

And, by the preparations, for the Scoene,

We finde what, you to put in action mean.

It is obſerv'd, how, ſome of you deſire

'Twixt us and Scotland to renew the fire;

And, how you wiſh occaſions may be given,

That, they by force of Arms might hence be driven,

Whom you invited in: As if, GOD tooke

No notice, when your Covenant were broke

In wiſhes and deſires, whilſt you are free

From breaches of your Faith that actuall be:

Whereas, in vain an outward Truth, you ſhew;

Unleſſe, the purpoſe of the heart be true.

They have obſerv'd, how, ſome of you, as wide.

From Moderation, on the other ſide,

Have by pretending fairly with the SCOT,

Endeavor'd how thoſe plagues may be begot,

Which in appearance, you would fain prevent;

And, how, you ſow the ſeeds of diſcontent.

You work upon the weakeſt of both Nations,

By ſecret ties, or open Aggravations

Of thoſe diſcouragements, which they have had;

Or, of thoſe failings, which by them were made,

By thoſe Decoyes, which beſt can uſe the wing,

The fooliſh Ducks into your ſnares ye bring;

And, whatſoever way your Grandees go,

Your Party takes, like Wild-geeſe, in a row.

It is obſerv'd what miſchiefes you intend,

By ſeeming friendlie, where you are no Friend;

By ſlandring of their Pietie and Zeale,

Whoſe valour, hath preſerv'd the Common-weal,

And, by contriving, and diſperſing lies,

To breed diſtruſts and foſter Jealouſies.

Apparent are, your Projects on the City;

Your Arbitrarie ſtraines, in each Committee.

p. 14To worke the people into diſcontent,

And bring an Odium on the Parliament.

'Tis ſeen, how, needleſly, you oft protract

By long delayes, what, you with ſpeed, might act.

'Tis ſeen, how, to accommodate each other,

Ev'n you that are at odds, can joyn together

Againſt the publike, and exchange as friends,

Your curteſies, to further private ends.

How, in Petitions, you confound and cumber

Your ſelves, and us, by taking without number,

Or order, Cauſes in; and, heeding neither

Right wrong or method, ſhuffle all together

Into a Chaos; where, we find our grief,

Increaſed, by endeavouring for relief.

And, otherwhile, your malice doth make void

Thoſe Orders, too, whereby might be injoy'd

The Parliaments intentions, to relieve

Thoſe, whom the Foe, or, our own Party grieve;

And, by pretending juſtice, dares abuſe

The juſtice, and the wiſdome of the Houſe.

For, when their order ſhall concern the right

Of any man, to whom you bear a ſpight,

'Tis but an Order (ſleighting it) you ſay,

Got from the Houſe upon ſome buſie day,

Without Commitment, or Report thereon,

As if, all right were at Committees done:

Or, as if you impli'd, that, times there are,

Or, opportunities, (if watch'd they were)

In which, your Houſes well conſidered not,

VVhat we petitioned, or what they vote:

VVhereas, indeed, there's nothing done amiſſe

In Parliament, but that which granted is

On thoſe Reports, which falſe Committees make:

For, every man almoſt, doth notice take,

How, they are managed; how, they are made,

By thoſe, who are Crafts-Maſters in the trade:

How, they are brought to meet, or keep away,

As, this, or that man, it advantage may:

And, how, when their debates are at an end,

You can, when up Reports are drawn and pen'd,

Inſert a ſentence, word, or circumſtance

VVhichWhich may the Cauſe mar, hinder, or advance

As you ſhall pleaſe: And, by this cunning way,

The Parliament, to ſcandalls you betray,

VVhen manifold affairs compell them to

Commit ſome, to ſuch hypocrites as you.

VVe likewiſe more then jealouſies have h…

That ſome of you, have Agents here been mad…

For Royaliſts: And, that, you had at Court,

Your Factors, and your Leagers to report

Your ſervices, for them performed here;

And, to the King, your perſons to endear.

We hear, whoſe peace was made; who alſo made it,

VVith what reſpect, and on what terms he had it▪

VVho did his lodging at the Court provide;

And gueſſe we do, why here he doth abide.

VVe could declare, which of you had intentions

To fly to Oxford, and, by what preventions

You ſtayed, when you purpoſed to have went,

VVe know who raiſed horſe; who, money ſent;

And who did other ſervices which you

Are loath to heare of, leaſt we prove them true.

For, of ſuch things, you guilty know each other;

In private, you diſcourſe of them together;

And, hear them ſpoken of from day to day,

Yet queſtion not the ſpeakers; nor give way

To thoſe that would; except, it may be, there,

VVhere, you who are accus'd permitted are

To hear, examine, and debate the cauſe,

Contrary both to conſcience, and the Laws:

By which means, ſome have traitors been ſo long,

That, now, to queſtion them, it ſeems a wrong,

Becauſe, they were not queſtion'd heretofore;

As if that took off guilt, which makes it more;

Or, as if 'twere a clearing men from ſin,

To let them live unqueſtioned, long, therein.

But, doubtleſſe, if the blood of one man ſpilt

Ten years ago, makes nothing leſſe his guilt,

Who did the murther; we no reaſon ſee

How, they, who traytors, to the publike bee,

Excuſable, or innocent ſhould grow,

By having many years continued ſo;

And, who by ſcaping their juſt doome, ſo long,

Encreaſe our private, and the publike wrong.

Can ever we have hope, that ſuch as you,

VVill to the Common-Liberties be true;

VVho, to infringe our Freedoms did begin

Ere into Truſt, you had admitted bin?

And ſcrewed your ſelves into it by thoſe wayes,

Which neither are our profit, nor your praiſe?

You thought it not enough, that, you had got,

(By practiſes, which Law alloweth not)

p. 15Your ſelves, made Members of this Parliament;

But, alſo, for the better ſettlement,

Of your Deſignes; you ſeek to bring in thoſe

Who in your purpoſes with you may cloſe:

And, to that end, intrude upon the right,

Of other men, with all your wits and might.

You ride, and ſend; you promiſe and intreat;

Feaſt ſome; ſpeake others faire; ſome others threat;

And, many other diligences uſe,

The ſoon deceived people to abuſe;

That, you may draw them, to confer their Voices,

On men, who are not their, but your own choices.

From which high impudence, and bold intruſion,

We make this undeniable concluſion;

That, now, the ordring of the Common-Cauſe,

Our Liberties, Lives, Liveli-hoods, and Lawes,

Is in the power of many, who were choſe

Not, by our Countries friends; but by her Foes;

And, ſuch as had nor wit, nor care to know,

On whom, the Publike-truſt, they did beſtow.

And, if in this proceeding you go on,

What can we hope will follow thereupon?

But, that, if long this Parliament ſhould ſit,

Your Members, ſtill, new-members would beget

On ev'ry Corporation, Shire, and Towne,

Till they had made their Members ſo their own,

That, our free choiſe were generally loſt,

As at this preſent day it is almoſt.

For, on the VVrits injuriouſly you ſeize;

You put them back or forward as you pleaſe;

And, whereas, if they had come forth together,

And, been within ſome little time ſent thither

Where choiſe was to be made; more ſatisfaction,

It would have given us; and drown'd that Faction

Whoſe manifold corruptions made you doubt

Thoſe new Elected-ones, would purge them out:

But you contriv'd it ſo, that they muſt come,

By one and one, or elſe by ſome and ſome,

That they the better may be prepoſſeſt

(Before they know the publike-Intereſt)

By you to your advantage; who intend

By making ſhow, of a Religious end,

And holding up two Factions to abide

The ſafer; till, you better can provide.

And, you are they, who when you in are taken,

Had rather three whole Kingdoms ſhould be ſhaken

Then your leaſt Priviledge diſpens'd withall,

What reaſonable barre foe're befall.

No men are halfe ſo zealous in that cauſe

As you, by whom our Liberties and Lawes

Are moſt infring'd. Oh! how you, ride and run

And plot, when Informations are begun

Againſt a Member! Be it right, or wrong,

How you conſult together! how, you throng,

To that Committee, whither they are brought!

How ſpeedily exceptions, forth are ſought

Againſt th'informers? what ſeverity

Are they examin'd with? how partially

Are proofes conſidered? how ſlur'd and ſleighted!

How, are the perſons wronged and deſpighted?

How, inhumanly, are they, oft reviled?

How, of their Liberties are they diſpoiled?

How are they ſcandall'd by falſe imputations,

Of baſe Conſpiracies, and ſubornations?

How frequently are ſpread, to their diſgrace

(By men of ſeeming gravity, and place)

Injurious rumors? which ev'n they who ſpeak them,

Know to be falſe; becauſe, they firſt did make them?

Thus you have uſed us; and, drawn in ſome

Your partners, in injuſtice, to become,

Becauſe they thought you good, and, us as had

As by your ſly deportments, we were made:

And, by theſe practiſes, with many moe,

(VVhichWhich, we by dear experience, come to know)

You have almoſt improved them ſo far,

That, men may be as wicked as you are

VVithout reproofe: Becauſe, but few or none

Dare, now, to ſpeake, of what you have miſdone.

Theſe things, with wrath, and ſcorn, the people heed.

And, how in other matters you proceed,

To that High-Courts diſhonour, which, in ſhow,

You ſeem to ſerve, but, ſeek to overthrow,

They notice take, with whom we do comply;

VVhat Stars and Compaſſe you have ſteared by;

For whom, you oftneſt at Committees are;

Againſt what Perſons, you do moſt appear;

VVhat great Rewards, and Titles you propoſe

To pay a debt, which King nor Kingdome owes;

How, you acccompt; and, what Accompts you take

VVhom you diſplace; whom Officers you make,

On whom the richeſt places you confer;

How, to your ſelves, Delinquents you endeare,

p. 16And, how you vexe them, with affronts and braves,

Who, have preſerved you from being ſlaves.

The People, your indulgence, likewiſe, marks

To your dependents, and malignant Clarks;

To what a height of pride, and wealth they clime

By ſerving the corruptions, of the time;

To what a vaſtneſſe their eſtates are growne,

By that, which hath the publike, overthrowne;

What Priviledges, are by ſome, enjoy'd,

Whilſt they who ſuffred for them, are deſtroyd;

Whilſt they are ſleighted, and without regard,

Whoſe better ſervice, merits beſt reward;

Whoſe Bountie, hath enabled you to give;

Whoſe valour, was the means, by which you live;

And, by whoſe perſeverance, you poſſeſſe

The hopes of all your earthly happineſſe.

For, 'tis by them, whoſe blood you caſt away

That, you have bread and rayment, at this day;

And, that within your Parlers, you may ſit

Of all your braveries, unplunder'd, yet,

Whileſt your Deliverers are like to ſterve,

Through want of what you waſt, and they deſerve.

It is from you, whence all theſe miſchiefes come,

Which, to this Nation, are ſo troubleſome.

The Priviledges upon you beſtowne

For publike ends, are uſed for your owne.

The Duties, which have been injoyn'd unto us,

Are made, by you, but engines to undo us,

Or, to betray us, to the ſpight of thoſe,

Whom, for the publike ſafety, we oppoſe.

The Power, which we to ſave our Freedomes, gave,

You have imployed, Freemen to inſlave;

And, would, ſhould others act as you have done,

Set many Tyrants up, inſtead of one.

But, You, and HEE, whoſe wilfull ignorance,

Of our juſt Rights, hath made him follow France

In his Deſignes; and, hope in imitation,

Of that French-Tyrant, who inſlav'd his Nation,

To bring our Engliſh-necks to that baſe Yoke;

Ev'n You and Hee, ſhall know you much miſtooke;

And, that, if too ſharpe curbs, our courſes check,

We, ſhall go neer to break the Riders neck.

Our Nation much can bear; and, now and than

Brook ſomewhat more, then at all times it can;

But, tread not on us: For, you will not find,

In Engliſh-Yeomen, your French-Peaſants mind.

Our Citizens, have ſerved to be free;

So born our Nobles, and our Gentry be:

And, though French-Spaniels fawne, when they are beat,

Our true-bred Engliſh-Maſtives, ſcorne it, yet.

We hated Tyrannie, though in the King;

And, will not brook, in you, the ſelfe-ſame thing.

Preſume; not, therefore, to provoke too far,

Abuſed patience, leſt, deceiv'd you are.

By Iuſtice, and by Kindneſſe, you may take us;

But, e'er by force, you bend us, you will break us.

To keep us Freemen, we have you elected;

Our rights we claime; and, more is not expected:

Nay, ſo far are we from deſiring more,

That, we, will, freely, back again reſtore

What e're you give us, if it ſhall be known

You give us any more then is our own.

It is not our deſire, that, for our ſake,

You, ought that is the Kings, from him ſhould take,

Or any Truſt of our, but, what abuſed

By him hath been; or, what may be miſuſed,

Both to his harme and our: nor are we bent

Either to keep, or change the Government,

But, as GOD pleaſeth, and ſhall move the Nations

To do, hereafter upon juſt occaſions;

And, as it ſeemes expedient: For, we ſee

Things-lawfull, inexpedient, ſometime, be;

Eſpecially, when we ſhall ſnatch at them,

Before they either have ſtood out their time,

Or, we are fitted for them: This, raſh courſe,

Inſtead of mending; maketh matters worſe:

And, therefore, till, GOD, plainer ſhall diſcloſe

Thoſe purpoſes of his, which no man knowes;

We ſeriouſly, endeavour, and deſire,

Our King, unto his people, ſhould retire;

And, by Repenting, burniſh up that Crowne,

Which, for our ſinnes and his is ruſtie grown.

For, though our Cauſe be better; yet, ſince we

Are in our ſelves, as blameable as he;

And, unto GOD-ward, in Offences even;

We could as well forgive, as be forgiven.

But, in this point, your hearts are not upright:

Yea, and among your ſelves, you differ quite;

For, ſome of you, miſtaking the intent,

And, loyall purpoſe of the Parliament,

(Who leaves no means untride, whereby, it may

Reduce the King unto the regall-way,)

p. 17Have, out of Policy and (and, hope of that

Which we were ever, far from ayming at)

Appear'd deſirous to contrive it ſo,

That, he, and we might more aſunder go,

Untill our differences might increaſe

Into impoſſibilities of Peace.

Some other of you, to the King adhere,

Not out of loyalty, but, out of fear,

To whether ſide, you may moſt ſafely go,

To ſave your ſelves; ſtill, ſtaggring, to and fro,

Inconſtantly, from th'one, to th'other ſide,

According to the Current of the Tide;

Not caring, whether Partie thriveth beſt,

But, as it may advance your intereſt.

And, this, hath made you otherwhile, aſſay

How, you might either Him, or Ʋs betray.

Whereas, if you were faithfull to that end,

Which, outwardly, to favour you pretend;

And, in the means, with patience, would await

Gods leiſure, without wav'ring, or deceit;

(Endeavouring, as we have truly done,

That, Hee, and We might meet again in one)

GOD, who, at pleaſure, turnes the hearts of Kings,

And, light, out of the greateſt darkneſſe, brings;

Might make this Breach, a means, perhaps, become,

To knit a True-Love-knot through Chriſtendome;

Occaſion give, to make this King endeavour

To baniſh Tyrannie, from hence, for ever;

And, be the firſt of Kings, who, truly, ſhall

Lay down his Crowne, his Dignitie, and all

At CHRIST his feet; and, take them up again,

To act his will; and by his Law to raigne.

For, though the Kings late failings do exceed,

And, though GOD, peradventure, hath decreed,

To caſt both him and His, down from the Throne,

Or, do to him, as juſtly he hath done

To many Kings and Tyrants; yet, this Nation

Hath hitherto, receiv'd no Revelation

Of ſuch a purpoſe; nor command, that they

Should caſt him, of their own accord, away.

And, therefore, very wiſely doth our State

Gods own proceedings ſeek to imitate,

In proſecuting him, and his offences,

As, GOD doth us, in our impenitences:

That, if the King, ſtill frowardly go on,

He, by his own Deſignes, may be undone,

And, GOD himſelfe remove him: So, ſhall we

Of our own ſuffrings, no avengers be,

Ought further, then good conſcience, and our lawes,

May juſtifie our progreſſe in the Cauſe.

For, by this patient waiting on his will,

VVhether God bring him back, or let him, ſtill

Proceed and fall; yea, whether unto him,

Or unto none, he give that Diadem

VVhichWhich he abus'd: GOD, ſhall ſo bring to paſſe

VVhat, for his glory, pre-ordained was;

That, it ſhall likewiſe, to our VVeal, redound,

And, we with David, ſhall be blameleſſe found

Of haſtning our deliverance, e're the day,

According to our own deviſed way,

As ſome have done; and, thereby mixt the Bleſſing

VVith many bitterneſſes, in poſſeſſing.

This patience, and this prudence would bring on

That work, which is deſired ſhould be done.

And, here ſhould be that look't-for Kingdome then,

VVhichWhich will advance, all good and honeſt men.

A Kingdome, wherein, they who are unjuſt;

VVhere Paraſites; were they who faile their truſt,

And men of wicked hearts, and ſhameleſſe faces,

Shall have nor credit, Offices, nor Places.

This, this is that, ye Rebels which ye fear;

This, makes you ſo enraged as you are:

This, makes you, in vain projects to perſiſt,

And, drive a Factorage for Antichriſt;

VVhilſt you are perſevering, to fulfill

The fleſhly longings, of your private will.

But, know, that, on your paths GOD hath an eye;

An open-care, to ev'ry poore mans cry:

An able-hand, a ſtretcht-out-arme to fetch

Your Policie and Power within his reach:

And, that though for a ſeaſon you may thrive,

In acting what you wickedly contrive;

Yet, e're it ſhall befall as you fore-think,

The Floods ſhall riſe, and make the Mountaines ſink.

Then, turn back to your Vowes, e're 'tis too late;

By Juſtice, help repaire this ruin'd ſtate;

Unite your ſelves, unfainedly, to thoſe,

VVhom, ſeeming to aſſiſt, you, ſtill oppoſe.

Be warn'd oh Judges: and oh King be wiſe,

And, ſweeten ſo your daily ſacrifice,

VVith Juſtice, and with Mercy, that, GOD may

From theſe three Kingdomes, turne his wrath away▪

That all the long-long ſufferings he hath daign'd,

That all the victories we have obtain'd;

That all the counſels, vows, cries, prayers, and tears,

Of truſty Commoners, and faithfull Peers,

p. 18And all that wealth, and blood, this cauſe hath coſt,

May not, through want of unity, be loſt.

Make not this Parliament, without effect,

By which, our greateſt good we did expect.

Permit not that, which our chief praiſe hath had,

A ſcorn, by your corruptions, to be made.

Sad not their hearts, who in their truſt are true;

VVho had ere this, prevailed, but for you;

VVho, undeſervedly, ſhare, now, among them,

The blame, wherewith, your guiltines doth wrong them,

And, wil do ſo, til Juſtice, forth ſhal thruſt,

The wicked, from th' Aſſemblies of the juſt.

Make not more Breaches: For, alas! there are,

More then enough, already, ev'ry where:

And, yet perhaps, no more then ſhall promote

GOD'S glory; who, can preſſe an Antidote,

Out of thoſe poiſonous fruits, and banefull things,

VVhichWhich forth from our corrupted nature ſprings;

And, teacheth us oft times, ev'n by offences,

The knowledge of approved Excellencies.

That Independent-Presbyterian-Ginn,

Which of diviſions hath occaſion been,

Shall never move to propagate that end,

VVhichWhich many fear, and many do intend:

For, by his providence, and grace preventing,

GOD, ſhall at laſt, extract from our diſſenting,

A wholſomer production, to theſe Nations,

Then, yet, arides the vulgar expectations:

Unleſſe; a crying Epidemick-ſin,

To mar the bleſſing, caſt ſome poyſon in.

Good-men, to both opinions do belong;

Truth, is in both, with error mixt among;

The face of both opinions, you put on,

Or off, as your deſigns are to be done.

Somtime, an Independent-Garbe you chuſe;

Somtime, you Preſbyterian-vizards uſe,

Untrue to both: and, when they ſee your ſcope,

They, will become as uſeleſſe, to your hope,

Whom you deceive; as, to their hopes you are,

Of whoſe opinions, you, a while appeare.

… who the WELL-AFFECTED, termed be,

Are they, who in the Common-Cauſe agree,

Although our judgemens varie; we, are loath

To quarrell, to the ruining of both

Opinions; or, the ruining of all,

For differing, but in points dogmaticall:

Leſt, whilſt for chaffe, and ſtraw, we make a Fray,

Our neighbours come, and ſteale the corn away.

Some of us like one Party; ſome, the other;

Some of us, are not much in love with either;

Nor ſo diſpleas'd with either, as to joy

In ought, which their due comfort may deſtroy.

For, Patriots with both of them are found;

Both, build their faith, and hope, upon one ground;

And, we believe, that, when GOD, from our eyes,

Hath ſcrap'd the ſcalos, purg'd out our maladies,

(And, brought us by his grace, to treat together,

VVithout prejudicating one anothe…)

VVe, then, who, (being ſomwhat out of tune)

Do, for the preſent, harſh diviſions runne;

Shall, when our notes, are tun'd, and rightly plac't,

Joyne in a Diapaſon, at the laſt:

Which, to our great contentment, will diſcloſe

That Perfect-Muſicke from ſome diſcords flowes.

VVe, therfore hope, (though yet your fraud prolongs

Our jealouſies, & multiplieth wrongs)

That, all your Engineers, and cunning plots

Shall nor divide the Engliſh, from the Scots;

Nor ſeparate thoſe Engliſh from each other,

VVho by their Covenant are knit together;

Till they have done their work, and you are pai'd,

VVhat they deſerve, who have their truſt betrai'd.

Or, elſe, till they or we commit that act

VVhichWhich totally diſſolveth our contract:

And, wee to them, who, ſhall unjuſtly take,

Or, give the cauſe, that curſed Breach to make.

But, whatſoever Bleſſing may enſue,

No portion of it, can belong to you,

In this eſtate: For, plainly, we deſcry,

That, in the gall of bitterneſſe you lye;

VVe …, although we cannot hinder it,

VVhat you purſue, whilſt in the Houſe, you ſit;

VVhat things abroad, you practiſe, and allow;

VVhat, you in ſecret, favour and avow;

And, to effect, your purpoſes to bring,

How, you abuſe both Parliament, and King.

We know the means, by which you entred in:

Upon what Principles, you did begin:

What courſe you took, before you were elected;

What fame you had; of what you were ſuſpected;

In what baſe projects, you a hand have had;

How poor ſome of you were; how rich, now made

By publike ruins; and, what follow muſt

If you be long continued in your Truſt.

We have obſerv'd, though many crooks it hath,

The turnings, and the windings of your path.

p. 19How you divide the Clergie, by your ſidings;

How your diviſions, and your ſub-dividings,

You multiply, and manie waies foment

To work deſtruction to the Government

In Church & Common-wealth; and, how, your tricks

(Extracted from the Jeſuits politicks)

Do ſhake the Fundamentalls, whereon ſtand

The ſafety, wealth, and honour of the Land.

We ſee, although we cannot, yet prevent

Or, well expreſſe the ſame, how you have ſpent

The Publike-Treaſures; how the Publike-Pow'r

Is brought, it ſelf to weaken, and devour:

How, you oppreſſe the Countrey without pity;

How, you abuſe the Bounty of the City;

Her valiant ſons, how you have wrong'd and ſleighted;

Their faithfull ſervice how you have requited;

And, what, unleſſe both you and we amend,

Will be our portion, and your later end.

Yea, we grow ſenſible, with what delay,

Our ſuits are trifled off, from day to day:

How long we wait, to have Petitions heard;

And, when committed, how you diſ-regard

Our charge, by keeping witneſſes in town;

Our tedious pains in trotting up and down,

To wooe for meetings; that our time and coſt,

In feeing Clerks, and Councell, be not loſt:

All theſe, with other hind'rances, unnam'd,

(For which, the Houſes are not to be blam'd)

We ſuffer, to our bitter diſcontent,

And, to the ſcandall of the Parliament

Through your defaults; who, have, by ſitting long,

Learn'd new contrivances, for doing wrong;

And, ſuch obſtructive, and deſtructive waies,

As were to us unknown in former daies.

GOD, be your ſpeed, as your deſignes are juſt:

Els, let them thrive, as we believe they muſt.

Our hope, you were; but now, our Fear, you be:

And, kept, by you, as lambs by wolves, are we.

Regardleſſe, of our wellfare, you are grown;

Gods cauſe pretending, you purſue your own;

Increaſing, by the Common-wealths decreaſe;

Improoving, by the ruin of our Peace;

And, making to your ſelves, ev'n as you liſt,

A Prieſthood, Lawes, a Goſpell, and a Chriſt.

We that have been your firſt, and faſteſt friends,

(If, ever, you had honouroble ends

In order to the publike) have, of late,

But ſerv'd your turns, in ſerving of the State.

This, having, for our fordwardneſſe enjoy'd,

That, we are moſt oppreſt, and firſt deſtroy'd:

And, through your fault, are griev'd by their neglect

Whom we moſt honour, and do beſt affect.

Nay, which is worſe, you who on us have brought

This miſchief, muſt, the Publike-friends, be thought,

And we Delinquents; for no other cauſe,

But ſeeking execution of the Lawes;

Or, for endeavouring how to break ope

Some neceſſarie paſſage, to our hope,

VVhen we are almoſt ſtifled in the throng

Of miſeries, which have oppreſt us long.

If, as our VOW injoyns us, we accuſe

Your Fellowes, who, have ſeemed to abuſe

Their Publike-Truſt; Though, by our Information,

VVe, only, ſeek the Kingdoms Reformation;

Yet, ſuch is your injuſtice, that, inſtead

Of ſuffering us to have a faire proceed,

(According to the merit of the Cauſe,

The Subjects Priviledges, and the Lawes)

You fall on us, as if that we were they

VVho were accus'd, the Kingdom to betray:

At leaſtwiſe, we are us'd, and look'd upon,

As if ſome great offences we had done.

The men inform'd againſt, you do permit

In their own Cauſe, Examiners to ſit;

To hear debates; our witneſſes to ſee,

And ſpeak with them, ere they examin'd be;

To act as Judge and Party; To enlarge,

The guilty; to condemn, without a charge,

Us, that are innocent; and to purſue us,

As, if unqueſtionable Rogues, they knew us.

And, if you were not, yet, more impudent,

It might be borne: But, to the Parliament,

You ſeek to make us odious; and to leave us

Nor friend, nor bread, nor ought that eaſe may give us

And, which is worſe then this, by having thus

Thus impudently, made a ſcorn of us;

(Whoſe good affections gen'rally are knowne)

The people ſo diſcouraged are growne,

That, had not ſome, a love unto the State,

Which will out-live your tyranny, and hate;

The Parliament, would be deſerted ſo,

And their Juſt-Quarrell ſo defamed grow,

That Traytors would be traitors without feare;

And, none be bold to ſay, they Traytors are.

A multitude of other wayes you grieve us,

Through miſinforming them, who ſhould reli… …

p. 20Through miſ-reports, and making outward ſhowes,

Of better fruit, then on your dunghill growes:

And, we have little hope of gaining eaſe,

Till GOD himſelf, by miracle ſhall pleaſe,

(Or, by ſome extraordinary way)

To change your minds, or root you quite away:

For, our moſt juſt-complaints, do nought aſſwage,

Your cruelty, but, more encreaſe your rage.

Our Patience, no reſpect at all hath won us,

But, rather, makes you more inſult upon us;

Yea, and the more, your wills we ſtoop unto,

The more we have to ſuffer, and, to do.

If we ſeeme forward for the Common-weal,

With popularity, you brand our zeal.

If we contribute more then ſome of you,

With enviouſneſſe, our bounty you purſue.

And, whereas, we ſhould favour'd be, therefore,

You do not only make our burthens more

Then other mens, when ableneſſe have we,

But, lay them on, when we unable be;

And, for our being firſt in contribution,

Intend to make us laſt in reſtitution.

Nay, ſome of us, have cauſe to be affraid,

Well-doing, ſhall with evill be repay'd:

For, we, whilſt you proceed; as yet you do,

Have more then ſymptoms that it will be ſo.

If want, compell us for our own to pray,

With empty hands you ſend us, oft away;

With long delayes, our patiences are tri'd,

Ere we can get our ſuits heard or deni'd;

And, then, leſt too much grace, you ſhould afford,

You ſeldome, give us one reſpective word;

But, looke upon us, with ſuch pride, and ſcorn,

As if to be your vaſſalls, we were born.

Meanwhile your Favourites, forſooth, and they

That, humour you in your imperious way,

Are, for ſmall merits, largely gratifi'd:

(Or, ſuch as nearly are to you alli'd)

Their ſuits (if they petition) are preferr'd:

If they complain, ere long, they may be heard:

And, (though it were by chance) if well they do,

They get for trifles, thanks, and money too.

If nearer pinch'd, our ſuits, we do renew;

And, being ſleighted, ſome diſtemper ſhew,

…our zeale, one haſty word, of ours, more heeds,

…hen all our good, and well-deſerving deeds;

…nd, well we ſcape, if to an empty purſe,

…ou adde not ſomwhat elſe, that ſhall be worſe.

Thus, we with our poor children, and our wives,

Are forc'd to live uncomfortable lives;

Whilſt you, and they, whom open foes, we call,

Piece up, your tatter'd fortunes, by our fall.

For, of one Moity, they have us bereft;

And, you, have robbed us, of what they left.

By our oppoſing them, we ſhall be ſure,

Of their deſpight, ev'n whilſt our lives endure:

By perſevering, to our Country, true,

We are in danger of the like from you;

And ſo, which ſide ſoever ſhall prevaile,

We have a miſchief on us, by intaile

To us, and to our heirs. For, you in heart

United are; though, corp'rally, apart;

And, joyn, by cloſe compliances, in one,

In hope to finiſh, what you have begun;

Which is nor worſe, nor better; but, to raiſe

Your houſes, both by good, and evill wayes;

And, for this end, to ruine, you would bring

Law, Goſpell People, Parliament and King;

But, ere your hopes effected you ſhall ſee,

Hark Traiters, what your deſtinie ſhall be.

Hark, and obſerve it: For, it is the doome,

That, ſhall, without all peradventure, come

Upon their heads, who have their truſt betray'd;

Oppreſſions on their faithfull ſervants laid;

Or, multipli'd their wealth, with greedineſſe,

By preying on their Countrey, in diſtreſſe.

And, it is this; He that ſuch wrongs requites,

Shall give you portions with damn'd hypocrites:

Your pride, by ſhame, ſhall ſuddenly be follow'd;

You ſhall ſpew up the gobbets, you have ſwallow'd;

Your way ſhall periſh: you, ſhall quite be thruſt

Forth, from that Congregation of the Juſt,

VVhichWhich you pollute: GOD, in your ſteads will place

Men, rich in wiſdom, honeſty, and grace:

Such, as are truly called, duly ſent:

Such, as befit an Engliſh-Parliament:

And, able, then, that Senate ſhall become,

To curb their Foes abroad; and, Knaves, at home.

So, having utter'd what we had to ſay;

Now, you among the Faithfull-members may

Go ſhrowd your ſelves again: For, pleas'd are we,

You ſhould be thought, as honeſt, as they be,

If, you will yet, repent; and, juſtly, do

The Publike-worke, which you are call'd unto.

We, likewiſe, could be very well content,

That, none ſhoud ſay, or think, theſe lines were meant

p. 21Of any one, within the Senate-doore,

If, cauſe there were, of no ſuch thought before,

As we do intimate: For, we are come

Not with a ſword, but, OPOBALSAMUM

To cure your Ʋlcers, and to make you clear

From all thoſe Blots, which, now, on you, appear.

VVe, no man, individually, diſcloſe,

But, ſpeake, what almoſt ev'ry Reader knowes;

And, whereof each man tattles to his friend,

(It may be) to a leſſe commodious end.

VVe ſpeak in Generalls, that, men to blame

Might be reprooved, without open ſhame;

And, by themſelves, in private, take occaſion

To ſeek their ſafety, with our preſervation;

And, theſe things, to their own amendment marke,

Before thoſe Maſtives bite, which, yet but bark.

We charg you, here, with nought, but what we know,

And, what is known to many thouſand moe:

Nay, here is nothing mention'd, but what you

And, your own Conſciences, do know is true.

VVe were advis'd hereof, before we ſpake it;

VVe are not ignorant, how ſome will take it;

Nor, with what ſecret malice, and deſpight,

They will purſue it, to their utmoſt might:

For, ſome of us, already, though unheard,

Are cenſured; nay, many have not ſpar'd,

Of one yet living, publikely, to ſay

He executed was; and, nam'd the day.

Yet, we reſolved were, Elihu-like,

Without reſpect of Perſons, truth to ſpeak.

If you deſirous be, that none ſhould lay

Theſe matters to your charge; your ſureſt way,

Is not, to rage; or, furiouſly to turne

Upon the Writer; or, the Booke to burne:

But, rather, to repent; and, make a ſhow

That, of theſe free reproofes you do allow;

And, of our ſetting thus before your eyes,

A perfect draught of your deformities.

Yet, beſt of all your ſhame would be prevented,

If, order you procure, to have it printed,

And, ſome, Reward, beſtowed upon thoſe,

Who have character'd thus, their Countries Foes:

For, none can think, that they, who guilty be,

To ſuch a motion, ever would agree;

Or, that, a prudent-honeſt man will frown,

To ſee the wickedneſſe of Knaves made known.

However it ſucceeds; we ſay, and ſwear,

We neither for your frownes, or favours care:

Which proteſtation, if you think untrue;

Make tryall; do your worſt, and ſo adieu.

Thus, ended they their Speech; But, e're 'twas done,

A ſullen murmuring, began to run

Throughout the guiltie-party; yea, they all

With anger looked either red, or pale.

Some ſnuft, ſome puft, ſome grin'd; the mouth ſome wride;

Some bit their lips, ſome hung their heads aſide.

Some, jeerd, ſome fleerd, ſome rag'd; and they who had

Leaſt honeſty and wit, appear'd moſt mad.

Some, ran into the Hall, in diſcontent,

To ſee, if they had put their Speech in Print:

Some, home; ſome, to the Taverne walked back,

(From whence they came) and drunke a quart of Sack.

Some, ſwore; and curſed all the Well-affected:

Some threatned him whom juſtly they ſuſpected

To be the Penner of it, and they ſwore

If they could helpe it, he ſhould write no more.

Some, did adviſe to apprehend, and call him,

To ſome Committee, and, there ſoundly maul him,

That, others may take warning, how they dare

Speake truth to them, who love no truth to heare.

But, others minding what a Vote had paſt,

On that Committee, which abus'd him laſt,

And; being fearfull, that his good intent,

Would e're long time, unto the Parliament,

So evident be made, that their deſpight

Would rather on their heads then his alight;

They waved that, and, being at a ſtand,

In thinking, what they beſt might take in hand,

At length; Come let us ſmite him with the tongue,

Said one of them, who knew what doth belong

To deep revenge; and let us daily ſtrow,

Some ſcandals of him, whereſoe're we go.

Another of them, wiſer then the reſt,

(In earneſt, partly, partly too, in jeſt)

Perſwaded much, to let him quite alone,

And mend, what they themſelves amiſſe had done.

A few, approv'd the Motion; but, not all:

VVe therefore, know not, yet, what will befall.

But, you ſhall heare, within a day or two,

(If you have patience) what they meane to doe.

Here, thought I, to conclude; but, hear, ye, now,

Before we part, a word or two, to you,

Ye WORTHIES of both Houſes; and, all ye

VVho, VVell-affected to this Kingdome be.

Now, heare HIM, for himſelfe, who, hath not ſpared

To ſpeake for your availe; nor been outdared

p. 22By any danger, to declare his mind,

According as our Cov'nant hath enjoynd.

He is not ignorant, how great a Stake,

He hath among you: Nor, how, courſe to take

To thrive, as others doe. But, he diſdaines,

For any hope on earth, to take the paines;

To vary from his heart, in Word, or Action,

To humour any man, or any Faction.

Be pleaſed to conſider, that, all this

Was penned, for no private end of his;

Nor can procure him ought, ſave their deſpight,

Who, in the wrong of harmleſſe-men delight;

Unleſſe, you faithfully to him adhere,

As by our ſolemn-Vow, engag'd you are;

Which, doth obliege, that, firme you ſtand to thoſe,

VVho doe their beſt, Delinquents to diſcloſe;

And, likely meanes, and lawfull wayes invent

To bring them to deſerved puniſhment.

Thus, I, (as heartily, as any One)

According to my Faculties, have done;

And ſhewne theſe Times, and, thoſe, perhaps, to come,

That, Poeſie, may have an uſefull Roome,

In great Affaires; and Poets, fill their place,

VVhether, the times, be generous or baſe.

Though I no Patron find, aſſur'd I am,

This VVork would not have done the Author ſhame,

In better times: Nay, if an Iriſh-Bard

Had ſung thus much, to them, they would have heard

His Numbers with reſpect: and many things

Beſtow'd; beſide a Harp with ſilver ſtrings.

But, I ſhall think my game hath well been playd,

If I, with miſchiefe, ſhall not be repayd

For my Good-will; nor, le…t, when I have done,

To bear the burthen of diſpights, alone.

For your own ſakes, take heed, I humbly pray,

It …ot ſo; leſt, you repent it may,

VVhen you, by One, and One, oppreſt ſhall be,

And, then, forſooke; as, you deſerted me.

I am not, for my ſelfe, of ought afraid,

VVhichWhich can to me, be either done, or ſaid:

For, what my Foes can take, I, well can ſpare;

And, nothing have to loſe, for which, I care.

Ther's VVealth in want, ther's Honour, in Diſgrace,

And, Life in Death, for him, that's in my caſe.

I ask of you nor Riches nor Reward;

(Though, thoſe things, I, ſometime, too much regard)

Let where you pleaſe, your Bounty be beſtown;

So, I may have, what, juſtly, is mine own:

That, will ſuffice, to ſet me fully free,

From all Engagements, now, oppreſſing me;

And, leave to thoſe, for whom, I ſhould provide,

Enough, to keep them, both from want, and Pride.

I ask no Honours: For, no hope I have

Of honour, here, till I am in my grave:

And, if to me, ſome ſhare be, then, allow'd,

It will be beſt; for, 'twill not make me proud;

Nor in my life time, thoſe Corruptions nouriſh,

VVhichWhich, make of men in honour, Beaſts that periſh.

I ask not for my ſelfe, the ſmalleſt thing,

VVhichWhich, meerly, to my-ſelfe, may profit bring;

But, all I ſhall deſire, is, theſe two Boones,

(Which, I conceive, are juſt, and equall ones)

Firſt, this; that, I, whoſe credit, now, appears

To have continu'd ſeven and fifty yeares,

Without reproach (except it be among

That crew, who cannot ſlander with their tongue)

May not, with you, a Good-opinion loſe,

Though that Report, which, my malicious-Foes

Have latelie made to my diſreputation;

(By laying to my charge a Subornation)

Till, fully, and impartiallie, you heare

How, I ſhall make their impudence appeare,

Who have traduc'd me; & what ſtreights they paſſe,

(What open injuries, and what diſgrace)

Who, in a conſcionable path, ſhall go;

And, to the Publike, would their duties do,

As I have done: They judge, as cauſe appears;

And, let him periſh, that, Right-Judgement, fears.

This, not for mine own honour do I crave;

But, that, your honour, may no blemiſh have;

And, that, by taking my repute away,

The Divill, (who ſuch plots doth often lay)

Diſparage not the Truths, that I have told,

To make them ineffectuall, if he could.

To this end, only, I your Juſtice crave,

That, now, (with yours) my honour I may ſave;

And, to no other end: For, 'tis to me,

Honour enough, an Innocent, to be.

And, yet, who knowes, but, GOD, may look upon

The wrongs, which have to me of late beene done?

Who knowes, but that ere long, receive he may,

The Ports of Haman, and of Mordecai?

Or, make, what ſeems my ſhame, to be my glory,

When future Ages, read this Ages ſtory?

My next (oh! Noble Friends) and laſt requeſt,

Is this; that, if I ſhould be ſo oppreſt

p. 23As is intended, you, would think upon

Thoſe, whom, by ſerving you, I have undone;

That, Halfe of Me (who, had a ſhare, in that,

VVhichWhich I adventur'd freely, for the State)

And, thoſe, Branch'd from us, who thereby are left

No meanes of Bread, or Breeding; but, bereft

Of all their outward-helpes: Oh! let them find

More grace, then yet I do: yea, be ſo kind,

That, unto them, may truly payed be,

What, on the PUBLIKE-FAITH you owe to me,

In Debts, on faire account, due from this Nation,

By private, and by publike-Obligation.

My Naturall-Affection, makes me fear

This Motion needfull. Therefore, have a care

You ſleight it not; For, doubtleſſe, if you do,,

GOD will require it; and, requite it, too.

Yea, if you ſhall forget what I prefer,

GOD, will remember, your REMEMBRANCER

And, when your Children ſhall with hunger pine,

Provide abundance of good-things for mine.

Thus hopes, and thus believes, GEO: WITHER.

Fiat Voluntas Dei.