The Petition and Narrative, Poem
The Petition, and Narrative of Geo. Wither Eſq; concerning his many grievances and long ſufferings; with a Preceding Addreſſe made to the Honourable Members of Parliament in their ſingle Capacities, to incline them to a ſpeedy conſideration of his Caſe in Parliament.
Hodie Nobis, Cras Vobis.
WE are not few that ſuffer; and that may
To morrow, be your Caſe, that's our to day
(As now the Cards are ſhuffl'd, Cut, and lay'd,
And, as the Game ſhall well, or ill be plaid.)
Give Looſers leave to ſpeak, and, me for one,
Who make at this time my Addreſſe alone,
Without your doors, within which, I, as yet
Can, for my Prayers, no admittance get.
Of ſeven times ten, to ſpend years ten and ſeven
In asking for mine own, I have been driven,
And no reſult obtained, but, inſtead
Of Fiſh, a Scorpion, and hard Stones for Bread,
Which fill'd me full of thoughts, that getting vent
Orecharge the Papers, which I would preſent.
Yet, muſe not, if my Narrative it ſtrain
To an unuſual length, and ſhall ſpeak plain:
Wide wounds, muſt have large Plaſters; When a wrong
Laſts many years, Bills of Complaint, are long,
And, ſharp words, may from him, be born withall,
Whoſe Drink and Food are Vineger and Gall.
I, have but one Life, and that's almoſt ſpent;
Let me not wait a time equivalent
To three mens lives, or till the Cure I crave
Comes, Phyſick-like, to him that's in his grave.
Nor let, by you, my Reaſon, at this time
Deſpiſed be, although you ſleight my Rime;
For, who ere ſleights a ſuffrer in his ſorrow,
Mine, or a worſe, may be his Caſe to morrow,
Or, ere the ſtorms, now threatn'd, are paſt thorow.
I uſe not to make friends; for I ſuppoſe
In Parliament, men have nor friends nor foes,
But as the Caſe deſerves; at leaſt, I know
That if it be not thus, it ſhould be ſo;
And, wiſh he may with ſhame requited be,
Who wilfully wrongs others, though for me.
All, which within your doors, Ile ask of you
Is no more, then I freely would allow
Ev'n to my greateſt foe, and be afraid
Of what might follow, if it were delaid.
All my Requeſts, without your doors have been
But that ſome one of you would carry in
My ſad Petitions; which I did in vain
Intreat for, whileſt four Parliaments did raign;
For, evermore, the Commonwealths Affairs,
Or, private mens more acceptable pray'rs
Kept my Petitions out, though I attended
From their firſt ſittings, till five Seſſions ended.
Though, many ſeem'd me, and my Cauſe to own
With good reſpect, and few men are more known.
Some ſtill, pretended to be pre-ingag'd
To others: ſome, againſt me were inrag'd
For perſonal reſpects: ſome did profeſſe
They fear'd their own Inacceptableneſſe
Might wrong my Cauſe: ſome, never were at leaſure
To do for any honeſt man, a pleaſure.
Some, very often, promis'd fair, and much;
But, their, or my ill hap, was ever ſuch
That, ſome croſſe intervening accident,
My hopes, and their performance did prevent:
And, one (as if I had been of a Nation
Without your Pale) ſaid, he knew no Relation
'Twixt him and me, obliging him unto
That favour I requeſted him to do:
Which anſwer, I, the leſſe was pleas'd withal,
Becauſe, he is a Major General;
And, one of thoſe, who (being raiſed, by
Pretending to the Common-liberty,)
Seem'd bound to have performed what I ſought
In Courteſie, or Conſcience, as I thought.
But, I, ſuch ſleightings very often ſmother,
And make good uſe of them, one time, or other.
This favour, I, yet want: This to obtain
By an Expedient, (once tride, not in vain)
I, once more now aſſay: For, though I hear
My Foes, do both my Rimes and Reaſons jeer,
(And, that they are but laugh'd at, make their boast)
They have not gain'd their ends, nor are mine loſt.
By theſe Outbreathings, I, refreſh my heart;
They pleaſe my friends; ſad muſings, they divert;
They will commemorate my honeſt Cauſe
When all their grinning teeth, rot from their jaws:
And, I, at them, who my deriders be
Laugh, with as much ſcorn as they laugh at me,
Becauſe, I know, their hearts, in ſecret, fear
Th' Events of that, whereat their Tongues do jeer;
And, that, at length, Time will a means provide,
Both to befool their wits, and ſhame their pride
By things which they contemn. I'll therefore try
How, Charmes of my deſpiſed Poetry
Will work on you; with hope, that they ſhall finde
Such acceptation, in the generous minde
Of ſome Heroick perſons, that I may
Acquire, what I have fail'd of to this day,
By having my Oppreſſions, and Afflictions
(Which are without Hyperbolies, or Fictions
To you declar'd) there, ſpeedily now read
Where, they ſhall juſtly be determined.
For, now the time is come, in which I, either
Muſt be repair'd, or ruin'd altogether,
If he, from whom, Repairs I, oft have got
(When I was nigh deſtroy'd) repaire me not.
Grant me, but that, which you would ask to have,
Were my Caſe, your; And I, no more will crave.
Your ſervant, Geo. Wither.