A Sudden Flash, Title page – Dedication
A Suddain Flaſh Timely Diſcovering, Some Reaſons wherefore, the ſtile of PROTECTOR, ſhould not be deſerted by theſe NATIONS, with ſome other things, by them very conſiderable. It was firſt made viſible, The fourth day, after the Author heard it reported, that the Lord Protector, had waved the Title of KING.
By BRITANS REMEMBRANCER.
—Poetis
Quidlibet audendum, ſemper fuit, eſtque Poteſtas.
A Preoccupation, relating to this Title.
If ſome ſhall think, this Book miſ-nam'd hath been,
Becauſe, ſo long a Flaſh was never ſeen;
Know; that, through Cranies it did thither fly,
Where Touchwood, and where ſmoking Flax did ly,
Which kindling, made it longer then intended;
And, was a chance, that cannot now be mended.
But, Flaſhie Names, and things, thoſe times beſeem
Which, do not ſolid-ſerious things eſteem.
And, they who are not pleas'd to run a Courſe,
On Pegaſus, may, like a Hobby-horſe.
LONDON, Printed for J.S. in little Britain, and are to be ſold there, and at the Pile of Bibles, the corner ſhop of the Eaſt end of the Fiſh-market in the Stocks, looking into Lumbard ſtreet; 1657.
To his Highneſſe, the Lord PROTECTOR.
SIR, though this Poem's Title, fitted be
To what I hear, the World expects from me
Upon this Subject; yet, a ſeriouſneſſe
It hath, and ſhall no Flaſhie-things expreſſe;
For, tis a Flaſh of light, as well as Fire,
Which, may give ſight of ſomthing you deſire,
And ſuch, as will no way diſparage you,
To give them, either hearing, or, a veiw.
Betwixt your Highneſs and the Parlament,
I, purpoſe not to cheriſh that Diſſent,
Which lately was begun; nor do intend
That, which may juſtly you, or them, offend;
But rather, to unite you ſo together,
That, Diſadvantage, may befall to neither
By what, your Adverſaries hope to finde
Effected; (if, you have a changing minde)
And, upon hope whereof, they did prepare
To act, according as reſolv'd you were.
I am not for my ſelf, yet, grown ſo wiſe
That, when at hazzard, Publick ſafety lies,
I can be ſilent; though I both diſeaſe
My ſelf; and others, oftentimes, diſpleaſe,
By my expreſſions, who, have pow'r and will,
To miſchieve me, who, purpoſe them no ill:
For, though a well approved Author ſayes,
To pleaſe great men, it merits not leaſt praiſe;
I think, he merits more, who ſpeaks in ſeaſon,
Truths, warranted by conſcionable Reaſon,
(Although on him, a Prince's wrath it brings)
Then, if he flatter'd Parlaments and Kings.
In that reſpect, I judg'd it not amiſſe,
Unto your ear, or eye, to offer this,
A few weeks paſt: But, things did intervene
That ſeem's of more concernment to have been;
And kept it off, untill nigh out of date,
It was become; and came almoſt too late.
Yet, ſince good uſe may thereof ſtill be made,
And ſome advantage alſo, thereby had;
It, now comes forth, that, witneſſe it might bear
To that, which now, reſolv'd on, doth appeare.
For, though we know there is in every thing,
But one Eſſential Truth; yet, thence may ſpring
Such various Illuſtrations, as perchance,
The certainty thereof, may much advance,
When it appears, they, did the ſame Truths own,
Whoſe judgments, to each other were unknown:
For, when there is thereof no mediation
But, as their ſpirits have communication,
It doth aſſure, it flow'd from Providence,
And, not from any carnal influence.
Your eye, ſees much: and yet it cannot ſee
It ſelf, or, what the colours of it be,
Save by inferiour things; and, through inſpections
Acquired, by the medium, of reflexions
From ſight-leſs objects; through which; you may lear…
Thoſe truths, which they themſelves, do not diſcern:
And, ſuch like Objects, peradventure, He
Who offers this and theſe his offers be.
SIR, therefore now▪ be pleaſ'd, one houre, to hear
What, by my Muſe, is fitted for your ear,
And was prepar'd long ſince, to be preſented
(Though accidentally, till now prevented)
And, if it be not ſuch, as, then, will ſeem
To merit, ſome part, of your good eſteem,
And, uſefull to preſerve, and to increaſe
Your Honour, ſafety, and the Common-peace;
Return it, with an Ignominious Daſh,
And, let it then, (in ſcorn) be call'd, a Flaſh.
Britans Remembrancer.
A Suddain Flaſh
Made viſible, the fourth day after his Highneſſe the Lord Protector had firſt waved the Title of KING.
A Prologue, to him, who ſhall behold, or hear, this Flaſh.
A Flaſh, I term this; and 'tis like enough
That, many men, will call it ſo, in Scoff;
But, I have got before them; and have, too,
Some Reaſon, wherefore I have call'd it ſo:
For, to, mine ears, when firſt that news was brought,
A thouſand thoughts, Fluſht in, and this Flaſht out;
Which, I have, now, thus Paper'd up, for thee,
To bring to minde what is, and what may be.
Although it ſpeaks in Rimes, it Rimes with Reaſon;
And comes in Haſt, that it may come in Seaſon.
If thou regard it, ſo. If not: my Coſt,
Is Paper, Inck, and part of three dayes loſt.
Thine may be more; For, much affraid I am,
That, thou, who ſaw'ſt this Flaſh, wilt ſee a Flame,
(Ʋnleſs an intervening Providence
Prevents, what likely ſeems, to give Offence)
Which, here will burn, as well as give a light,
Till it hath purg'd us, or, conſum'd us, quite.