many houses in this Land That in remote obscurity doe stand Which to the Foe would yeeld a richer prize Then many Townships which they might surprize On other shores And yet some doe not shame With poverty this Iland to defame WAR threatens us and we of want complaine Not knowing how our safeties to maintaine Yet we doe nothing want that may conduce In warre or peace to serve a needfull use Armes victualls men and money we have store Yet still we falsly cry that we are poore We are so greedy that we will not spare To save the hogge one farthing worth of tarre Gods blessings we so long time have abused That now we know not how they should be used Or else we thinke each other so unjust That no man knows with whom the meanes to truâ—t Oh! pray to God to take away the cause Of these distempers and to breake the Maze In which we wander For like those we fare Who sitting at a banquet starved are If we had peace with God and could agree This Kingdome which so needy seemes to be Might with her superfluities maintaine Far greater armies then the King of Spaine With all his Indies We might begger him And make all who feare him to contemne His winning projects if we had but eyes To see and take the course that open lies It is his gold encreasing his ambition Which to the Christian world will bring perdition And if prevention longer we delay Or if we doe not find a better way Then yet is trod the current of his pow'r Will grow so strong that it will all devoure For wâ—ere a streame runs broad and swift to stop His fury there I see but little hope Materials both for war and peace must come To him from divers quarters for at home His Country yeelds him little But the yeare As it renewes with us reneweth here Our food and rayment and though no supplies Come in a staple of Commodities Our Iland is which both in war and peace Will still be in request and still encrease Let therefore those who on tâ—e Continent Doe feare him use their utmost to prevent His greatnesse there and let our Sea-giâ—t Ile Forbearing on Land forces for a while To spend their strength intirely bend their pow'r As in preceding times the Seas to scoure For with more profit and a lesser charge That shall our lost advantages enlaâ—ge And make his Armies which are now so strong Draw baâ—k decay and mutiny e're long Were we resolv'd our course this way to bend Of our maine stock we needed not to spâ—nd One moitie For halfe of what is lost Within this Kingdome sav'd would quit that cost Let all according to the port they beare Forbeare but one vaine Feast in ev'ry yeare Let ev'ry houshold for the publike wealth Which also would advance the bodies health Fast but one meale a week and separate The price thereof for service of the State Or spare from their full boards of flâ—sh or fish The dressing or the sawce but of one dish Leâ— us but lay one lace or gard the lesse Vpon our Clokes or save the coâ—â—lâ—nesse In our apâ—arell which we well might spare Yet no defect upon the same appeare Let us â—eseâ—ve but halfe the â—ithe of those â—xpences trifled ouâ— in gamâ—s and showes Which do not only needlâ—sse charge encrease But still the kingdâ—me full of idlenâ—sse Oâ— these and many other such expences Which wast our wealth and multiply offences Iâ— we but part would give perhaps that cost Would save our lives and all from being lost Tobacco which the age that went before Nor knew nor needed doth expend us more Then would maintaine an army for few think How much there is consum'd in smoake and stink Pride is so câ—stly that if ev'ry Girle Should give tâ—e worth but of one lace or purle Which trims her Crosse cloth it would sailes provide â—or halfe the ships which now at Plimouth ride Hâ—d we but ev'ry forfeiture that 's due â—â—om those of our notorious drunken crue Or â—f the value were together got Although but of their twentieth needlesse pot I am perswaded it aflote would set A greater Fleet then we have armed yet The very Oaths which we may daily heare The men the women and the children sweare If thundred forth together would rore louder â—hen all our Cannons and great shot and powder Much more then would at â—ea and land suffise Might purchasâ— be by halfe the penalties Which might be justly taken if we had Râ—gâ—rd to execute the Lâ—wes we made God grant that of his honor and of what Conceâ—nes the gen'rall safety of the State We mâ—y moâ—e zealous grow and that some course May stop that mischiefe which yeâ— waxâ—th worse And thâ—t fâ—om this or from some better light The meanes of â—eformation takâ— we might Of which I hopefull am and that e're long Our Commonwealth shall sing a sweeteâ— song When such â— time I see I shall be sure Tâ—esâ— Lines oh England will thy love procure And I who for thy weale this paines bestow Shall find more favour then 〈◊〉 for now Yea then shall I tâ—at yet have beene despâ—s'd â—ewaâ—led dye oâ— liâ—e much better priz'd But not till then Noâ— shall I live to vâ—ew Thy sorrowes ended â— thou do not â—ue Thy sins with speed Oh! the 〈…〉 he To turne â—o God â—hat he may tâ—rne to thee Bâ—sâ—â—ch him England to unclose thine eyes And let thee see in what thy sicknesse lies â—mplore thou him to mollifie thy heart Thy Children from their fâ—llies to divert And break thoâ—â— chaines of ignorance and sin Which at thâ—s present thou ly'st fetterd in Endeavor to be friends with God againe And he will all thy furious foes restrainâ— Thy faulty members who doe now disturb Thy peace he either will remove or curb Those Gâ—ces thou perceivedst heretofore Adorne thy Soveraigne shall be hid no more By those darke fogs which from â—hy sins do rise For God will take the skales from oft thâ—ne eyes On thee his countenance againe â—hall shine That thou maist laâ—d him in a Song divine And thâ—y who now lament thy â—ad â—stâ—te In Hymâ—es of joy shall praise thy happy Fate The eighth Canto Our Poet having â—oucht againe Whâ—t frâ—ilâ—ies in himsâ—lfe remaine Dâ—clâ—res thâ—t many Plagues doe steale As well on Chuâ—ch as Commonweale Relâ—tes whâ—t croâ—cheâ—s doe possesse Some who Religionsnâ—sse professe Wâ—at nâ—ysome â—lants what tares and weeds Aâ—e sprung â—o choake the holy seeds Whâ—t faiâ—ed zeale and affectation Hâ—th fool'd this formall Generation And how from some great scandall growes Who â—eare the keyes that bind and loose Next he delivereth Predictions Of plague of sorrowes and afflictions Which on this â—â—and will descend Vnlâ—sse our manners we amend And whensoever civill jâ—rs Or mischiefes by the rage of wars Oppresse this Realme his Muse doth show Who shall occasion it and how Which fearfull Iudgement to prevent He calls upon her to repent By â—en apparant signes
As if at severall times they had beene done Beâ—ause our shallownesse no meanes can find To entertaine them in their proper kinde And though respecting us who temp'ral be Wee say that God Almighty doth foresâ—e Foreknow us and prâ—destinate yet sure His Essence no such termes can well endure In proper sense Because with him no doome Word Thought or Act is passed or to come But all things present Yea all Times and all Those things which wee by severall names doe call Our Birthâ— our Lives our Deaths and our Saluations Our free-elâ—ctions and prâ—dâ—stinations Are all at once with God without foreseeing Eu'n all in one-eternall-present-being Which few observing many men have thought That Gods etâ—rnall actions should be wrought Like ours in Time which is as if they should Endeavour how the world they might enfold Within a Nut-shell And while thus men strive According to their fancies to contrive An order in Gods Workings they mistake them Blasphemously and orderlesse doe make them Yea to define his actions they neglect That part which is their duty to effect Themselves and others losing in a path Which neither profit end nor safety hath And by disputing what from us is hidden Disturb the doing that which God hath bidden I have digrest enough and some there are Who think perhaps that I have gone too farre Yet let it not be judg'd impertinent That I have so pursu'd this Argument For want of minding what is here rehearsed Hath often times the Pestilence dispersed Yea some who fondly said that ev'ry man Shall live his time decreed do what he can And that each one at his fixt houre shall dye 'Gainst which he seeks in vaine a remedy Ev'n these made much good means of health neglected Much wise and wholsome counsell be rejected And caused oft in this our common wo That Death was brought and caried to and fro But lest in chasing them I run astray I le prosecute againe my purpos'd way The Pestilence doth show her selfe inclin'd So variously she cannot be defin'd She neither certaine forme nor habit wears But partly metaphysicall appears And partly naturall She oft may cary Her Progresse on by meanes that 's ordinary But rarely doth begin or end her Arrant Save by an extraordinary Warrant It doth infect and it infecteth not It is an arrow which is often shot By Gods owne hand from his far-striking bow Without the help of any meanes below It is Gods Angel which to death can smite Miraculously an army in a night It is a rationall Disease which can Pick with discretion here and there a man And passe o're those who either marked are For Mercy or a greater Plague to beare We see it suting hath to Natures lawes A nat'rall motion and a nat'rall cause For as a Fire among great Buildings throwne Burnes â—imber melteth Metall cracketh Stone Defaceth Statues makes moist places dry The Vaults below to sweat the tyles to flye And manifests his force in sev'rall kindes According to the objects which he findes So hath the Pestilence a nat'rall pow'r To haâ—den fright endâ—nger or devouâ—e And divers other changes to procuâ—e As she doth find a sev'rall temp'rature In mind or body fitting the rejection Or for the entertainment of Infection These things consider'd They who shall desire To scape from this Contagion must acquire A double Ward For doubtlesse there is none That can resist it with one guard alone In times of Danger vainly we presume Vpon our Iv'â—y boxes of Perfume To little purpose we defend our noses With Wormwood Rue or with our Radeliffe Posies Of tarred Ropes Small warrant for our lives Are all such bodily Preservatives As Cordiall waters Gums Herbes Plants and Rootes Our simple or compounded Antidotes Our Boezar-stone our med'cines Chymicall Or that high-pâ—ized Iewell wherewithall For horne of Vâ—icorne men cheated are Or those unhallowed Charmes which many weare For these are far unable to withstand The vigour of his incorporeall hand Who strikes for sinne unlesse to these wee adde A Plaister which of better things is made Yea Nature failes unlesse adjoyne wee doe A med'cine metaphisicall thereto Moreover fruitlesly devout are they And that they seeke to God they falsely say Who wilfully neglect or else contemne That outward meanes which Nature offers them And God provides to cure or to prevent The mischiefe of Diseases pestilent For since wee fram'd of soules and bodies are God pleased is that wee should have a care To both of them and labour how to finde What appertaines to either in his kinde He therefore who desireth a defence Against this Arrow of the Pestilence A compleat Armour must from God procure And still be arm'd his person to secure He must put on the Helmet of Salvation And shoe his feet with holy Preparation A Belâ— of Truth must for his loines be sought His Brest-plate must of Righteousnesse be wrought The Shield of Faith his Target must become The darts of Sathan to secure him from Gods Word must be the Sword upon his thigh His Praiers like continuall shot must flie And he should keepe for ever his abode Within the shadow of Almighty God Or else the Workeman looseth all his paine And he that watcheth wakeâ—h but in vaine He also must expell out of the soule That filthinesse of sinne which makes it foule He must avoid the crimes he lived in His Physiâ—ke must be Rue ev'n Rue for sinne Of Herb of Grace a Cordiall he must make The bitter Cup of true Repentance take The Diet of Sobriety assume His House with workes of Charitie perfume And watch that from his heart in secrecie Arise no savours of Hypocrisie He must beleeve God so doth love him that His everlasting good is aimed at In all he suffers and that God doth know And marke his nature and his temper so As that he will impose nor more nor lesse Than shall be needfull for his happinesse For such a Faith will keepe hâ—m still content Still lowly under ev'ry chaâ—tisement Still thankfull whatsoever doth befall And Blessings make of what we Plagues doe call He must moreover with a holy Feare In all his Christian duties peâ—severe Still watchfull and at no time daring ought Which may from God divert him in a thought So neere as possibly the powre of man So great a diligence endeavour can For round about him are a thousand Feares A thousand Dangers and ten thousand Snares And as a Traveller who for his Bridges To passe deepe waters having nought but ridges Of narrow Timbers dares not cast his eye From off the Plancke nor set his foot a wrie â—ecause beneath him he beholds a Streame That runnes and roares and gapes to swallow him So he that must an hourely passage make Through such like Plagues as this whereof I speake And many dangers waiting on him hath To catch him if he slip his narrow Path Had need be carefull that he never stray Nor swarve in any thing beside the way Let therefore ev'ry
thee Whom thou hast praised and whose graces be The same they were thou knowest many a one In bodily diseases thus hath done Those meats and drinks that are both sweet pure They can nor truly rellish nor endure We seldome see the Bodies torment bred By ought which first ariseth in the Head But oftentimes we feele both head and eyes Diseas'd by fumes which from the Body rise And though downe from the head there may distill Some humour otherwhile which maketh â—ll The lower parts yet that first vapor'd from Those crudities and noysome fumes whiâ—h come From â—ll digestion or from stoppages Which are in our inferior passages 'T is thus in nat'rall Bodies anâ— the like May be observ'd in Bodies pâ—litick The head and body both are evill pleas'd When any part of eitheâ— is diseas'd But their distempers woâ—se or easier are Sustained as their fiâ—st occasions were When Lungs or Liver doth defective grow By ought within it selfe it paines not so The head as when from thence doth also fall Those â—hewâ—â—es and humors that by tickling shall Occasion coughs and strainings to distend The passages as if each part would rend Nor is the Stomack so distempered By any hurt or bruise upon the Head By its owne fault receiv'd as when it akeâ—h Through fumings which from parts below it taketh So fares it with a People and their King Ev'n all their eâ—rors griefes and cares doe bring Vpon each other so that what the one Misdoeth in doth bâ—ing some smart upon The other party But they shall not be Afflicted with it both in one degree For if the Princes oversight or sin Of any publike Plague first cause hath bin The greatest mischiefe will at last be his And if the Subjects have so done amisse That Vengeance followes it the King may gâ—ieve But they shall be consumed I beleeve And that for each ones personall defect The greatest harme will on himselfe reflect What then to be performed is remaining But that we leave repining and complaining On one another and our labours bend Our selves as much as may be to amend Let ev'ry one examine well his way And for himselfe and for all others pray For this is far more likely to redresse The present mischiefes then oâ—r frowardnesse The party that hath innocency shall Be sure to stand though all about him fall And if we all perveâ—sly wicked prove We shâ—ll have all one judgement from above If in thy King oh Britaine ought amisse Appeares to be 'twixt God and him it is Of him he shall be judged What to thee Pertaineth it his censurer to be If thou shalt suffer with him thy offence Deserv'd it and nought else â—ut penitence Becomes thy practice neither shall there ought That 's wrong by other meanes to right be brought Thy generall voice but newly did confesse In him much vertue and much hopefulnesse And he so late assum'd his Diadem That there hath scarce beene time enough for him Those evils to performe that may inâ—erre A generall mischiefe Neither do I heare Of ought as yet which thou to him canst lay But that he doth to thee thy will denâ—y Or with a gentle stoutnesse claime and strive For what he thinks his just Prerogative And why I prethee may not all this flow From some corruptions which in thee do grow Without his fault why may not for thy crimes Some instruments of Sathan in these times Be suffred to obscure from him a while The truth of things and his beleefe beguile With vert'uos showes discreet and good pretences To plague and punish thee for thy offences Why may not God and justly too permit Some Sycophant or cunning hypocrite For thy hypocrisies to steale away His heart from thee and goodly colours lay On projects which may cause him to undo thee And think that he no wrong hath done unto thee Nay wherefore may not some thy King advise To that which seems to wrong thy liberties Yet in themselves be honest men and just Who have abused been by those they trust Thy wickednesse deserves it and that he Who in himselfe is good should bring to thee No profit by his goodnesse but augment Thy sorrowes till thy follies thou repent For what is in it selfe from evill free Is evill made to those that evill be Why may it not be possible that thou Demandedst what he might not well allow Without dishonor Or if all were right Which thou requiredst yet the manner might Distast him Or who certaine is but some Pretending publike grievances might come With private spleene and mâ—lice to pursue Those faults in others which their conscience knew That they themselves were guilty of and had No peace with God by true repentance mnde If so it were I doe admire the lesse That thy petitions had aâ— ill successe If any single man hath ought misdone It is so little while since he begun His being to receive that in respect Oâ— thine his errors could small harme effect But tâ—ou hast heap'd up sin for many yeares And thy exceeding guiltinesse appeares With so much evidence that ev'ry man Of some particular faulâ—s accuse thee can And openly râ—prove thee to thy face For evils done in ev'ry time and place Then blame not him if God hath falsifi'd Some hopes of late or to thy griefe denide That refoâ—mation which thou didst require And addâ—d in the stead of thy desire New grievances Nor too too bitterly Pursue those errors of infirmity Which were by others heretofore commiâ—â—ed But let all past offences be remitted If thou perceive but hope of reformation Goe offer up to God for thy Oblation A true forgivenesse of their injuries Who heretofore have wrong'd thy Liberties And do not this in policy altho The times now present may require it so But so forgive as by the God of heaven Thou dost desire thy sins may be forgiven For by thy faults dishonor'd more is he Then thou by â—heiâ—s that have offended thee And if to them thou tâ—ue compassion showest God will not urge perhaps the debt thou owâ—st Of Reformation thou dost show great zeale But some corruption maist thou not conceale That mars the blâ—ssing Aâ—â— thou â—ure thou hast No just occasion given to distast Thy King Doe thy complainings all intend The publike welfare without private end And in preferring them didst thou commit No errors nor no decencies forget I will not say thou didst but I do feare That they who wisest are in some things erre Forgive me thou high Court of Parliament If I shall utter what will discontent Thy disunited members who have sate In former times grave matters to debate For though I will not arrogate the wit To teach so great a Counsell what is fit Nor censure any Act which thou hast done When all thy parts have joyned been in one Yet I will take upon me to reprove Their private errors who in courses move Repugnant to thy Iustice and oft be The cause of much dishonour unto
The meaning of the Title page BEhold and marke and mind ye British Nationâ— â—his dreadfull Vision of my Contemplations Before the Throne of Heav'n I saw me thought Tâ—â—s famous Island into question brought Wâ—th better eares then those my Body beare I bâ—ard impartiall IVSTICEâ—o â—o declare God's Benefits our Thanklesnesse and what Small heed his Love or Iudgements here begat I view'd eternall MERCIE how she strove Gâ—â—'s just deserved Vengeance to remove Bâ—t so enâ—reaâ—t our Sinnes and cry'd so loud That at the last I saw a dismall Cloud Eâ—ceeding blacke as from the Sea ascending And â—â—er all this Isle it selfe extending Witâ— such thicke foggie Vapours that their steames Sâ—eâ—'d for a while to darken MERCIES heames Wiâ—â—in this fearfull Cloud I did behold All Plagues and Punishments that name I could And with a trembling heart I fear'd each houre Gâ—d woulâ— thâ—t Tempest on this Island poure Yet better hopes appear'd for loe the Rayes Of MERCY pierc'd this Cloud made such waies Qâ—ite througâ— those Exhalations that mine eye 〈◊〉 Inscription thereupon espie Bâ—ITAINES REMEMâ—RANCER somewhat said Thâ—se wâ—â—ds me thought The Storme is yet delaid And if ye doe not penitence defer This CLOVD is only a REMEMBRANCER Buâ— if ye still affect impiety Expect e're long what this mâ—y â—ignifie Thâ—â— hâ—ving heâ—rd aâ—d seene I thought nor fit Nor safe it were for me to smother it And thâ—râ—forâ— both to others eyes and eares Have offâ—ed here what unto mine appeares Iâ—dge â—s yâ— pleasâ— ye Readers this or me Trâ—th will be Truth how e're it censur'd be GEO WITHER Britain 's Remembrancer Containing A Narration of the PLAGVE lately past A Declaration of the MISCHIEFS present And a Prediction of IVDGMENTS to come If Repentance prevent not It is Dedicated for the glory of God to POSTERITIE and to These Times if they please by GEO WITHER IOB 32.8 9 10 18 21 22. Surely there is a spirit in man but the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Great men are not alwayes wise neither doe the aged alway understand judgement Therefore I say heare me and I will shew also my opinion For I am full of matter and the spirit within mee compelleth me I will not accept the person of man neither will I give flattering titles to man For I may not give flattering titles lest my Maker take me away suddenly Reade all or censure not For He that answereth a matter before he heare it it is shame and folly to him PROV 18.13 Imprinted for Great Britaine and are to be sold by IOHN GRISMOND in Ivie-Lane MDCXXVIII TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE Most Royall SIR BEcause I doubted who might first peruse â—hese honest Raptures of my sleighted Muse Observing it the quality of most To passe rash judgements taken up on trust And that according to the wits of those Who censure fiâ—st the common Censure goes Perceiving too with what oblique aspect Some glaring Comets on my Liâ—es reflect A while I pawsed whether trust I might My plaine-pace'd Measures to their partiall sight Who mâ—y upon them e're you reade them seize And comment on my Text as they shall please Or slâ—ight or scoffe such men were knowne to me And being loth they first of all should be My Iudges here I offâ—r to your eye The prime perusall of this Poesie For minding well what hopes I have of You What course my Fortunes urge me to pursue What bluâ—res good Studies by those Fooles have got Who sleight desert because they knâ—w it not What freedome Nature gives to eâ—'y soule To speake just things to Kings without controule How farre from noble and from wise they be Who disallow the Muses should be free How eas'd we are when we our minds disclose What profit from our honest boldnesse flowes What Resolutions I have made mine owne And what good cause there is to make them knowne All this well weighing with some Reasons moe Which usefull are for none but me to know I did not feare these Poâ—ms forth to bring To bide at first the censure of a King And loe on milke white paper wings they flye Reade they that lift when you have laid them by But SIR I humbly pray you let not fall Your Doome till you have read and read it all For he that shall by fragments this peruse Will wrong himselfe the Matter and the Muse. Although a tedious Worke it may appeare You shall not wholly lose your labour here For though some heâ—alesse Courtiers censure may That on this Booke your time weâ—e cast away I know it may your spirits recreate Without disturbing your affaires of State And with more usefull things acquaint your eares Then twenty hundred thousand tales of theirs You also know that well it fits a King To heare such Messages as now I bring And that in doing so to take some pleasure Great Monarchs thought it just to be at leasure Long since I have elected you to be Moecenas to my Muses and to me And if my hopes in you shall be â—ereâ—t me I have no other hopes in this kind left me Nor any purpose whatsoever come To seeke another Patron in your roome Nor seeke I now that I from you may gaine What other times I covet for my paine Nor for because my heart hath any doubt That I shall need a Friend to beare me out Against the fury or the fraud of those That openly or secretly oppose Such Works For He that me to this doth call Shall save me harmlesse or I meane to fall Not that I sleight your favour speake I this For deare and precious to my soule it is But rathâ—r that the world may know and seâ— How him I trust that hath inspiâ—ed me Though some suppose I may I doe not feare As many would if in my case they were I doe not feare the World deprive me can Of such a mind as may become a Man Whâ—t ever outward mâ—sâ—ries beâ—ide For God will Meanes or Forâ—itude provide I doe not feâ—re unlâ—sse I merit blame That any one hath pow'r to worke my shame Since they who caâ—slâ—sly my Name shall spot Reproach themselves but me disparage not And sure I am though many seeke to spight me That ev'ry Dog which barketh cannot biâ—e me I oft have lookt on Death without dismay When many thousands he hath swept awâ—y On â—v'ry side and fâ—om him have not stirr'd One foot when he most terrible appear'd I know of Want the utmost discontents The cruelty of Close-imprisonments The bitternesse of Slanders and Disgrace In private corneâ—s and in publike place I have sustain'd already whatsoever Despight can adde to wrong a good endeavor And am become so hopelesse of procuring True Peace but by a peaceable enduring That what remaines to suffer shall be borne And to repine at Forâ—une I will scorne I doe not feare the frownes of mighty men Nor in Close-prison to be lodg'd agen For Goods Life Freedome Fame and such as those Are things
only witnesse who are friends To base corruption Let their suits be scorn'd And no respect unto them be retuâ—n'd Leâ— ev'ry one of those that shall be sent To represent thy Body represent Thy true repentance Let them lay aside Prejudicate opinionâ— faction pride And to their utmost in tâ—emselves restraine All those enormities which they retaine That setting to their owne desires a law They may the more enabled be to draw A Rule for others Let all they that come To serve the Publike leave such thoughts at home As meerly private are for in them luâ—ks An enmitie to all good publike works Let none propose in such a Congregation What is not first prepar'd by consultaâ—ion For otherwhile their pretious houres are spent About a needlesse trâ—fling argument And oft from matters of least moment spring Those disagreeings which great harme â—o bring What their forefathers unto them did leave Let them not suffer any to bereave Their children of For they mâ—y that deny Ev'n to thâ—ir King provided loyally They do it in â—esiâ—ting his demands By legall Pleadingâ— not by force of hands It â—s as Naboths Vineyard and to live He merits not who doth repine to give His life to save it yea accuâ—st is be That would not zealous in those causes be Let them therefore their ancient rights maintain By all just meanes and let them yeeld againe The royall dues For those things prosper not Which are amisse â—â—om God or Cesar got All wrongs shall be revenged but none brings Such vengeance as the wrong to God and Kings If but in word alone nay but in thought We have against our Prince committed ought Which is disloyall hid it shall noâ— lye But be revealed by a winged-spy Let therefore all just freedomes of the Land That can be proved â—orth in publike stand And not in old Records halfe smother'd lye In danger to be lost by casualty Or else embezel'd or by wormes and dust To be devoured or by those we trust Let us not whisper them as men that feare The claiming of their due high treason wâ—re Nor let us as we doe in coâ—ners prate As if the Sov'raigne power or the State Encroacht injuriously and so defame The government disgrace the royall Name And nourish by degrees an evill spirit That us of all our peace will dis-inherit But let us if we see our ancient right Infâ—inged bring our grievances to light Speak loyally and orderly and plaine Those things which for our owne we can maintaine So Kings the truth perceiving and their ends Who did abuse their trust will make amends â—or all our suffrings givâ— our foes their doome And make us more secure for times to come But bring not when ye come to plead with Kings Against their claimes some bare conjectuâ—ings For what thou hast no ceâ—taine evidence To be thy right the right is in the Prince It is a royalty to Monaâ—ks due But if for any Freedome ye can shew A Law enacted or a Custome old Or Presidents that have not beene controld As often as produced ye may lay Your claiâ—e and keep it ev'ry lawfull way Each President and every Demand Which doth from time to time opposed stand Concludeth nothing This let â—ach man heed And with a conscionable awe pâ—oceed In such affaiâ—es Let pure humility True piety true love and charity Be brought along And when all these â—e bring Then goe with lâ—yalty and mâ—et your King In his and your affaireâ— without mistrust And then as certainly as God is just In ev'ry due reqâ—est ye shall prevaile Oâ— gaine some gâ—eat advantage if ye faile Desire of God to teach and guide you so That in this narrow path you straight may go If you would have a King be just to you Be ye upright and to his honor true Yeeld first to him iâ— ev'ry fit demand And long capitulating do not stand On what you may determinate with speed Because perhaps delay may danger breed Afâ—ord him his requests unto youâ— pow'rs Be his the fault if he denieth yours Or if miscounselled he shall reâ—uâ—re What shall his weale oppuâ—ne or your desire Goe cast your selves before him with submission Present him with petition on petition With one accord and with a feaâ—lesse face Informe him how much hindrance or disgrace Or danger to the Land there may accrue If He your loyall counsell shall eschew For God because his lawes we disobey Vs at our Soveraignes feet doth meane to lay To humble us a while If we repent To all our loyall suits he will assent If otherwise God will give up this Land Our lives and freedomes all into his hand Go offer while to offer you are free And what you give him shall peace-offrings be If that which for atonement you provide With love and penitence be sanctifide The world agâ—inst our State doth now conspire Intestine dangers also doe require That we in concord should united be And to supply the Kingdomes wants agree Lest while we stâ—ive and fondly froward grow We be surprised by our common foe Vnwise is he that in a dangerous place Doth stay to wash a spot out of his face When Outlawes he approaching heares that may His body wound or take his head away If I should heare a Lyon neare me roare I 'de arme my selfe though I with wounds were sore And what I had not leasure then to cure Would seek to heale when I of life were sure In times of trouble all must look for crosses And they must â—eare who cannot shift their losses There may be smart by what we sâ—ffer shall But better smart then not to be at all When I do think a blow my head may harme I 'le ward it off although it break mine arme For though my arme be lost yet I may lâ—ve But on my head a blow my death may give I am not so besotted as to think We ought to give the wanton pall at drink Vntill the head be giddy left it may Bring all the body headâ—ong to decay Nor praise I them that are so over-wise To spare what shall be needâ—ull to suffise The gen'rall want although to needlesse ends Some private hâ—nd the publike wealth dispends This only is the scope of my petition That all be done with love and with discretion For we must understand that mâ—ny things Which are not just in us are just in Kings And that it is a kind â—f trait ' rousnesse To give them more then due as well as lesse They who deny the King free pow'r to do What his Republikes weale conduceth to Because some Law gaâ—nsayes ev'n those deprive Their Sov'raigne of a due prerogative Since for the common good it just may be That some injustice may be done to me Or any few Moreover men that say Kings may do more then of true right they may And that no law doth bound them make a King And him that is a Tyrant all one thing In my opinion these men are like those Who
into sev'rall factions Which rend thee will and fill thee with distractions They all in outward seeming shall pretend Gods glory and to have one pious end But under colour of sincere devotion Their study shall be temporall promotion Which will among themselves strange quarrels make Wherein thy other Children shall partake As to the Persons or the Cause they stand Affected even quite throughout the Land One part of these will for preferment strive By lifting up the King's prerogative Above it selfe They shall perswade him to Much more then Law or Conscience bids him do And say God warrants it His holy Lawes They shall pervert to justifie their cause And impudently wrest to prove their ends What God to better purposes intends They shall not blush to say that ev'ry King May doe like Solomon in ev'ry â—hing As if they had his warrant and shall dare Ascribâ— to Monarchs rights that proper are To none but Christ and mixe their flatteries With no lesse grosse and wicked blasphemies Then Heathens did yea make their Kings beleeve That whomsoever they oppresse or grieve It is no wrong nor fit for men oppressed To seeke by their owne Lawes to be redâ—essed Such counsell shall thy Princes then provoke To cast upon thee Rehoboams yoake And they not caring or not taking heed How ill that ill-advised King did speed Shall mâ—ltiply thy causes of distraction For then will of thy Priests the other faction Bestir themselves They will in outward showes Those whom I last have mentioned oppose But in thy ruine they will both agree As in one Center though far oft they bâ— In their Diameter With lowly zeale An envious pride they sâ—ily shall conceale And as the former to thy Kings will teach Meere Tyranny so shall these other preach Rebellion to the People and shall straine The word of God Sedition to maintaine They shall not feare to say that if thy King Become a Tyrant thou maist also fling Obedience off or fâ—om his Crowne divorce him Or by the terâ—or of drawne swords enforce him Which false Divinitie shall to the Devill Send many soules and bring on thee much evill Oh! be thou therefore watchfull and when e're These Lambs with Dragons voyces doe appeaâ—e Repent thy sinne or tâ—ke it for a token That some great Bulwarkâ— of thy peace is broken Which must be â—oone repair'd or els all The greatnes oâ— thy glory downe will fall Take heed of those false propâ—ets wâ—o will strive Betwixt thy Prince and People to contâ—ive A disagreement And what euer come Thy due Allegeance never staâ—t thou from For their oppressions though we may withstand By pleading Lawes or Customes not a hand Must move against them save the hand of God Who makes a King a Bulwark or a Rod As pleaseth him Oh! take ye therefore heed Yee People and yee Kings that shall succeed Of these Impostors Of the last beware Yee Subjects for their Doctrines hellish are And though they promise Liberty and peace Your Thraldome and your Troubles they 'll increase Shun oh yee Kings the first for they advise What will your Crownes and honors prejudice When you doe thinke their Prophecies befriend you They doe but unto Ramoth-Gilead send you Where you shall perish and poore Micahs word Though lesse esteem'd more safety will afford They will abuse your piety and all Your vertues To their wicked ends they shall Apply the Sacred Story or what ever May seeme to further their unjust endevor Ev'n what the son of Hannâ—h told the Iewes Should be their scourge because they did refuse The sov'raignty of God and were so vaine To aske a King which over thâ—m might raigne Aâ— heathen Princes did that curse they shall Affirme to be a Law Monarchiall Which God himselfe established to stand Throuâ—hout all ages and in ev'ry land Which is as good Divinity as they Have also taught who doe not blush to say That Kings may have both Wives and Concubines And by that Rule whereby these great Divines Shall prove their Teneâ— I dare undertake If â—ound it hold that I like proofe will mâ—kâ— Of any Iewish Custome and devise Authority for all absurdities But false it is For might all Kings â—t pleasure As by the right of royaltie make ceasure Of â—ny mans possessions why I pray Did Ahab grieve that Naboth said him nay Why made â—e not this answer thereunto If what the Prophâ—t said some Kings would do Weâ—e justly to â—e done Thy Vineyard's mine And at my pleasure Naboth all that 's thine Assume I may Why like a Turky-chick Did he so foolishly â—row sullen sick And get possâ—ssion by a wicked fact Of what might have beene his by royall act Thus God is pleas'd to humble and to raise Thus he by sev'rall names and sev'rall wayes The world doth govern Yea thus ev'n in one nation And in one State he makes much alteration In formes of Governmeâ—t oft changing that Which is but accâ—dentall to a State And such his Iustice and his Wisdome is That he preserveth by the meanes of this Those things which doe essentially pertaine To that great Power which over all doth raigne Nor is he pleased thuâ— it should be done In States that meerely civill are alone But also in the Churches governments Allowes the change of outward accidents Yea they to whom he gives the oversights Of some particular Church may change old Rites The Customes Formes or Titles as occasions Are offâ—ed them or as the Times or Nations Require a change provided so that they Take nothing which essentiall is away Nor adde what shall repugne or prejudice Gods Lawes his Kinâ—dome or the Liberties Of them that arâ— his people For in what Hath any Church a powâ—r if not in thaâ— Which is indifferent Or in what I pray Will men the Câ—urch authority obey If not in such like things Oâ— who should be The Iudge what is indifferent if not she A private Spirit knowes what beâ—t agrees With his owne fancy but the Church best seâ— What fitâ— tâ—e Congregation From what gives Offence to one anotheâ— man receives Much comfort and his consciencâ— edifies By disciplines which many doe despise A Parish is a little Diocesse And as of Cities Townes and Villages A Bâ—shoprick consists so that doth rise By â—ythings Hamlets and by Families And litâ—le diffrence would be in the same Excepting in the laâ—genesse and the name Iâ— their opinions were allow'd of all Who savour not the stile Episâ—opall Foâ— ev'ry Priest would then usurp the same Autâ—ority wherâ—of oâ— some hate the name Yea many a one would then his Parish make A little Popedome and upon him take Conâ—ideâ—ing his meanâ— pow'r as much as hâ— That Vâ—iveâ—sâ—ll Bishop claimes to be And prove more pâ—oud and troublesome then they Against whose Lordlinesse they now inveigh This therefore is my Rule that Government What e're it be in which to me God â—ent My birth and breeding that untill my end I will obey and to my pow'r dâ—fend Yea
fled What in their need should them have comforted If Death be dreadfull stay and learne to die For Death affects to follow those that flie Had you not â—one you might for ever after Have said That Sorrow profits more then Laughâ—er You should have known that Death hath limits here And loosed was where he did bound appeare That many were preseâ—ved in thâ— flame And many burnt that came not nigh the same Yea some of you beâ—ore from hence you went Had of these Truths got some experiment What â—olly then or Frenzy you bewitches To leave your houses and goe dye in ditches Forgoe the Comfort which your Ciâ—ie yeelds To venture for a lodging in the fields Or which is worse to trà vell farre and finde Those prove ungentle whom you hoped kinde A Plague so bitter That might Plagues be chuseâ— I would be Plague-sicke rather then so used Did you suppose the Pestilence would spare None here nor come to seaze on any there All perish'd not that did behinde you stay Nor did you all escape who fled away For God your passages had so beset That Hee with many thousands of you meâ— In Kent and all along on Essex side A Troupe of câ—uell Fevers did reside And roâ—nd about on ev'ry other Coast Of severall Country Agues lay an hoaâ—t And most of them who had this place forsooke Were eyther slaine by them or Pris'ners tooke Sometime the Pestilence her selfe â—ad bin Before them in their Lodging at their Inne And hath arrested them upon the Bed Brought many sicke away and meny dead Sometime againe she after them hath gone And when perchance she was not thought upoâ— Among their friends and in their merriment Hath seiz'd them to their greater discontent She divers apprehended on the way Who to so many mischiefes were a prey That poorest beggers found more pitty here And lesser griefe then richer men had there I doe not meane concerning that neglect That barbarous unmanly disrespect Their bodies had among the clownish crew When from the tainted flesh the spirits flew For if their carcasses they did contemne What harme or what disease was that to them What paine or torment was it if that they Like carrion in the fields unburied lay What felt they being â—ragged like a Log Or hurl'd into a Saw-pit like a Dog What disadvantage could that Doctor have Who learnedly was drawne into his grave By naâ—ed men since those things doe disgrace The living rather and doe wrong the place Thâ—t suffers or allowes that barb'rousnesse To shame the Christian Faith which they professe Alas my heart as little can bemone A mangled carcasse as a broken stone It is a living body and the paines Which I conceive a broken heart sustaines That moveth me their griefe in life-time was And whilst they liv'd their sorrowes did surpasse These fained ones as Death and loathed Care By Life and true Content excelled are Some who forsooke faire houses large and high Could scarcely get a Shed to keepe them dry And such who many bedâ— and lodgings had To lye on straw without the doores were glad Some over-tyr'd with weaâ—inesse and heâ—t Could not for money purchase drink or meat But cruelly of succour were deny'd Till through their faintnesse they grew sick dy'd Some who in London had beene waited on With many servants weâ—e enclos'd alone In solitary places where they mâ—ght Find leasure to repent them of their flight And when they had supplyes at any need The bringers did like those that Lyons feed Ev'n throw it at them or else some where set it Where after their departures they might fet it And many a one no helper to attend him Was left to live or dye as God should friend him Some who unwisely did their homes forsake That triall of the Country they might make Have brought their lives to miserable ends Before they could arive among their friends Some having reach'd the places they desir'd With no meane difficulty weake and tyr'd Have missed welcome where they sought reliefe And strucken by unkindnesse dy'd with Griefe The sickly Wife could no â—ssistance have To bring her Husbands body to the grave But was compelled with a grieved heart To act the Parsons and the Sextons part And he that wanted strength â—o beare away His mate who dead within his presence lay VVas faine to let the stinking body lye Till he in death should beare him company Ah me what tongue can tell thâ— many woes The passions and the many griefes of those What mâ—rtall pen is able to expresse Thâ—ir great temptations in that lonelinesse What heart can thinke how many a grieuous feare To those distressed people may appeare Who are with such afflictions over-takâ—n Of ev'ry Crâ—ature in the world forsaken Without a Comforter left all alone Where to themselves they must themselves bemone Without a remedy And where none may Or know or pitty what they â—eele or say Me thinkes to muse on those who suffer'd thus Should bring to minde the mercy shewed us And make our pennes and voyces to expresse The love of God with hearty Thankfulnesse For when no sorâ—owes of mine owne I had The very thought of those hath made me sad And were it not that God hath given me Some tryaâ—ls of those Comâ—ortingâ— which Hee For men in their extremities provides And from the knowledges of others hides Or felt I not how prevalent Gods pow'r Appeares in us when there is none of our What liberty hee giue 's when wee doe fall Within the compasse of an outward thrall And what contentments He bestowes on them Whom others doe neglect or else contemne Yea had I not beleeued him who sayes That God doth knowledge take of all our wayes That He observes each rubb within our path With ev'ry secret sorrow which it hath That he is nearesâ— then when we bemone His absence anâ— suppose him furthest gone And often in us dwels when Those abroad With most insâ—lting say Where is their God Had this beene hidden from me I had here For ev'ry line I writ dropt downe a teare And in a floud of sorrowes drench'd mine eyes When first I mused on these miseries But I have knowne them to my great content And felt so oft wâ—at comforts God hath lent When of all outward helpes we are depâ—ived That could the same of all men be beleeved It would be thought true Pleasures wâ—re possessed Of none but men forsaken and distressed How ever though such mercy God bestowes And brings men comfort in their greatest woes Let none of us presume as some have done Without our Circle foolishly to runne Nor leave our proper station that we may Goe seeke our fortunes in an uncouth way Conceive me right I doe not here deny Or call in doubt the lawfulnâ—sse to flye Nor am I of their counsell who despise All such as fled nor judge I too precise Those wâ—o the Person or the Place avoid Which is with any noysomnesse annoy'd For when the causes
of remove are just We then may flye the Plague nay then we must Since those who will not in such cases goe Tempt God and faile in what they ought â—o doe If that a King or Prince should live within A City much infected it were sin For he no doubt hath some Vice-gerent there Who in his absence may supply his care Or if that Place were certaine of decay By his departure yet he might not stay The Reason is there many thousands are Oâ— Townes and Cities that in him have share Who would conceive it were unjustly done That he should venter all their wealth in One. And make great Kingdomes hazards to endure The welfare of one City to procure So Counsellers of State and he whose Charge Extends throughout the Common wealth at large VVith ev'ry other Magistrate beside Except his pow'r to sâ—me one place be ty'd Must shun the Plague because that such as he Sworne servants to the whole Weale-publique be And since the safest Physicke and defence For Children in the times of Pestilence Is to remove them they unwisely do VVho having wealth and fâ—iends to send them to Neglect the meanes by being over nice Or grudging at the charge through avarice Moreover they whose calling seemes to lye VVithin two sev'rall places equally Till some plaine causes hinder may be freâ— To live where safety best appeares to be Vnlesse their secret conscience doe gaine-say And who can judge of that but God and They Yea Men on divers good occasions mo May from the places of Infection goe For there be times of stay and times of going VVhich ev'ry one that is discreet well knowing Doth censure no partic'lar Man at all But calling unto mind that blessed Paul VVas once ev'n in a basket forth convay'd From his Pursuers yet no iotafraid At other seasons to continue there VVhere bloody peâ—secutions hottest were And if my words have done my meaning right My Muse denyes not but alloweth flight Provided alwayes that Men doe not flie From Casuall Plagues to Plagues with Certainty From those with whom the bands of Charity Of Duty Friendship or Affinity Or of their Calling doth requiâ—e a stay Provided also when they part away That as God blest them hath they somewhat â—â—nde To comfort those who must abide behinde And that they trust not to their Flight as tho That of it selfe could save but raâ—her know And use it as the gracious meanes of him Who saves and not as that which saved them Let theâ— consider likewise that the Sin Was partly theirs which did the Plague begin And in their absence with a Christian feare Make sute for those who must the burthen beare From which they scape yea let them all confesse Their sins with penitencâ— and humblenesse Avoiding ev'ry pleasure where they live Which out of minde their Brethrens cares may drive Lest God pursue them whither they are fled There â—eize upon them to their greater dread Or from them take away all due correction Which Plague were greater then this great Infeâ—tion For when his Iudgements God in wrath removes His Mercy then the greater Iudgement proves There be I know some people gone away Who miâ—ding our afflictions night and day Have much bewayled our distressed case And sent up earnest prayers foâ— this Place For of their Piety good fruits are seene And by their hands the poore refresht have beene These from this Den of Slaughter were no doubt By Gods especiall favour called out Who for their sakes I hope those townes will spare To which for shâ—lter they esâ—aped are As he did Zoar. And I wish they may Obtaine their lives and safeties for a prey But there be some and would to God that some Were but a little one who parted from Our City walls as if they had not gone With Vengeance at their heeles or waited on By feares and dangers but so finifi'd As if their meaning was to shew their pride In Country Churches for a weeke or twaine Ride out like Coâ—kneies and come home againe The sorrowes of their brethren they forgot In holy duties they delighted not In drunken meetings they their leasure spent In idle visits foolish merriment And to their Country-friends they caried downe Those sinnes that are too common in this Towne VVhich if they practise there as here we doe VVill bring their wages also thither too These giddy Runnawayes are they that were Beginneâ—s of that great unmanly feare VVhich did first author of disorder prove These caused that improvident Remove VVhich did both wrong the welfare of the Citiâ— Distract the Country make it voyd of pitie And give occasion of those Tales which Fame Hath now dispersed to our common shame For if their flight had timely beene provided VVith Conscience and Discretion truly guided Thâ—iâ— profit here at home had beene the greater And fâ—iends abroad had entertain'd â—hem better And yet I take small pleasure to excuse Tâ—ose Pesants who so grosly did abuse Tâ—eir Manhood and Religion in denying Tâ—e dues of Charity to people dying For though their folly might their fall deserve Yet we our Christian pitie should preserve Our brother in extremities releeving Not adding sorrowes to encrease his grieving Nor taking notice of his evill deedâ— So much as of that comfort which he needs Till he râ—freshed by a friendly â—and His errors by our love may understand And sure there was a meanes to succour strangerâ— In their distresse and to escape the dangers Of that Infection which so much was feared Had Vnderstandâ—ngs eye beâ—ne better cleared And that Selfe-love and Avarice removed Which kept good pathâ— unseene and unapproved But since that easie knowledge hath beene hid By wilfull blindnesse well enough I did If here I Satyrizing should expresse The Countries folly and foâ—getfulnessâ— And yet I will not write to their disgraces What of some Persons and particular Places Hath rumor'd beene lest I should spirt a blot So blacke as that it would not be forgot In future Ages but make Times-to-come Suspect they had deny'd their Christendome For shouâ—d our Muse who if she list thereto Cares not who frownes or frets at what we doe Should she put on that straine of Bitternesse With which their cruelty we could expresse Should we in our description of their Feare Cause all their Indiscretion to appeare Should we illustrate here the true Relationâ— Of what hath past in many Corporations What uproares in some Townes have raised beene When Londoners approaching them were seene How master Maior was straightway flockt about How they to Counsell went to keepe them out How they their watches doubled as if some Had brought them newes that Spinola would come And what ridiculous actions past among them Some few perhaps wold think thâ—t we did wroÌ„g theÌ„ And they would subjects be of scorne and laughter For â—ll their evill willers ever after Or should we tell what propable suspition Appear'd sometime of wisedome and discretion In goodman Constable when in a standing To