The incens'd Rabble like to Heathen Idols must have humane blood for a Sacrifice though the soolish overflowings of their Galls can be pacified by no more grateful oblation than that by which they express all ills Ingratitude seldom not gratified by his Ruine who might most seek their Preservation Though Strafford was allow'd to be no President yet some will ever propose him for an Example and no Act of Oblivion will make us so lost to our memories that the most unfortunate Earl will be forgot who incomparably loyal was impeach'd by such Arch Rebels as by introducing the Scots were guilty of the highest Treason the most implacable enemy of Traytors fell their sacrifice When putrid members were to be cut off the body politick was depriv'd of the sounder part which might have secur'd it from encroaching mischiefs while an unparallel'd Princes clemency which gave fears to none and left not the greatest villanies destitute of hopes administer'd in the Grand Statesmans ruine if not a just an unhappy cause of his own untimely period The gratifying of the weakest heads with the loss of the wisest as a most bloody so is rarely not a most succesless Policy The Athenians might be thought to have a veneration for an Owl only who could estrange Worth by an Ostracism Some will have the greatest of English Statists to have perish'd by their own weapons One wise head like Galba's wit not ill plac'd may exceed in value not only many Millions of Money but Armies of Men. Good intelligence and bold truth some say could unfix a no undeserving relation of the Generals whom nothing except his displeasure unrivited from the greatest office of Trust in which the Successor may seem not the least of State Riddles but mysterious Grandeur is such an Abyss as Fools will fondly guess at the depth of that which the Plumets of the most comprehensive reasons can never fathom Some who are uncapable of the diviner mysteries can put themselves to the troublesom admiration how the extemporary trash of a canting and long winded Schismatick in a Chamber can be preparatory to the more sober devotion of the Chappel-Royal or how the truly Loyal and religious Grandee's our incomparable Converts can keep Chaplains to assert with paper pellets that schism to which they must be the greatest strangers if not estranged to their Allegiance and to defile their new honours have not suck't up their old vomits The Actors on the worlds Theater by shifting Cloaks and Beards act different parts and interchangeably fill up the Play of life with calamitous scenes of misery or ridiculous interludes Nothing is more pleasant in our revolutions then to hear the grand enemies of the Prerogative and the Lordly Branches the most confident assertors of the Priviledges which the King and Lords may most justly challenge and the same persons formerly could most unjustly impugn who deprived the Throne of Supporters will ever stand in need of one to cleave to and secur'd by the Unicorn can be dreadless of the Lyon The least Friends of the loyal Clergie will ever want the benefit of it in a Psalm of mercy How appositely is the Princes Prerogative pleaded in the favour of scism by the Protosticklers of it which would allow him none in Religion And yet thus they can hope a priviledge for such as void both of tenderness and conscience to its Prince could deny him a liberty they would have indulg'd to the meanest Subjects There may be no improbable conjecture as well as other Grandees a confident ignorance might easily impose on our Heroe The intrusting so valued a body with such an illiterate quack as some would have disdain'd to have made the Farrier to a beloved or generous Beast lend no small suspicion the Patronage of the Stroaker some will have a too pregnant example Age in it self an invincible disease might assure no easie conquest of a concomitant distemper which might be intitled old yet twenty years of superannuation and twelve of deafness were esteemed inconsiderable in a nonagenarian woman when a wonder-working hand could appear for the recovery the Stroaker G. and sent by the General to restore her so long estranged Hearing Simon Magus Apollonius Pere grinus Philosophus Alexander Paphlago who appear'd with lying wonders to give a disrepute to Primitive Christianity could not be more confident then this gracious babe of the Presbyterian Reformation while the Puritans accuse the Papists for their holy Maid of Kent they forget Elizabeth Barton their Wench in the Wall As if stroaking could cicure the wildest Adversaries every party hath been provided by a thus trifling Impostor Men in power should not make themselves conscious by such a bruitish connivence as calls Gods and his Vicegerents Honours into question The bold folly of Stroakers may seem a mocking of Majesty and the intrenching on that Prerogative which conferr'd by a St. Edward the Confessor and a St. Lewis on the Kings of England and France to cure by touch must be reputed sacred such a Jewel as cannot be alienated from a Crown Miracles need not be call'd into the Scene where natural causes can be ascrib'd Stronger frictions can cure some intercutaneous Maladies should the balsom of a sweating Palm be deni'd conducive by the effluviums of wonder-working Atoms A Knight a Relation to the Duke and Son to the Grandeve Patient of the Stroaker gratifying my curiosity with the converse of the Trifler I heard him as confidently propose Moses an example for his doing of Miracles as if he had been to lead the Jewish Tribes of Pharisaical Presbyterians through a Red Sea into a Land of Promise and the Invasion of France being then nois'd the English by a cunning Man might hope the recovery of what they had lost by a wise Woman If the Braggar't or a vouching Comrade were to be believ'd the General was so indear'd by the recovery of his Kinswomans eye that he would not allow him a nights absence to gratifie the importunity of Relations Sinking men will take hold of Reeds Stroaking which could hear abominable superstition and Jesuitical contrivance in the Papists must give a reparation to the declining cause of Presbyterians The wonder-working Lieutenant was the most affecting discourse of that party which had he been of a different phancy for his lying wonders they would have intitled him an Antichrist Whom some would have a Candidate for a Cardinals Cap others will have Probationer for a Fools while he could countenance a stroaking Friar to enter contest with a Prince and show a Chappel less efficacious for miracles then a Banquetting-house It not a little perplex'd Sir K. D. and made not a few merry that an eminent Churchman with an Honourable Title and the not disingenious Son of a Grand Virtuoso expos'd an innocent to danger and themselves to be ridiculous The solemn Pageantry which attended the simple Irish Priests stroaking to wiser heads of their own profession seem'd a discretion rivalling theirs who with Kettles
perjury rapine and bloud It may seem a cruel piece of Charity to deprive of Christianity for the better intitling to Grace and Excellency Who came at the last hour in the Gospel was allotted a reward equalling that of the first comers Such converts as are the joy of Angels should not be the Envy of men Some will have the Low-Country a Nursery for Soldiers but the most unsuccessful Academy for Religion and Loyalty who expos'd their souls and bodies Mercenaries to in the cause of a Rebellious Commonwealth were vainly expected good Subjects to a Prince Generous persons are apt to entertain their Title in their beliess can suppose our General no ignoble Soldior of Fortune who fighting long under her colours at length attain'd the giddy Idol for his constant Mistress He deserted no Masters till they deserted him a Low-Country Religion both oblig'd him to a Party and disoblig'd when he wanted an exchange for Loyalty he exchang'd it and when giddy Patriots of the then espoused Cause were return'd fairly to take away his Commission he as honorably relinquish'd the deserters of themselves and him It is a blasphemy to affirm him a Deity though we may justly allow him an Hannibal a Fabius an Hercules a worth equalling if not superexcelling all the Antient Heroes some foolish Sycophants will intitle to more wisdom than God ever intrusted to mere humane Nature yet while they strive to deifie make him the Fool that said in his heart There is no God He who can take Oaths with an intention to violate them it must be a strange excess of Charity which can allow him a God in his Creed General Leshly told Potter a Trumpeter sent to him by the Royal Martyr That he would serve his Majesty as faithfully as he had done the Parliament The Scot gain'd an easie belief and in charity we may believe intended what he promised he served them for Money and for gain which was his Religion would have expos'd to sale his Masters But while a necessitated Prince could not go the price a King not to be equal'd by Millions is passed in exchange for Two hundred thousand pound Nothing is more pleasant then the junior story of this Bony Jocky who ran away with blith Jenny stealing sixteen shillings sterling from an old Mistress at Edenburgh to defray charges yet by temptation of so vast a sum though much mowing and many Bearns she reap'd not Matrimony till her fingers being as light as her heels a plunder'd Portion made up the March which was a muckle day of joy as the gude Countess told the Right Honourable Lady of Oxford when her Husband from a common Soldier had arriv'd to be a Scotch General and by heading a Rebellion became an Earl to give a reputation to his future Villanies Snakes though warm'd in the most Royal bosoms will requite their entertainment with a sting Though Factions may seem to lose their heads which are taken off by Honor yet they are rarely wanting to fresh opportunities for mischief Our generous Champion when he had espous'd Loyalty and acquir'd deserved Honor by the evil principle of no mercenary spirit made Conscience a Prostitute to the lusts of Faction Who would wound our Heroe in the weakest part find him there most impregnable Honor Conscience and Gratitude appear in his vindication and that cruel necessity which can make batteries on the strongest Resolutions none will phancy it brutish sottishness or that the most daring of men would be affrighted out of Reason by an inconsiderate Huffer the great tie of Christianity which injoyns satisfaction and the preserving of a generous Family famous through a long series of Ancestors might be no lesser inducements to Marriage If in some things he resembled an Alexander the Great in others he exceeded the more victorious Julius Caesar an Husband for all mens wives excellent above his fam'd Ancestor a Fourth Edward or a Philip who surnamed the Good wanted his Virtue Our Heroe was not captivated by that which inslaves the proudest Victors and made him whose labours fill'd all the world ridiculously to truckle to a distaff in this a more than Hercules who by an invincible fortitude endur'd a Confinement which might intitle to a quotidian incountring of Monsters and not less frequent triumphs o'er wild Beasts in Passions In requital if he found a Wise not rich she made her self so some can phancy the riches accruing to her Husband and Heir by this frugal Womans means made the proudest Dowry in three Nations scarse her parallel for a Match It was a rare felicity in Ages when the Parents virtue was the childs dowry who neither gain by inheritance nor acquisition are only reputed contemptibly poor where Money answers all things Riches where Worth Virtue may seem the best portion and most acquirable of perfections Though Lycurgus Dogs seem to make an infallible demonstration they are too incharitable in their censures who can believe that no temptation either of gain or profit could intervene in which with the transform'd Cat in the Fable the humor of mousing not return'd It is reported of Theophilus that he burnt a rich ship of his wives disdaining that the covetous folly of a woman should exchange the Title of an Emperour to that of a Merchant Some can hope a more cruel Traffick found no acceptation from our Induperator others can fear an Harpies Talons laden were never an ungrateful Oblation He who pluckt the Thorns out of the Crown it is Charity to believe he would plant no new pricks or Canaanites resembling them in his side whom he had return'd to a Land of Promise Who mov'd in so high a sphere of Glory as our Heroe could not but attract Clouds of Envy which by their blacker interposure might vail that lustre which they could not obscure Envious Folly the most obnoxious to mistakes rarely makes not more bright what she intends most to darken A sober scrutenist may find our General the lest conscious of what the Rabbles Idol Report the Common Lyer broaches from frothing hogsheads either for advantage or impairing of Glory The giddy Strumpet Fame which is every Ideots Prostitute makes no stop betwixt the Extreams of Honor or Infamy she cherishes that which we intends to blast by the cold wind of an envious displeasure and while active as fire she would gratifie Grandeur consumes what she intends only to inliven by a warmer commendation The selling of a Prince was a fatal Prognostick may the sale of Loyalty be more propitious The God of this world did so dazle foolish eyes that nothing was to be seen in the most Execrable Trator beside unparallel'd Excellence Treason was only a subtil reservedness or a pious fraud for Royal advantage The Mammon of unrightousness was not imploy'd to provide Heav'nly places but to promote Earthly interests Some can think the greatest Judas here might have found no cause of desperation where so many Pieces might have intitled to Honor and Office Mr. Case may serve
afford their tinckling Charity to the Moon in an Ecclyps Who since the Restauration gain'd to his Right Honourable Title a blew Ribband and in some opinions was intitled to a refin'd wit and grand Polititian the late times report the Patient and Admirer of a stroaking Lunatick the unhappy Stroaker whose disturbed brains for their recovery might want more drugs then an Anticyra could furnish which so long deluded the most active endeavours of Medicine attended by the severest discipline of Bedlam Who can wonder if natures rude draught a Soldier polish'd by no Art impos'd on by proud Ignorance and giddie Fame might give a Stroakers folly a Commendamus where the wisest Heads might have their Judgments call'd in question by their hands Desert is not only unattended on by a Mandamus but rarely encounters an unbrib'd Commendation Empty heads make the greatest sound and full purses the most significant noyse for Preferment A Phanatick Trooper who might be lost to all knowledge if he had not plunder'd it from Loyalty whose Library was not above a Barrows Method and an Almanack two Doctors hands requir'd for the granting of a licence to practise Physick he produc'd an obsolete Mandamus from the grand Protector of Ignorance Cromwel which in the worst of times had not the confidence to visit Oxford in the best durst encounter the most learn'd Bishop Saunderson who in vain could resist it ten Angels powerfully appearing to his Chancellour were satisfactory motives to make by the golden rule of practise a true Licentiate The Shcools can make it disputable whether what was intended the greatest encourager of Virtue hath not been the least acquainted with Merit Learning and Loyalty put beyond all dispute brought to the test would be rarely found above in the sees and Mandamus of not a few booted Fishermen for degrees as they call them which are catch't by a golden hook Loosers may have a prating licence If a few complain many have cause to praise this golden Age. He must be wise who is rich or some whose mercenary spirits can give so glib a commendation to the most deplorable pieces of Folly may be question'd for that wisdom which makes fools and themselves equally fortunate Worldly Grandeur with the not misbecoming attributes of Right Honourable and Right Worshipful sometimes can have a too unhappy resemblence to Pagan Idols which having eyes and ears neither hear nor see Whose wisdom lyes in another mans head who can be blind and deaf for interest may make a comment on that Text which will have man being in honour compar'd to the beasts which perish wathout understanding Some will have our English Solomon in pain to have listen'd to a Woman for a Remedy There are who guess by the touchstone of Physick whose ignorance might exceed a Phanaticks Sermon not the only Emperick who attended our Heroe France France often repeated in the opinion of a Francis could equal the titles of an Emperour to excuse his mistakes and make a parallel for all worthies we may repeat the Souldier Souldier Some think they honour most in making no Souldier but an uncommission'd and peaceable Spectator to the most happy of Revolutions When the stinking part offensive to most nostrils had her Presbyterian appurtenances adjoyn'd which long laid aside for sweetning had not deposited their rankness to clear Noses One of their prime votes was that no man should be capaple of Office who would not subscribe Rebellion lawful for by a necessary illation it is deducible if a war against the King was just I have heard some not of so ill inform'd judgments as to believe the levelling of a war against a Prince not Treason yet so loose principl'd in Religion that they would assert all Oaths and Subscriptions lawful which might render capable of serving the Royal Interest such tools were as profitable to Loyalty as the Gnosticks to Christianity He who dares not trust God in vain may be credited by man To play the Devil for God sake hath been a common Proverb but was never enter'd for an Article in a sober Belief Who could glory in being Confessors and could think to suffer in the Cause of God their King and Countrey Martyrdom Air and Dirt Life and Fortune were contemptible trifles to them who could propose white Robes in confession and Purple in their sufferings which might be Prologues to Crowns and Immortality but such who followed deserted Loyalty as the people our Saviour into the Wilderness for the miracle of Loaves seeking worldly advantages might pawn their souls for trash and sin for a morsel of bread It is an Atheistical piece of folly to disown Omnipotency that we may gratifie weak Surmisers The custom of swearing and forswearing had in our unhappy Land took away the sense of perjury by the no infrequent use of Poyson it went into the opinion of such nutriment as might seem necessary for their constitutions In a wilderness of Apes and Monkeys none could dread by an Oath to take in a Spider That Oaths may make a Land mourn we have Religion to assure and reason to instruct us but how they can be the instruments to our rejoycing may be an Article of that Creed only which could exchange a Christ for an Adonis and make Religion truckle to every darling folly In such an Apostacie as might make an unhappy Land sigh and wonder at her self so soon turn'd Leper Some believe a thundring Legion to have secur'd our Theodosius we received a Charles by the grace of God not favour of Men. No quirks nor intrigues of giddie Polititians but he alone who rules the wheel of human vicissitudes produc'd this happyer Revolution the best of Physitians and no worm'd-brain'd Mountebank of State subven'd to our distractions when the twisting of sand by foolish combinations was found a succesless folly and the brain-sick hopes of fondest Royalists might pass for phrenzy God derided from heaven and by dividing their Councils who were enemies to our David turn'd the wisdom of our Achitophels into a Rope When the Bricks were doubled a Moses came our Task-masters grown intolerable God rais'd us up Deliverers The Stars in their courses which sought against fight for us the most inauspicious Planets by happier conjunctions deposit their malevolence and seem to have friendly aspects for Loyalty by a more propitious revolution Sure this was the Lords doing and should be marvellous in our eyes God scatter'd the men who took delight in war and by a bloodless victory gave us peace the prayers and tears of a poor and distressed party the weapons of the Church militant prevail'd over the loud crying blasphemy and perjuries of their Enemies The war begun from Scotland a Nation fatal to Princes a Region of darkness can give light and the North infamous for ill must be celebrated for good since from that place we receiv'd the first part of for cure to which weow'd the beginning of mischief The Lord who being a General gave way to a Princes ruine