Violence and the Cruelty of these Inhuman Unnatural Destroying Laws Plaintiff Most Reverend Judges This man who is Nature's Lawyer and Pleader ought to be Banish'd from this Place and his Profession of Pleading out of all Civilest Governments for he Talks he knows not what of Nature's Laws whereas there is no Law in Nature for Nature is Lawless and hath made all her Creatures so as to be Wild and Ravenous to be Unsatiable and Injurious to be Unjust Cruel Destructive and so Disorderous that if it were not for Civil Government Ordained from an Higher Power as from the Creator of Nature her self all her Works would be in a Confusion and so their own Destruction But man is not all of Nature's Work but only in his Outward Frame having an Inward Celestial and Divine Composition and a Supreme Power given him by the Gods to Rule and Govern Nature So that if your Honours submit to the Plea of this Babler you will make the Rulers and Governours of Nature the Slaves of Nature Wherefore if you be Celestial and not Natural Judges and will give Divine Judgement and not Judge according to Brutal Senses you will Condemn this Notorious Thief and Wild Robber to the Gallows that his Life may be the Satisfaction for the Wrongs and his Death an Example for a Warning to Prevent the like Crimes A Cause Pleaded before Judges betwixt two Bastards Most Reverend Judges Plaintiff THere be Two Laws in this Kingdom which seem to be very Unjust the One is that if a VVoman be Got with Child by One Man and Marries an Other before her Child is Born that Child must Inherit her Husbands Estate if it be a Son so that One mans Son comes to be an Other mans Heir by the Law The Other is that if a man Begets a Son before Marriage and he Marries not the VVoman till After his Son is Born and though the Marriage cancels the Fault of Adultery and is an Attonement for the Sin or Crime both to God and the Law yet the Innocent Child that was in No Fault is put by the Inheritance by the Law indeed the Son so Born Inherits only the Disgrace of a Bastard but not his Fathers Estate and thus if the VVoman be Incontinent a mans Own begotten Son shall not Inherit and an Other mans Bastard be his Heir The same Case is brought to be Pleaded before your Honours for two Sons of One VVoman but not of One Father the Eldest being her Husbands Begotten and Born before Marriage the other Begotten by an Other man but Born a moneth after her Marriage with the first Sons Father The Son born after Marriage claims his Mothers Husbands Estate as Inheritance by Law the Other claims the Estate as a Natural Right Defendant Most Reverend Judges The Son born to Inherit claims the Estate by the Right of Birth and hopes your Honours will not suffer his Birth-right to be taken from him Plaintiff Most Reverend Judges The Right Begotten Son doth not Challenge his Fathers Estate as his Right by Birth but as his Right by Gift for his Father by Deed gave him that which the Law took from him for his Estate being not Intail'd he might Give it to whom he would and he could not Give it more Justly Honestly and Lovingly than to his Own Son but had he not a Child of his Own to have given it to yet surely he would never have Left it if he had Power to Dispose of it to a Son of his Inconstant Wife or Friend which bore him to his Shame and Dishonour but the Case is so clear for his true-Begotten Son as it needs no more Pleading A Cause Pleaded before the Judges between an Husband and his Wife Most Reverend Judges Plaintiff HEre is a Woman Born of good Parents brought a great Portion and makes a chast VVife yet her Husband is so Unkind and so Cruel as he doth not only Beat her often but so Grievously and Sorely as she is weary of her Life and therefore she beseeches your Honours to take so much Commiseration of her Cause as to Bind her Husband to a good Behaviour or to Grant her a Bill of Divorce and some Allowance from him that she may Live Absent in Peace Defendant Most Reverend Judges A Husband Anger nor yet his Corrections is not a sufficient Plea for a Wife to Part from her Husband for a Woman when she Marries makes a Promise before God and his Divine Minister in the Sacred Temple that she takes her Husband to Have and to Hold for Better for Worse and that she will be Dutifull and Obedient as also Constant to him so long as Life lasts and so plights her troth Wherefore it is against the Laws of God and his Church to sue for a Divorce also it is against her Duty to Complain Wherefore she ought by the Laws of God and consequently by all Other Laws to suffer Patiently did she give her Husband No cause to use her so Severely Plaintiff Most Reverend Judges A Wife is not bound by any Laws but Religion to Hazard her Life and she fears he will Kill her in his Fury and therefore for the Safety of her Life she desires your Honours will quit her of the Danger Defendant Most Reverend Judges A Wife is bound both by the Law of Nature and God to Hazard her Life not only for her Husbands Safety Honour and Pleasure but for his Humour for a VVife is bound to Leave her Parents Country and what else soever to go with her Husband wheresoever he goes and will have her go with him were it on the Dangerous Seas or into Barren Deserts or Perpetual Banishments or Bloody VVarrs besides Child-birth all which is more Dangerous and Painfull than blows but howsoever it is as Lawfull for an Husband to Govern Rule and Correct his VVife as for Parents to Rule Govern and Correct their Children or for Masters to Rule Govern and Correct their Servants or Slaves Plaintiff But Parents ought not Strike or Cruelly use their Children nor Masters their Servants or Slaves without Faults committed Defendant Parents Masters and Husbands in the Case of Ruling Governing Correcting Punishing or using their Children Servants Slaves and VVives ought to be their Own Judges and no other But Most Reverend Judges She is not free from Fault for though she be Chast yet she is a Scold she gives her Husband more unkind VVords than he gives her unkind Blows and her Tongue provokes his Hand to strike her but as she is Lavish of her VVords so she is of his Estate not so much with what she Spends as with that she Spoils and though he can keep her from the One he cannot hinder her from the Other for she is not only Unhuswifely and Careless of the main Stock but she Breaks Rends and Spoils all his Goods out of a Malicious Revenge and Evil Nature Yet howsoever were she the Best VVife that could be and he the Worst Husband the Law
before Judges a Cause betwixt a Father and his Son Most Reverend Judges Plaintiff against the Father HEre is the Son which ought to be his Fathers Heir whom for Marryig against his Fathers Consent his Father hath Dis-inherited which is against all Law or Right both of God Nature and Man Defendant Most Reverend Judges Disobedient Children ought to have no Part nor Parcel of their Parents Estate as Lands Goods or whatsoever for it the Parents have no Duty nor Obedience from their Child their Child can challenge no Part of their Parents Estate and since he hath Married Disobediently he ought to Live Poorly or to get his Living by his Own Labour or Industry Plaintiff Most Reverend Judges There is no Reason nor Law that if one man Commit a Fault to an other that man should Commit an other to be quit with him and put the Case the Son were unnaturally Disobedient must the Father be unnaturally Cruel to be Revenged of him Defendant Most Reverend Judges Parents are the Fittest Judges of their Childrens Faults and Crimes committed against them But howsoever Parents cannot be thought Cruel or Unnatural to Punish the Crimes of their Children no more than God can be said to be Cruel or Unjust to Punish Sinners for God who Made Creatures may do what he Pleases with them for being his own Work he may Dispose or Order them as he Thinks best or as he Pleaseth So Parents that Begot their Children may do the like in things concerning themselves Plaintiff But God is Mercifull wherefore Parents ought to be Natural Defendant God is Just and therefore Children ought to be Dutifull Plaintiff But if God Should Punish his Creatures according to their Desert no man would be Saved Defendant And if Children should do what they List there would be no Government for Parents would be made Slaves and their Children Masters so if God should not Punish Some of his Creatures All would be Damned and to make up the Fulness of their Sins they would Despise his Love and not Fear his Power and so they would neither Love nor Fear God so Children would have neither Duty nor Obedience to their Parents But to prove it a Clear cause his Estate is free from all Intails and wholly in his own Power to Dispose of it as he Pleases and to Give it to whom he will and therefore his Son can Challenge nothing by Law or Right SPEECHES TO The KING in Council PART V. A Privy-Counsellours Speech to His Soveraign Dread Soveraign HEre are many of your Noble Subjects chosen out to be I can not say Privy-Counsellours by reason there be too many to keep Secrets of State which shews we are rather Counsellours for Form than for Business Counsellours in Name rather than Counsellours in Nature Wherefore we shall not need to trouble your Majesty or our Selves the one to Hear the other to Speak long Orations or tedious Speeches for should we Speak we should rather speak like Fools than Wise men by reason we are not acquainted with your Majesties Cabinet Designs or Intrigues and so being your Majesties General and not Particular Counsellours must needs speak at Randome Wherefore we beseech your Majesty not to Censure our Judgements but our Ignorances in not knowing your Majesties most Private as Cabinet Desires Designs and Intrigues A Petition and Plea at the Council-Table before the King and his Council concerning two Brothers Condemned by the Laws to Dye May it Please your Most Sacred Majesty I Am come here to your Majesties Council-Table to Plead the Cause of two Brothers whose Cause hath been Heard Judged Cast and Condemned by the Judges of the Laws of this Land and must suffer Death unless your Majesty acquit or Pardon them Indeed their cause is Hard for they were Forced either to Offend the Laws of Government or the Laws of Honour the Laws of Government threatned Bodily Death the Laws of Honour threatned Infamy and being Worthy Persons they chose rather to Venture Life than to Live Dishonourably But their Crime or it may rather be called their Justice which the Laws of the Land have Condemned them for is for Killing or rather Punishing their Sister for the Impurity Immodesty Dishonesty and Dishonour of Inchastity which was an Offence to the Gods a Reproach to her Life a Disgrace to her Race a Dishonour to her Kindred and an Infamy to her Family As for the Sin they past that by to be Judged of by the Gods her own Reproach they regarded not the Disgrace of her Race they indeavoured to obscure But as for the Dishonour to her Kindred and Infamy to her Family her Brothers were resolv'd to Wash off the Dishonour with her Blood and to Rub out the Black spot of Infamy with her Death which Resolution they put in Execution forcing a Surgeon to open an Artery Vein through which she Bled to Death Besides had they let her have Liv'd the Laws of the Land would have Punished her which would have been a Double Dishonour and a Recorded Infamy receiving as much Dishonour by her Public Punishment as her Private Crime Wherefore to prevent as well as to take off all Disgrace they were her Executioners by forcing the Surgeon to strike an Artery a very Easie Death for so Great an Offender but the Natural Affections from Brothers to a Sister did desire she might Dye with as Little Pain as might be Now Dead she is and they Condemned to Dye for her Death unless your Majesty will Pardon them and it will be a Gracious Act to pardon VVorthy Men such men as preferr'd Honour before Life A Speech of one of the Privy-Counsellours which is an Answer to the former Plea and Petition May it Please your Majesty TO give me leave as One of your Council to Answer this man As for Parents to Kill their Children for Children to Kill their Parents for Brethren to Kill each other and Sisters their Brothers or Brothers their Sisters or Neeces or Nephews their Uncles or Aunts or Uncles and Aunts to Kill their Nephews or Neeces or Cousin Germans is Unnatural or to be the Cause of their Death is Unnatural I may say a Great Sin in Nature VVherefore these two Brothers that were the Cause indeed the Actors in effect of their Sisters Death have Sinned against the Gods Nature and the Laws of good Government for which they Deserve Punishment both in this VVorld and in the VVorld after this Life And as for that which is called Honour it is but the Opinion of some men a meer Fancy not any Real Good only a Name to perswade men to do Evil Actions as to Fight Duells to make VVarrs to Murder Friends nay to Murder Themselves all which is against Gods Mens and Natures Laws which is Inhuman Uncharitable Unnatural and Impious The Petitioners Reply Most Dread Soveraign SInce your Majesty is pleased to hear the Sutes of Humble Petitioners and the Causes of Pleaders and the Defences of Condemned Persons as
your Condemned Subjects at your Council-bord their last Refuge in Extremity appealing to your Majesties Self where your Majesty sits in Person to Hear not only Counsels but Complaints I shall answer this Privy-Counsellour whose Judgement is more Severe than I hope your Majesty will be in your Sentence He says it is Inhuman Uncharitable Unnatural and Impious for neer Allies to Kill each other but neither your Majesty nor your most Loyal Subjects should nor would think nor believe so if your Majesty had a Civil Rebellious Warr which I Pray the Gods to keep you from yet in all Civil Warrs neer Allies Fight against one an other and Kill one another believing they do not only their King but God Good Service in so doing for what Pious Men or Loyal Subjects would not Kill their Fathers or their Sons that Fight against their King or do but Oppose his Will and Pleasure nay those that Speak against it ought to be accounted Traitors and as for Honour which is said only to be an Opinion and Fancy of some men yet it is such an Opinion and Fancy that without it men would neither be Generous nor Valiant Just nor Gratefull Faithfull nor Trusty but all men would be Sordid Covetous Cowards False Cheats Unthankfull and Treacherous besides Wit and Learning would be quite Abolished or Buried in Oblivion and if men care not for Esteem Respect and Praise men would not care to do that which is Good but on the contrary would do all the Hurt and Evil they could for Praise keeps men from Evil more than Laws or Punishment and Praise is more Powerfull to Perswade and to Allure men to good than Strength or Authority hath Power to Inforce men to good and Honour Lives in Praise and Praise Lives in Worthy Acts which Worthy Acts Fame Records that After-ages may know what Just Valiant Generous Wise Learned Witty Ingenious Industrious Pious Faithfull and Vertuous men Liv'd in Former times which Knowledge will make Posterity Desirous and Industrious to do as their Fore-fathers have done Thus do Good and Honourable Acts beget their like in After-ages which is a Race of Worthy Deeds Wherefore your Majesty for the Good of the Present and Future times will Favour these men that Love Honour more than Life and Fear Disgrace more than Death which is the Cause of the two Brothers for whom I Plead and Beg your Majesties Pardon The KINGS Answer I Neither ought to Approve the Act of those two Brothers concerning the Death of their Sister nor to Obstruct or Oppose my Laws in their Condemnment Yet since their Act was to Take away Disgrace and not out of Malice and through a Hate to the Crime not to the Person I am not willing to leave them to the Punishment and the Laws being Satisfied by their Arraignment Judgement and Condemnment I will give them their Lives Lands Goods and Liberties which the Laws took from them and so leave them to Gods Mercy for Grace to Repent their Sin A Privy-Counsellours Speech at the Council-bord to His Soveraign Most Gracious Soveraign THis your City wherein your Majesty doth chiefly Reside grows Too big for the rest of your Kingdome indeed So big as it will be too Unruly and Unwieldy to be Govern'd and being fully Populated it will not only be apt to Corrupt the Air and so cause Often and Great Plagues which may Infect the whole Kingdome for where Many People are there is much Dung and Filth both within the Streets and Houses as also Foul Bodies and Corrupt Humours which of Necessity must be very Unwholesome but it will Devour the rest of the Kingdome for it is the Mouth and Belly that Devours the Fruitfull Increase of the Land yet Labours not to Husband the Ground Besides the Richest and Noblest of your Subjects Residing for the most part in the City as being the Chief City Rob the Country and Inrich the City for what they Receive in the Country they Spend in the City so that they Feed on the Labours of the Poor Country-men and are Inriched by the Vanities of the Nobles Thus they Thrive by Vanity and Live by Spoils Wasting the Plenty Beggering the Gentry and Ruining the Country and so the Kingdome Also too Great and Populous a City is not only a Head too Great for the Body of the Common-wealth but like a Head that is full of Gross Humours indeed a Great City is a Head fill'd with Evil Designs and not only a Head with Evil Designs but it is the Tongue of Detraction the Heart of Civil Warr the Magazin of Warring Arms and the Treasury to maintain Rebellious Armies for though they are more apt to Mutin than to Fight and more apt to Rise in Tumults than in Arms yet more apt to Take up Arms than to Keep Peace and though they have neither Conduct nor Courage yet they will Destroy with Force and Fury whosoever will offer to Oppose them and their great Plenty will make them more apt to Rebell than if they were Pinched with Necessity for their Wealth makes them Proud their Pride makes them Ambitious their Ambition makes them Envious their Envy makes them Factious their Faction makes them Mutinous and in a Tumultuous Mutiny they will indeavour to pull your Majesty from your Throne break your Laws and make Havock and Spoil of all the Goods and Lives of your Loyalst Ministers of State and Noblest Persons about you and for the most part the most Honest and Worthiest Persons they can come to they will Destroy Thus a great City is too Rich to be Obedient too Proud to be Govern'd too Populous to be Quiet and too Factious to Live Peaceably A Privy-Counsellours Speech to his Soveraign concerning Trade Dread Soveraign I Think it my Duty to inform your Majesty that Trade is so Decayed as it will in a short time Ruine your Kingdome if not Timely Repaired for this Kingdome being an Island Trade is the Foundation to Uphold it without which Foundation it will fall to Ruine and the Chief Persons of and for Trading in an Island are Merchants Adventurers which are both Forein and Home Traffickers These Merchants your Majesty should Assist and Defend to the Utmost of your Power As for the Advancing of Trade there be Three things the First is Easie Taxes for Customs the Second is to Secure them from Enemies at Sea the Third is Not to Suffer your Neighbour-Nations to Incroach upon their Privileges or to Take the Trading from them As for the first to Lessen your Customs will Lessen your Revenue and that ought not to be by Reason your Revenue is not so Great as to admit of any Diminution your Charge being Extraordinary Great but your Majesty may Secure them at Sea by your Shipping and Maintain their Privileges abroad and at home by your Power which Actions will not only cause your Neighbours to Fear you but your Subjects to Love you the One for your Force the Other for your Favour And
he shall have but a dark Lodging and cold Entertainment Thus Death is the most Absolute Conquerour that is for no Creature is able to Resist or defend themselves from Death whose Uncontroling Power makes him Dreadfull even to the most Valiant men not that they fear Death's Dart but Death's Oblivion for Valiant men love Life and fear Death more than Cowards or else they would not Venture their Bodies so often were it not out of Love to Life and Fear of Death Yet is it not that Life which Cowards are so Fond of nor that Death which they are so Afraid of but 't is the Life of their Fame and Death of their Name that Honourable and Valiant men so much Love and Fear insomuch that to gain the One and to shun the Other they will Sacrifize their Bodily Life and Imbrace their Bodily Death with more Delight and Pleasure than the Beautiful'st Woman that ever Nature made and they are to be Commended for it for it is Life that the Gods themselves take delight in for the Gods are pleased to Live in the Minds of their Creatures and are Angry if their Creatures Think or Speak not Of them as well as to Them So all Worthy men Desire and Indeavour to Live in the Minds of their own Kind and to be Praised at least Spoken of for they Desire and Indeavour to Live both in the Thoughts and Words of men in all Ages and in all Nations and by all Men if it were possible it being as Natural for Worthy men to desire to be Remembred as for all men to desire to Live and as Natural for men to desire to Live as to Love themselves But some say it doth a man no Good to be Remembred when he is Dead It may be answered that then it doth a man no Good to be Remembred whilst he Lives for Remembrance Lives in the Absent and Absence is a kind of Death but he is as Evil a Natured man that cares not to be Remembered by his Friends as those that never Remember their Friends also he is Unnatural to his Kind and it may be said that such men are Ungratefull Monsters or Monstrous Unnatural But this Noble Person was Remembred and and Spoken often of by his Absent Friends and did Remember and Spoke often of his Friends in their Absence whilst he was Living and his Worthy and Valiant Actions will be Remembred and Spoken of now he is Dead in which Remembrance and VVords he may Live so long as the VVorld lasts as being the only Reward this World can give to Worth and Merit as Piety Moral Vertue Valour and Generosity Wit and Learning for there is no other Reward in this World but Remembrance and Praise which Remembrance and Praise all Good men will give him as his due Thus will the Tongues and Minds of Living men Build him a Monument of Fame wherein all his Worthy Acts will be kept in Remembrance though his Body be Dead and Buried in Earth in which let us put it with devout Ceremony A judges Funeral Oration Dear Friends VVE are met together to see Judge N. N's Body laid into the Grave who in his Life-time was an Upright Judge for he Judg'd according to Truth and Right and not for Fear nor Favour he was free from Covetousness or corrupting Bribes he was both a Good and a VVise Judge for he would never Judge Over-hastily any Cause for or against untill he had Heard all Sides neither would he Retard or Delay Sutes Over-long but in All Causes he was very Attentive and in Doubtfull Causes very Cautious how to Judge and in all Criminal Causes or on Life and Death he would be very Inquisitive to Know the Truth for he would not Judge Rashly as to Judge Before he had Examined strictly and had sufficient Proofs and Witnesses or at least very Great Probabilities of the Truth Also he was neither a Temerarious nor an Over-bold Judge neither Cruel nor Foolishly Pittifull for as he would not Pardon so Much nor so Many as to Incourage men to Offend or Commit Crimes so he would not Condemn so Much nor so Many as to make a kind of a Massacre of Lives all which made him Live with a Good Conscience and Die with a Good Courage not Fearing a Condemnation neither in This World nor the Next but Desired to be Summoned to Gods Tribunal there to be Tried and Judged of the Course of his Life in This World to which Divine Judge we leave him bearing his Body to the Grave there to leave that but not to leave the Remembrance of Him nor the due Praise his Memory deserves A Sergeants or Barresters Funeral Oration Dear Friends YOu see the Body of Sergeant N. N. lies Dead ready to be put into the Grave which shews that he would not Plead for Life or else Death had no Ears to Hear his Sute but if he Pleads as well for Himself at Gods Tribunal as he did for his Clients at the Barr he will get Judgement on his side the truth is Nature as well as Education made him a Pleader for Naturally he had a Flowing Speech and a Fluent Wit to Turn Wind and Form any Cause as he Liked best for his VVit and Eloquence was such as to make a Doubtfull Cause seem Clear and had he not Known by Learning the Laws so Well as he did yet his Wit and Eloquence would have Covered his Ignorance and Supplied the Defect of his Learning but he was as Good and Learned a Lawyer as an Excellent Pleader and as Honest a man as Either for he took more Pains to Plead his Clients Cause than Pleasure to Take from his Clients Fees neither would he Prolong his Clients Sute to Drain their Purses nor yet make his Clients Cause more Doubtfull than it was to make them more Fearfull of the Success of their Sutes than they had Reason to fear and all this to get More Fees for Fears and Desires are Prodigal Givers as well as Promisers But rather he Pleaded Gratis for his Poor Clients wherein he shew'd more Charity to the Poor than Covetousness to the Rich. Thus he was a Good and Generous Lawyer a VVitty Ingenious Eloquent Pleader the truth is he did not only take Pains for his Clients but Pleasure in his Own Wit for he had more Delight than Profit by his Pleading and yet he did not take so much Pleasure in his Own Wit and Eloquency as Others did which Heard him insomuch as more went to Hear him Plead than those that had Causes to be Pleaded he Reproached not any man nor used Railing Speeches or Violent Actions in his Pleading as Many nay Most Pleaders do but his Behaviour was Civil his Wit Sweet and his Speech Gentle for though his Wit was Quick Ready and Free yet it was neither Salt Sour nor Bitter and though his Speech was Flowing yet it was not Rough for it ran in a Smooth though Full Stream and his Behaviour or Demeanour was
your Ruine your Vanity is vanished your Pride humbled and Plenty and Prosperity fled from you Where are your brave Furnishings your gay Adornings your far-fetch'd Curiosities and your curious Rarities your Numerous Varieties and Rich Treasures all plunder'd and gone Where are your Chargeable Buildings your Stately Palaces your Delightfull Theatres your Pleasant Bowers all Burnt to ashes Where are your Races of Herses you Fleecy Flocks your Lowing Herds your Feather'd Poultry and your full-stored Barns all Ruined and gone Where are your Rich Merchandises and your Thriving Trades all Spoiled Where are your Wife Laws all Broken your Sporting Recreations all Ceased your Ancestors Monuments all Pull'd down and your Fathers Bones and Ashes dispersed Where are your Camerads Companions and Acquaintance most of them Kill'd where are your Beautifull Wives Daughters Sisters and Mistresses the Enemy injoyes them and your Country is Desolate Ruined and Forlorn and you that are left are Miserable but what was the cause of your Misery your Pride Envy Factions Luxury Vanity Vice and VVickedness for you would neither be Instructed Advised Perswaded nor Ruled you Neglected the Service of the Gods Disobeyed the Orders of your Governours Trampled down the Laws of the Nation and Despised your Magistrates and did all what you would which brought this Confusion and so a Destruction in which Destruction you must have patience for Patience will Mediate and Qualifie your Misery A Conforting Oration to a dejected People ruined by Warr. Noble Citizens and Dear Country-men I Confess our Condition is miserable and our Lives unhappy in that we are so unfortunate as to be Overcome by our Enemies and Impoverished by our Losses but yet it was Uncharitable nay Inhumane for the former Orator to open our Wounded thoughts with Repetition of our Losses and to rub our sore Minds with bitter and salt Reproaches for if we have Committed faults I am sure we have been sufficiently Punished for them and if the Gods be Just as we believe they are our Loss and Misery hath made them a Satisfaction for which I hope they are Pacified and though we ought to Repent of our past Disobedience to the Divine and National Laws yet we have no reason to Repent of our past Lawfull Pleasure for who that is Wise will not make use of his Riches and Liberties whilst he hath them for were it not a madness for fear of a Dearth to Starve our selves Slaves in Plenty for fear of an Enemy to make our selves Slaves in Prosperity this were as much as if we should take away our own Lives before their Natural time because we know we shall Dye No Dear Country-men it is soon enough to quit Pleasure Liberty and Life when we can Injoy them no longer and since our Fortune is bad we must indeavour with Industry to amend it and if we cannot we must Suffer Patiently and please ourselves with Hopes for Hope is a Food the Mind delights to feed on and entertains it self with Pleasing Imaginations and those are Fools that will trouble their Minds for that which cannot be help'd for shall we have not only Enemies without us but also within us shall we Torture our Minds with Grief Sorrow Fear an Despair for our misfortunes No Dear Country-men let us wipe the Tears from our Eyes and defie Fortune's malice and when she knows we regard not her Frowns She may chance to Favour us for she is of the Femal gender whose Nature is such as the more they are Neglecte or Despised the Kinder they are An Oration for Rebuilding a City ruined by Warrs UNfortunate Citizens for so I may call you having been ruined by Warrs and spoiled by our Enemies for our City is not only Burnt to the ground and all our Goods Plunder'd but many of our Citizens and Country-men Kill'd and we that remain are preparing with our Wives and Children to seek new Habitations and Acquaintance in Forein Countries from which I would if I could disswade you since our Enemies are Gone and not like to Return for though they had the Victory and won our City yet it was with such Loss to them as will force them to keep Peace for a long time not being able to make Warrs any longer for their Valiant'st and most Experienc'd Souldiers are Kill'd and most of the Flour of their Youth besides they have spoiled and lost many of their Horses and have wasted and spent abundance of Ammunition and Arms all which considered they have not Gain'd much by this Warr Indeed Warr makes more Spoil than Profit for though we are Ruined yet our Enemies are not much Inriched but leaving them let us Consider what is the best for our selves in these our Misfortunes and to be Industrious to Repair our Losses my Advice is not to Separate but to keep in an United Body together and to Rebuild our City for shall we be worse Citizens than the Ants or Pismires which will Rebuild their Hill or Mount over their Heads whensoever it is pull'd down either by Beast Men or Birds and though it be often pulld down and the Dust dispers'd yet they will bring new Earth or gather up the Relicks of the former Farth to Rebuild and will never leave Rebuilding so long as they Live and certainly they are very wise in so doing The like for Men for it is better as the wisest way to Unite in a Common-wealth than to live Disperst and to Wander about like Vagabonds or to live with Strangers in Forein Lands or to be Governed by Unknown or new Laws or to Marry with Strangers that mix or corrupt their Generations for those Men are happiest that Live in their Native Countries with their Natural Friends are Govern'd by their Ancient Laws Marry into their own Tribes or Natives increase their own Breed continue their own Races uphold their own Families and are Buried with or by their Forefathers Wherefore Good Citizens be Industrious to Rebuild your City whereby and wherein you may be as Happy and Flourishing as formerly you were but if through a dejected Discontent you leave your City in its Ruins 't is probable you will Live unhappy and in Slavery all your Lives as also your Posterity after you An Oration for Building a Church Noble Citizens and Dear Country-men YOu have Built many Streets of Houses but never a Church which shews you think more of the World than you do of Heaven you take more care for your Bodies than your Souls for you build Stately Palaces to Live in but not a Church to Pray in Rooms to Feast in not Churches to Fast in to Unite in Riot not to Unite in Religion to Talk Extravagantly not to Pray Piously to Rejoyce in Evil not to Rejoyce in Thanksgiving But the Nature of Mankind is such that they Spend Foolishly and Spare Foolishly they will Spend to their own Hurt and Spare to their own Hurt they fear Evil but never indeavour to avoid Punishment they Repent what is Past but never take
VVise men and Head to Tail is Disproportionable but it may be that this Disproportion may make them Unactive by which they become less Dangerous VVherefore I am not of the former Orators opinion as to have all such Books as treat of State-affairs Burnt for the Burning of such Books may advance their Authors Fame but not advance the Publick Good neither do such Books Publick Hurt by reason none but some few Private Persons read them for the Generality delights not in such Studies so as they will partly Dye in Oblivion especially if you take no notice of them An Oration against those that lay an Aspersion upon the Retirement of Noble men Noble Citizens VVE have some Ill-natured people amongst us that indeavour to turn all other mens Actions but their own to the worst Sense or Construction as for Example some of our Nobles retire to their Country Habitations for which those Ill-natured or Foolish persons Exclame against them both in Books and Speeches as that they Retire through Pride Ambition and Revenge being Discontented they are not the Chief Ministers of State Rulers in Government or Counsellers for Advices also they would make their harmless Country Recreations as Hunting Hawking Racing and the like Sports as also Hospitality Dangerous Designs which is unjustly Censured and wickedly Wrested to pull out the Right and Truth to place Falshood when as it may be easily known that most of our Nobles which Retire out of this Metropolitan City to their Country Houses Retire either for Pleasure Profit Quiet or Health or all for it is manifest that in a very Great and Populous City there is nothing but Trouble Expenses Noise and oftentimes Malignant Diseases all which some Ill-natured men and Pretending Politicians would have theem suffer rather than to avoid But those men that are so Wise to choose the Best are not Afraid of a Bawling Pen or Tongue and seldom Consider or Regard what they Write or Speak and if they do they only give such Find-faults Pity or a Scorn But put the Case Noble Citizens that some Noble men did Retire out of some just Discontent as for Example imagine this Kingdome or Monarchy had been in a long Civil Warr and some Noble men had not only been so Loyal as never to Adhere to the Rebels but had Serv'd their Prince to the last of their Power Ventured their Lives Lost their Estates and had Indured great misery in a long Banishment and after an Agreement of Peace and the Proof of their Honesty and Loyalty should be Neglected or Affronted instead of Reward and Favour if these Forsaken and Ruined although Honest Persons should Retire from Court and City into the Country to bewail their Misfortunes in solitary Groans or to pick up their scattered Goods broken Inheritance and tattered States or to restore their Half-dying Posterity to some time of Life should they be Rail'd and Exclamed against can Heaven Bless a State or Kingdom that will suffer such Uncharitableness and Inhumanity or can Nature suffer her most Noble-minded Creatures to stay in the presence of Publick Affronts Disgraces and Neglects and not humbly turn their Faces from them or Honestly indeavour not to Trouble those that have a desire to Please and if by their Wise Prudence those Retired Persons can afford themselves some Harmless Recreations to mix and temper their Over-carefull and Industrious Labours they ought not to be Condemned for it for God and Nature mixes Good and Evil and the greatest Grief hath some Refreshment of Ease and the hardest Labours some Rest but only these Find-faults are Restless through Envy and Ambition hoping by their Busie Heads Restless Pens and Abusive Exclamations to rise to Promotion and Preferment and though they pretend to Discover Seditions they are the only Authors of Factions and Seditions Wherefore it would be very fit Noble Citizens that our Ministers of State and Magistrates should Silence such bold Persons that dare Censure our Nobles private and particular Actions for if they should have that Liberty they would in time Censure this Government and our Governours of State and Common-wealth and who can fore-see but that the Common Rout or People might take their Factions or Ill-natured or Medling Dispositions for Wisdome An Oration for Liberty of Conscience Fellow Citizens IT is very probable we shall fall into a Civil Warr through the Divers Opinions in One and the same Religion for what hath been the cause of this Hash in Religion but the Suffering of Theological Disputations in Schools Colleges Churches and Chambers as also Books of Controversies all which ought not to have been Suffered but Prohibited by making Laws of Restraint but since that Freedome hath been given the Inconveniency cannot be Avoided unless the Magistrates will give or at least not oppose a Free Liberty to all for if the People of this Nation is so Foolish or Wilfull or Factious or Irreligious as not to Agree in One Opinion and to Unite in One Religion but will be of Divers Opinions if not of Divers Religions the Governours must Yield or they will Consume the Civil Government with the Fire of their Zeal indeed they will Consume themselves at last in their own Confusion Wherefore the best remedy to prevent their Own ruine with the ruine of the Common-wealth is to let them have Liberty of Conscience Conditionally that they do not meddle with Civil Government or Governours and for Security that they Shall not there must be a Law made and Inacted that whosoever doth Preach Dispute or Talk against the Government or Governours not only in This but of any Other Nation shall be Punished either with Death Banishment or Fine also for the quiet and Peace of this Kingdome there ought to be a strict Law that no Governour or Magistrate shall in any kind Infringe our Just Rights our Civil or Common Laws nor our Ancient Customs for if the One Law should be made and not the Other the People would be Slaves and the Governours their Tyrants An Oration against Liberty of Conscience Fellow Citizens I Am not of the former Orators opinion for if you give Liberty in the Church you must give Liberty in the State and so let every one do what they will which will be a Strange Government or rather I may say no Government for if there be no Rules their can be no Laws and if there be no Laws there can be no Justice and if no Justice no Safety and if no Safety no Propriety neither of Goods Wives Children nor Lives and if there be no Propriety there will be no Husbandry and the Lands will lye Unmanured also there will be neither Trade nor Traffick all which will cause Famine Warr and Ruine and such a Confusion as the Kingdome will be like a Chaos which the Gods keep us from An Oration proposing a Mean betwixt the two former Opinions Fellow Citizens I Am not of the two former Orators opinions neither for an Absolute Liberty nor a Forced
Delightfull Safe and Profitable Also one thing more I must advise you that you provide a Practick Judicious man to Instruct the Players to Act well for as they must have a Poet to make their Playes so they must have a Tutor to teach them to Act those Playes unless the Poet will take the pains to teach them himself as to Humour the Passions and to Express the Humours Naturally and not to Act after the French Fashion with High strained Voices Constrained Motions Violent Actions and such Transportation as is neither Gracefull Becoming nor Natural but they must make Love Soberly Implore Favour Humbly Complain Seriously Lament Sadly and not Affectedly Fantastically Constraintly Ragingly Furiously and the like all which in my Opinion they do Senselesly Foolishly and Madly for all Feignings must be done as Naturally as may be that they may seem as Real Truths SEVERAL CAUSES PLEADED IN SEVERAL COURTS OF JUDICATURE PART IV. Accusing and Pleading at the Barr before the Judges for and against a Woman that hath kill'd her Husband Most Reverend Judges The Plaintiff THis Woman who is Accused not only for Killing a Man but her Husband we have for this Grievous and Horrid Fact brought before your Honours to be Judged according to the Laws delivering her to your Justice and Judgement Defendant Most Reverend and Just Judges 'T is true that this Unhappy Woman hath unfortunately Kill'd her Husband but Heaven knows it was Against her Will and as I may say Against her Knowledge for her Husband and She being Lovingly together not Mistrusting any Danger on a sudden came a Man who as it seems was her Husbands Enemy for he assaulted her Husband with a drawn Sword this Woman seeing her Husband in Danger as being Unarmed and Defenceless was so afrighted as she knew not what she did Wherefore she having got a Dagger which lay in the Room they were in and thinking to thrust it into her Husbands Enemy Unawares thrust it into her Husbands Body wherewith he fell down and immediately Died which when she saw and perceived the mistake she was as Distracted and at last fell into a Trance but being Recovered out of that faint Fit she hath since remain'd a most Sorrowfull and Lamenting Widdow I Express her Sorrow to prove her Innocence from all Evil Constructions for the Death of her Husband was not Designed or Intended by her but by Fate and Fortune and it is the Duty of a Loving Wife to defend her Husbands Honour Person and Life with all her Indeavours and if the success of her Honest Loyal and Loving indeavours falls out unfortunately She ought not to be Punished for her Misfortune for Misfortune is no Crime but rather to be Pitied and Comforted either can Justice make Misfortune a Law to Condemn to Dye and shall Duty and Loyalty be made Traitors shall Honest Love be Punished with Torments and Death No Most Reverend Judges Love and Loyalty ought to be Honoured with Praise and Respect and not with Torments and Death and the Death of this VVomans Husband was caused by a maskered Fear proceeding from an Extraordinary Love Thus his Death was a Chance not an Intended Murder Plaintiff Most Reverend Judges there can be no Witness of the Intention but her own Knowledge and Conscience which are Invisible and not Proveable and therefore Insufficient to Acquit Her but that which is a Sufficient VVitness against her Intention and may lawfully Condemn her is her indeavour to Resist the Judgement and Sentence of Death for all Good Loyal and Loving VVives ought nay desire to Live and Dye with their Husbands when as they be free from all Suspect wherefore much more ought they to accompany their Husbands in Death who are liable to be Judged and Condemned for Treason and Murder for as it is Unlawfull and Irreligious for to Act her own Death so it is Dishonourable and Impious to Indeavour to resist the Judgement of Death by Lawfull Authority Pleading by her Lawyers most shamefully for Life Defendant Most Reverend Judges It is not that she Desires to Live but not to Dye Infamously as to Dye as a Murderer of her Husband for though her Husband was Kill'd by her Hand yet he was not Kill'd by her Intention but by Chance which misfortune makes her Life a Torment to her for being so unhappy as Unwittingly to Destroy him which her Life did most Delight with but yet she would if she could rather Live Miserably than Dye Dishonourably for in her Dishonourable Death both She and her Husband doth doubly Dye Plaintiff Most Reverend Judges It were better Two Persons should Dye Four times over than such a Crime should be Once Pardoned for the Example will be more Dangerous than to have an Innocent Condemned would be Grievous But it is most probable She is Guilty A Cause of Adultery Pleaded at the Barr before Judges Most Reverend Judges Plaintiff HEre is a Man and a Woman that were Taken in Adultery and brought hither to be judged that they may Suffer according to the Law which is Death Defendant Most Reverend Judges This Adulteress and Adulterer for so in truth they are although the Woman is ashamed to confess in Words only in silent Tears yet the man confesseth his fault publickly and asks pardon only he says it is a Natural fault for the desire of Procreation is Born and Bred in all Nature's Animal Creatures it is an Orginal Appetite but whether it be an Original Sin he says he doth not know yet if it be it may more justly be Pardoned than Gluttony which was the cause of Mans Fall witness Eve and the forbidden Fruit and that Damnable Sin Gluttony that destroyes many Lives through Surfeits the Law takes no notice of but Procreation that begets and makes Life is Punish'd by the Law which seems strange to Reason that Cursed Gluttony should be Advanced and Loving Adultery Hang'd Indeed it is a great Injustice at least a grievous Law and surely our Forefathers that made that Law were Defective either in Bodies or Minds or at least in Judgement and though I confess it is not fit we should break or dissolve those Laws howsoever Erroneous they are that our Predecessors made yet we their Posterities and Successors may Sweeten or Qualifie the Extreme Rigor of their Laws as in this Case of Adultery to Punish the Bodies but to Spare their Lives or to Fine their Estates and Spare their Bodies for if the Rigor of the Law should be put in Execution in all Cases and to all Persons there would no man be Free either in his Estate Person or Life but howsoever this Male-offender my Client sayes that if he must Dye yet he shall not Dye Basely or Dishonourably by reason he shall Dye Loves Martyr As for the Femal offender She sayes that she was seduced by Nature as Eve by the Devil and Women being of Soft and Tender Dispositions do easily yield to an Inticing Appetite besides men being Eloquent in Perswading Prevalent
in Flattering Free in Protesting and Earnest in Vows and Promises all which hath such force with Females who are Credulous and Believing Creatures as she had no Power to deny him his Desire But both these Lovers desire these Most Noble and Just Judges to Consider their Crime is not caused through Spite Envy Malice Revenge Scorn Pride Hate or the like Sins but through Love Kindness Friendship Charity Generosity Humility and such like Vertues which caused this Crime namely Adultery so that it is the only Sin that is Built upon Vertues besides this Sin namely Adultery hath a Well-pleased Countenance a Courtly Behaviour and an Eloquent Speech which is the cause most Men and Women are in Love with this Sin the Gods forgive them for it for this Sin doth not appear with Terrible and Horrid Aspect as Murder as to cause the very Soul as much as the Senses to be Maskered with Fear not it doth not appear of so Foul an Aspect as Gluttony and Drunkenness as to cause Hate or Aversion but it hath so Amiable an Aspect as to cause Love and so Fruitfull an Effect as to cause Life and Living Creatures They implore Mercy and beg your Favourable Sentence and since it is a Natural effect for Males and Females to be Adulterers at least Lovers you may as soon destroy all Animal Creatures as this Sin if it be one and if there be some Men and Women purely chast those are of Divine Compositions and not Perfect Naturals their Souls and Bodies having more of the Purity of the Gods than the gross Corporality of Nature but these two Offendants confess they have proved themselves Nature's Creatures and the Woman says she is Eve's Daughter but if you will Spare her Life she hopes to be as great a Saint as Mary Magdalen for she will beg Pardon by Repentance and wash out her Sin with her Tears Plaintiff Most Reverend Judges This Pleader ought to be Condemned not only for a Corrupt Lawyer but a Wicked Man and may very well be believed to be Guilty of the same Crime he Pleads so well for for if he were not Guilty of the Crime he would not Plead for a Pardon Defendant Most Reverend Judges I am no more Guilty of the Sin than the Interceding Saints in Heaven for Sinners on Earth but if the Pleader should be Condemned for the Cause of his Client neither Truth would be Heard nor Right Decided so that all Justice would be Overthrown with Malicious Accusers and False Witnesses But howsoever Most Reverend Judges I am not to Decide the Cause though I Plead in the behalf of my Clients and it is the Profession of a Lawyer to speak for his Clients and not Against them whatsoever their Cause be for this is the part of their Opposites and I am not to fling the first Stone Plaintiff Most Reverend Judges Howsoever he be Affected whether evil or not yet the Cause he Pleads is a Wicked Cause and the Offenders ought to be severely Punished according to the Punishing Laws for such Offences and Offenders and if Adultery should be suffered Propriety and the Right of Inheritance would be lost in the Obscurity of hidden Adultery or in the Uncertainty of the Right Children or Fathers A Cause Pleaded at the Barr before Judges concerning Theft Most Reverend and Just Judges Plaintiff HEre is a man which is Accused for Stealing privately and Robbing openly against all Law and Right the Goods of his Neighbours for which we have brought him before your Honours appealing to the Laws for satisfaction of the Injuries Wrongs and Loffes leaving him to your Justice and Judgement Defendant Most Reverend Judges I am come here to Plead for this poor man my Client who is Accused for Stealing which is a silent obscure way of taking the Goods of other men for his own use also this Poor man for so I may say he is having nothing of his own to Live on but what he is Necessitated to take from other men is accused for Robbery which is to take away the Goods of other men in a Visible way and Forcible manner All which he confesseth as that the Accusation against him is true for he did both Steal and Rob for his own Livelihood and Maintenance of his Old 〈…〉 Past Labouring and for his Young Children 〈…〉 are not Able to help themselves and for his Weak Sick Wife that Labours in Child Birth For which he appeals to Nature who made all things in Common She made not some men to be Rich and other men Poor some to Surfeit with overmuch Plenty and others to be Starved for Want for when she made the World and the Creatures in it She did not divide the Earth nor the rest of the Elements but gave the use generally amongst them all But when Governmental Laws were devised by some Usurping Men who were the greatest Thieves and Robbers for they Robbed the rest of Mankind of their Natural Liberties and Inheritances which is to be Equal Possessors of the World these Grand and Original Thieves and Robbers which are call'd Moral Philosophers or Common-wealth makers were not only Thieves and Tyrants to the Generality of Mankind but they were Rebels against Nature Imprisoning Nature within the Jail of Restraint Keeping her to the spare Diet of Temperance Binding her with Laws and Inslaving her with Propriety whereas all is in Common with Nature Wherefore being against Nature's Laws for any man to Possess more of the World or the Goods of the World than an other man those that have more Wealth or Power than other men ought to be Punished as Usurpers and Robbers and not those that are Poor and Powerless Therefore if you be Just Judges of Nature and not of Art Judges for Right and not for Wrong if you be Judges of the most Ancient Laws and not Usurping Tyrants you will not only quit this Poor man and set him free from his Accusers which are His and such Poor men's Abusers but you will cause his Accusers who are Rich to Divide their Wealth Equally with Him and all his Family for which Judgement you will gain Natures favour which is the Empress of Mankind Her Government is the Ancientest Noblest Generousest Heroickest and Royalest and her Laws are not only the Ancientest for there are no Records before Nature's Laws so that they are the Fundamental Laws of the Universe and the most Common Laws extending to all Creatures but they are the Wisest Laws and yet the Freest also Nature is the most Justest Judge both for Rewards and Punishments for She Rewards her Creatures that Observe her Laws as they ought to do with Delight and Pleasure but those that Break or abuse her Laws as in destroying their fellow Creatures by untimely Deaths or unnatural Torments or do Riot and oppress her with Excess She Punishes them with Grief Pains and Sicknesses and if you will avoid the Punishment of Remorse Grief and Repentance Save this Poor necessitated man from
Terrible and Dreadfull Pit wherein is no Hope of Getting out The truth is Death carries many Evil Souls down into Hell but Good Souls he leaves at the Bottom of the Hill that leads up to Heaven from which those Souls Climb and Clamber up with great Difficulty for whatsoever is Excellent is Hard to Get or Come to whereas that which is Bad is Easie to be Had. But howsoever this Poor man is Dead and we shall see him Buried leaving his Soul in its Journey and his Body in the Grave A young Virgins Funeral Oration Beloved Brethren and Sisters in God VVE here meet not only as Funeral Mourners but as Marriage Guests to Attend and Wait upon a Young Virgin to see her Laid into her Nuptial-bed which is the Grave 'T is true her Husband Death is a Cold Bed-fellow but yet he makes a Good Husband for he will never Cross Oppose nor Anger her nor give her Cause of Grief or Sorrow neither in his Rude Behaviour Inconstant Appetite nor Lewd Life which had she Married any other Husband might have made very Unhappy whereas now she will know no Sorrow for there is no Whoring Gaming Drinking Quarrelling nor Prodigal Spending in the Grave for Death Banishes all Riot and Disorder out of his Habitations there is no Noise nor Disturbance in his Palace Indeed Death's Palace is a place of Peace Rest Quiet and Silence and therefore all are Happy that Dwell there for there is no Envy Malice Slander nor Treachery there Men are not Tempted with Beauty nor Women Flattered into Wantonness they are Free from all Tentation or Defamation neither are they Troubled or Tormented with Pain or Sickness for Death hath a Remedy for all Diseases which is Insensibility the truth is Death is not only Charitable to Help all Creatures out of Misery but Generous as to be so Hopitable that he sets Open his Gates for all Comers insomuch as the Meanest Creatures that are have a Free Entrance and the Same Entertainment with the Noblest for there are no Ceremonies of State All is in Common there is no Pride nor Ambition no Scorn nor Disgrace and Death's Palace is so Spacious as it is beyond all Measure or Circumference being sufficient to Receive all the Creatures Nature makes and since there is such Store of Company in Death and Death so Generous and Hospitable why should we Fear or be Loath to Dye nay why should not we Desire to Dye and Rejoyce for those Friends that are Dead especially Considering the Unhappiness of Life wherein Man is most Miserable because he is most Sensible and Apprehensive of what he Suffers or what he may Suffer But this Young Virgin is Happier by Death than many Others are because she hath not Liv'd so Long to Suffer so Much as those that are Older Have done or as those that Live to be Old Will do Wherefore let us Rejoyce for her Happiness and put her into the Grave the Bed of Rest there to Sleep Quietly A Young New-Married Wif's Funeral Oration Beloved Brethren VVE are met together at this time to see a New-Married Wife which is here Dead to be Buried She hath made an unequal Change from a Lively Hot Husband to a Deadly Cold Lover yet will she be more Happy with her Dull Dumb Deaf Blind Numb Lover than with her Lively Talking Listning Eying Active Husband were he the Best Husband that could be for Death is far the Happier Condition than Marriage and although Marriage at first is Pleasing yet after a time it is Displeasing like Meat which is Sweet in the Mouth but proves Bitter in the Stomack Indeed the Stomack of Marriage is full of Evil Humours as Choler and Melancholy and of very Evil Disgestion for it cannot Disgest Neglects Disrespects Absence Dissembling Adultery Jealousie Vain Expences Waste Spoil Idle Time Laziness Examinations Cross Answers Peevishness Frowardness Frowns and many the like Meats that Marriage Feeds on As for Pains Sicknesses Cares Fears and other Troubles in Marriage they are Accounted as wholesome Physick which the Gods give them for the Gods are the Best Physicians and Death is a very Good Surgeon Curing his Patients without Pain for what Part soever he Touches is Insensible Death is only Cruel in Parting Friends from each other for though they are Happy whom he Takes away yet those that are Left behind are Unhappy Living in Sorrow for their Loss so that this Young New-Married Wife that is Dead is Happy but her Husband is a Sorrowfull Widdower But leaving Her to her Happiness and Him to be Comforted let us put her into the Grave there to Remain untill the day of Judgement which Day will Imbody her Soul with Everlasting Glory A Widdows Funeral Oration Beloved Brethren THis Widdow at whose Funeral we are met Lived a very Intemperate and Irregular Life all the time of her Widdow-hood for which not only Nature but the Gods might be Angry with her for though She did not Surfeit with Feasting yet She Starved her self with Fasting and though She did not Drink her self Drunken as many Women in this Age will do yet She did Weep her self Dry She grew not Fat and Lasie with overmuch Sleeping but became Lean and Sick with overmuch Watching She VVatch'd not to Dance and Play but to Mourn and Pray nor did She waste her Wealth in Vanities but She did waste her Life in Sorrow She Sate not on the Knees of Amorous Lovers but Kneeled on her Knees to God Her Cheeks were not Red with Paint but Pale with Grief She did not wear Black Patches on her Face but Black Mourning on her Body She was Adorned with no other Jewels than her Tears She had no Diamond Pendents in her Ears but Transparent Tears in her Eyes no Oriental Pearls about her Neck but Drops of Tears lay on her Breast Thus was She Drest in Tears She suffered not Painters to Draw the Picture of her Face but her Thoughts did Form her Husbands Figure in her Mind She hung not her Chamber with Black but her Mind with Melancholy She Banished all Stately Ceremonies and Ceremonies of State and set her self Humbly on the Ground She past not her time with Entertaining Visitors but Entertain'd her Self with the Remembrance of her Husband She did not Speak much but Think much In short She was so Intemperate in her Grief as her Grief Kill'd her it may be said she was Murdered with Grief and no kind or manner of Murder is Acceptable either to Nature or the Gods but some sorts of Murders are Hatefull to both Yet this Widdow howsoever she Offended in her Over-much Grieving She had Pardon for her Praying and to prove the Gods did Pardon her they Granted her Request which was to take her out of this World without Painfull Sickness and so they did for She was so free from Pains as She parted with Life with a Smiling Countenance and lay as Still as if She lay to Sleep She breathed out her last Breath
Work as to Cleanse their Houses from Filth and let their Bodies be full of Foul Humours to Cleanse their Sinks and Gutters and let their Veins be full of Corrupted or Inflamed Blood Yet must the Bodies of men not be Cleansed until the City be Cleansed lest the Infected Air from Without should more easily Get Into them and Kill them But I hope I shall not need much Rhetorick to perswade you to take a Care of your Own Lives for Life is Sweet and Death is Terrible although I have Observed that Men though they Desire to Live nay are Afraid to Dye yet are so Careless Obstinate and Confident as not to Indeavour to Prolong their Lives or to Defend their Lives from Diseases which are Death's Sergeants for although all Creatures were made to Consume into other Forms and Men are Born to Dye yet no Creature was made to Dye and be Consumed or Transmigrated before their Natural time for Nature hath given her Creatures Defences and Remedies against the Spoilers and Destroyers of Life which Spoilers and Destroyers as also their Remedies and Defences are not easily to be Numbred but Men are often their own Lives Enemies Killing themselves with Riot and Excess or being Over-bold in Adventuring or Entring into Dangers or so Careless as to pass by Remedies Yet I hope you will be Carefull and Speedily Industrious to Prevent if possibly you can the Increase and Fury of this Plague An Oration against Idle Expences Fellow Citizens I Observe great Excess and Luxury in this City Prodigally Spending your Estates and Wasting your Lives with Riot which I cannot enough Wonder at that although men will Hazard their Lives to Get Wealth and to Keep it from those that would Take it from them yet will Spend it Lavishly as Extravagantly and Vainly nay more Readily to make them Sick than to make themselves Well when they are Sick for they will Spend it Freely in Luxury and be Sparing to a Physician which shews men Love Pleasure more than Health whereas Health is the Greatest Pleasure for Sensual Pleasures are alwayes Followed with Sickness and Pain which lasts Long even so long as many times they do Accompany them to the Grave and as Pains and Sickness follow Sensual Pleasures so Poverty and Scorn follows Vain Expences all which makes a Discontented mind Wherefore what man if he were Wise would Destroy his Body Disquiet his Mind and Ruine his Estate for that which is called Pleasure which is nothing but Sensual Appetites that are no sooner Injoy'd but are Forgotten or Loathed with the Fruition and for Pleasures of the Mind those are only Opinions which are nothing in Substance and therefore not to be Truly or Really Injoyed But as Temperance is the Greatest Bodily Pleasure because it gives Health so Judgement is the Minds Physick Purging out Vain Opinions Idle Thoughts and Restless Desires which give it the Health of Peace and Tranquillity Thus your Body and Mind will Live Healthfully Happily and Honestly Imploying their Time and Labours in the Service of God their Country and Friends Living Wisely Parting with the VVorld Willingly Leaving a Good Fame behind them and Ascend to a Crown of Glory and Eternal Life An Oration for Men to Please themselves Fellow Citizens GIve me leave to tell you that Moral Orations are more Proper to be Spoken in Schools than in the Market-place where they will sooner Spoil Young Students than Reform Old Citizens But those that Speak against Pleasure Speak against the Darling of Life and therefore I do not VVonder at any for Taking his Pleasures but at those that Speak against it since it is the Quintessence or Elixir of Nature as we may Know by the Scarcity of it for Nature being Just in all her VVorks hath Ordered them so as what is Curious Excellent and Good She hath Sparingly made but what is Indifferent and Bad She hath made Plentifully Countervaluing the Worth of the One Sort with the Quantity of the Other as we may Observe She hath made more Iron than Silver more Silver than Gold more Stones than Diamonds more Weeds than Flowers more Beast than Men and of Men she hath made more Fools than Wise men more Cowards than Valiant men more Bad men than Good men more Enemies than Friends and so more Pains than Pleasures but because there is but a Little of that which is Good shall not we Injoy it Shall we refuse the Best because we have not so Much as we Would that would be Unreasonable but as Men will give a Great quantity of Led for a Little Gold so Men will Indure a Great deal of Pain for a Little Pleasure and they have Reason for a Little Pleasure is of Great Value being the most Delitious Sweets in Nature but you will ask What is the Delitious Pleasure I Answer all that is Pleasure is Delitious yet every man is to Judge of Pleasure by his own Delectation for Pleasures are as Different as Men for although all men are of Mankind yet every man is not alike neither in Mind nor Body so although all Pleasure is Pleasure yet not One and the Same An Oration against Vice-Actors Noble Citizens OUr City doth so Increase with Vice as I fear the Numerous Vices will be like as the Plagues of Egypt to Destroy our City if you do not use Speedy remedy to Punish the Vice-Actors But we are so far from Punishing them as we Admire Applaud and Advance such as have Most Vices or Least Honesty the truth is that Vice and Injustice is the only way or means to Advance men to Office Power Authority Respect and Credit in our City for those men that are Temperate Honest and Just are thought Fools and Unprofitable Drones and those that are Wisely Provident and not Vainly Prodigal are believed to be Miserable men which know not how to Live and as for our Grand Magistrates they have more Formality than Reality more Good Words than Good Deeds more Covetousness than Justice they Regard not the Poor man's Cause but the Rich man's Money for they decide Causes not according to Right but according to Bribes Humility and Honesty are Strangers to them they Study their Self-interest but Regard not the Publick Good all which will bring a Confusion and so a Dissolution to this Common-wealth if that you do not Carefully and Suddenly Choose Wise and Conscionable men for Magistrates to Wit such as will Punish Extorsions Wrongs and Injuries Suppress Pride Vanity and Luxury Banish Quarrels put away Idleness and Administer Right and Justice for Right and Justice's sake as also Do as they would be Done unto An Oration against a Foolish Custom Worthy Citizens HEre is an Unjust and Unhandsome Custom in this City and therefore ought to be Abolished which is that whensoever a Wife Beats her Husband the next Neighbour Rides through the City Disgracefully not only Striding upon a Horse with his Face towards the Tail or Sitting astride upon a Staff but having
Retirement of Noble men Fol. 66 12 An Oration for Liberty of Conscience Fol. 69 13 An Oration against Liberty of Conscience Fol. 70 14 An Oration proposing a Mean betwixt the two former Opinions Fol. 71 15 An Oration Reproving Vices ibid. 16 An Oration concerning the Forein Travels of Young Gentlemen Fol. 73 17 An Oration concerning Playes and Players Fol. 75 PART IV. Several Causes Pleaded in Several Courts of Judicature 1 ACcusing and Pleading at the Barr before Judges for and against a Woman that hath Kill'd her Husband Fol. 78 2 A Cause of Adultery Pleaded at the Barr before Judges Fol. 81 3 A Cause Pleaded at the Barr before Judges concerning Theft Fol. 85 4 A Cause Pleaded before Judges betwixt two Bastards Fol. 89 5 A Cause Pleaded before Judges between an Husband and his Wife Fol. 90 6 A Widdows Cause Pleaded before Judges in the Court of Equity Fol. 93 7 A Cause Pleaded before Judges betwixt a Master and his Servant Fol. 96 8 Two Lawyers Plead before Judges a Cause betwixt a Father and his Son Fol. 98 PART V. Speeches to the King in Counsel 1 A Privy-Counsellours Speech to his Soveraign Fol. 100 2 A Petition and Plea at the Council-Table before the King and his Counsel concerning two Brothers Condemned by the Laws to Dye Fol. 101 3 A Speech of one of the Privy-Counsellours which is an Answer to the former Plea and Petition together with the Petitioners Reply and the Kings Answer Fol. 103 104. 106 4 A Privy-Counsellours Speech to the King at the Council-bord Fol. 106 5 A Privy-Counsellours Speech to his Soveraign concerning Trade Fol. 108 6 An Oration to his Majesty for Preventing imminent Dangers Fol. 110 7 A Privy-Counsellours Speech to the King of the Council-bord Fol. 111 8 A Privy-Counsellours Speech to his Majesty at the Council-bord Fol. 114 9 A Privy-Counsellours Speech to his Majesty at the Council-Table Fol. 115 10 A Privy-Counsellours Speech to his Majesty at the Council-bord Fol. 116 PART VI. Orations in Courts of Majesty from Subjects to their King and from the King to his Subjects 1 COmplaints of the Subjects to their Soveraign Fol. 118 2 The Subjects Complaint to their Soveraign of the Abuses of their Magistrates Fol. 119 3 A Kings Speech to his Rebellious Rout Fol. 121 4 A Kings Speech to Rebellious Subjects Fol. 122 5 A Kings Speech to Discontented Subjects Fol. 124 6 A Kings Speech to his Rebellious Subjects Fol. 125 7 A Recantation of the poor Petitioning Subjects Fol. 126 8 Repenting Subjects to their Soveraign Fol. 128 9 A Kings Speech to his Good Subjects Fol. 129 PART VII Speeches of Dying Persons 1 A Kings Dying Speech to his Noble Subjects Fol. 131 2 A Daughters Dying Speech to her Father Fol. 133 3 A Souldiers Dying Speech to his Friends Fol. 134 4 A Dying Speech of a Loving Mistress to her Beloved Servant Fol. 135 5 A Forein Travellers Dying Speech Fol. 136 6 A Lovers Dying Speech to his Beloved Mistress Fol. 138 7 A Sons Dying Speech to his Father Fol. 138 8 A Young Virgins Dying Speech Fol. 139 9 A Husbands Dying Speech to his Wife Fol. 140 10 A Common Courtisan's Dying Speech Fol. 141 11 A Vain young Ladies Dying Speech Fol. 142 12 A Fathers Speech to his Son on his Death-bed Fol. 144 PART VIII Funeral Orations 1 AN Oration to the People concerning the Death of their Soveraign Fol. 146 2 A Young Noble-mans Funeral Oration Fol. 147 3 A Generals Funeral Oration Fol. 150 4 A Judges Funeral Oration Fol. 152 5 A Sergeant or Barresters Funeral Oration Fol. 154 6 A Magistrates Funeral Oration Fol. 156 7 A Funeral Oration of a Student Fol. 157 8 A Funeral Oration of a Divine Fol. 158 9 A Funeral Oration of a Poet Fol. 159 10 A Funeral Oration of a Philosopher Fol. 160 11 A Funeral Oration of a Dead Lady spoken by a Living Lady Fol. 162 12 A Foreiners or Strangers Funeral Oration Fol. 163 13 A Post-riders Funeral Oration Fol. 165 14 A Young Virgins Funeral Oration Fol. 166 15 A Young New-married Wife's Funeral Oration Fol. 168 16 A Widdows Funeral Oration Fol. 170 17 An other Widdows Funeral Oration Fol. 172 18 A Young Child's Funeral Oration Fol. 174 19 An Old Ladies Funeral Oration Fol. 175 20 An Ancient Man's Funeral Oration Fol. 176 21 An Old Beggar-womans Funeral Oration Fol. 178 22 A Young Brides Funeral Oration Fol. 180 23 A Child-bed Womans Funeral Oration Fol. 182 24 A Souldiers Funeral Oration Fol. 183 25 An Oration concerning the Joyes of Heaven and Torments of Hell Fol. 185 26 An Oration to a Congregation Fol. 191 27 An Oration to a Sinfull Congregation Fol. 193 28 An Oration which is an Exhortation to a Pious Life Fol. 195 PART IX Marriage Orations 1 A Marriage Oration to a Congregation and a Young Bride and Bridegroom Fol. 198 2 A Marriage Oration to a Congregation and an Old Bride and Young Bridegroom Fol. 199 3 A Marriage Oration to a Congregation and a Young Bride and Aged Bridegroom Fol. 201 4 A Marriage Oration of two Poor Servants Fol. 202 PART X. Orations to Citizens in the Market-place 1 AN Oration against Excess and Vanity Fol. 204 2 An Oration Contradicting the Former Fol. 206 3 An Oration against Usurers and Money-Horders Fol. 210 4 An Oration concerning the Education of Children Fol. 212 5 An Oration concerning the Plague Fol. 214 6 An Oration against Idle Expences Fol. 217 7 An Oration for Men to Please themselves Fol. 218 8 An Oration against Vice-Actors Fol. 220 9 An Oration against a Foolish Custom Fol. 221 10 An Oration against the Liberty of Women Fol. 222 11 An Oration for the Liberty of Women Fol. 223 PART XI Containeth seven Femal Orations from Page 225. to Page 232. PART XII Nine Orations in Country Market-Towns where Country Gentlemen meet from Page 233. to Page 240. PART XIII Orations in the Field of Peace 1 A Peasants Oration to his Fellow Clowns Fol. 241 2 A Peasants or Clowns Oration Spoken in the Field of Peace concerning Husbandry Fol. 243 3 A Peasants Oration to his Fellow Peasants Fol. 246 4 A Peasants Oration to prove the Happiness of a Rural Life Fol. 248 PART XIV Orations in a Disordered and yet Unsetled State or Government 1 AN Oration against Taxes Fol. 251 2 An Oration contrary to the Former Fol. 253 3 An Oration against Collectors Fol. 256 4 An Oration for Taxes Fol. 258 5 An Oration to hinder a Rebellion Fol. 260 6 An Oration against Civil Warr Fol. 262 7 An Oration against a Tumuliuous Sedition Fol. 265 8 An Oration to Mutinous yet Fearfull Citizens Fol. 267 9 An Oration concerning Trade and Shipping Fol. 270 10 An Oration for the Disbanding of Souldiers Fol. 273 11 A Souldiers Oration for the Continuance of their Army Fol. 274 12 An other Oration against the Former Fol. 275 13 A Souldiers Oration concerning the Form of Government Fol. 277 14 An other Souldiers Oration Contrary to the Former Fol. 279 15 An other Oration Different from the two Former Fol. 280 16 An Oration which is a Refusal of an Absolute Power Fol. 281 17 An Oration concerning Disorders Rebellion and Change of Government Fol. 283 18 An Oration to a Discontented People Fol. 287 19 An Oration in Complaint of the Former Fol. 288 20 A Kings Oration or Speech to his Subjects Fol. 289 21 A Generals Oration to his Chief Commanders Fol. 290 PART XV. Scholastical Orations 1 A Sleepy Speech to Students Fol. 292 2 A Waking Oration of the Former Sleepy Discourse Fol. 298 3 Of Parte and Wholes Fol. 302 4 An other of the same Subject Fol. 303 5 Of the Soul Fol. 304 6 A Speech concerning Studies Fol. 305 7 An other of the same Subject ibid. 8 An other Concerning the same Subject Fol. 306 9 An other of the same Subject Fol. 307 FINIS