The Right Honourable Edward Lord Montague Baron of Kimbolton Vis-count Mandeuile Earle of Manchester And Maior Generall of the Parliaments Forces in the associated Countyes Norfolke Suffolke Essex The true portraiture of the Right Honourable Edward Lord Montague Baron of Kimbolton Viscount Mandevile Earle of Manchester and Major Generall of the Parliaments Forees in the Associated Covnties norfolke Suffolke Essex 〈◊〉 ENGLANDS SAD POSTURE OR A true Description of the present Estate of poore distressed England and of the lamentable Condition of these distracted times since the beginning of this Civill and unnaturall Warr. Presented to the Right Honourable Pious and Valiant EDWARD Earle of MANCHESTER You that have Eye-lids that can teares distill View Englands Posture and then weep your fill LONDON Printed by Bernard Alsop and are to be sold by Richard Harper in Smithfield at the Signe of the Bible 1644. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Pious Valiant and vigilant EDWARD Earle of MANCHESTER and Noble Generall over all Military forces in our Easterne associated Counties RIGHT Honourable and therefore Honourable because truly Right not only a lover and practiser but a faithfull defendar of right But that which makes your fame singugular is that this vertue in you is so generall that where as all men are by nature enclined to seeke their owne right your Honour hath engaged both your Life and Estate to mainetaine the right of others yea the right of our King and Country nay which is most transcendent the right safety of Gods cause which is now by unhappie occasion in danger to suffer violence And in this your uprightnesse of heart in defence of the right of your case you have hitherto done so rightly and Nobly that it cannot appeare in the least part that the fairest professers of reward nor the fowlest threatnings of revenge could either draw or drive you to so much as slack your Impartiall hand in these your pious proceedings much lesse to betray your trust nor hath envie it selfe the least moate to cast into you dish which Noble Earle is now more rare then over Europ being now in travill to cast some poison into every dish that is presented on the table of our distempered State and nâ—… doubt hath often abusd your Honorable presence in presenting great and grosse Malignants in disguised habits And as this to the eie of the world and to your Eternall praise doth render you truely Honourable so it doth happily declare the happinesse we injoy by injoying so happie so vigilant and so successefull a governour as your Honourable selfe is under whom through the blessing of God we in these associated Counties may more truly say then Turtellius did to Felix we enjoy much quietness And seeing by your Honour worthy deeds are done for your Country we except it with all thankefulnesse and alacrity of spirit being bound to blesse God for such a blessing upon us and not to cease praying that you may ride on and prosper Now right Honourable amongst other these your deep engaged servants I the most unworthy of the least of your favours have notwithstanding presuming on your Clemency dared to shelter these my deformed shaddows under the wings of your protecting substance yet Noble Earle no farther then they may be capaple of favour but if in any thing I have erred I am there at your pleasure to be corrected Now in this mishapen picture I have laboured to offer to your view and so to the eye of the world the most deformed forme of our nations now most miserably miserable estate out of which t is possible that your piercing cie may pick somewhat that may be usefull but if not I beseech your Honour to resolve that my intents herein are honest and the contents if we make no other use of them may at the least tend to our humiliation they being no other then a glasse wherin we may see our sinns reflecting upon our selves and in our present miseries read our foregoing offences but not any way presuming to instruct nor too farr to trouble your Honour with trifles I cease in this kind to be any farther tedious humbly begging pardon for this my intrusion and I shall for ever hold it my happinesse to heare of your prosperity which in spight of all your enemies the God of all good successe crowne your Honour with as he hath begun So prayes Your humble perioner EDVVARD CALVER THE PREFACE THE Title of this Book doth succinctly and briefly comply with the sad condition of the present times describing the turbulent state of this land and the many miseries under which the genius of this Kingdom doth now growne Warr hath never seemed sweet to any but to the unexperienced who blinded with its florish and its glory observe not the Tragicall events that doe attend it Of all the Warr the Civill is most grevous where all the obligations of friendship and Nature lie canceld in one anothers blood while Brothers and Kindred destroy one another by the devouring sword Religion being traduced to palliat these bloody acts and trampled down by Malignants and Papists for the defence wherof our Liberties and Lawes we are bound unto the Parliament to whom we owe our safety and subsistance This Kingdom doth now stand in a most sad posture first occasioned by sinne and now punished by the justice of God with an unnaturall warr makeing it swim in a deluge of its owne blood Every day brings in many sad Demonstrations corcerning this subject the burning of houses the pillaging of of goods the violating of all Lawes both Divine Humaine have bin Arguments written in blood by too many swords That which is heer related in the following severall particulers and Epigrams adjoyned thereunto may be fitly called Englands sad Postures or her Glasse wherein she may behold her sadd distracted face her sufferings at this present being a compendious mixture of all distresses endured even from the beginning of this Civill Warr which being heer presented unto your view I doubt not but that it will finde deserved compassion in the Reader and move him to send up his prayers to heaven that this bleeding Kingdome may be once againe established in Peace and Truth as all good men doe most earnestly desire This Book being but a sadd Picture of the miserable calamities of this Kingdome drawne out by the hand of the Author E. CALVER THE CONTENTS OUR Sinns provoking Gods Anger smoaking The Sword proceeding The Kingdome bleeding Our King turmoyling The Parliament toyling Religion shaking Our Lawes now quaking Delinquents Plotting The Papists doting Malignants Raving True Christians Craving Good people praying This Author devising On these sad times or Epigramatizing Our Sinnes provoking SIN I the most prodigious sight indeed The Divells offspring most Infernall seed The root of Ruine death and Hell and care Heavens how endur'd you when I acted there You spotlesse powers and I the most defiling Could not agree which caus'd my thence exiling But powers Celestiall could
your care in this Be so precise then and now so remisse My Father did but once offend at first And was for ever sentenced accurst But cockerd mankind disoebyes you still And yet is favour'd sufferd in his ill Looke downe on England on that divine Eden See how it surfets on the fruit forbidden Nay with my Father it aspires the Crowne Whereon he dored oh then cast it downe The Epigram Sin thou hast surely drawne thy picture well And justly claim'st thy pedigree from Hell Thou and the Divell are so neere allyd That where thou actest he doth cheifely guide Satan that serpent is indeed thy sire And thou his viper art his chiefe desire Although thy hatching most unhappie birth Lost him the comforts both of heaven and earth Sin thou indeed maist silly man accuse That with thy nature thou shouldst his abuse Man who by nature in Gods Image shind Should in thy Image now the Divell finde But sin thou Serpent though thou hast the Art To cosen mankind and accuse him for 't Accuse not God though whose proceeding must By thy false Father be acknowledg just Gods Anger smoaking Oh! England England foolish England nay Thou knowst it and dost yet reject thy day My goodnesse to thee is so long exprest Thou furferst with is thou dost love the tast Nay yet more sor did more perverse by much Because thou findst my long forbearance such Thou fondly thinkst me like thy selfe no doubt Or else dost judge my eie of justice out Thy sinns they are ascended and declare Thee so rebellious that I blush to heare Can so much mercy be so much withstood Ah it repents me I have done thee good Cease then my mercy thou in vaine art showne And stirr my justice be to England knowne Those mercies wherein it could finde no tast Now make them longd for or else lay it wast The Epigram Lord Lord t is true we must though to our shame Confesse unto the glory of thy Name That England hath been infinitely blest In takeing from thee though returning least England hath been like Eden therein growing All fruits delicious streames of pleasures flowing But oh fond England thus well streamd and fruited Hath took a surfer and those streames polluted England must therefore guilty guilty cry Though England therefore sentenc'd be to dye But its accuser is its foe nay thine Then see his malice let thy mercy shine But Lord thy justice must have course t is true But with thy justice doe thy mercy shewe Sin to thy judgment England hath subjected Let sin be slayne for 't England but corrected The Sword proceeding Come I must rouse now must no longer rest In grosse oblivion I from heaven am prest But is this certaine yes it is decreed My Captaine calls me I must then proceed The Lord of Hoasts now utters his command And send commssion downe into my hand That I to judgment must proceed in hast By taking vengeance and in laying wast Especially in England where I slept So many late long yeares in durance kept That I through length of time neglect and dust Was quite forgotten and consumd with rust But now I have comission a decree Of Englands follyes to revenged bee Of Englands blood now must I drinke my fill And scoure the rust off with the dropps Ispill The Epigram Infatuate weapon oh Remorselesse foe Thou without pittre dost thou rigour showe But senselesse England that thou thus shouldst urge A God so gentle to use such a scourge England England how wilt thou have ease This wrath thou canst not in the sword appease That raves and rages as if warrs did choose To make this Realme his place of Randevouze But sword thou sparst not car'st not who complaine To invocate thee then is endlesse vaine Alasse for England Lord t is thus undone But thou hast mercy though the sword hath none Lord check the sword then thou alone hast power And sword though thou hast licence to devoure And eate up England must thou drinke the blood Of Gods owne servants is not that too good The Kingdome bleeding Bleeding indeed alasse my wounds are wide The sword makes issues streames on every side Yea bleed so fully I to faint beginne My heart is wounded and I bleed within Nay bleed not only blood but t is my griefe That I in bleeding can have no reliefe No meanes no Surgeon can be found hath are To stanch my issue stay my bleeding heart Oh sad condition no salve to applie Can stop this currant must I bleeding die Most wretched I then have I such a vent So deep a wound when all my balme is spent But fooolish England that I took no heed In time of plenty for a time of need I in my health built Castles in the aire But now in sicknesse loe I now dispaire The Epigram England deare England I must hold thee so Deare in my thoughts though now in deadly woe Thy blood must doubtlesse soone be spent indeed When in thee almost every vaine doth bleed Thy streames run swiftly not by dropping shed But streames are flowing as if fountaines bled Fountaines indeed as well as Conduits small Th' impartiall sword makes no respect at all But oh thou God of England and of warr And eke of peace where people humbled are The sword it selfe is most remorselesse steel But yet thy hand that strikes therewith can feel England then England seek unto that hand That awfull power full that gave the sword command That Lord of all that God of Hoasts indeed He orders Battells only helps at need Our King turmoiling You higher powers can you so knit your brow Upon the owner of a Crowne below That Charles whom his dominions should obey Should only beare the Scepter not the sway Supremest powers this may indeed be due As my correction if your hand I view But if I view them whom your just command Hath made my subjects may they Charles withstand Unhappie Charles then but you higher Chaires Who have the rule of all Terrene affairs Though you and justly overrule my Crowne Yet give me leave to keep my subjects downe Let from your fountaynes so much fulnesse spring If I command not I am then no King Suits it with Royall dignity that we Should subject to a subjects party be The Epigram Great King of Kings who hast the cheife command Within whose hand our Soveâ—aigns heart is spand Teach him to pray for what befits him best And then in mercy answer his request Lord give him wisdome to discerne his foes And then a weapon to prevaile on those And let thy greatnesse to his grace make deere Not men insinuating but sincere And gracious Soveraigne if poore ashes may As for your highnesse to your highnesse pray Esteem not men for acts in State most fitt Who in Religion never acted yet T is fear'd that the preferments the promotion Attends on many takes up their devotion And men aspiring are the least to trust Religion only bindes
Wherein the soules of very Saints must be Till by the suits of living men set free If thus the living for the dead must pray VVhat can you for the suits of dead men say Fond man have you no better helpes to clayme Your hopes are weake then and amisse doe ayme Malignants Raving Oh mserable world what times are here What ever praying yet no ease appearc Our states consumd our selves consumd and lost Besides a sea of guiltlesse blood 't hath cost And all forsooth to satisfie some few Some most precise or most prodigious crew Or to speake truly might we speake so farr To helpe to mayntaine a Rebellious warr Accurst be those occasion'd our betraying Into this thraldome what no end of praying And these perfidious Roundheads who so farr Doe strive to further such unnaturall warr Is this Religion you that seem so pure That kill in publike could be so demure Finde you occasion now to vent that spleen VVhich in your bosomes boyld so long unseen The Epigram Perverse Malignants if I had the skill Had Art as I have Inke within my quill I would so paint you that you in this booke Should finde and should confesse your are mistooke Mistook indeed could you else so mistile Yea so miscensure malice and revile Those men whose lives t is manifestly knowne Have been by odds more vertuous then your owne More vertuous true t is that you doe envy Because your vices are condemn'd thereby Earth blinded moles but will you blame the day Because it doth your deeds of night bewray Earth blinded sure this Epithite befits T is only earth doth thus distract the wits In earthly things did you no dammage finde You would remaine as silent men as blinde Good Christians craving Sure Lord thy Iustice and thy Mercies strive Thy mercy would have England kept alive Thy Iustice on the other side doth crye England is guilty guilty let it dye Lord canst thou be thus as it were distrest Because that England will not seek for rest And canst thou England not lament thy fate When God himselfe seems so Compassionate Oh England England let our suits make speed That mercy may with Iustice beagreed For it is certaine till there be this peace Above our warrs will not belowe surcease But gratious God whose mercy doe appeare Then when thy Iustice seems to domincere Sith England is not of thee yet forgot Though thou dost scourge it yet consume it not The Epigram Heavens helpe you Christians you are well imployd Helpe you to pray for prayers will provide You are the souldiers in this time of need That are most faithfull and most like to speed You are both voluntary yea and prest Oh ply your place your Amunitions best You have Rams hornes whose shrill Ecchoes shall Make Rome to totter Ierico to fall Then though your weapons be condemn das slight Yet be not daunted but maintaine your fight The noble Captaine in whose cause you stand Can where and when and how he list command Then though you dare not in your own strength trust Yet call your Captaine and your conquer must Fight then with comfort doe not faile therein Pray without ceasing I shall say Ames Our Sinnes provoking Lord thou with England well mayst be in ire Yea be to England a consuming fire Its sinns are greivous very Sodome like Sure the are full Lord it is time to strike Fulnesse of bread much idlenesse and pride Were Sodoms sinns but therefore Sodome died England in all these hath polluted been Shall England live then Lord repay its sinn Thou didst indeed great Ninivy forbeare But it repented Ionah being there Thou hast to England many Ionahs sent But drowsie England doth not yet repent Nay England hath thy messengers abus'd Contemnd thy Message thy commands refus'd Profayn'd thy Sabboths nay t is come to passe That England once more falls in love with Masse The Epigram Thy accusations sinne are sure too just And what with sorrow we acknowledg must That we have nothing to thy charge to lay But only this that thou didst us betray Thou didst allure us till the baite we took But now dost wound us kill us with the hook Most subtle fisher but most simple wee Who in thy baites could not our baine feresee But England England let us be more wise See here the cause from whence our cares arise This is indeed that deadly darling foe Which both betrays us and consumes us so This is that viper in our bowells bleeding Which whiles we suffer on our soule lyes feeding To kill this bratt then only can doe good To stop this vent can only staunch our blood Gods Anger smoaking Ah foolish England hadst thou but confest Thy faults in time thou mightst have been at rest But as thou long time hast been luke-warme cold Thou hast of late been desperatly bold But though thou wouldst not yet did J lament thee And in my mercy many warnings sent thee Besides examples of my wrath for sin VVhich pointing at thee from all parts have been I put my spirit of fore-telling harmes Upon thy teachers who have sought by charmes Both by entreaties and by threats to win Or to awake thee from thy sleep in sin But thou hast counted their reports untrue False teachers therefore justly are thy due That through delusions as it is ensuing Thou mightst be seal'd up to thy utter ruine The Epigram Great God of Europe God of England then Though we have set up other Gods therin Thou dost most justly charge us nay t is much That thy forbearance hath so long been such Been such indeed we long have sinnd but stil Thou seemdst to winck although we knew thy will We had thy word still sounding in our eares Which though we loath'd still still thou didst forbear's Nothing could urge thee till we took in hand To set up Dagon where thy Arke should stand To set up Idolls in thy name and place And bowd before them to thy very face But this hath urgd thee once more to a flood At least in England and that too of blood But when this deludge shall have washt this land Lord rest thy Arke heer let not Dagon stand The Sword proceeding Proceed t is certaine how can I be still When God himselfe hath given mee charge to kill Can I suppose you in my Scabbard rest And am by such an awfull Captaine prest But I have further summons in this thing England I have a warrant from thy King From awfull powerfull angry Charles besides Within whose keeping much command abides He is offended at the very heart And hath commanded I should take his part Then England doe not blame me as unkinde Though I consume thee beeing thus enjoyn'd No no but England wouldst thou have release Thou must with God then and thy King make peace For till they stay me by a new command I must not will not cannot stay my hand The Epigram Thou sword of England thou hast truly sayd Thou canst not
spare us till thy hand be stayd That to accuse thee were but to encrease Thy fury rather then our feares release But sword of England though thou hast a charge To drink in England is the same so large And so unbounded that it hath no tye But thou must drink heer till thou drink us drye If it be so then England is accurst But if some part sword may aswage thy thirst Then shew this Kingdome since thou must have blood Drink the corrupted so thou mayst doe good But oh thou God of England who hast sent This bloody weapon for our punishment Alasse it oft too often doth mistake Then guide or sheath it for thy mercies sake The Kingdome bleeding My dlssolation must be doubtlesse neere All tokens of my fatall change appeare Bleeding and fainting gasping yea and dying If that some hand be not some help applying My late cheefe comfort in distresse my God In my distresse now whipps me with his rod. My Forts my Holds my Castles tumbling downe Nay more my King endangering a Crowne My face looks pale where beauty late sat glowing My brest are emtie whence late streams were flowing My young men flaine my virgins drownd in teares My songs of pleasure turn'd to sights and cares Where Musick sounded Bells did sing before Now Drums are beating hideous Cannons roare My friends and lovers doe amazed wring There helplesse hands my foes rejoyce and sing The Epigram Sad posture sure a spectacle wherein Wee may behold the image of our sinn Lust hath conceaved brought forth sin and loe Sin in conclusion brings forth death and woe But bleeding England could we it is true Have bled in teares for these our sins as due The streames of blood which doe increase so high Had been by teares distll'd in time put by Our Sins and want of sorrow for the same Were then the cause from whence this deluge came Unhappie men that we could not desery Our want of bleeding when our eyes were dry But England England is it yet too late Cannot our teares yet this same flood abate Oh! let us trie it teares have still done good In deepest dangers why not then stanch blood Our King turmoyling Oh heavie heavie what a weight I beare Are Royall Septers swaid with so much care Are these the Glories and delights that waite Upon a Septer priz'd at such a height I am by sacred providence a head But here lies that now which doth presse like lead Those tender members which from me take life Are with themselves now and with me at strife My subjects who are so my members deare They some seduce me others domineere And almost all my members goe about To let each others dearest blood run out Think you a head then can be free from aking Whose members heart vaines are thus bleeding breaking The Epigram Deeare and dread Soveraigne and our Sun belowe As from your highnesse beames of brightnesse flowe So beames of life to us that lie beneath And we without you very faintly breath If such a sunne may under shaddowes rest Well may your subjects be in sackcloath drest Unhappie straite then wherto you are brought Oh that we could lament it as we ought The sillie subjects for a conquest straine But still you loose which side soever gaine And yet your Highnesse doth not se et redrest Because uncertaine who advise you best Indeed dread Soveraigne men of deepest witt Most neere most deare most farr may faile but yet It were a wonder England never knew If Parliaments should not to Kings be true Our Parliament toyling Most gratious Soveraigne under whose command Next under great Iehovahs charge we stand Your grace hath put us with a charge in trust We then were Traytors should we not be just When we enjoyd your Royall presence heere And you indeed were in your proper sphere You then condemnd such lesser lights as had Abusd there stations running retrograde But now thy presence is from us withdrawne Those satall starrs upon your highnesse fawne And would perswade it too by warrs We are but commets they your fixed starrs But your conjunction with them doth declare By the effects produced what they are Your Kingdoms all to blood and death subjected Which could not be so were you well affected The Epigram Great counsel you may well recount your cares And stead of inke may sum them up in teares That such a Court should in such danger stand As hath been such a Piller to the land Yet be not daunted sith the cause is good Vertue shines cleerest when t is most withstood You were elected by a publike call What private aimes can then your acts forestall Had you been guilty in some haynous matter You might like others have been forc'd to flatter But Being guiltlesse feare not falsehood sowne By such as therby would excuse their owne Although our Soveraigne may a while be held By false suggestions Lies at length will yeeld And then the truth shall be our Soveraigns guide To prove them drosse but you the gold that 's tride Religion Shaking Well may J totter as if feaver taken When thus my pillars are remov'd and shaken Needs must I tremble as most like to slide When my upholders are so much envi'd The world indeed is with me at defiance Because I with her must not have compliance Because I may not with her greatnesse doate Ten thousand swords are drawne to cut my throate Besides the many stabbs and wounds I take By such as on me a meer cloake doe make Whiles others turne me to as many terrours By rending mein peeces into errours Poore true Religion how am I distrest The world growes troubled if I seem to rest Am I become a burden to the same Heav'n call me home then thither whence I came The Epigram Most deare Religion and of Heaven by birth Canst thou be persecuted thus on earth Hath the old serpent not forgot his spleen Which in thy tender infancy was seen No no that serpent Sathan prince of Hell Is now become a Dragon and most fell And steed of spleen persues thee with a flood To overwhelme thee and that too of blood But deare Religion heer lies thy repose The Earth shall drink this Ocean up thy foes And thou shalt finde in times of most distresse A hideing place though in the wildernesse Then deare Religion if that England may Not once againe be happie in thy stay Oh yet dispaire not God will sure prepare A biding for thee though some other where Our Lawes now quaking T is then no marvell sure you need not wonder To see the Kingdome thus lie sighing under So much distemper and distresse when we That should conforme all thus confounded be Needs must the building of a state decay When thus you take its principalls away While such as gloried in our happie state Are now bewayling there unhappie fate Late active servants we lament to see How slowe you move now and how sadd you bee Your heavie
Lord judg between us we are but the seed This land hath long sowen and still sowes indeed Shall we be blam'd then as in all the fault Lord this shewes plainly England still doth hault Nay Lord this Kingdome deales with the as ill Thou long hast tild it but t is barren still Or rather more unnaturall and grosse Thou sowst good seed but it doth bring forth drosse Canst thou then canst thou be indulgent yet To such a land too as doth all forget Under thy mercies fruitlesse and ungrate Under thy judgments but equivocate The Epigram Sin wounded England let us see our shame Wounded deep wounded but who did the same Who were the bloody authors of this deed Here here we quarrell here we cannot read Surely not any can this blame refuse But yet we one another doe accuse Some few indeed confesse it was our sin But few or none will see our selves therein Oh foolish England can we we feel it smart And can confesse too t is our due desert Yea beg for ease would faine have healing wrought Yet will will not lay the plaister where it ought We would have ease and peace but will not see Our hearts within us out of order bee And they 're the wounds which must be search'd before We can expect the healing of our fore Gods Anger smoaking England thou hast held such tidings vaine As told thy sinns did at my throwne complaine But now thou seest they have assum'd that place Yea dare accuse thee to thy very face Could not my mercies melt thee into teares Nor yet my threatning sink into thy eares Nor ought awake the till thou heardst the drum Which beats thy executioner is come Nay yet thou dost not as thou shouldst doe quake Thou dost but slumber art not yet awake But under such a letergie dost lie That it is justice thou shouldst sleeping die Art still unfruitfull underneath my word Art still unhumbled nuderneath my sword Art still revolting England then I must Be still in judgments or I were unjust The Epigram Iust God and powerfull gracious too with all Or else weak mankinds comfort were but small Were not thy justice and thy strength at one With thy compassions Mankind were undone But Lord thou gracious simpothy sing hast Thy justice of thy mercies hath a tast And justice doubtlesse never is prevailing But mercy stands by at the least bewailing Then drowsie drowsie England are we sleeping When mercy for us stands by justice weeping Can we be carelesse tearelesse here below When heav'ns do thus bewaile our overthrow But gracious Father whiles thy wrath is burning Sith thus thy mercies over us are yerning Mercy and justice doth in thee combine Oh! let thy mercies in thy justice shine The Sword proceeding England as I have licence from thy God And as thy King commands me as his tod So I have likewise a commission sent For my assistance from your Parliament They writ unto me they are sore distrest And that thou England are so much oprest That if I be not speedily persuing To thy assistance all will come to ruine Your goods your lands your liberries your King Nay your Religion a most pretious thing Are all in danger ready to be lost Or into gulfes of deep confusion tost England thou wilt not blame me then I hope When I am drawn forth by this threefold rope Canst thou account that ill done at my hands Which God and King and Parliament commands The Epigram Sword thy Commission it is large indeed Needs must thou wound and needs must England Our God our King our Parliament commanding Alasse poore England what can be withstanding England our sinns have forc'd our God to wrath Our God he drawne his sword of vengeance hath His sword is falln into our Soveraigns hand Yea meets moreover with a third command England then let us let us see our thrall Our sinns are the Originall of all Our sins have made our God to wrath inclin'd And God hath all our miseries injoyn'd Let us no longer then such shifts invent To charge our King or blame our Parliament But let us wisely lay the blame on those Our deadly sinns the cause of all our woes Our Kingdom bleeding Alasse I bleed but bleeding doth no good Because I doe not bleed in teares but blood Yet I must bleed the wounds are made so deep And teares denyd me J in blood must weep VVell may I bleed although I bleed in vaine To see so many valiant souldiers slain To see my lawes and freedoms at this strait To see and feel my dangers at this height Nay more my King distressed by betraying His subjects fore distracted in obeying Yea those his subjects which I finde most loyall Proclaimed Rebells under the name Royall Besides Religion that doth lye at stake Must I not bleed to see Religion shake Dear true Religion without which no doubt My dearest blood had long ere now run out The Epigram The tender grape which without pressing flowes Is like the child obeying without blowes But England this thy bleeding for thy sin Cannot commend thee having forced bin Commend thee no but yet it mend the might Couldst thou at length yet make use of it right The blood of children which the rod doth draw Makes some for ever stand the more in awe Bleeding sometimes doth life it selfe preserve In some diseases nothing else will serve He is most skillfull that thy vaines hath strook And in thy bleeding doth for healing look Then doubtlesse till he who hath let thee blood Doth see thy bleeding doth doe thee some good He will not stanch it England then take heed Thou must grow better or else dying bleed Our King turmoyling Distressed Charles can any heart conceit A King can rest and pent in such a strait Our rights our Realms our subjects Crown and all Some mourne some torne some totter like to fall But that which most our Royall heart doth break Is that our subjects should us so mistake As to imagine we have an intent To change Religion which we never ment Cannot the word be taken of our grace Nor Protestations of a King take place Hard hearted people or with lyes possest To be thus doubtfull where we faithfull rest But know sond subjects they that doe perswade That we regard not such a promise made Doe but possesse you with deceits unknon So to erect some project of their owne The Epigram Dread Soveraign when the Sunns Eclipsd we know The world doth suffer darknesse comes below Can then you suffer Englands Sun and we Your filly subjects not distracted be Great King we cannot nay beleeve that those VVhom you misguided doe misse-judg your foes More sorrow for you reckon you more deare And pray more for you then some draws more near Only deare soveraigne that which is your care That is indeed your loyall subjects feare Change of Religion only this then see Are those most Rebells that thus carefull be Oh that your highnesse could this cloud
dispell Indeed your greatnesse hath protested well But men Religious do so deeply groan That some suspect you bear not rule alone Our Parliament toyling Oh froward people or unhappie we That from you can thus ill rewarded be We seek your safty as our soules to save And yet some murmur some mistrust some rave And dare accuse us as the cause of all These warrs these judgments death and thrall For had we say they curb'd Ambitious will These hidious warrs had long ere now been still But how soever thus your spleen to vent You dare to utter what we never ment Yet God our conscience and good christians know You pay us hatred for the love you owe Which God we trust will make ere long be seen But in the meane time though you vent your spleen It shall not dant us in our charge in trust Having such witnesse that our cause is just The Epigram Most Noble Champions valiant Captaines sure Who in such onsets thus resolv'd indure Who would not freely venture on that side Where the Commanders are thus faithfull try'd Could the reproaches of malignant spight Could multitudes against a few to fight Threats smiles or losses have your minds perverted You had like some this case ere now deserted But none of these nor ought that might resist Could either draw or drive you to desist Or yeeld to such conditions as you thought Would by such yeelding be too decrely bought But some dare say you fight against your King But J dare say then you lament the thing But can they justly say so in this case When you fight for him to redeeme his grace Religion Shaking Oh! England England wilt thou let me goe Canst thou be blinded in thy jugdment soe Let me alasse instead of all remorse Thou art in Armes to drive me out by force Thou hast already into corners pent me As if thou hast a full commission sent thee From some infernall powers would domineer To worke my utter extirpation heer But England England ope thy eies more wide I may have worth thou hast not yet descry'd Thy God is with me I am his he mine Where I goe he goes we in one doe joyne Wilt thou then England drive me out indeed Because that Hell or Rome hath so decreed When my departure shall thy selfe betray And drive besides thy God of peace away The Epigram Deare deare Religion from whose breasts indeed We draw the milke which succours most at need Succours in want in war in sicknesse thrall In death in judgment succours soule and all Can we that have so many yeares been nourish'd And in thy Armes so tenderly been cherish'd Prove now abortives bastard like or worse And seek to bannish such a tender nurse England then England this no doubt hath bin A mightie aggravation of thy sin That this true Mother many yeares unknowne Hath suckled Infants which were not her owne Were we not false borne or begot indeed But of this Mother true descended seed Could we become so cruell as to see Our Mother bannish'd sure it could not be Our Lawes now quaking Sure we must perish more then suffer now What else in reason can you hence allow When such as on our safetie should agree Betwixt themselves now at most discord bee Those fountains where we had our issues granted Are now so seald up nothing can be vented Or if some little courrents breake away They run too weakly to beare wonted sway Oh then you Fountaines where should we have vent Give us more vigor by your joynt consent For if you keep us thus confind confusion Is likely to be our and your conclusion But this were dreadfull you that are the eie To see all order'd under lock and key And we your keepers to make all things fast Should through confusion loose our selves at last The Epigram You lawes thus quaking which decyphers sure You have been faulty how can you endure To see your chang now and within the same The heavie charge is laid unto your shame It is reported you have winckd at sin And in your judgment oft corrupted bin That gold hath been so pretious in your fight That judgment dazel'd where it glister'd bright That poore mens cases could not please your care Because your wisdoms did their purses feare That either favour fees or force thereby Hath made you constant in inconstancy Nay t is reported you have banishd some And courted more because precise become Then in your conscience you must needs confesse T is time in conscience you should have redresse Delinquents Plotting Up Noble spirits let us now be stirring Let us not venture all yet by demurring But let us strike now whiles the iron 's hot For now or never must the day be got Our force increaseth and doth still prevaile Our foes grow weaker and doe daily faile We have already such on un-set given then As hath you see it into corners driven them Indeed they dote of comfort in the Scots But we we feare not shall prevent their plots And if they faile them as they doe begin They will grow quickly miserable men The Scots have promisd toprevent this thing That they will never goe against their King But though some few may this their faith deny The greater part may put the lesser by The Epigram Hold hold Delinquents boast not you too fast You doe conclude as if all feare were past And you already had the day no lesse Delinquents use not to have such successe But to speake truly as indeed you ought What you have gaind yet is but dearly bought And though of conquest you can boast it out To gull the simple it is yet in doubt Nay whatsoever you have others shown You yet have no accquitance of your own But guiltie doe as Iudas did in this Betray your Master with a deadly kisse And for the Scots of whom you dare to vant As if they did a Christian feeling want They to their Soveraign will be true we know Yet not adhear unto Delinquents though The Papist plotting Come Christian Catholikes our case is good And many yeares yea hundred yeares hath stood And still shall stand indeed how should it fall Built on a Rock as Christ did Peter call And though this land this fatall land of late Hath curbd our case and us by act of state Yet both the first and most of Englands Kings Have shrouded under our Religions wings And for the present though we dare not say Our King is for us yet our Queen we may And though she seeks not to usurp his Crowne Yet where she smiles we trust he will not frowne Deare Queens of England you have shown good will Except some few to our Religion still And sure her Highnesse who doth meetly sen So neer His grace wil not our case forget The Epigram Oh! Royall Mary one of Englands pearles And set within the signet of our Charles Yea sealed in the center of His heart Though you possesse it doe not
it pervert Dread Soveraigne pardon I beseech your Grace Though I speake rudely and before your face Many good subjects thousands as I heare Are jealous of you doe some danger feare But Oh what feare they Oh deare Queen t is this That you should cause our King to doe amisse To change Religion if not goe about To race his deare profest Religion out But Gratious Soveraigne let there not he seen Such spots as these are in so faire a Quueen But make your subjects who have hearts thus shaken Unto their comfort finde they are mistaken Malignants Raving Great King whose praises do through Europe ring Of England Scotland France and Ireland King And still defender of the Christian faith What ever damn'd precise rebellion saith Oh that your Highnesse knew our loyall hearts Who now lie pent up in disloyall parts We are indeed inforc'd to aide your foes But know dread Soveraign this doth work our woes If we resist they curb us at their pleasures Command us yea and rob us of our treasures And force us oft through their infernall spight To speake them faire as if their cause were right But were your Highnesse and your forces heer You soon should see our loyall hearts appear And know deare Soveraigne it our care hath bin And Still continues how to let you in The Epigram Great and deare Soveraigne I your Grace beseech Be not misled thus by Malignant speech Build not upon such bare foundations laid Your Throne will stagger if no better staid Your Throne dread Soveraigne and so your command In righteousnesse established will stand The wisest King that ever raignd hath said it And woe be to those wretches have betraid it Great King and gratious be resolv'd that those We call Malignants ha' been vertues foes Scarce one of many ever understood To have been zealous any for good Heavens curb them then that to your Throne propound Such props as these are which were never found And in much mercy let your Highnesse see Your Throne by vertue must establishd bee Good Christians craving Oh! thou preserver of mankind give care Thou God of Abraham God of England heare We have thy promise that thou wilt draw nigh In times of trouble if we to thee cry We call upon thee wee beseech thy ayde Thou didst heare Abraham when he to thee prayd And in much mercy answerd him therein To save a City for the sake of ten Lord looke on England sure there thousands bee That unto Baall never bow'd the knee Thine owne deare servants who doe dayly stand Before thee weeping for this woefull land Thy servants suits are powerfull in thine eares And thou dost surely bottle up their teares Lord let thy spirit of compassion move Them on those waters and their suits approve The Epigram Lord God of Hoasts are Englands finns so great That pardon for them no meanes can intreat What not thine own and dearest servants cryes But still unanswerd England bleeding lyes Sure surely Lord thy servants cries are heard Although their suits may be a while deferd Thou canst as well from being God decline As canst surcease from being good to thine Oh then you servants of the Lord proceed Call cry and spare not God will help at need It may be that your backwardnesse in praying Hath been some reason God is thus delaying Gods anger greatly doth against us rage Which will not without great intreaties swage And you are they and only they indeed Whom God will heare whose suits are like to speed Then cry cry strongly never was more need The Neuter Temporizing But ere my Pensell let this picture goe There is a Neuter must not scape me so Though I confesse I did till now not mind him Nor is it easie as he is to finde him To finde him no fond fugitive indeed He knowes not where to finde himselfe at need So vaine and so inconstant that each winde Transports the man into another minde Indeed he moves not by his soule but sense And so both acteth and resolves from thence From which it comes that in these times of feare He is not led by reason but the eare The eare indeed for that he makes his guide But see thereby to what the asse is tied Now when a christian should be like a rock And rest unmov'd he 's right a weather-cock And cannot in his resolutions tarry But dayly changeth as reports doe vary To day he heares he must be for the King The winde to morrow other news doth bring For Essex prospers which doth so divide This Neuters thoughts he doubts on either side From whence this Neuter doth resolve in fine That he will unto neither side incline But will become a looker on untill He sees indeed which side shall have their will And this he reckons is the safest way For then thinks he who ever gets the day 〈◊〉 shall finde favour doubtlesse in their eyes As one that hath been moderate and wise As for Religion now t is so contrould And so in doubt he knowes not what to hold That to be zealous in these times therin He counts meer folly if not veniall sin Whiles from the world his Athiesme to hide He in appearance seems on either side With Cavaieers is strongly for the King VVith others can protest another thing Yea enter into Covenant perchance To aide that side he meanes not to advance From whence it comes that in this time of need His purse is with his purpose so agreed That of one crosse this Neuter will not purge it But as constraint or very shame shall urge it And what he parts with goes so neere his heart As if each penny were thereof a part VVhich is apparant when he comes to pay it His sighes and sordid language doth bewray it Thus this close Neuter Athiest I suppose Appeares but would not what he is disclose But only that way to avoide suspition Doth seeme to sit himselfe to each condition But Lukewarme Neuters thou that countst it follâ— To be Religious or to seem too holy Or Godlesse Athiest thou who canst not loose That prize Religion having thine to choose Canst thou remaine now such a senselesse stone Or soulelesse creature a meere looker on Now whiles the Kingdome in such flames doth friâ—… Has't not one drop of water to supplie Now when our Soveraigne doth in bondage live VVilt not one penny for his freedome give Now whiles Religion lying at the stake Begging assistance doth so deeply shake Hast neither hand to helpe nor tongue to crave Nor heart to pittie what thou canst not save Sure thou art sordid more then senslesse farr And worse by much then most Malignants are They can pretend Religion for excuse Thou canst say nothing for thy foule abuse But void of all Religion all may see Thou else to one side woulst adhering bee And wheras through thy irreligious wit Thou hopst hereafter much applanse to git Or finde much favour at the least t is plaine That these thy hopes shall prove at last but vaine For sith thou wilt to neither side incline T is just that both should spew thee out in fine I Have a second part Lyes glowing at my heart Which quickly would increase To flames might we have peace But such a peace it then must be Wherein we farther blisse may see Or else those sparkes must doubtlesse die Which rakd up in these ashes lie FINIS