what I have heard amongst the wicked rabble there of new opinionests if you will transplant any in Ireland transplant these and your Anabaptists and when they have brought these wicked ones to a true belief let them then as the Eunuchs be rebaptized amongst the Heathen send them also continue them not here to make rents in Church government for they would conform to neither had they force they told me the Lord was now coming to take the power out of wicked Governors hands and to put it into theirs and truely that power I expected would have been exercised on me for the sword-men stept up close to me when Doctor Lamb could reason no more you are mistaken in them if you think them meek they are furious and not wise I will not call them fools although their own words are they desire to live and not sin against conscience and then all cannot but be well with them you have heard how their consciences stands affected Doth not this clearly shew you that what our so late but ever blessed and wise King CHARLS Prophesied is now come to pass and fulfilled in your eyes Your disordering and tearing up by the roots the Power and Government of the Church that being laid wast contemned would bring in all sorts of wicked Athiesm Villeny and such practises speak can any of you continue to be mad will you as formerly go on what blinde for ever adding sin to sin untill your measure is made full if you will do so be sure you shall be removed cease to do evil learn to do well about it presently that this scandal may not stick upon the Professors of the Protestant Religion least they say of us as they do of the Spaniard in America that it cannot be Heaven where such bad men are so come not to their Religion but my belief is that blest America and those people will shortly have a better Religion before their eyes than that of Rome and a better people also to cohabite with than the Spaniard I know what God is doing he is fitting the Jews and Heathen to come into the Protestant Religion and I believe many of them there in America the Church of Rome shall fall To the rest of the Prophesie the two Letters promised they are now made three the first to our King the second to Oliver Cromwel the third occasioned by a Book not untill this was almost ready for the Press then through Gods blessing come to my hand and view written by Manasseth Ben-Israel the Book intituled the Hope of Israel to that Author is my third in those next ensuing Letters is the rest of the Prophesie in some things spoken to I would not swell this to a Volume which I intended for every mans pocket heart I would gladly leave the Reader with good appetite that he might not do other than be in love with the precepts and mercies of the Lord and his Prophets also which never were compared to the flat dull and tiresom empty babblings of the Priests of Baal or the Idiots of these times both unsent of God My second Letter to our Soveraign C. REX Most worthy Doctor SIR Mine of the tenth present I hope is received by you it was directed to Mounsieur Renier Bazine Merchant residing in Rue de Mavise Parroles PARIS my charge to him that forthwith he carry it to you Sir or my Soveraign and deliver it to none else which since I understand is done Sir This is to describe to you the two Ladies Frances the Elder and Elizabeth Boyl the 2 d. daughter to the Earle and Countess of Cork chosen by the Almighty Wife for our Soveraign Lord the King the the Elder Sir is lamed by a fall taken at Nurse so that she goes not but with the deepest halting that is imaginable hardly without leading she is very vertuous and some 18 years of age For the Lady Elizabeth Sir she hath the most loveliest face ever eies beheld the most of Majesty in it nothing but loveliness in every part of it Excellency throughout her hair is brown her eyes black her mouth little her teeth the best her complexion as that of the Canticles brown but most lovely and comely as ever eyes beheld her body the perfection of workman-ship none did I ever see so made as to resemble it she is aged about thirteen she dances well she speaks very good French she delights in reading serving of her God and obeying her Parents the Chaplain in that house is Doctor Mollines Son to him of the Church of France a wise and good man and of the Church of England a true Son also Sir You may not doubt the indowments of her Soul and minde whom God hath set apart to be so blest as to be our Soveraigns Queen and his delight for she cannot be other all that see her admire her outward perfections and deportments and for charity and humility two good adorns she is already eminent as a Queen Elizabeth Sir Let me be believed in a word she is a Queen of Queens and an Angel on Earth and this is my rejoycing that the Lord hath in mercie given such a Lady to my King that will go hand in hand with him in all paths of vertue and godliness that she is as well a Nursing Mother to the House of God as his most blessed Majesty by God appointed and so commanded to be a Nursing Father to us and all his now happy people Sir I spake truth to you and all of the Lords doing for our King whom as his Queen God Almighty ever bless and let their rejoycings in his good will and commands be not deferr'd to the joy of our hearts admiration and obedience of the World Let us pray God save my King CHARLS the Second and his most delightfull Queen Elizabeth both the Servants of the ever living God O my King fail not I beseech you of the most sincere performance of your Devotions by fasting and prayer every Friday and let there be no looking back nor return to any sins whatsoever let not any of a bad life that will not be reformed eat one bit of your bread or receive a favour from you more than prayers for his or their amendment and punishment where it is not conformed unto be you Sir I beseech you frequent in Devotion and receiving of the most blessed Communion of the body and bloud of our Lord to which you are to come alwayes well prepared that you eat not to condemnation O my King do you truely forgive and so pray for the very worst of your Fathers Mothers and your own Enemies God will do you right who ever lost by referring all to his Almighty power times and goodness Thus shall your Fathers Counsel be followed his ever blessed memory unparaleld good example live in you to the joy of Angels and good men Sir God is turning for you and to his own glory the hearts of all or most
minde nor knew not before I was taken up that I was rising nor one word of what I said before pronounced I could not but very much admire and so I did both the manner and the matter Well I then prayed and praised God for awake I was as truely as I am now the sequel will prove that I then concluded it was not at all I that did it it was the Lord who would have it so and his Prophesie it was and is Much about half a quarter of an hour after I was taken up again as formerly and spake these words Proclaim CHARLS STUART King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Charls 2 d King of the whole World This CHARLS STUART shall never die the Lady Elizabeth Boyl shall never die the Queen his Mother wife to the late King already blessed shall never die the now Queen of France shall never die the King of France shall never die his Brother the Queens other Son shall never die but shall all be taken up into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that never shall have end This spoken I was laid down again then did one M. Barret a Merchant in Bristol that deals in Leather and Skins who lodged in the same Chamber with me but in another bed call to me asked me how I did and if I was well I replied to him very well He asked me if I was asleep I said no he asked me if I knew what I said I replied yes very well he asked me if I believed what I said I told him he must give me leave to believe what the Lord caused me to speak and would have done There lodged also in the next room one John Marrick the Widdows son of that house aged about 21. With him in bed another Merchant as I take it of Bristol also or thereabouts to them both well known Those in that one bed spake to me also I replyed to them many words we had all I remember not I was anon after taken up again as formerly and spake these words OLIVER CROMVVELL shall never die the Countess of Cork shall never die the Earl her husband shall never die the Ladie Frances Boyl their eldest daughter shall never die the Lord of Broghill shall never die the Ladie Broghill his now wife shall never die but shall all be taken up into the kingdom of Jesus Christ which never shall have end I was laid down again and considered with my self What shall Oliver Cromwell never die it pleased me not But again the Lord reproved me and would have me know he judgeth not as man judgeth neither did his ways admit of any repine or contradiction Here again I spoke to the former parties but little lay still praying weeping and praising God for now I firmly believed and remembered that although these things were mightie strange and wonderfull yet by his Power for his mercie glorie and names sake he had assured me he would bring them to pass and they should be marvellous in our eyes as the Seal of my Commission was And remember I did he was now giving me the matter Again anon after I was raised as formerly and spake these words Thou Walter Gostellow shalt never die thy three Sons shall never die thy wife Anne and daughter Anne Gostellow shall never die but shall all be taken up into the kingdom of Jesus Christ that never shall have end Then shall the bodies of the Saints alreadie dead arise and be taken up into heaven also the Sheep shall go to the right hand and the Goats to the left pronounce this house a blessed house and this chamber shall for ever be called the chamber of the Great Prophet Thus have I set here down every word then pronounced by me but certainly the Dictates and good pleasure of the Lord of hosts that they be published to the world concerned by me Walter Gostellow his unworthy instrument I have not added or taken from one word that I know of nor misreported the manner But as old Eli asked Samuel after called of God by his name 3 times Samuel God had spoken unto him and given him his imploy what it was the Lord had said unto him as you may read in the 3 Chapter of that his first Book and the 17 ver and Eli there charged him that he hid nothing from him but tell him all which Samuel tels you and him in the next verse He did so hid nothing from him What follows it is the Lord let him do what seems him good and the Lord was with Samuel he grew and the Lord let none of his words fall to the groūd So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established a Prophet of the Lord things coming to pass as he had foretold When I heard the word Prophet knew my unworthy self to be the man O Lord thou knowest my thoughts both then and now they are at no time hid from thee I stand amazed O Lord and am silent lay my hand I do upon my mouth and my mouth upon the ground A Prophet I am unworthy O Lord yea I am unworthy to live much more unworthy of this so great honor but O Lord thou hast fashioned me make me I beseech thee always to do thy will not mine own that hath been and now is sinfull yea so hath it been all my days therefore I most humbly beseech thee to have mercy upon me O Lord the greatest of sinners nay thou wilt have mercy for thy compassions fail not and thy mercies as thy ways are past finding out The rest of that night I spent in Meditation and Prayer when day I arose not fully dressed took Pen Ink wrote all spoken but with this addition I began with a Summons and Invitation to whomsoever that they would repair the next week Thursday morning about nine of the Clock being the 12 of January to the Town and Church of Youghal there to hear a Sermon upon this Text He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall finde mercy The Text was given by a Prophet of Almighty God now here in Youghall his name Walter Gostelow which Prophet will then after Sermon that day tell you all in the Church that there is an end of all the Wars in the Christian World And so I went on to finish as before Prophesied and recited Further they should that day see riding out in great state several of those Saints and this Prophet out of Town and upon the Strand of Youghall which to me as well as others was given as a sign or miracle being yet to come for the strengthning of my Faith as also for the conversion and ground of belief to the Sons and Daughters of Men. I there went on The Heathen and the Jews are now fitting by the Lord to come into his Doctrine worship and service and under his Scepter Against which word of God the Holy Bible
long since it was so All these together were grounds I say more than enough to beseech God for redress to a distracted people and a divided Land This Fryday I repaired to that Church of Lismore in it and places fit for Contempaltion I passed that day Saturday I could not but return thither again and there pen the subject matter of my prayer on that Thursday afternoon also my Dream that night And decline I must not nay could not to impart all so penned to the now most Honourable Earl of Cork and his so well accomplished Countess And home I must press them forthwith to re-build that Church of Lismore The reasons cannot but be good and many who considers the Lord should be publickly served and the people well instructed from the mouth of him whose lips should preserve knowledge and tongue speak a word in due season Such men are the men certainly sent and deputed by God himself for the better turning of sinners from the evil of their wayes to serve the everliving God His Temple 's the fittest place also where holiness is injoined us Beauty and decency not forbidden To this Earl and Countess of Cork I apply my self in their Garden and private Bed-Chamber they were pleased to hear me to the full I may not here omit to let you know that in the morning of that very day when going to pray for Gods guidance in this his business of rebuilding his House to his own glory and good of others and haveing omitted that morning to read any part of the Scriptures or Psalms appointed for the day the reading of Gods Word first a good way to prepare for acceptable devotion and praying aright from my knees I rose took the Bible and there opened to me the Prophet Haggai which tied my eye upon the place a Scripture God be mercifull to me I was not at all acquainted with Thus opened I could not go on to Devotion nor to read the Psalm untill I had read that Prophet out being but two Chapters directed and over-ruled as I firmly then and now believe by God Almighty For in the whole Book of God there is not any place fuller for the business I had in hand It is well worth your and all mens observe and retention that have too low esteem of Gods House But what speak I of too low esteem Indeed none at all that good is of the Churches or Temples built and set apart to the glory for the publick Worship and Service of God Humble men they seem to be A Stable or Kitchin will serve their turns and truely good enough too for many who have the impudence to abuse Gods House and endeavour there to seduce the more ignorant sort of people These Schrich-Owls cannot well endure the light of his House therefore have they their corners and sculking places A judicious and publick Auditory who love the place where his Honour dwelleth which they best love to frequent and thither go with prepared hearts to learn that they may understand what 's fit to practice These will not be decoyed by them With those it matters not what becomes of the House of God Yet observe and remember I beseech you what that Prophet Haggai there gives for reason of all the evils that were sent and continued upon the Land The not-building of Gods House The lying of that waste caused the Lord to have no delight in the people He there adviseth and enjoyns to rebuild his House then he assures them he will dwell with them and bless them beyond all compare nay he will take pleasure in them verse the 8. He there goes on He will shake the Heavens the Earth the Sea and the dry Land All is his to his for the glory of his House that he will fill with his own glory and bless the Land with peace and plenty such as was never seen untill the building or laying of that Foundation From that very time he blesseth them when they rebuild his House for his publick worship and service The Lord makes that a business fit for the imploy of another Prophet also the Prophet Zechary Of so much concernment you see it is with God But lest these things being Old Testament we should conclude they concern us not under the Gospel so wicked are we grown and so out of love with any thing that costs us ought in the Service of God or is most to his glory and honour that as any place is good enough so indeed any Calf fit to offer Thus shift we off the thing in which our happiness most lies that we may make our selves most miserable Foolish men why consider we not that Christs Courts on earth are his Churches And in representation thereof he hath a Throne in the midst of his Temple and sits thereon before whom all fall down and worship But these times call for our lamentation nay deep mourning for in this business we deal with the House of God and his Worship although we pretend much to both as Amnon dealt with his sister Tamar first Ravish her then Defile her and after turn her out of doors But to return Truely I could not but commend those two short but most full Chapters of this Prophet Haggai to that so Honourable Earl and Countess for the better dispose of them whose affairs of concernment are wisely managed by joynt consent Their quick discern a far off and sound judgement at home give them great advantages for the well-ordering of all their affairs Who having heard me out before I once so much as pressed them to it the Earl met me with this readiness to the work My Father intended the building of that Church I will do it It is onely by me for a short time deferred untill these troubles blow over or time afford a better opportunity for the carrying on of the work for the rebuild of which Church I have many things already fitted c. I most heartily wish and do so pray that there might be found in all men this readiness to make themselves happy here and so certainly bless'd hereafter You have the way love Gods House the place where his Honour dwells also his Ordinances with sound judgement and you cannot but be beloved of him When David and Solomon think to build God an House to his glory worship and service and do so see how the Lord declares himself in the second of Samuel to the 14. that he will establish their Houses for ever And are not the best of Kings the best of Patterns in Gods service who can and will do for thee also so governing or assisting to his glory as shall be most for thy lasting Honour and happiness here but everlasting hereafter Thus ends all then done most happily in nothing disappointed which God put me upon This happy day was Fryday March the 11. 1652. SECT II. A Short time after I fell into several sicknesses and diseases of that Countrey so that most of the following
not to be altered the Book of Common-Prayer in some things altered and amended as by a Council lawfully called whom God shall direct shall stand and flourish all over the whole World The Doctrine and Faith of the Church of England being the purest in the World against which word of God and his sword put into the hands of this King CHARLS STUART no Power on Earth shall ever prevail that of Rome is now tumbling down and melting away like a mighty Snow-ball The King and Queen of France with that whole Nation shall ere long be converted to this Faith which Kingdom of France and all others upon the Earth under the Sun and Heavens shall be obedient to this Charls the Second and his Rule in the Kingdom of England The Lady Elizabeth Boyl second Daughter to the Earl and Countess or Cork is this Kings Wife The General of all the English Forces Oliver Cromwell shall never die so I here wrote him and could not otherwise though I tried often and varied to give him several Titles but could not the Reason you shall have anon Be pleased to observe in the pronounce of the Prophesie it is onely Oliver Cromwell all other Persons of Dignity Honour by their Titles as Signiories his onely Oliver Cromwell the Reason I promise I went on The Irish Nation should not be removed but possess their own just Rights converted to this true Faith they should be And so praying that God would enlighten them and all men that we might all live in brotherly love and Unity one with another return again into his Courts with praises and there serve him in sincerity of heart and in the beauty of holiness for so his house ought to be fitted for his service that others might be invited by us and with us to glorifie our Father which is in Heaven whose will be done on earth by men as it is by Saints and Angels in Heaven Thus I concluded writing as fast as possibly which done I could not be quiet but hasted immediately to that so every way eminently good Countess of Cork read the Paper to her and after made it my request very often sollicitous I was by my Letters that she would send her Letters abroad to invite in the Nobles Gentry and Countrey to the Town of Youghall against that day the 12 of January my self having read and communicated the whole to her Honour was by her and Doctor Mollines over-perswaded to retire for a time to my Chamber which I did But when there I could not be quiet but wrote and sent abroad to several inviting them to Youghall that 12 of January to hear as before recited all to be divulged by me that day in the Church after Sermon I continued soliciting that Countess that she would do the like untill I knew I became troublesom yea very troublesom even unto two dayes before this 12 of January did I thus be stir my self In Fine my Kinsman M Leonard Gostelow Secretary to the Earl came to me brought me back from her Honour divers of my own Letters told me weeping that the Countess and his Lord with divers others believed me certainly Mad that I would so impertinently to no purpose trouble my self and others He then asked me what I would have I told him onely the Countrey Nobles Gentry and All to come in to hear the Sermon and Prophesie that day the 12 of January He replied to me if it be company you would have trouble not your self there will be enough here for on that day will be several Horse-matches which hearing I was very much joyed and after that time never troubled my self in the least particular in that business to move further which I take God Almighty to witness untill his telling me of it it came not into my minde although I confess I had formerly heard of it but all the time untill then it was no more remembered by me than it was known to the most remortest man in the World But I shall observe to you anon the wisedom and good pleasure of God Almighty in casting and bringing to pass what fell out upon that day the day I was most active upon after the divulge of all I had to say and did say it in the Church I cannot but observe to you that when perswaded to retire to my Lodging and did so the Lord of Broghill's Physician came to me closely attended me sweat I must keep my bed not stir not write at any hand not do any thing but as prescribed all which I now see were clear Artifices of the Lord of Broghill and that otherwise-good Countess of Cork lest I should proclaim in the Church what I had penned in the Paper for to her Honour I made always my first addresses untill it pleased God to direct me to the Lord of Broghill as more considerable for the carrying on of this work of the Lords For it is the Lords and shall and will come to pass though I must tell thee Reader whosoever thou art I have met with very little other then aversness and derision if not scorn from almost All and to be called Mad hath been in many of their mouths Yet I praise God though some have endeavoured to make me the sooner Mad by very uncivil carriages and affronts no man living can say nay I challenge them to it that they divulge it if they ever saw in any of my actions or Papers which I have Copies of the most considerable and some Letters returned me ought of Levity if so let them shew it to the World spare me not I beg not their favour I scorn it it is no new thing O Lord to bestow ill and false Appellations in all ages upon men thy servants sent upon the like imploy to turn others from the errour of their ways that delight in general wickednesses To declare ought from the Lord that suites not with their fancies love and over-carnal apprehensions it must be madness in their judgements to advise the Great Rich Covetous Proud High-minded to deny themselves madness it must be Assuredly our portion is like that of our Saviours from the Scribes and Pharisees who were so they heard all that was said unto them yet being proud and covetous they derided him But thou O Lord be thy name for ever praised and so magnified thou assistest thou deliverest me thou providest for me of thy alsufficiencie rich mercie and everlasting loving-kindness which I now most humbly beseech thee may increase in me not onely in a firm dependance on thee but a walking before thee all my days in the true practice of pietie and ways of thy commandments which onely can through thy mercie deliver in all the Inundations of evil and practices of proud and obstinate Sinners from whom good Lord deliver me But I hasten Thursday the 12 of January came in bed I would not stay up I got to the Church I went took a seat in the most
convenient place quietly demeaned my self until Sermon was ended Here I cannot but observe to you that although Doctor Mollines had his Sermon in readiness yet by reason of a sore throat preached not but the ordinarie Lecturer for that day And yet as if he had been in some measure privy to my Prophesie and Intentions which be could not be his Sermon was very much for amendment of life And observe also he did that Enoch and Elias were translated into heaven having walked with God and kept his commandments on earth so that as I after observed to him his Sermon seemed to me to be a Prophesie of a Prophesie But I have had many of these to my consolation as formerly observed from a mercifull God Sermon ended I then desired the people to stay and suffer me a few words I told them I had to communicate unto them which was certainly of the Lord consisting of Dream its observe and interpretation Vision also and Prophesie all of the Lord. I then reached to me the Church Bible kissed it and did promise upon that holy Evangelist I would not speak other to them than I did believe the Lord had spoken to me no man living ever dictating a word to me or disposing me thereunto nor now to this which as I could not do other then but speak so now here but publish by Printing unto them and all those concerned of the World Begin I did as you have heard declared my Dream its Interpretation my Vision and other dictates of mine own which I penned not yet so to them related as here recited the Prophesie I read to them as I wrote it verbatim the morning after the Lord caused me to speak it When I came to proclaim the King away goes the Governor Colonel Saunders after him the Major of the Corporation When of the Protestant Religion I spake and the flourishing of that again and how that none should ever prevail that rose up against the word of God and his Discipline now to be established and his Sword also put into the hand of his King CHARLS STUART away goes as I conceive the disaffected to both for certainly Congregations are now adays made up of Goats and Tares lovers of our selves we are more than God and yet be we must together until the Harvest come then the Prophesie as the most sure written word of God tels you the Goats must to the left when the Sheep onely go to the right hand Chaff and Tares to their own home In this Church although a Sermon-day but one Servant of the Earl of Corks not one of the Lord of Broghills as I saw and remember and why that one and who must that Servant be but my Cosin their Secretarie one whom they knew I loved and would be much ruled by Well how governs he I suspect by their order too he comes to me almost as soon as I was entered upon what I intended and had to do desires me to desist weeps to me I refuse him he after pulls me by the Cloak and Arm uncivil more than enough hales me by both prayes and weeps to have me out I took faster hold told him if they would burn me they might but I would not stir from that place nor from that imploy of the Lords untill I had done that work the Lord commanded me of his Then crying like a great yet Childish Kinsman he went away whilest I was over-joyed being so well rid of him so thanking God I went quietly on to do all I intended to a word without any other violence offered me Yet my Congregation grew very thin in the end It is the unhappiness of these times that where He stands up that is not sent thither the people run to which ill advised we may fitly use that of the Spaniard who when he sees one do so observe saith he what haste that man makes to leave his wits behinde him Yet to the comfort of those that hold out to the last though but a few if in well-doing the blessing is to them But its prayers must remedy this not conceits the loving kindness of the Lord must do it Which when he shall be pleased to restore to us wiser Teachers we may then hope to see In the mean time it calls for our prayers and tears that we see it not It was a witty one of long since deceased Mr. Shuit officiating in Lombard street I heard it from him indeed he married me may his memory and his works ever live in us in a Sermon complaining of these Times which he foresaw hastning upon us for such are the true Prophets of the Lord and therefore as I conceive called Seers The age is now grown so Chimical said he that from a Tailers shop-board or Weavers loom we have those now will extract Learning enough to stand 3 hours in a Pulpit before an apron'd giddy Auditory with applause too that should a wise Man put his head in at the Church-dore he would judge the Famine to be very sore among us to see an Asses head valued at so many pieces of silver Mais donne aux ausnes le Chardons let Asses feed on Thistles But I must go on Of a like nature was one I heard praying in the Pulpit for a Reformation in those over-active times dispairingly say How can we hope for it to Gods glory when there is not one in our Universities or Cathedrals but what are Factors for that Whore of Babylon Sure he was never there he was so ignorant mistake me not I mean the University if otherwise give him the Whet-stone having thus preach'd for it Truely I would not make these Aberrations but for this Reason There was with me all the time of my imprisonment at Youghall and a prisoner also a person of great Honour as I firmly believe M. David Rooche the Eldest Son of the Viscount Lord Rooche a Gentleman of very great integrity and faithfulness where trust and devoir lies upon him He is a great Devotery and admirer of the Church of Rome and hath often told me how like I was to be deluded because part of my Prophesie was that the Church of Rome should fall which he laboured to have me believe the Gates of Hell should never prevail against as being what Christ promised to his Church That being it and no other He told me We could shew no Church neither were we any since fallen from them the onely Conspicuous in all ages visibly shining as upon an hill That with him was the strength of his argument any thing that ever was in Ours that looked like a Church see because it was but like one how God had now annihilated that also And for the Preachers of our Church as we would have the World yet misbelieve we were a Church now amongst us what were they but men unsent who filled the world with Schismes Falshood Heresie strange and lying Opinions few or none of them agreeing whereas Unite was the best devote
of a true Church and that theirs onely hath and always had 'T was too much said for him to prove yet this I will say of him nay I have Prophesied it and it will come to pass he is too good a man to sin against the light of his Conscience he would fear and serve none but God onely nor obey any but his King and both them with all his heart Therefore I told him God had of his Providence then sent him my Fellow-Prisoner to shew him first or last the Error of of his Judgement and that Church And then because he was so eminently good otherways in his Countrey so exemplarie he would being converted bring his Countrey to the Service of God as well as he had formerly done them to his Kings service from which interest he would never suffer himself nor them to be stirred in the least for in that he was a true Rooche which in French is a Rock whereas now I understand the Honor was in a French Field but in the good Service of his then King given to his Ancestors Viscount Lord Rooche I could not for the honor of our Church the glorie of God and discharge of my own dutie but reply to him and let him know that such foolish Babblers as those which now so preached were no more of our Church the true Protestant than those that make merchandize of the kingdom of heaven now in the delapsed Church of Rome would be reckoned to be if that Church were again restored to her Pristine Puritie which I believe God would in mercie do by throwing down and out of her all the workers of iniquitie crept in in several ages who for their own ends defiled her with damnable Tenents and Absurdities The beloved Church of God I observed to him we were though now thus beclouded The Moon to which that Church is compared is not alwayes at full she has wanes and changes and Eclipses also yet still a Church as that a Moon I beseech you is not now the Honour of the Protestant Religion at stake and doth it not clearly appear to all that love her what discervices these unsent bold and empty Babblers have done us Those Vagabonds are like those Vagabond Jews in the 19 of the Acts the 13 vers who took upon them to call over them that had evil Spirits the name of the Lord Jesus saying We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth to come forth yet no good is done by them out they come not the evil Spirits are where they were not cast out but replied to them Jesus we know he is sent of God Paul we know he is sent of Jesus but who are you who the Devil sent you Well unsent of God they finde them What doth that man possessed with the evil Spirits do He leaps upon them over-comes them prevails upon them so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded This spread over the Countrey and the Name of Jesus was magnified so shall his Name also be magnified by us or you in Authority if you suppress those unsent vagabond giddy bold empty scandalous what shall I call them Itinerates froward factious Presbyterians dishonourers of Gods true Religion Church and our Nation By sober men are not these things and times to be lamented And are not wise men if now in power obliged to help distressed Religion thus crying out O Religion Religion thou that art the strongest of policie which teachest to rule well and to be so ruled Pray did not the fear of God which is the beginning of wisedom not fear of man make David wiser than his Teachers And doth it not strengthen more than ten mighty men Oh! its Excellencie invites you to side with it though now seemingly down it will raise it self and all that love it Haste you be ye of this bless'd number But to the matter All thus done at Church I went to the Earl of Cork's house endeavoured to enter the Parlour where that day were sate divers Persons of quality at Dinner I was refused enterance though my unworthy self formerly by the good favour of that Earl and Countess was one they were pleased to admit to their own Table for some moneths but now denied enterance I was Well I watched my opportunity my business being of another nature than eating it was to do the will of my Father which is in Heaven which was to let that most incomparable Lady the Lady Elizabeth Boyl for other I may not call her whom God Almighty hath set apart chosen to so much Honour and bliss as to be his Queen and the beloved of God on my knees I told her That in obedience to the Commands of God I had that day in the Church of Youghall Proclaimed our King and her good self his Queen From my knees I rose went out amde no disturbance though the most considerable there so soon as he saw me I well remember rose up and was for my being had out but having done what I could not choose my duty so much desired I took my self away for I neither spake more nor did more but quietly went away Now comes the sign given me for confirmation of my Faith that the things Prophesied shall come to pass observe how it is made good to me both for day persons state and place Dinner there ended a Coach with six Horses is made ready which in that place I never saw before into it gets the Countess of Cork the Lady Broghall the Lady Queen Elizabeth Boyl the Lady Frances Boyl the Earl of Cork on Hors-back the Lord of Broghill likewise mounted and all these well accountred no otherwise attended In good equipage they ride through and out of this Town of Youghall unto the Strand where the several Hors-matches were that day run Well they all gone my self rode after coming thither was looked at by all for my forenoons work the Governour of the Town there on the Strand I rode to others I told what I had in the Church did not madly rave or beget any the least disturbance stayed to the last rode off the Strand sometimes betwixt the Lord of Broghill and the Governour Colonel Saunders told them what God Almighty would have done and come to pass rode next them all through the Town no disturbance all this while yet the Lord of Broghill told me several times I must forbear such expressions otherwise he would order me and committed I should be He was as good as his word for out of my Lodging I was fetch'd and had to Prison but by the Governours Warrant he not seen in it Truely I think I may take his word at all times for what he promiseth hear my reason In France some 17 years ago I furnished upon Bills of exchange one of his Brothers with a considerable sum of money for his Brothers own use after that near upon one hundred pounds more for this Lord of Broghill who was not then at age his
fruits making their conversion to appear as good Zacheus did when truely converted who shewed it by his words and actions If I have wronged any man I restore to him fourfould and for the rest of my goods I give the one half of them to the poor you have it in the 19 of Luke verse 8. if they would nor thus uprightly turn repent live truely they should uprightly and perpendicularly hang together as being brethren in iniquity and this I believe would be pleasing to God and man whom they have injured and are indebted to you wicked Judges Committees and Lawyers repent of your Club-Law too long practised upon the persons Estates of men of worth and honour imprisoning the one devouring the other tell me if you can from whence had you these presidences for Law not from God he is a God of mercy not from his word that 's a word of truth not from our well constituted and better known Laws those are for defence not offence Come I will tell you whence you are you say you are of the seed of Abraham but you do the works of you Father the Devil and if I mistake not it was to men of your profession and practise our Saviour said so that could not erre Some gave that for Law which was not when time was they did help to undo a good King and run a way after others of you have played the same game since and it is not improbable will shew us such a trick also but stay a little and take some of my counsel before you stir what you gave and took for Counsel was too dearly bought neither worth what 't was sold for nor at all fit to be followed those you have destroyed or decoyed of your own party will shortly tell you so be you ruled by me for the time to come if you go on to practice in the Law do in all your cases and causes as I have done in this of mine presented in this book Open it aright carry it one no other ways present it not falsly in any one circumstance speak the whole truth which done pray to God Almighty that he would be pleased to give you a sentence in favour if in truth and uprightness of heart be assured he will desire onely that the Lord may have the glory of it and man his Creature the benefit of his just but mercifull and righteous judgements My imploy is not to flatter any one of you or others I never spoke word to Sir John in my life the accomplishments of a judge was found upon that Trial as well as others to be in the Prisoner at the Bar Sir John Stowel in his fixed heart was sincerity resolution and uprightness in his head was wisdom and discerning in his mouth and tongue were the words of truth the Grand jury were those worthies that gave hin what you Mr. Post-Master Prideaux laboured to beguile him of the benefit of his Articles not you onely but the rest of the Black Robe that quacked after you the decoy upon his left hand all of you stole a heard of Goats you are Hoofs and Horns you have for offence in the very end of my Prophesie if you repent not you see the place you are doomed to as well as the condition you are found in when others are taken up into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that never shall have end the Sheep that then stand before the Judge of all men shall go to the right hand but the Goats to the left will any of you evil doers ye go on to sin against conscience for the accursed love of the World do no more so hear and take my counsel make not haste haste haste Post-haste to be Rich run not into destruction covetuousness is known to be the root of all evil Do you Sr. for the time to come nay let us all do as new born Babes desire the pure milk of the Gospel not your Law may we become O Lord as little Children Infants unspotted of the flesh the World and the Devil thus being Heaven is then open to us and that 's a Kingdom For your Infant Common-wealth truely it died almost as soon as born or named I fear not Innocent also how have you lead me out of the way I must return to Croppredy where I was named an Infant From Croppredy-Field his Majesty went into the West the same Summer there God gave him such another success but greater over a greater number out of their hands he took all the Militia but their persons go free not a man perisheth by his good will Who would not have expected that these mercies God having cast his Enemies into and under his own dispose and all pardoned who would not I say have presumed these carriages of mercy and unparalell'd clemency would have won his Subjects to a better obedience than forthwith to fight him afresh O my God I heard his majesty speak these words at Southam in Warwick-shire the very day before Edge-hill fight he being then and there importuned presently to hang 80 men that night taken To perswade him to it thus some reasoned the Lord of Essex is near you the present doing it will deter your Enemy make his men that love you not run away whose fear if not affection will be your great advantages they were so many and so powerfull that thus counselled as indeed my good King had but his good conscience mercy and a few persons of Honour on his side of which very small number was the Lord Henry Wilmot and the Lord Willowby Son to the Earle of Linsey whose Father was mortally wounded the next day at Edge-hill of which he died in a few dayes after nay so bold and so pressing were these in his presence that they told him Sir if we must take these Rebels and you pardon them when can you hope to see an end of this Rebellion they went on to importune him to hang but 70 of them yet still to do it presenlly as therein being his advantage his Majesty wisely and mercifully replied his design was to make a conquest of their judgements and affections by clemency and forgiveness and not to murder their persons they grew more impatient pressed him then to hang 60. his Majesty found out wise delays for not doing of that presently to 50 to 40 to 30 to 20 they fell still his Majesty stood unmoveable at last some of them swore as I take it thereby to dispose him that passing the other day by Coventry the Enemy had taken and hang'd four of his men to second him another said they had hang'd five of his more of them went on three of theirs two of anothers his Majesty to get rid of them and it may be to enquire into the truth of it also first I did so told thē he would presently take an order with them now see the order taken by him twelve inlarged and of them continued not a man suffered in his
of all to love true Religion your just interest brotherly love in which onely we can be happy in that good way and best example I beseech God be you the first and most eminent I may not doubt of it for whom God Almighty hath reserv'd nay declared such everlasting loving kindnesses Sir I do truely tell you I could with the most ardent desire greatest hazard endeavoured to have hang'd or murdered all your Enemies but God hath reproved me I can now do nothing with more delight than to pray for them yet let 's not trust them that 's a folly I beseech God to deliver us from the wisdom of the Serpent is not denied though the innocency of the Dove be injoyned both most excellent for imitation Sir I have no intelligence more than with the common it is believed that some dayes since from Holland came expresses of the confirmation of peace I believe after this summer within a short time there will be an end of all the Wars in the Christian world Sir I have seen letters reporting your affairs at Ratisbon to be well advanced and in good condition humane wisdom the strength of allies and confederates for the probable carrying on or promoting of your just interest may not be neglected or refused but Sir I do hope Nay believe that the Almighty will do this great work for the good of all without bloudshed if we give over to abuse his mercy and provoke not his wrathfull indignation then for his mercy honour name sake he hath promised to bring all these things to pass for you this Land Protestant Religion and although mighty strange and wonderfull these things are yet he will do it for the reasons above and it shall be marvelous in our eies as in my first Papers you have it at full consisting of ten sheets numbred in the margent as they should be read Sir the time is now at hand in May you shall see the fulfilling of another part of that Prophesie which the Lord was pleased to have spoken by me his most unworthy Servant and Prophet the not transplanting of the Irish Nation I beseech you Sir let Doctor Earls first read my Letters for I spell ill write ill and point not well he is a good man let him also chuse your Clergie and be you Sir advised by him God Almighty be pleased to preserve you give you abundantly of his grace mercie and wisdom and with it all things that good is Sir So prayes the humblest and unworthiest of the servants of the Lord my God and you my King April 21. 1654 Walter Gostelo My second Letter to the PROTECTOR O. C. Most excellent Sir MY belief as my hopes is that what your Lordship was pleased to say unto me I shall in the best fittest time reap the speaking with you I did return to my Lodging at Saint James the Tuesday I promised your good self but there I met with this affront as to have it disposed of in my absence contrary to my order and expectations affronts in other places also Indeed Sir I meet with little else but aversness to good in men I have since expected your Lordships Command or the happiness of seeing you neither yet come to hand or eye did not the goodness of God from the mouth of such as his Providence guided me to hear Preach let me see what I am to expect from man though of my own Religion my Spirits would fail me the Jews so ill treated the Prophets sent to them in their times and we no better follow their bad examples My Lord be not backward to hear and consider the great good the Lord is pleased to do and bring to pass for the honour of the Protestant Religion the general good of all men amongst whom more particularly our Soveraign CHARLS STUART and your good self so sure as the Heaven is over my head and the Earth under my feet I do believe his Majesty and some others of which number you are to be blest with long life honour as much as mortality is capable of here everlasting happiness hereafter My Lord as these things are the decree of heaven so are they to all assured the strongest Obligations of the strictest obedience upon Earth I have already wrote to my King I could not do otherwayes First to let him know what God is pleased to assure shall be done for him next to minde him of his dayly duty how that without holiness no man shall ever see the face of God to his comfort Further that he forgive all his Fathers Mothers and his own Enemies for no man yet ever lost by referring all to God in this he will best imitate his glorified Father certainly in Heaven who prayed dying for forgiveness to those that put him to death For the remitting of the highest injuries we have the best of patterns our Lord himself My Lord if I have any other end than the glory of God the honour of the Protestant Religion the discharge of my duty to the command of my God in my desire to speak with you then do thou O Lord whom I believe hath deputed me to these very ends never suffer me to see your face Therefore good my Lord be not backward to let me speak with you which done as God shall direct I shall afterwards haste as concerned into other Kingdoms to those in Ireland and this when communicated to your good self I have done my duty and shall I presume then have quiet and after see the fulfill of all to Gods glory who for his name and mercy sake hath assured me he will bring it to pass and it shall be marvelous in our eyes My Lord I ever shall continue to pray that God would bless and preserve you to the overcoming of all your Enemies but more especialy your corruptions So prayes the unworthiest of the Lords servants and yours S r Walter Gostelow At my house in Broadstreet May 25. 1654. A POST-SRIPT MY Lord be pleased to allow this Post-script I dare not omit it your Lordship hath heard me and now read my Prophesie I believe divers others also that of Elenor Channel who was sometimes taken dumb a Prophesie very highly considerable failing out in a time much about mine the matter one with mine sent upon that imploy of the Lords to your good self as most considerable in this Kingdom disquieted as I was untill she had communicated or made known the whole to you onely addressed Now because it is so very full and falls in such a conjuncture of time with mine and but short I have printed it at the end of this My Lord I well remember you were pleased after the good Admonition given me to serve God and to walk according to his will revealed in his word to let me understand your self formerly had and now lately also some things presented unto you which were since come to pass also but to rely on Visions or Revelation we