the penning of my Prophesie to do so in the Church I should never have done it but then and there wrote I could no more decline doing it than I can now to pray for all men even his and my own Enemies No they are the Commands of God which carry me on and not to conform to them I neither can chuse or dare omit SECT V. THis very morning being now the 7 day of September 1654. was I a second time rouzed and called early from my bed by a great Crack or Canon to rise and go to work to bring forth this my Book to the World in it concerned defer it I dare not though I have been by some Ministers but most of all by my other seeming Friends my Wife and Children crying to me also not to publish it all men I have yet sent to and all means hitherto failing me for money to get it out Nay I have lain these 20 dayes the most troubled and disconsolate imaginable for want of money to go on with it Tried all I know almost would have pawned what I had left that I might raise money to do it am refused by all men hitherto I know out I would have had it come before the Parliament assembled as believing it would highly dispose them to serve God their King and Country so invite the Lord to send deliverance and heal our Land But I see in this as in all other of Gods proceedings I must pray to him depend upon him abide his good pleasure his own time is the best so is his way also he will do his work himself It may be he is pleased to see what good effect the Sermon Mr. Thomas Goodwin gave them on Munday last will operate and have upon those Gentlemen as also what the Protector did after communicate unto them At the Sermon I was I heard all in particular how he well advised to turn from all sin that God would be pleased to return to us and that they those now worthy Gentlemen called of Gods goodness as I believe for the healing of our grievances For as Mr. Goodwin observed there was election of persons for works sometimes by the Lord as well as to grace and glory David might intend to build Gods House but Solomon shall You see my main rise of all this Book and unparalel'd Prophesie begins there as that Gentleman did adviseth the rebuild of his House the restore of his Ministers the giving them for maintenance what God hath given and to every man his just interest and then see how be establisheth the Land the Kings Throne which Kings Throne I wish he had fuller pressed he hath done it in some other works of his where he hath observed that the House of King Solomon was established as Davids when they thought of so did build up the house of God But he is wise he leaves that work for the Protector if he doth not know it I do he shall help to builde Gods House and bring in his King too and that will establish his own house also the most Honourable of a Subject in the World or else put me to death if this come not to pass He went on he advised them to keep us from falling into or returning to the Red-sea of bloud which we as the Israelites had passed through Let him now take the comfort of my Book and this Prophesie of the Lord Almighties as I had of his Sermon in many good observances There is an end of all the Wars in the Christian World and I hear since that Oliver Cromwel did that day tell you at a conference he was ready as a fellow-fellow-worker to carry on the work of the Lord and would do so See now to what purpose my Gun hath wakened me this morning to call you all to your duty us to pray for you that you forthwith fall to it and work as men whom God hath highly honoured and now called to be the restorers of our Religion Peace the Honour of our Nation and our King who because the best in the World God having made him so for our good happiness Bring him presently that our rejoycing be not deferr'd nor the World kept from coming into the then so gloriously professed Protestant Religion and under his so happy Goverment to which all Christendom Jews and Heathens are to conform also in Gods time which I beseech him for his name and mercy sake be pleased O Lord to hasten Now Turks and Infidels look to your selves our King is CHARLS STUART the General of all our Forces is Oliver Cromwell both the so dearly beloved of the Lord of Hosts against whose sword put into their hands as Gods Vice-Roy and his Lieutenant none drawn on Earth shall ever prevail O Lord thou hast wakened me and I will do my duty this shall now come in that formerly was not and my Book shall out in Print to the World concerned if I go naked for thou knowest O Lord it had been out before now if I had had either money to have done it credit or goods to have borrowed money on At home I continue discontented enjoy nothing because it is not published fear I do that it 's not coming out time enough the major part in Parliament will be wanting to their duty they not yet understanding what God will have done were my Book but once read by those Members for whom with Oliver Cromwell I first intended it I then should fear no Votes in Parliament contrary to Gods glory and the Kings just interest with a Parliament for divide them I can not In what a troubled condition I am at home I have shewed you opposed and deserted by all unable to effect any thing of my self See now how God works for me and carries on his own work for his own glory as assured me he would that it may be marvelous in my eyes as well as yours For to pass it must come that 's the seal of my Commission the time and way is his own secret What doth the Lord now do my self being at loss Upon the 12 of September to my unpararel comfort Oliver Cromwell doth this work of the Lords it is possible too when he intends onely to establish himself The Lord often makes us to be most highly instrumental to bring his good pleasure to pass when sinfully we may intend onely the carrying on of our own unwarrantable proud and ambitious end I know not but it was so here with him and no otherwayes but I do know that in the end thou Oliver Cromwel shalt delight to do the will of thy God and thy King in the first place also not minding thy self before thy duty performed to them in which doing thou canst not fail of being abundantly happy otherways disquieted and miserable beyond all compare The 12 of September the House door that 's shut up out go all you or the most of you whose froward principal of Presbytery or other call it what you
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
no longer into the Heavens I then run and hasted to get from under that vail that I might again look up where I was so much ravished above in the Heavens so pressing forward that I might get from under the vail and so I was taken from the ground and so moved untill I came beyond the vail which impeded my sight being got from under it I looked up again into Heaven where I saw what I cannot utter or set out unto you Help me O Lord my soul is too narrow to express that glory and ravishment thou shewedst me there and then the Heavens yet opening I saw a beautifull place much about the bigness of a quadrangle of a Colledge and in such a figure also within which sate some four and twenty persons all in order as being in four straight lines from side to side so adorning the whole they were all arrayed in long white robes richly Crowned they were and he that late in the middest the richest on each hand of him sate also one very richly arrayed and Crowned all of them in order and beauty beyond any expression I was given to understand it was the coming of the Son of man I can say no more onely tell you what it was not there was in it no disagreeing no confusion no striving for priority no supplanting of one the other all obedience all beauty all holiness every one continuing in his own station lovely throughout beyond all compare or expression certainly it was to let me see that at hand his coming is for the conversion of sinners if they would but get themselves in readiness to receive and meet him with prepared hearts he would come and dwell with them in beauty and holiness for our amendment or else take them to himself unto either of which happy conditions O Lord fit us and we shall be fitted I end believing God hath now made this book fit for the press and you Observe to amendment of life Help out O Lord with the book and into thy favourable loving kindness the sons of men this day is the first leaf of this book Printed to finish which if thou help not O Lord I cannot give it birth I have not this day on penny in the world yet I doubt not by thy providence this very day to carry on thy work this book nor thy power and loving kindness to effect the whole Prophesie in it contained And now O Lord be thou pleased to help so thy most unworthy servant and carry on this thy great work strange and mighty to thy own glorie and good of all men as I set forth the truth of all and desire from the bottom of my heart that thou O Lord mayest have the glory of all and we men the comfort O Lord I may not doubt thou wilt do it for thy glory mercy and name sake I see it already done as thou hast promised though it be thus strange yet it is thy work and thou wilt do it that it may become marvellous in our eyes Thus I end in the very words which ends my own Commission in truth also be pleased O Lord to help all men of thy goodness as thy most indeared yet unworthy servant From my House the 10 of Novemb 1654. Walter Gostelow A POST-SCRIPT Clearing the Author from Guilt of Pride or Falshood WHat my Book conceived in sin and before born or come into the World but five sheets out and in three of them shall I be suspected to be guilty of pride and falsehood Certainly I will bestir my self the rather because a wise and good man tells me he fears the good intented to Gods glory Religious luster and the Kings interest will all suffer in the publishing of it and upon these grounds he perswaded me to desist from Printing which I can no more refuse to do than I can to breath live what shall I wound any of these in the least Three things as precious to me as had I ten thousand lives they should all not come into the scale with one of them Moreover I have presented it in my intentions to the Lord Protector for his protection and defence and shall I not present it innocent I know him set up to be a terrour to the evil doer and deceitfull man but to calumniated injuriously oppressed honest and innocent men a Protector and comfortable Defender with all reverence and humility be it spoken thy glory O Lord shall have the praise of this happy Post-script I know it is for a farther good to me as well as for the worlds clearer satisfactions by such seeming oppositions and wise delays hath thy Providence reserved it and me in the fittest time to become publick and for the fullest discovery of truth it is now made much longer than formerly intended that all things time and circumstances may be fully examined and clearly inquired into if there may or can be made appear any ground for suspected delusion or visible falshood I fear neither the charge as Gunpowder makes a noise but you shall quickly see it turned into smoke and and vanish I am to demonstrate unto you why I should not justly be condemned of pride for these words in the 55 page O Lord let the World as I do stand amazed love thee and fear thee for ever what Arguments of innocency brought to convince of evil be pleased to look back but two pages the 53. and so on you have the reason of those words God of his providence guiding me at that very time to so full a Scripture which I there observed for my confirmation in that my over-ruled deportment of falling upon my face Haveing read that portion of Scripture not till then known to me 7 months after done and my self then penning what I there Printed I could not but in a thankfull obedience with all possible humility in my private Chamber fall upon the ground and praise the Lord for it I beseech you let it not be laid to my charge as pride be pleased to read it rather O Lord let the whole World as we all should do stand amazed at thy goodness therefore praise and love thee for ever This will take me in and I have what I intended there The next is in the 56 page where I say I expected more alteration already ready than I have yet seen and believe I did the Summer past would have made the certain things to come to pass much more apparent before now than they yet are Here confessing my self mistaken is inferred I clearly demonstrate that sent of God as one of his Prophets I cannot be for they are alwayes guided in words of truth and certainty I could refer you to what follows and fasten this yet non-accomplishment upon your selves by reason of your continuance in sins and impieties and well might too but apply I will my self to satisfie reasonable men in all possible wayes and things yet observe before I end that very Section in the two last pages
ten or twelve persons by me desired He was pleased to afford me the favour so also most of the others By this time it pleased Almighty God to let me know he had deputed me to go to Oliver Cromwell and after to his Majesty that now is CHARLES STUART Charles the Second The imploy he would inform me of and for the Commission it self I must believe that from strength to strength He would inable me untill I came to perfect Peace in Zion And although the things to be done were great mighty strange and wonderfull yet for his Honour Mercy and Names sake he would bring them to pass and they should be marvellous in our eyes Thus began and thus ended my Commission of the Lord. I then bethought me of what I would say to Oliver Cromwell and thus resolved that from God I would reprove him set his sins in order before his face and tell him he was that great Deceiver the scandal of the Protestant Religion the Dishonour of our Nation a Whited wall he was a great and close Hypocrite a Man of bloud and Son of Belial and more than all this for I never loved him all this I resolved to say to him but the Lord reproved me and gave me to remember that my self prayed in my Dream That God would be pleased to let the men of the world who were desirous to do his will know it from Heaven or in the Heavens by a sign which I have given thee and they would readily obey applying themselves to walk in conformity thereunto Having thus altered me and as before again reproved me letting me know God judged not as man did He commanded me to treat and use him kindly the dispose of the heart being in the hand of God So that now from former hating of Him for so I did no man more I now cannot do other than pray for him for so I should and for all others that God would be pleased to inable him for the overcoming of all his enemies more especially his corruptions And firmly believe I do that the Lord will make Him highly instrumental for the promote and carrying on things of very high concernment for his glory to his Honour and the astonishment of the world For I know what apprehensions the most have of him both at home and abroad but God judgeth not as man doth Before the Lord of Broghill I came the second time and so began with him as you read upon Oliver Cromwell I then told him what I firmly believed the Lord put into my heart and tongue by his dictates and Visions and how that the Souldery men of Valour and Honour should submit to the King who would not onely forgive them but give unto them all so doing Indempnity Honours Preferments Lands places and Hereditaments Seal and confirm them unto them in the surest Tenure of this Kingdom as at or after that of East Greenwich Further that as the Light came on in Heavens from the East haveing in it the richest Crown ever eyes beheld the Bayes rooted and flourishing standing in that Crown as the three Plumes of Feathers in his own Arms Coronet upon which Bayes was store of Berries which implieth a provision for Posterity both waited upon by good store of Shipping so the King should come from beyond the Seas Land in the East of Kent or thereabouts and come on towards the West See thus comes the Lightning in the 24 of Matthew the 27 verse out of the East and shineth even unto the West so also shall the coming of the Son of Man be O my God and my King well I go on This would fill the Men of the Kingdom as the Heavens with rejoycing the people praising God and the Souldiery for their good affections to Gods glory and the Kings interest the Earth giving her encrease All Animosities thus taken away we should agree better than ever dwell together in brotherly love and the most sure bond of peace and great should be the praise of God Honour of the King and the Souldiery also the true Protestant Religion receive its Lustre upon the Earth and flourish beyond compare Among the Persons present I then told the Lady Frances Boyl eldest Daughter to the so excellent Countess of Cork lamed in her infancy to so much debility that she halteth the deepest imaginable but God Almighty hath been pleased to more than recompence that debility by the more noble endowments of her Soul and minde which speak her not onely in them the lively image of her most excellent Countess Mother but the dearly beloved of God her Father which is in Heaven To this Lady I say I applied my self and told her what I believe God Almighty had put into my heart and tongue That if she were present when the King came into England and so received with content in State which would not be long ere it was so she should then see waiting on him whom God had deputed for her Husband a Man unspotted of the flesh with whom she should be abundantly happy I after besought her second Daughter the Lady Elizabeth Boyl to stand forth before her I kneeled told her if she were then present she should see Him the Lord had deputed for her Husband CHARLS STUART Charls the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Here I could not for bear but seeing the glory of God and the Honour of this his Vice-Roy on earth to be so great I fell on my face as in the first of Corinthians the 14 and 25. And so falling down on his face he will worship God I take the God of Heaven to witness I know no other reason of it it never was the least in my intentions Since I have read the Prophet did so as in the 43 of Ezekiel the 2 verse and because the words matter and manner of his Government there is so very full to my business give me leave to observe them to you the rather because All of mine whether of Action or Interpretation are so long since past and by me this never observed untill Thursday the fourth of August 1654. as we accompt I look upon it as a further confirm to me of my so interpreting the Vision and over-ruled deportment in that action of falling upon my face the words are these And behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the East and his voice was like a voice of many waters and the earth shined with his glory and it was according to the appearance of the Vision I saw and I fell upon my face And so he goes on that the glory of the Lord filled his House See what his Providence hath guided me to do and all to observe to you were there but this in it it migh confirm you it is no delusion O Lord let the World as I do stand amazed love thee and fear thee for ever This done I told them I should go into
Death or otherwise of undoing them And what to do I pray but to commit Idolatry that those ye prefer may set up Imaginations of their own and you as they worship that Calf But you will say This is no Idolatry if so then let it go for Idiotrey and that hath but one Letter difference pray let it go for both as being guilty of both Those Calfs you set up after them you low and run but continue to neglect Gods Ministers whom you will neither hear nor prefer lest you should be converted and so become poor What out of love would you have us with that seeming righteousness zeal and godly party which to be of will certainly prefer us No bewitcht we are with it and for these reasons will be of no other judgement It is you that talk foolishly we profitably And this kinde of Idolatry in all ages hath caused Gods wrath to continue even against his own people How long did these disobediencies keep them from entering into the promised Land which indeed was so near them as we may truely say even at hand Moses goeth but up to the Mount to converse with God the people mutiny and will have him no more govern as King And for Priest and Prophet why not others as well as those God onely had set over them seeing they took too much upon them What is the event of this madness up goes a Calf presently worship it they will they will have Governours and Teachers of their own making as well as a God which shall not take so much upon them yet ruled they will be too but it shall be by themselves Tell not us say they of Gods Mission of your Prophets or Ministers onely we know better he that can do all without book learning or reason then he is sent if so gifted if we like him also it is good warrant Thus your contempt neglect and persecution of those men who undoubtedly would teach you from Heaven and better things than you either hear or practice on earth is another good reason in all ages it hath gone for a good one And yet one of your little ones must not be offended but if he cries and bawls for the life and estate of the most considerable in the Kingdom to please it must be given him or them Babes of Grace for you say the fat of the earth is for you the seeming Saints But you shall finde and know too anon God will do something for the thus persecuted but penitent Sinners Turn you turn you you great Hypocrites and you shall see these things come to pass in a short time And therefore gave I that Text to that worthy Doctor Mollines to let you all see that he which covers his sins shall not prosper but who confesseth and forsakes them shall find mercy and there is the reason It is true that good man Mr. Evans goes on to tell you one fault more an error it may be I think it is I am sure it makes way for a great one in giving the year its beginning from the Conception which should take it from the Birth of our Lord. And because you may fill the world with confusion you keep no day for the Commemoration of that neither which helps to make that ever to be observed good day no otherwise apparent than your charity whose right hand never yet knew what the left did But you trouble me and I long to be rid of you Are not these reasons if you have any for the wise delay of Gods mercies and restore of our so much desired King who if he comes not yet years months of which opinion I am not yet I will wait and believe for God hath said it He whom you have persecuted shall shortly come and that in Honour too and because he sowed in tears he shall reap in joy and bring his sheaves with him Oh! could I but perswade every man that reads me or hears of what the Lord is in mercy doing for these Kingdoms the King and Protestant Religion but to turn to him with all his heart and Soul for that is the taking way in new obedience and to leave no sin unrepented of and no commandment unconform'd unto in sincerity of heart and true obedience you would then All see that suddenly come to pass and be fulfilled in your dayes and eyes which I do as truely believe will come to pass and I shall see it nay I do already and enjoy it also as I do believe the Heavens to be over my head and the Earth under my feet Which if it fail I am content that you take me and put me to death These Reasons given for its Defer I am brought from what I had of Vision or my own Dictates to that which is most certainly Prophesie and the word of the Lord. Which although spoken out of my mouth by my tongue pronounced yet the matter no more my conceptions than I now dictate or write unto you the words or thoughts of the most Remote King or Emperour in the World for I never so much as had things of that nature in my minde Hear the manner and the matter they are both of the Lord To whom be given for ever Honour Praise Glorie Obedience and Thanksgiving Amen O Lord Amen And now before I proceed give me leave to tell you that this Fryday the 5 of August is come to my observe this of Jeremiah the 23 Chap. and the 28 vers The Prophet that hath a Dream let him tell a Dream and he that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully what is the Chaff to the Wheat saith the Lord. O Lord this being thy command I will obey thee So help me God for now I come to thy own words SECT IV. SOme three dayes after I returned the second time from the Lord of Broghills to my Lodging the Widdow Merricks house in Youghal upon the 3 or 4 of January 1653. lying there in bed and having spent most part of that night in Meditation and Prayer rejoycings weepings for of that nature were my weepings the fullest of joy imaginable that indeed I often conceived not feared I might sooner die of an over-joy than any grief In that night I say from lying in my bed I was upon a sudden taken up that is to say made to sit up somewhat bowing and when so I did then with a loud voice somewhat altered from my ordinary speaking pronounce these words which words I say are the words of the Lord of Hosts God Almighty are these There is an end of all the Wars in the Christian World The Jews shall come in also the Heathen and shall be converted to the true Religion The Church of Rome shall fall The Irish shall not be transplanted This said I was laid down and wondring with my self that I should be thus taken up made to speak what I knew I uttered yet not have any of those thoughts or conceptions in my
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
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
Elder Brother gave me his Bond Parrole and Honour to pay those Bills of exchange given me for repayment in England This his Brother was killed in the Wars of Ireland my money not paid by him the Bills were drawn upon nor ever by that his elder Brother the principle killed and my whole debt seemingly dead also being very great My self now in Ireland I reminded this Lord of Broghill of what by Parrole he was debter to me with its consideration for 17 years upon Bill of exchange signed by his elder brother but never paid his Lordship not being at age became not bound otherwise than in point of Honour by his Parrole Truely the long time and my discontinuance beyond the Seas having made no former Application to him had worn both out of his memory but upon discourse both came to his Lordships reminde No sooner so but we consented to refer all allowances and demands of Interest to the Earl his Brother and M. Robert Boyl his youngest This done by consent his Lordship a few dayes after told me Well if my brothers to whom we have referr'd this business see no ground in Law possibly to proceed upon his Lordship haveing not given either specialty or promise since his being at age to pay the moneys so not liable in Law If thus they proceed said his Lordship to me yet come you to me and I will compose you in conscience But his Lordships brothers whom I found conscientious also in six words as I may say composed me and I have my money and these grounds I have for the taking of his Paroll my imprisonment and the preserve of his Paroll with Honour and to those that will preserve it Honour is due as here to his Lordship for the publishing of this Act I was debter either to the invite or else to the shame of others that have more of Title but less of good conscience Good Men direct into not lead out of the way I am where I was and go on to let you know that this day Thursday the 12 of January all those Persons being thus there and in such good equipage upon the same place the sign given me for my confirmation and others also is fully made good to me considering also my not commitment that day together with the great concourse of people from parts far more remote than I intended my Summons for the invite in of the Gentry and Country that day to that place for to let them know this business of the Lords Thus the work of the Lord is carried on to the greatest advantage and so brought to pass whilest we onely think to do our own wills how doth he make us to effect his Every Creature walks blindfold onely he that dwells in light sees whither they go We are for Hors-races yet see how we fall under his decrees unawares that we might the more adore the depth of his Providence For the rumore of what I had said and done that day and the next spred over the Country Post it went to Dublin in England it was in a short time and as the Cloud of Elias raised from the Sea at first appeared but as an hand-breadth so this rumour raised upon the Strand of Youghall by the Sea-side little then as it was now as that Cloud raised by that Prophet spread over the whole Heavens and Earth and falls upon it also what to do but even as his To glad the people and make fruitfull the Earth Publick meetings and great concourses of people fittest to disperse general mercies to the Sons of men The Irish desire to know nothing more nor enjoy any thing on Earth before their own habitations not to be transplanted and to have the Kingly Government restored Why they are ready to die of an over-joy Oh the wisdom and loving kindness of the Lord Who can do other than obey him Well the third day in Prison I am and for Treason too there I pass a moneth or six weeks no offer for inlargement On a sudden If I will go out I may but I must go presently aboard a Ship there bound for England ready to depart Many requests I made before that time that I might be sent over Prisoner to the General Oliver Cromwell to whom I was deputed but not in any hearkened unto Well Go I would yet positively I said that untill I had once more been with the Lord of Broghill and given him my Prophesie in writing under my Hand and Seal delivered and left with him the most material parts of it I would not go that done I would go and then his Lordship should dispose of me as he pleased I would afterwards in all things readily obey him His Lordships Secretary and the Earl of Corks both with me then making the offer of inlargement upon the terms as before which when I refused except upon my own terms they fairly told me I should ly there three moneths longer then be proceeded against and for Treason hang'd To which I replied Let them burn me also if they could I would not go out but upon those terms Appear to the people I would had they put me in publickly and will they take me out privatly I would appear to the people even to all that were there that I was enlarged Mad I was not the business was the Lords and he would bring it to pass and deliver whom he had sent and commissionated in the fittest time I bade them be gone told them I would do all that and more which was to leave another of my Prophesies under my own hand at the House I lodged in the Widdow Merricks written in Parchment boxed up and hanged over my Beds head in the Chamber I lodged in which I pronounced should be called the Chamber of the great Prophet for ever My Prophesie I wrote gave it to the Widdow Merricks Son in writing a Man grown he is he keeps it ten dayes or more then returned it me and told me his Mother durst not suffer it to be hanged up Here was obedience to Governours I would it had always been so Well the Ship is gone in Prison I remain my Keeper again begins new it now was not to practice some of his former Tricks upon me False Prophet he calls me a Child of his some 2 or 3 years old is also taught to call me so himself owns the teaching of it which when I desired him to forbear or else tell me upon what ground he did it he replied to me he had good grounds You are said he for the Superstitious keeping of Dayes and Times as in particular that in the time of Lent we should do well to fast pray and examin our selves that so through Gods mercies we may as you say become worthy receivers of his most blessed body and bloud for the Remission of sins at the feast of his Resurrection at Easter Nay you are for a Passion Sermon also upon good Friday as you call it when all dayes
are alike The Commemoration also of the Nativity of our Lord the Descending of the Holy Ghost and divers other Superstitious things and times all which the true Prophets of the Lord have cried down and long since declined as most abominable and Superstitious Here lay his proof when I asked him who those Prophets were he told me the Godly Ministers and Prophets the Parliament had preferred appointed to hear preach I replied little onely told him some reasons that induced me to be of that judgement yet withall it was worth his consideration to remember what became of those Children that mocked the Prophet against whom the Lord sent Bears out of the Wood to tear them in pieces and devour them Well reconciled we were he told me it should no more be so neither did his Child any more provoke me but on the contrary I loved it and the Child me Upon a short time after he told me If I were a Prophet then he was a Dog I reminded him such expressions did not well become he might in that Prophesie unhappily of himself Dogs were without when Prophets were in Heaven I observed to him he did all without reason told him I forgave him and his Son formerly and that I prayed for both that God would be pleased to forgive them It is true I did so and do so that he would be pleased to have mercy upon them He bid me keep my prayers to my self he nor his had no need of them and desired them not He was often girding at me quiet I could not be for him I saw he loathed me which made me sometimes think on those evil Spirits that though they knew it was our blessed Lord yet raging asked him why he was come to torment them before their time Good he told me I could not be because I approved not of one Mr. Wood whom the Parliament power had put in Preacher at Youghall and settled upon him an handsom Sallery of some an hundred and twenty pounds per annum His name implies he may be Timber though some suspect he is not yet fitted for the building up the House of God God be pleased to make all men wise and better Certainly the best accomplished is fittest for his service This being Sunday and my keeper going then to hear this Mr. Wood Command is given none must come to me locked up I am Things thus hightening and his prejudice encreasing against me my Bed the night before taken from under me sent for away after he came from M. Woods Sermon my bolster sheets and whatsoever I had of his taken away from me by himself so great a zeal brought he home with him from his so good Preacher M. Wood. Well to this condition being reduced my self not very well not used to such affronts not such lodgeing the season winter truely I walked and prayed most of that night abandoned I now saw my self almost by all nothing but hard usage and aversness do I meet with in all men to this business of the Lords which much troubled me And truely I might here observe to you that I besought God Almighty to direct deliver and enable me to get from under those great oppressions of men which without him I could not overcome Observe I beseech you God withdraws not our helps but for a further advantage however our hopes may seem crossed Where his name may gain we cannot complain of loss 't was so here the work was the Lords and he was pleased to assure me I should grow from strength to strength untill I arrived at perfect peace in Zion and how that for his Glory Honour Mercy and Names sake he would bring it all to pass it should be marvellous in our eyes Thus beseeching the Lord I prayed and now do pray the Reader that he firmly believe as I do it being true I had that night this Vision or Call of the Lord Come away bring your writings come away reitterated just as the people you read before did when they saw the Light and Crown in the Heavens bowed to God and it it being of Heaven they all said Come we will follow it so here Come away bring your writings come away I could here truely observe to you that although my so civil Landlord was warm that night in a good Bed I cold and had none in Bed with him such another Saint his Wife educated married from the house of the once no less zealous I believe than these two the Lord Brook whose Servants they were either both or one Yet on a sudden she riseth and runneth the strong water is fetched my Landlord very sick nay very ill his Childe had formerly been so This strong water was to be fetched out of the next Room where I was pounded up so know it I did indeed his wife told me the reason of her haste and coming Well the strong water he had and my prayers also for his amendment and Gods forgiveness to him and though he formerly bade me keep them to my self he nor his had no need of them his Child I believe fared not the worse for me for it after loved me when well himself then had them as also the strong water if of any validity God Almighty have the glory he had the recovery then but a Fool is not alwayes to be answered in his folly This I should not have observed but that it is in reverence to what himself hath very often told me he was that Thomas a Diddimus that should not believe any thing of my Prophesie untill he saw it come to pass the rather because it was against those whom God approved of and set up to his glorie therefore he took the liberty to call me Traitor as to them and false Prophet as in reverence to their Godly Ministery such was his zeal but whether well guided or of God that 's the question But I leave him in his Dog-kennel for so his then habitable house was formerly called as himself told me one time and truely me thinks upon this account and action it may well retain the former name if it hath been discontinued Dog kennel Day being come I penned a Letter presenting the whole Vision Come away bring your writings come away to the Secretary of the Lord of Broghill entreating him that he forthwith impart it to his Lord and others concerned for the ordering of affairs in those parts beseeching they would after address made to God Almighty for his guidance forthwith dispose of me as he should please to direct them to do They I humbly conceive did so for that day or the next morning I had word sent me that I might go whither I would Yet observed to me it was by that Gentleman which brought me my enlargement that I should not proclaim the King in the streets Truely I was never guilty of any such madness neither did it so much as once come into my thoughts Had I not been guided by God in
will is not clear for the glory of God and Honour of his King but our Sovereign CHARLES STUART whose power unquestionable right with Parliament Oliver Cromwell takes into his own hand suffers it not to come into yours onely he remembers very well when you formerly forced it from the King into a Parliament onely where God and our Laws had never placed it How you abused it Though your pretentions Oaths and Votes at the first were high deep and many to the contrary all that you might not be distrusted his person and his honour also you would preserve yet see misimployed this Militia you did and turned it was to the destruction of his person honour the last you first wounded him in that you might the better kill him in his body done it was to the perpetual shame of them that did it profess you what you will for Religion Presbytery Anabaptism Independency or any thing that is unwarrantable distinctions multiplied with your Novelties and successes Truely my charitie leads me to believe there were some Gentlemen refused to settle the Militia in the hands of Oliver Cromwell that it might the sooner return into those hands which their consciences are now troubled that they ever forst it from which unhappie Act I am of opinion first set us together by the ears most hastened and so enabled the Contrivers of that unnatural War which the Lord in mercie hath now put an end to If such another Vote engage us not afresh from returning to which Red sea of Bloud good Lord deliver us as Mr. Thomas Goodwin preached advised and prayed But this Militia is now safe where it should be in the hands and power of the best Subject Oliver Cromwell for the warrantable interest of the best of Kings his Master Charls Stuart See how the ways of God are past finding out O Lord never any man lost by referring all to thy good time and best way I do not in the least doubt thee Oliver Cromwell I know God hath or will fit thee for the work who onely hath thus directed and over-ruled that his name may have the glorie and thy person the greater honor forsaking all on earth for the command of heaven The interest in the Militia is a Crown-Jewel which God will have thee O Cromwell not suffer to be divided from the Crown but give it to the supply and making of a better than that which bad men have by violence taken and shared amongst the Self-deniers as they call themselves But thou Oliver Cromwell wilt prove thy self one they onely promised to do what thou canst not but do make him a Glorious King for by thy means God will have it so Distrust him not you Members yet dissenting who have a clear mind to do the work of the Lord. Obey God and your King with him Gods Word and the known Laws of the Land will best direct in both Comply with Oliver Cromwell he is for the service of God and his duty to his Kings just interest with a Parliament you understand not how highly God will make him subservient to both My Book is coming to you to let you know how much we are mistaken in him and how transcendently much we are for ever obliged to our mercifull God whose work this is alone to the amazement of the World both for time and manner his goodness making it marvelous in our eyes I could not sleep the night of that active day the instrument for subscription was presented God keeping me waking to his glory and my own content for as his Gun and Call hath set me to work at other times so here I rose and wrote this Letter to Oliver Cromwell the very next morning because but short I here give it you that you may see my actions are all above-bord and that this work on Earth comes from above in Heaven to pass it must come God will have it so Sr. Yesterdays actings last nights wakings and this day God directing hath set these words upon this paper for your Lordships observe Prudence it is not to trust the Militia in those hands who after they had forced it from whence God Almighty had placed it whatsoever they pretended used it to the distroying of him Sir you are not of these bad men beloved neither is there clear thoughts in all of them to do good some are not fit to be trusted Pray God amend them all Sr. Part with nothing out of your own power that is or may be mis-inployed hurt the Church of God or Regal rule You are of Heaven directed doubt it not in the least to be highly sub-servant to both have courage Sir fear not the least I know you are hated and not understood by the most who would destroy you Sr. I had a Book ready to publish 20 dayes or more before the Parliament opened the highest imaginable for your advantage and effecting what God will have done by the turning of good men to comply with you in all things and not to fear any ill because God is on your side Sr. All my friends have abandoned me and money I could not get to Print it most men conceiving this Parliament would ruin you so hang me if I sided with you Thus deserted and opposed by all I could not get it out but I see God works for me when man opposeth so doth he for you Go on Sir you are blest of Heaven Your most faithfullest W. Gostelow Septemb. 13. 1654. This Letter I sent to that hand I have sent divers others which I know are delivered to his Lordship so sure as God is in Heaven my Commission is from thence and that the effect will shew you all from thence deputed I am And now you Honourable Members of this Parliament who may if you will readily apply your selves to be good just mercifull and wise live the Honour of our Nation the beloved of God of our King and of all good men your selves may have the Honour to be such a Parliament so wise so just so well constituted so for ever renowned as those will be if you should be wanting to your devoirs which is the applying of your selves to the extirpation of all villany and the giving to every men his just interest to which ends we have chosen you and should all pray that God would so of his mercy inable you by such a Parliamēt our already glorified King adviseth in his last words our now so abundantly happy Soveraign his Son ever to be ruled by for Parliaments so principled would readily apply themselves to give the King his just rights as truely as they would to every subject theirs which doing King people and Kingdom could not be other than mutually happy and blest living in rules of Justice and loving kindness the strongest hold-fasts And now this thy Call O Lord and workings when my self at my wits end is like that afforded me of bring thy Papers and come away A deliverance it is
like that of the Apostle Peter when the Prison door was set open for him and his Irons fell off so was the effect of that Call Come away the doors are opened to me the very next day But close up my mouth O Lord I may not complain every defer of thine is as my self suspended for a further good I know it thy own time and workings have none like them Thou wilt make discoveries of men and let us see as well who would be good if there were no law as who would practice wickedness by a law doth not God Almighty put us often into his sive several wayes also discovering the Wheat from the Chaff pray we must believe we must that all works for the best to them that fear God and patiently abide his good pleasure Return I must go on to my former intentions yet this believe me in you worthies of Parliament this insert was not begot by either of the Protectors two speeches to your good selves for I take God Almighty to witness I had not then read either of them Inlarged from Prison I gather in all my material papers as commanded which were not a few I now see them of very great concernment for the carrying on of this work I believe I wrote in Prison then twice as much as this Book and twice over also This Call thus directing Come away bring your Papers come away was certainly of God Well my self gotten out of Prison and my Papers gotten into my possession I hasten for England and in Easter week 1654. came to my own house where I now do and have resided twenty years being in Broadstreet near the Church over against Gresham Colledge at which Church once but not long enough officiated that so eminent and renowned Doctor Oldsworth but thank you invisible Parliament and such Oakes our then wicked Governours you sequestred imprisoned and destroyed him as you did hundreds and thousands of others God sent unto you of which you were unworthy but you could not help it the Jews your brethren did so persecute those sent unto them and aud truely you could not but follow the worst of examples the best are to be conformed to by these which are wiser men and therefore a true Parliament You long since as your actions have been the dishonour of the Protestant Religion and the Nation all the World over and future times will never call you a sober Parliament but as we desire not to believe you were English men so well constituted Parliaments for time to come will look upon you as upon Lots wife a lasting monument of her shame for looking towards Sodom when God had set her face towards salvation But I go on SECT VI. HAving passed a few dayes in my house I could not be in longer quiet untill I took me a lodging near Saint Jame's his house attending all opportunities and possible means to speak with the General whom not meeting with I wrote unto him several times to give him to understand that I had received of the Lord the most considerable and highest things imaginable to communicate to his good self being therein concerned as much as any and to whom from prison in Youghall God had pleased to send me for that very purpose therefore besought him to hear me After much attendance and not a few disappointments I had first at White-Hall the opportunity onely to speak to him made my self known to him but he had not the conveniency at that time to hear me in the things I so much desired yet then told me he would speak with me That further opportunity I had not though continued seeking it it and reminded him by Letters of his promise untill one Saturday in June a little before the death of the Portugal when and where it pleased Almighty God to afford me a most convenient one at Hampton Court and his Lordship there pleased to hear me out to the full affording me both his patience and attention too as I firmly believe There was present Sr. Gilbert Pickering and a Gentleman or two more whom I knew not for all which I returned as in duty Obliged first to God next to his Lordship all possible prayers and humble thanks And now least any thing might scape his Lordships observe which it is possible did my recital he hath this second review of it but printed more particularly for the World of men in it so highly concerned for I cannot be quiet untill to them I publish it also this being a light not to be hid the universal splendor of the Protestant Religion must break forth also the obedience of men to the Lord who I conceive and believe is now coming in mercy and wayes of making himself known to the Christian World Jews and Heathen in mercy but in judgement to others for the evil doer shall not abide in this so great and wonderfull a change On earth whom is the Lord pleased to make his Viceroy for rule his favour and loving kindness is the highest to our King CHARLS the Second CHARLS the Great CHARLS the good King of the whole World these are the words and declared pleasure of the ever living and our most mercifull God which I dare not conceal nor longer keep uncommunicated but must publish them to all concerned to have an end of all the Wars in the Christian World with the rest in the Prophesie is certainly considerable I confess after I had wrote to the General I could not but also do so to his Majesty my King the import of both refers onely to my duty in the discharge of which I onely can have quiet The Original of all Letters to them I have being to each five in all ten in any of them not the least thing advised to but as I conceive and so believe the minding both of them to the perform of such their duties as are most acceptable with God Almighty the one how to rule well the other so to obey things the most to be desired of good Kings good Subjects of which I wish the whole world were made up of I have therefore in the end of the book given two of those Letters to publick view that at once my inward thoughts may appear to the excite of walking as best becomes the most excellent of Kings and the highest of Subjects where the meanest also have to observe that in fearing God and honouring their King they are blest here and ever so to be hereafter omitting it miserable to all eternity From which sin of Rebellion because compared with that of witchcraft we have good reason to pray The Lord be pleased to deliver us especially when covetuousnes is joyned therewith the root of all evil sins which some men therefore will have the World justly condemned as a Witch in the end to be burnt because it and its lying vanities hath so bewitched us as to prefer them before the ever living God and our walking according to his
will revealed in his word which is to fear God honour the King not to side with those that are given to change but to keep his Commandments do the thing that is Just Honourable and good that is to all men as we would they should do unto us If we will take any thing by violence let it be the Kingdom of Heaven which ought to be our devoir not other mens rights whether of birth or estates which ought to be our restore Write O Lord all these things in our hearts and incline us to keep thy Law which is the Commandments of God and not of men I have now done referring to all of Dream and my own Interpretation of that yet what God was pleased to have me observe also finished some of my Visions which refer to this as I humbly conceive most material and therein I have observed what I could not but observe For that of Prophesie truely I believe I may without any delusion or spirit of pride call it the words and good pleasure of the ever living God and so far am I from believing it to be other or that it will not come to pass that I could not depart Youghall before I had given it under my hand sealed with the Coat of the Right Honourable Lord of Broghill and upon my knees delivered it before no less than twenty other Honourable and good witnesses that if it came not to pass they put me to death Now that I may not appear other than what I was at that time to the praise and honour of God well in my sences not mad but true to what I have received of the Lord no impostor nor yet a lying Prophet or one that would delude by lying vanities and speak when and what not commissioned of the Lord I do here again confirm agree unto and consent that if it come not to pass the things in the Prophesie I refer to onely which are of the most wonderfull and strangest nature there is the most improbability by outward appearance if these come not to pass I say I consent that you first shew me to the World from place to place afflicting my body and after that burn my book and by death put an end to my dayes as I conceive deservedly I ought to suffer if I speak as from the Lord when never sent For allowance of which to me it seems there is good warrant in that Deuteronomy the eighteenth Chapter from the twentieth verse to the end being the word of God to which words of God and its interpretation I refer all I have said and Prophesied to be tried by as being the most sure rule against and contrary to which word of God no Prophesie or Prediction of man can stand as I firmly believe which indeed the Lord Cromwell well observed to me when I gave him the knowledge of my Prophesie by word of mouth But if this be besides Scripture yet not contrary to Scripture then I say in my Judgement it is a work fit for the mission of a Prophet or if it be for further explain of some things in Scripture not untill now or yet fully revealed or well understood then also hath it warrant but any new or giddy Tenets I will never force to my own destruction out of this holy word O Lord which to do I believe is the greatest sacriledge in the whole world But willingly I do as I wish all men would refer all to thy most holy word of which I conceive wise men and the body of that ministery thou hast sent into the world to be the fittest Interpreters to our well understanding of it for to and with such thou hast promised to be assisting with thy holy Spirit for their enablement unto the end of the world and that neither Hell nor the Devil shall ever prevail over or against them And those thus blest and so sent I believe are not the Pope nor his Cardinals who for their own ends make marchandise of the Kingdom of Heaven that they may keep up their own upon earth so do Schismaticks others to the dishonouring of God the scandalizing of his Protestant Religion which shall now flourish beyond all compare But those shall suddenly fall and melt away as greater and lesser snow-bals this is certain And now methinks I hear some as I read those did in the first of the Acts of the Apostles and the sixth ask our Lord Wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom Truely I know nothing to the contrary but it will be so if you will but break off from your so much beloved and too long lain in sins and impieties it may now presently be Certainly there is no better way to hasten its coming yet the next verse tells you It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Read it the case there just as ours The Scepter departed from Judah the Government forst out of the hands of the Jews the people desire nothing more than the return of it Nay the Apostles themselves are the Persons that enquire if it may not be at this time Yet observe our Lords answer even to them It is not for you to know what the Father hath put in his own power for shame seek the Kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness which doing all other things shall in due time be given unto you Your selves are the cause it is not already come to pass by your continuance in sin Suffer me but a few words and I have done there is an end you hear of all the Wars in the Christian World but as yet you see it not God be thanked for what you do see more probability than ever Is it not very far advanced here on earth Have we not that already with some Nations People we never had before leagues of perpetual peace as I have heard and are we not with others in treaty Nay very far agreed towards that purpose Who well understand the Scriptures know it is very frequently in them used that very expression by the Prophets sent of God the present tense for the future there is an end that is it is so decreed in Heaven and it shall be so on Earth it being the ordinary phrase of the Prophets by reason of the infallible certainty of the events to speak of things to come as already past the instances are obvious and infinite See here another motive to repentance that you may forthwith reap this so great a blessing of peace on Earth that which makes Heaven so desireable and lovely having in it the blessing of peace And yet will you be mad to go on in sin and make the Prophets sent to you for amendment of life mad also as your iniquities continued in will do it did so to that good Prophet Hosea the 9. and the 7. as before I hasten to an end there are 18 persons you read of that shall never dye but be
taken up into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that never shall have end These are the very words of this the Lords Prophesie his almighty dictatings of which words and their strangeness I may say as the prophet Zacharia did in a vision the Lord gave him referring to the rebuild of his Temple restore of his worship and delight in his service to which all are enjoyned to be assisting begging and inviting them as mine doth first to seek the Kingdom of Heaven his glory worship and service on earth This Prophet Zacharia in the 5. verse of that 4. Chapter you may there read having seen that Vision was asked by the Angel of the Lord if he knew what the Vision shewed him was he answered no my Lord. A second time he answered the very same words in the 13 verse no my Lord read on and you shall finde informed he was by the Angel that Prince and Nobels the High Priest and the other Priests under him are the Persons the two Olive Trees betoken and the Candlesticks there lighted let us see the perfection of beauty and brightness the Lord will have to be in his house Certainly where holiness is commanded beauty richness and decency were never forbidden in the house of God And now to do this doth not the two green Olive Trees on each side drop golden Oil to carry on the work King House of Peers Bishops Priests Deacons see here all your duties Prince Priest people must be assisting with purse and hand to the rebuild of Gods house for his publick Worship and service which when done nay doing observe how he blessed the Land never the like before for peace and plenty And here learn also not to wonder if I yet know not in what manner to understand those words they shall never die There was a time untill the Angel gave that so emiment Prophet to understand what himself did reply to he understood not A Prophesie is a wonder sent to posterity least they complain of want of wonders it is a letter sealed and sent which to the bearer sometimes is but Paper but to the receiver and opener is full of power To such another non ultra was the Prophet Daniel brought in his 12. Chapter and the 8. verse where he saith I heard but I understood not what should be the end of these things the next verse tells that Prophet the words were closed up and sealed untill the end the last verse of that Chapter assures him he shall stand in the Lot at the end of the dayes A thousand difficulties might arise out of the particularities of so strange a message as all this his Prophesie is yet observe when things of such nature have been dictated to the most blessed Saints in holy writ as our ever blessed Lady and others from these we hear of no more objections no more interrogations The faithfull heart when it once hears or knows the good pleasure of God Almighty argues no more but sweetly rests in a quiet expectation Behold the servant of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word And thus without all sciscitation we are to go blind-fold whither he will lead us All disputations with God after his will known arise from infidelity Great is the mystery of Godliness and if we will give nature leave to cavil we cannot be Christians as good B. Hall observes T is true we read in holy Writ that wise valiant and good Kings and other persons of Honour have been so eminently just holy communicably good to all here on earth as of them it is said They shall not die Nay we see their renown lives now That is the meaning of not dying there in one place and though to wicked mens sense such Godly persons seem to die as in the book of Wisdom the 3 Ch. second verse yet it did but seem to them so dead they are not their renown shall never die Again we read of Enoch and Elias those good Prophets so lived they with God though here on earth as that he took them to himself most miraculously by translation never suffering them to lie buried in the earth nor their bodies to return to dust whose Souls were all heavenly mindedness and conversation so continually above that the took their bodies thither also they did never die Be it in either of these two senses here is as much honour happiness as mortality is capeable of agreeable to thy word O Lord it must be or it can never stand nor as I believe come to pass But my hand is upon my mouth thy will be done and by man for ever be thou praised O Lord and now seeing the events of things are the best commentaries upon Prophesies the best way for these eighteen persons all others is to walk with God as Enoch did all his dayes on earth in a Godly sorrow for sin weeping for his own and others and then taken up into Heaven also they may be as Enoch was who never died but was translated into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that never shall have end You have heard what the Lord is doing The conversion of the Jews and Heathen at hand also the downfall of the Church of Rome things mighty strange and wonderfull which to pass he will bring for his own glory name and mercies sake making these things marvellous in our eyes And did he not also formerly work wonderfull things that we Gentiles might be wrought upon to come into the knowledge of his Law whose fulness is now with the Jews to come in The Heathen a people that have not heard of the Scriptures the Jews not believing in the Gospel who although the beloved seed of Abraham to whom the promise is for conversion yet an obstinate crooked and wilfull generation Even to convert Schismaticks we may also look for signs in or from Heaven all whose conversion we have little hopes to see effected otherwayes than by signs wonders in or from Heaven For this sixteen hundred years past the Gospel not heard of by the one not heeded by the other who remembers not our selves cost our Saviour deer and many wonders he did before the people would confess him the Son of God in Heaven signs on earth opening the Graves the dead bodies shewing themselves to those that knew them himself ascending up into Heaven also in the presence of many witnesses need of all for conversion I have done But remember Reader and all you that hear of what the Lord is doing and bringing by his Almighty power of his good will to pass in the World for the honour of his name and this professed Protestant Religion and good of such as fear him Take warning go not on in your sins break off by speedy and unfeigned repentance and practice you as well as invite others to a more holy obedience than ever least that when God giveth deliverance to his Church and people you be found to be of the number
of his adversaries to whom he renders vengeance at the same time Remember I have warned you and believe me also I could not have any quiet untill I had done so Thus in all ages God hath sent his Prophets to forewarn before he consume a people or in mercy deliver them I have done my duty do you yours repent and live The number was but few I told you though all that were then in being who when they saw this Crown in heaven worshipped God and said This is of Heaven we will follow it Which when done with my self hear we did pleasant sounds in Heaven and saw the earth shine with plenty amongst men good will all praising God and participating those blessings I once more tell you they were but a small number make haste be you of it Before judgement is gone out repentance is seasonable but you may cry to late From this Citie was the Kingdom fyrced let O Lord if it be thy good pleasure the inhabitants tears and thy mercy spare it from an heap of ruin a City that hath been and yet is the harlot mother of Bastard conceptions and prodigious births confusion she hath brought forth that hath filled the world and land to her dishonour with God and men Spare us O Lord we beseech thee and have mercy upon us even upon us also thy most unworthy servants Here I have ended but because God hath as I formerly observed to you of his wise delay suspended the publishing of this book for his own time which certainly is the best and fittest as also that my Dependency on him may be the more as his mercies the greater when deliverance afforded us I must yet a little go on and one insert more be pleased to allow me it being for the General good Let me therefore present your eye and entertain your ear as of Gods mercy he hath done mine for your benefit upon the day and night of the 5. of November last being our Lords day on which we did commemorate Gods deliverance afforded us from the Gun-powder Treason I dare not but do it mark it it is considerable of the Lord himself being the Lord of Hosts who hath delivered us doth deliver us and will deliver us all good grounds to trust him and a set Text of Scripture it is for that day to be Treated on A good Act of Parliament we have for the thankfull and perpetual commemoration of that so great a mercy that God was pleased then and so to deliver Our so good so wise so well-accomplished King and his posterity to sit upon his Throne and to sway the Scepter of these Kingdoms for ever as we see God hath now so appointed whose ways admit of no variation or shadow of turning Deliver he did we see the house of Peers and Persons of Honour in duty waiting upon their King Deliver he did the wise and learned Authors of the Protestant Church and Religion with them also the Judges both together the best interpreters of his word and his Laws Deliver he did also those Worthies of the house of Commons called thither by their King and sent thither by the wise obedient and then quiet people of the land who were and because so shared in that deliverance and long enjoyed they and we the Blessings that succeeded of peace order riches beauty in Religious worship of God Almighty in his Churches to the wonder as well as to the envie of the world Here was a Parliament of Gods and good mens choise and blessing For Majesty and Honour well met together And this when so he delivers from that horrid unparrall'd Treason until those times the like not heard of And what to do I beseech you but to let us see how precious in his sight we are when met together as those to fear God honour our King love brotherly love all applying our selves to live and do according to his will revealed in his word and our known Laws the onely rule we should go by and conform unto applying our selves to these not to our own willdered thoughts for confusion covetuousness rebellion irreligion murder of those people whose persons peace and propriety we come to preserve and maintain not for our self-ends to kill that we may divide the spoil Something like him I have heard of in the Church of Rome who upon the words spoken in a vision to the Apostle S. Peter Arise kill and eat all things are now Common to please the then Pope of Rome at difference with the Venetians gave this gloss upon that Text that is saith he your Holiness may make War with the Venetians kill them and devour their estates up and do it arise take kill and feed upon them Thus his unholiness suitable Cleargy force mis-interpretations of holy Writ to their own and others destruction Peter's successors they pretend to be and in the worst of things they certainly follow him nay exceed him draw their sword they do cut not off the ear onely with Peter but the heads of Kings and Potentates which wicked action our Lord reproves healing the person wounded when but an ear to let us see his Kingdom was not to be carried on by the sword and shew us he doth he had no need of a fighting Clergy he made no Apostle to offer violence no Bishop in Buff with back-sword to help on with Presbytery no Priest or Deacon to kill and supplant that he might get his more pious and therefore more peaceable brothers living because it is better than his own which when he hath by violence gotten he inricheth himself but starves or poysons those he pretended to feed better and do more good for both in body and soul No these are not the men fit to build God a Church he needs no such hackers or hewers in Field or Pulpit such furious fighters and rash zealous Clergy Go on to imitate Peter further the very next apprehension of danger they deny their Lord and Saviour for swearing him also if once in custody or times of persecution come upon them then they are Sidonians or Samaritanes no more Jews and they have a Temple not yet dedicated to any God which you their profitable master so they get by you shall call them and it what you please for they are resolved to side with the seeming strongest to get by so doing Cura Romana non capit ovem sine lana Oh! and have not we such Peters if but one too many but the more the pitie well I have shewed you what those furious boote-feux have done set us and the Christian World on fire I would to God I could shew you them imitating that blessed saint Peter repenting which would be not onely ours the Churches and their own rejoycing at the conversion of such sinners there is joy in Heaven and though by words actions misunderstood they have engaged us with Curse ye Meros so carried on the cause falsly perswading they are the Lords
Battels outward success going on that side what will become of a Church whose depraved judgements corrupt head and rotten Members are thus ill principled this Prophesie tells you They the Church of Rome and their Factors shall fall what is become of such a Parliament or Parliaments who have been so principled your selves see gone out they are like a snuf of the worst lights left a stinck behinde them whereas the memory of the just and good God imbalms for our imitation and is not spoken of nor remembred otherwayes than most odoriferously even as the sweet Oyl poured on our Saviour leaving a perpetual renown in all ages of sweetness and goodness to the immortal honour of that Saint that did it as in Matthew the 26 vers 13. whose memorial for good works shall never die but still lives and shall for ever Well that day the 5 of November you see is properly due for thanks to Gods delivering a Parliament made up of King Lords and Commons Let no man therefore dare to have thoughts of promoting any other but such a one except it be by praying to God and patiently waiting his good pleasure humbly and fervently praying that these worthy Gentlemen and Protector now met in Council for the general good who cannot but know and finde themselves imperfect without the better parts of the body of a Parliament whilst themselves are less profitable Members than they might be to Gods glory Religions luster the Kingdoms strength and peace also the peoples rejoycing Let us not cease to pray I say that they forthwith apply themselves to be so compleated as may best please God and be most warrantable by the Laws of this Land which ought not to be broken through nor can they be nulled but by the powers that quallified them to become binding They are the very words I heard themselves observe upon the Tryal of the Earl of Straford when proceeded against for making his paperwarrants or messengers of force to out-value being sent out against any subject the then Laws established which had their stamp put upon them and onely made currant by the assent of the Crown the consent of the House of Peers and allowance of the House of Commons all proceedings in any other case pretend what they will it was Treason Law I have not I confess my ignorance those Gentlemen certainly knew this to be Law and gave it so there but good conscience I am sure I have and ought to have there ought not to be fast and loose when we please that we may the better practice wickedness by a Law of our own making thus we strengthen our selves and would be exempt from punishment when we do amiss resolving to live according to the liberty we please to take in the fairest pastures of other mens demeans and birth-rights making our fences to others every way offensive but for our self as much security as knavery can contrive violence maintain Now if they will have us keep this 5 of November as most commendable it is we should to Gods glorie and our thankfull rememberance let them also keep us up such a Parliament and warrantable Laws as God in mercy then delivered and continued us if they will not then I advise to appoint another day that all those may meet who with the Devil Jesuits and Sons of Rebellion Sectaries or others call them what you will all who have made their wicked plots take by seeming righteousness onely pretensions to reform Religion amend the Laws and circumcise superfluous things as evil counsellors or known offenders yet have blown up rooted out and for ever destroyed as much as in them lay Kings Religion Liberty the peace and honour of this Nation let the lovers of those confusions meet in a thanks-giving to their God for their successes also and let us see who they are and then if God be the Lord serve him if Baal serve him for we may not longer halt in things of God and Religion declare your selves you wicked ones be no longer Hypocrites and evil doers the Devil hath helped you to do that above ground in the shape of an Angel of light that he could not effect under ground by powder and your younger brothers the Jesuits I have heard of those that have arrived at their wicked ends and purposes by more bloud-shed than you but never of any that came to them by more Perjury Hypocrisie than those that were not long since our Egyptian Tax-masters the scandal of the Protestant Religion and dishonour of our Nation Remember I have advised you to repent and do your first and best works from whence you are fallen or else know your judgement sleeps not a day a night a moment will do it the Sun rose and shined gloriously that very day the evening whereof would have shewed you Sodom Gomorrah her neighbour fornicating Cities all in ashes Thou Fool this night shall thy Soul be taken from thee as in the 12 of Acts vers 23. on a sudden in a moment the Angel of the Lord smote Herod and he was eaten up of Worms who knows not that in the twinkling of a eye we shall be changed and our Saviour comes to some surprizing them as a thief in the dead of night and sleep of sin I before shewed you your general condition from whence Gods Thunder onely can awake but I would not end in a judgement the Lord knows my heart I pray for all your amendments and happiness not a Scotch prayer for all your Gueds but that you may repent and live Now give me leave to present your eye with what God did mine that last Sunday night being Gun-powder Treason having that day received the most blessed Communion of the body and bloud of our Lord beseeching him for patience that I might bear his Cross which indeed was cast upon me the Saturday and Sunday night of that very day just as my Goaler did at Youghall so here called I am Seducer false Prophet deluded not sent of God foolish babbler and worse See how doth God comfort me when man thus misuseth me just as when my Goaler so abused me and took my bedding from under me and locked me up then the Lord that very night afforded me deliverance and comfort by his Vision and call Come away bring thy writings come away and I did so for this his Call opened the Prison doors to me so here that very night for my consolation the Lord shewed me very strange appearances in Heaven for beauty and curious works as first a vail or covering which after I had well observed passed away then the Heavens forthwith opened and there did I see one who was just for favour as our Lord is in his general Pictures Portraited and represented to us which sight ravished my Soul and brought from me this expression O it is the coming of the Son of Man for the conversion of sinners forthwith a vail came over me that I could see
providence as in the book you have it he guideth me to a Scripture there observed to you for the so falling upon my face gives me satisfaction for my so doing for the other of words I promise satisfaction but first observe That a second time in the dictate of Gods Prophesie which I stand to and will never alter or abate one word upon my life there in the end of that Prophesie these words are pronounce this house a blessed house and this Chamber shall for ever be called the Chamber of the great Prophet for that second time Prophet spoken by me as for all the words there I can give no reason but over-ruled providence it was no pride no imagination no it was Gods pleasure and his will and promise by me to be declared to all people and it was no more what I fancied or would have come to pass than I wished well to Olliver Cromwel who is in that Prophesie and happy also a man I hated to the utmost till God then as before reproved me do you tell me off fancy you talke foolishly I believe the Prophesie and I pray for O Cromwell the Prophesie is Gods the duty is mine and all yours God hath or will change O Cromwel to his own glory and your amazement as well as mine he hath assured it me and I do you take it for Prophesie I do The third time Prophet is after dictated as soon as light appeared I rose before I dressed my self I write that upon the 12 of January in the Church of Youghall a man sent of God for that very imploy A Prophet his name Walter Gostelow will that day in that Church after Sermon tell you the things God will bring to pass for his glory mercy and name sake making them marvellous in our eyes For this third time Prophet I can give you no reason but over-ruled Providence just as in that writing I could write Oliver Cromwell by no other dignity or cognisance than the General of all the English Forces as you may there read so here you have to observe the word Prophet spoken before the Prophesie spoken in the Prophesie and wrote after the Prophesie in all over-ruled I knew not of it untill done Yet further observe that in the dictate of Prophesie the Irish are not to be transplanted fulfilled that is for your satisfaction the time for their transplanting by Act was May last I am ashamed I will not call it an Act of Parliament it was so contrary to Gods good pleasure or brotherly compassion to sweep all that they might have all therefore transplanted they are not May is past transplanted they shall not be upon this I will put it burn me if they be God hath altered that unmercifull decree scattering those that made it given these poor Subjects us better Law-makers more mercifull men in the room of them who having God before their eies for their so doing have learnt Be ye also mercifull as your Heavenly Father is mercifull Such as these shall hereafter sit at Helm and sway the Scepter of these three Kingdoms just and mercifull men sent of the omnipotent and mercifull God In the Prophesie written the sign there given me which I was also over-ruled to write as well as the name Prophet is made good to me fulfilled that is also honourable witnesses I have enough to prove both for times persons and place There is some ground for further proof which I cannot wholy pass over nor decline the giving it to your consideration just as it was given to my self being put upon all possible proof one night forthwith after Mr. Barrel the Merchant and John Merrick came up into my Chamber and began thus with me Mr. Gostelow here is happened below a thing that very much amazeth us some others I asked what is it we are amazed we wonder at it say they speak what is it The little Childe say they that came from the Irish Nurses to which the widdow Merrick is Granmother and Mr. Landey Merchant her Son in Law Father That Child you know is very weak can hardly speak any thing what it learned at Nurse is Irish we were speaking below to the Childe and asking it some things in English amongst others what you were the Childe replied twice what we understood not at last plainly in English a Prophet this they admiring came up to me then in bed and tell me you have the men the matter and their residence if this be so God hath sent me one witness more out of the mouth of this Babe Out of all which give me leave to observe to you for I do it with all the humility that is imaginable in the World but do it I must I see Gods glory is at stake and so also your and my well being for turning from sin to amendment of life that we may repent do the first works so for ever live blessed and happy God hath here sent me a Scripture this last Sunday out of the Pulpit and the mouth too of one of his Ministers so full is it to give you and me satisfaction for this word Prophet my over-ruled speaking and writing of it that it is to me as satisfactory and as full of Consolation as the other Scripture his Providence guided me to for the proof of my over-ruled deportment in falling down upon my face and because so very full I will give it you in the very words as I had done that and let me tell you the Lord Protector did observe part of this Scripture to me when I imparted these things to him who then well advised me to fear God and walk in his wayes in all humility and for these things which were so very strange if to his glory good pleasure and his Prophesie he would bring them to pass not being contrary to Scriptures though spoken out of my mouth as it came happily then from him so now also from a worthy Gentleman Preaching God never yet left me in my greatest straights You have the words in the second Epistle of S. Peter the first Chapter and the last verse For the Prophesies came not in old times by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and I am sure they wrote so also but that this be not laid to my charge as the greatest pride of all yet spoken or asserted by me I beseech you pray for me to this purpose for I am bold to tell you my heart is fixed O Lord my heart is fixed uprightly and sincerely to keep thy Law to love and serve thee above all things in the World but for any sanctity merit or righteousness in me O Lord which is not thy onely grace of good will I abominate and disown it for ever pray for me I beseech you that in all the inundations of evil I may be preserved by the loving kindness of the Lord and that in all the mutations of this
World whatsoever God would be pleased to make me and that I may be so ever found the most humble lowly penitent just wise mercifull meek patient faithfull servant of our Lord and God and King my Master O Lord I love thy House Worship and Service and place were thy Honour dwels be it in thy Temple or in man that delights to do thy will which is to fear God honour the King I am unworthy O Lord yea O Lord I am unworthy and altogether unfit but thy wayes O God are past finding out who dares assume the name of a Prophet not I O Lord let me rather from my Soul chuse to die than live a false one which is to be a Son of Belial and accursed for ever But doth it not manifestly appear a delation having then also said my Sons Fathers Father was a Prophet to this I am yet a debtor to say what I can My Father Mr. Richard Gostelow lived and died where I was born in Prescot-house a place antiently known in my memory it had groves and good walks about it some religious house I conceive it to have been an Altar and Chappel I have known in it the Parrish is Croppredy in Oxford shire scituate some three miles from Bambury My Elder brother bearing his name now lives in it but truly I never knew my Father to have any the least repute to be a Prophet a very general repute he had to be an honest just and charitable man so had also his three brothers which I well knew but seeing the glory of God and my own reputation is to be spoken too and my self necessitated to defend both in all possible I can Give me leave to present you in what things he was like a Prophet and this the Countrey well knew of him He was a lover of Gods house Worship and Ministers further he married a second Wife with whom he had a very considerable estate when himself in debt her estate he imployed and put out in his own name yet most justly gave her the procedes of it and when he dyed left her near four times as much as he left to all his children which were then nine yet she had no childe by her former husband nor him hardly any kindred had she known to my Father this he did in good conscience I will next shew you how he was mercifull and patient remitting very high injuries and bearing his Cross It falls out often that the richest Wives are not the best I have heard him traduced reproached contumeliously used and more of such dirt thrown at him from a person that of all others should not have done it in wisdom or duty Yet he hath born it not provoking again Nay at that very time he hath taken me apart and commanded me to pray for that very party always to be obedient to her in good observance of her telling me it was the Cross God had sent him and his duty it was to make the best use of it though others curse yet let us bless and pray next he was eminently known to be charitable and full of compassion to the poor he often gave flesh bread and corn his man I know he sent amongst them to distribute mony several times me he hath sent also in one hand a note to whom to give in the other hand a purse of money to one a shilling to others more to some two as he judged their necessity distributing at good times as Christmas others bountifully But what is all this to a Prophet I will come a little nearer often it fell out that the continual dropping within dores drove him to seek his quiet without dores and when gotten into his private walks he would pray and weep long also as well as frequently would he do thus I but what is this to prove him a Prophet I will come a little nearer to you as he came nearer his end A mild slow way of dying he had in which gentle sickness he wept much but withal declared himself it was not that he was affraid to dye his tears were occasioned by the over-joy he had that he was going to so wholy a God to so mercifull a Jesus to such blessed company and to so glorious a place all this told me and you proves him not a Prophet which I have pronounced him I am coming a little nearer to you my self Prentise at London when he was thus drawing towards his end he was pleased to send me a little money with it a letter having a great deal of good counsel in it well minding me of my condition as a servant remembering me of the duty I owed to God next to my master and charged me not to be wanting in the performance to either but with all faithfullness to apply my self willingly to discharge it this indeed speaks him a Wise and good Father and a childe of God but not a Prophet In this my last observe to you I come nearest may come home at last that his letter written with his own hand directed to my self I have bearing date 1620 in the end of it he doth pronounce me blessed and happy first hear on earth in Heaven abundantly so it reads something like the great blessings that befell Joseph when ruler in Egypt under his King and Master who is there mentioned by him for my imitation whilst a servant for my consolation after in that letter of my Fathers there is too much Honour for a Son of my demerit both to God and him whose commands I have not conformed too at all as I ought to pass I say it may come and that will prove him to all a Prophet but if it do not O Lord thou ever rallest me to say so let not man I beseech thee lay this to my charge to speak me herein also further proud 't is for truth sake and the Worlds satisfaction if I can that I write this in his praise not for vain and foolish ostentation you see five leaves of the book was printed all material things of high concernment there spoken and quite finished my self not minded but forasmuch as in what I wrote my self presently after Gods pronounced Prophesie wherein I say I was over-ruled There are also things referring to my self and posterity I am unworthy of I shall therefore reserve that as judging it fittest to shew privately to my King when time best serves his most excellent Majesty being upon his Throne and now seeing God hath so over-ruled brought about this published honour to my deceased Father which I never in the least thus intended as here happily necessitated give me leave to reminde you that in the book you shall read when I was awake and at the end of Broad-street seeing the Heavens open and my Saviour upon the Throne I did there see my Father Richard Gostelow amongst the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles waiting upon that Throne and this is no new invented thing made by me now
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
Person yet to this good King was laid the false charge of his being guilty of all the bloudshed in the three Kingdoms To witness this truth in my Kings defence when his Majesty was upon his Trial I being near a hundred miles from London heard of their quick proceedings against him and had the Saturday night before his death a very strange Vision concerning him I made haste towards London that he might have the benefit of this my witness in that killing and false charge but upon the way met with the sad news of his being Martyred so that in this action the wickedness that was done was quickly done but I will not wound afresh or grieve a man of you that did it or had a hand in the bringing to pass what God would have done that his name might have the more glory and you now no less happy in his Sons rule over you can you but repent of this as of all your other sins God forgives and of the Kings forgiveness you may not doubt the Stuarts as the Kings of Israel are very mercifull Kings King James a Beati Pacifici King CHARLS of ever blessed memory praieth God to forgive all his Enemies when inquisition is made for bloud then O Lord let them be found that shed mine be sprinkled with thine I beseech thee CHARLS the second our King will not consent that his seeming greatest Enemy in the World Oliver Cromwel shall privately be taken off an act pleasing enough to many when the remove but of that one man onely might probably without more bloud-shed set him upon his Fathers his own Throne yet see how he Governs he will not so much as hear of it you have it observed to you in the wise Admonition to Oliver Cromwell when Wiseman and others proposed his murther to him no at no hand he allows it not he will wait upon God in all his lawfull wayes contenting himself to be Charls the good if not Charls the Great And being thus principled see what is the happy successes of his so doing God gives to him the Crown for ever and Oliver Cromwell his ready subjection this is counsel I have given him but first given me of God his Majesty had it from me in April last as I take it to forgive all his Enemies even O Cromwell and to refer all to Gods own times way it may be thou O Cromwell doth owe me something for thy well being at this day I am sure thou doest to God Almighty give him the glory and praise of it in thy better obedience for the times to come and I have all I desire I have but done my duty and my reward is above in Heaven whither I most humbly beseech God of his infinite goodnes and never to be dispaired of mercie take my good King thee me and all men even the greatest sinners now on earth Whom though the greatest yet how often is God pleased to make of such the most glorious Saints when repenting their former wickedness then it is turn and live for ever you have the opportunity lay hold on it If any man now distrusts his own safety and forgiveness it is onely he that keeps close his sins or as Hypocrites seem onely to repent he that covers his sin shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsakes them shall finde mercy of God and his King I fear you think me too long before I give you the reasons promised why plain Oliver Cromwell and no more in the over-ruled dictate of Prophesie when all others by their known Titles and Signiories I will onely shew you the Crown on the other side and there Proclaim my King as in Gods Prophesie commanded that done go on to let you read what follows more of my observe as also Gods disposing of Oliver Cromwell to the well liking of all good Subjects these worthy Gentlemen I hope now met in Parliament with them also assisting readily to the bringing in of his Majesty CHARLS STUART whose unquestionable the Crown is right When given unto him the joy of all good men the Protestant Religion then more gloriously conspicuous than ever as clearly appearing to bring forth good fruits not pretensions onely by which our Saviour lets us know we cannot judge and thus in the end as well as in the beginning you have C. S. and O. C. United This my so long and just defence you must forgive I know God hath put me upon it though thus late that his name may have the more glorie my self with you the better esteem and your selves the clearer satisfaction that I am sent of God with others to the Worlds happiness as his Prophet for this very imploy of my God my King whom God preserve Amen CHARLS the Second KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith KING of the whole world To this Charls the good and Charls the Great is Oliver Cromwell by God also Honoured to be General of all his Forces Long live my King and his Lieut. O. C. Amen Amen Yea let all the people say Amen BUt I am to give you what I promised why Oliver Cromwel and no more in the dictate of the Lords Prophesie when as all others have accompanying them their Titles and Seignories and further why I could not pen him by any other Title than the General of all the English Forces although I did upon the then writing of that Prophesie so much endeavour it yea I tried and varied it several times but could never do it forthwith when done was given me this for reason which indeed I have already given the General himself when I declared the whole to him as now to you the Reader The fountain of honour is Originally in God derivative in Kings not at all in the people for proof of this you have the written Word of God his most holy Scriptures confirmed to me further by God when the fire fell down from Heaven in that Vision all about my Beds feet and his messenger called me three times by my name Walter Gostelow also spake to me saying you well understand the Scriptures Kings are of God especialy yours from thence issues true honour not from the people for this reason is it in the Prophesie Oliver Cromwell and no more by him that ers not the Lord. See it is then true honour and worth having onely when conveyed in its right Channel otherwayes it is just as the Calf the people set up which wise-men know is not of God and therefore worship it not Sleep yet a little in Windsor Chappel my most glorious and immortal King for dead thou art not Garter Spur and Star yet lie still in your Beds of Honour untill your Son arise we see already his Aurora as plain as we did his day-Star at his birth so visible to us is his and all your resurrections Welcome my King welcome now for ever thou shalt set no more the day and year that brings
thee must terminate but the Kingdom thou shalt be taken up into is that of Jesus Christ's that never shall have end Wharton where art thou what the best Astronimer at sometime a Prophet and doth not thy rich sublime Transcendent wit and Pen yet appear make us Te Deums and Laudamus Domine I have left thee a break in this Book more than fill it and the world of good hearts with Gods thy Kings just praises but thy own duty were not those thy verses I have so much inquired after as well as thy most worthy self since returned from Ireland thine or Cleavelands sure but not yet so happy as to see either Verses that Prophesied the King being inbalmed at Windsor the Garter and Spur should lie dormant untill some Prophet sent of God should raise them from there locked up and sealed Wardrop raised they are make haste adorn them thou hast for thy enablement a Mine of Excellencies Cleaveland and thee have all give God and your King the glory of it they have your hearts already pen us Songs and Praises to our God the Quoristers and Church-men did sing us such at St. Pauls Cross upon his Birth-day that good example was given by the Angels who did so at the glorious King of Kings Birth-day who now sends our King CHARLS the Second his Vice-Roy on earth to rule the Sons of men Honours he brings with him from the Almighty fountain to be derived and conferred upon such as fear God Obey and Honour this his Vice-Roy our King C. S. Come now come O Cromwell take not a share but thy full measure God judgeth not as man doth we thought thee not at all worthy now shall that celestial Colour Order Ribbon of the Garter I had the Honour to sell it to my King but never thought the least to be so Honoured as to repossess him of it from God Come I say let this badge of the greatest Honour now on Earth given from the greatest King thine also C. S. let it now be put on thee I said it in Ireland the Honourable and good Souldiery submitting to their King whom God would dispose and over-rule so to do of which thou art found the most eminent they should have honours conferred upon them indempnity forgiveness and large rewards given unto them of by the King when restored put on this rich Garter which hath for its inscription Hony soit qui maly pense the other Order Ribin worn upon the body remembers all Subjects we should not so much as think an evil thought of the King in our hearts And now complain not but rejoyce for ever O Cromwell thou seest with whom God hath ranged thee with the greatest and happiest of Kings Queens and Princes now thy Honour is worth having there was something in it that thy good aged and so lately deceased Mother was as I hear a Stuart she is gone to the common Wardrop of the world the grave Be comforted thy Father is a Stuart too he lives the Father of his Countrey and the King of all good Subjects for their Consolation of which blest number we may not doubt thou art Son and Subject since God hath so declar'd it made you United Sons of the now more visible and glorious Protestant Church than ever in Heaven glorious to all eternity This our King hath now largely given to him of the fountain and as our blessed Saviour came to his universal Dominion not by fighting but winning his Subjects by dying for them so by merit and of purchase had the ends of the Earth for the bounds of his Kingdom which being but earth the rule of it he now gives to his Vice-Roy CHARLS STUART whom in his uncontrolable and unsearchable wisdom and mercy he hath made worthy of as much Honour Command and rule on Earth as Mortality is capable of not of merit but to let us see that he which gives himself to do the will of his Saviour which is in Heaven and denies him not on Earth which thy now blessed Father our King did in obedience to the Commands of his God for such a witness the Almighty made of him and such a Martyr we have put to death and such a glorified Saint was the Crown of your rejoycing my most blessed and for ever happy Queen when he your Majesties on Earth now in Heaven glorified Be not troubled Madam they were Villains and Rebels that aspersed your Honour and his Majesty you see it as also your no otherways vertuous and for ever happy Sister now Queen of France See how the Lord loves your Souls Honours your Persons and establisheth your posterity to you Madam Behold the Lord now gives his and your Son but our so much Honoured and ever blessed Soveraign to be King of the whole World and to you Madam the best of France's Queens whose two Sons good men saw what God did for you gave you them both from Heaven 't is true to make your patient expectancies hopes and faithfull dependencies on him the Almighty visible to the World as they were to Heaven he defers it in his wise delayes which are always the best for 23 years untill your glorified King also was going thither in whose last dayes his graces as his blessings were at the highest for your comfort Madam and the Worlds thankfull and happy acknowledgement had they but grace to see it as now all may Was there ever two such Kings and Mother Queens on Earth yet see how the Devil and his instruments would eclipse them and hath aspersed both but God witnesseth for you and hath now declared you and yours beloved in Heaven and to be obeyed on Earth Most excellent Queen of France you were pleased some sixteen years past my self being at Saint Jermains I came thither with the now Lord Jermain your Majesty after honours and favours by your most excellent and good self afforded did interrogate me what Religion I was of I then humbly satisfied your Majesty I was a Catholick your Majesty further demanded of me what Catholick I answered the best said your Majesty it is then Roman Catholick is it not I bowed before your Majesty as in duty and replied it was Catholick è Protestant a la mode d' Angleterre point de Rome Your Majesty whom God hath made to your power communicably good to all pitying my condition was pleased to offer me a Letter to your Kings Confessor of good will desiring my conversion I humbly acknowledge the favour but replied my Religion I liked so well as not to change it Madam be pleased to see now how God more than retributes and no otherwayes recompenseth this your good will to Gods glorie and my good as intended my unworthy self Madam is now sent unto you by the Lord not onely to your so pious and so eminently good self but also to more than your whole Kingdom to bring your Majesty and them into his only true Church that Church which is not
you you would never confess your selves guilty but God sees it and forgives it too with him there is mercie if you confess and forsake your sins making all possible amends and for the time to come all your dayes walk before him in a holy obedience to this end he in mercie hath sent me to you that you might truely repent and live My next observe is the Church of Rome shall fall a Church you see she is so I ever believed her to be once a pure one in whose Churches often both in France and Spain many a good instructive Sermon to amendment of life I have heard and truely in their Churches also I have often performed I hope acceptable Devotions beseeching God that when the people came into those Churches to pray and to learn that they might go forth do and practise for the time to come better things to which end I believe our pious Fore-fathers built them pray and beseech we should for the people there assembled that God then would be pleased to hear in Heaven also send thither to officiate such Pastors and Teachers as might be most agreeable to his holy Word so more to Gods glorie and the peoples good that the people might not longer be deluded by those jugling villains which make merchandize of the Kingdom of heaven and hold the people in sinfull ignorance turning almost all their practises and miscalled Devotions into finenesses crafty frauds to inrich themselves by just one with our late temporizers are those Jesuits such a stall do they both make of the Pulpit from thence teaching damnable Doctrines contrary to the word of God calling evil good and good evil one of whose Tenents is the depose of Kings yea killing them too if they rule not according to their fancies is 't not pity the Kings of the Earth should allow either of you residence in any of their Territories fire brands you are whose damnable Tenents are so declared contrary to the King of Heavens in this I couple you together Rebels both Jesuits and Sectaries I would I could exempt the Presbyterian the froward and worst are not guiltless our late King was in the right when he advised our now Soveraign his Son not to have a prejudice against the Protestant Religion in regard of the ill measure dealt to him his Father assure your Majesty he doth it was by such done who were no true Sons of that Church the Church of England abhord as the Church of God should do all such damnable practices and wicked Tenents See here again my King was not your glorified Father a light of Heaven shining in a dark place as in the midst of a wicked and froward generation to keep your feet judgment in the way of Gods Commandments Behold now the goodness of God in letting the world see that the Protestant Religion taught no such corrupt Doctrine neither were the major part of the people of England so ill principled I have heard and from a good hand also that the reformed Churches of France did upon that Act of cuting off the King assembled their Doctors and Pastors who declared and Printed to the World as a Gentleman of Rochel of good account assured me that the word of God warranted so such damnable proceedings in Subjects and for their Reformed Church of France as the true Church of England they neither taught nor allowed any such Doctrine of Devils or practises of wicked men Behold I say how God hath freed this his Church from that asperse and this our Nation from that dishonour the lesser and inconfiderable number never yet included the greater and the wiser it was well observed by Mounsiour Causabon a learned and Honourable Father of the Church of France by King James he was invited hither and rests Honourably interred in West-minster Abby That it was the violence of the Church of Rome not our choice that hath excluded us because we could not love her errors she hath ejected our persons These are those wicked ones that had rather rend the Church than want their wills who can be content to sacrifice truth peace millions of souls Kings and all to their own ambition and covetuousness one of which sins alone is the root of all evil what is it then with the rest of their rabbel but I may not aggravate where God hath pardoned if we repent and bring forth better fruits This also was prophesied that their seditions and madness would at once be the scandal of the true Church of God and give advantages to the false which is the Church of Rome know you not that I speak truth Well down they must both fellow-workers of iniquity Sectaries and Church of Rome a Church you see she is call'd though adulterous and Idolatrous we read the Lord calls the people of Israel so guilty yet his people and you my people Israel when at the same time he sends his Prophets to let them know that for these very sins his punishments were hastening to come upon them yea to lay them waste and cast them out of the land as those rebellious Israelies his people so that of Rome a Church Thus we allow the greatest robber to be a true man though a notorious Thief much the better this keeps him not from the gallows to which a true man comes not but to look on and be premonished by so sad a spectacle here me thinks we might be reconciled take now the best of all sides something good in all hold it fast put that together and you have the onely true Church against which you see the gates of Hell shall never prevail and because of the strength and yet power of that Church of Rome we cannot take away the Hay and stubble and mistempered morter her Babel-builders have raised her to this height with that her confusion as her fall may be the greater the Lord himself comes to do the work down they must and this Church of Rome shall fall he hath said it But see the loving kindness of the Lord extended to the Sons of men and to that Church also in that he tells them not onely of her fall but whither they shall repair for safety even under his wings into his Church and to the Obedience of his King CHARLS STUART by the Lord now declared Defender of the Faith Here 's a visibility and Church the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against also a rule given and a sword put into the hands of the General of all his Forces Oliver Cromwell by name against whose rule and sword never shall any prosper that riseth up or is drawn first proved in Gods word for the defence of his Church now also by this his Prophesie and immediate dictate from Heaven Well what is to be done forthwith turn to this so mercifull Lord your God withall your hearts proclaim a fast and keep it truely and let us know when you do it that we may pray together God would be pleased to
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