sends ashore To help nâ—w cloath and feed them till there come Some friends to aid them or supplies from home Ev'n spoile of those they makâ— and of thâ— prey â—o greedy are that often when these may Mens lives preserve they leave them to their chance In hope their death their profit will advance And if that bâ—uised Bark which they foâ—sook To save their lives upon some Ouze hath strook Or on some shelve from whence by timely aid The goods to land may safely be convaid Or if as chance it may the Hull be saved Yet thereof is the Owner quiâ—e bereaved For by a brutish Custome which I know Nor Coâ—sciâ—nce nor good Reason doth allow Some Officer who farmes the Royalties Within that place doth make thereof a prize Else he that owns the Land whereon it fals Doth seize it and his right the same he calls Paâ—l did a peopâ—e ev'n at Malta find Although a barb'rous Iland far more kind Men wrackt they comforted but we bereave them Of those remainders which the Sea doth leave them Except some living thing abiding be Aboard the Ship For then the same is frâ—e From being prâ—v'd a wrack we say though that Which there surviveth be some Dog oâ— Cat A goodly matter surely whereupon Poore men should be reliâ—ved or undone Some dwâ—llers also on those Borders where Such wofull sights too often viewed are Rejoyce to see them yea some people say That for such mischiefes they both watch and pray With cursâ—s banning theâ— who set up Lights To guide the Seaman in dark stormy nights And though they â—eek it with a devillish mind Gods-good they call what on the shore thâ—y find Gods-gift inâ—eed it is which unto them Doâ—h from the Seas without an owner swim Yet when the master of it shall be knowne God 's gift it is not but a baiâ— that 's throwne To catch the soules of those who seek to raise Their fortunes on distressed mens decayes No marvell while such cruelties are found Vpon the Coast the Sea o'reflowes her bound No marvell she so often here and there Doth from their fields so many furlongs teare No marvell she sometime their cattle drownes And sweeps away the richâ—s of their townes Or of those people otherwhile devoures So many housholds in a few shoâ—t houres For since they grieved others in distresse The Sea to them is justly mercilesse Of many other things complaine I could Which thâ—ough this Kingdome I amisse behold But should I now an Invenâ—ory make Of each abuse whereof I notice take In all professions sure it would goe neare To finde my Readers reading for a yeare I feare our gen'â—all Body fâ—reth so As in theâ— sicknesse they often do Who feele not their disease when they are nigh Without good help upon the point to dye They would not be distuâ—b'd but vex and fret At those who do prepare them wholsome meat Or needfull Physick and perhaps with me My Country also will displeased be But for unjust displeasure 't is no matter As faithâ—ull friends to sick men will not slatter Nor humor them in any such disease No more will I be fearfull to displease A sickly people when I truly know I do that work my Conscience calls me to I tell thee therefore Britaine thou art sick Thy sins have made thee so and thou art like To perish in them if thou physick take not And for thy safety good provision make not If thou nor feelest nor wilt â—redit give To what is spoken Mark thou and beleeve The Symptomes of it For they will declare So truly how at this time thou dost farâ— That they who are not reasonlesse shall see And say in times to come I loved thee Behold ev'n at this day throughout the Land Most Manu-factories are at a stand And of those Engines some main wheeles are broke Though where they faulty be small heed be took Thy Merâ—hants by whose trade great profit comes And to the Kings Exchequer royall sums Those Mâ—rcuries by whose industrious paine Thou diâ—st becomâ— the Mistresse of the Maine And art maintain'd with ships which are the walls By which thy temp'rall grâ—atnesse â—tâ—â—ds or falls Ev'n they begin to sinke for want of trade And through those booâ—ies which of them are mâ—de Their Shipâ— without advantage are employ'd And if the Wars or Time had them destroy'd Which are in being they have to augment Or fill the number no encouragement The present muster of thy shipping failes Of what it was in many scores of failes Not long â—ime since and thy next neigh'bring nation Growes rich in thy decaying Navigation Yea some suspect that of our publike Trade For private profit sale to them is made Indeed â—ost Officeâ—s if so they may Enlarge theiâ— profits for the present day Or gaine or save the King but for a yeare Some thoâ—â—andâ— do suppose they much endeare Their service to the State when 't is well knowne To us abroad the gaine is most their owne And that before two ages more be spent The waies by which their incomes they augment Will cost this Kingdome for each ounce of gold So got hundred if their courses hold It is by them the Prince becommeth poore And thouâ—h they would be thought forsooth much more Then all his other subjects to maintaine The dues belonging to a Soveraigne They rob him more then all men else beside They lose him ten times more then they provide They make him needy first and then they grieve And begger them that should his wants relieve The vulgar Citâ—zâ—ns do much complaine For want of traâ—e sufficient to maintaine Their families and many lately broken Are of that poverty a certaine token That famous and that wealthy Merchandize Which from our clothings and our woollâ— arise Is much decay'd For work the poore man prayes The Clothier hath not mony and he layes The blame upon the Merchant who doth sweare His ships and goods so often stayed are And times so giddy and so little got With so much perill that he dareth not To make adventures as 〈◊〉 eâ—st hath done And so to ruine all is like to run For from their voyages so oft have some Beene hindred or have beene so long from home In fruitfulesse services that it hath brought Rich Owners and their Vessels unto nought Some others also find it to maintaine Their shiâ—s so costly without hope of gaine That to repaire them they do stand in feare It may undoe them e're things better'd are That might their men be safe they do protest They know not if to sink or swiâ— were best The winds and seas that hereâ—ofore haâ—e borne us Good will have prov'd our foes and 〈◊〉 torne uâ— Our Mariners are like to run away To serve our foes for want of work and pay Those places and those portionâ— which belong To mens deserts and should to make them strong And to encourage them conferred be Are otherwise dâ—sposâ—d of and wâ— see The most deserving men are in
The meaning of the Title page BEhold and marke and mind ye British Nationâ— â—his dreadfull Vision of my Contemplations Before the Throne of Heav'n I saw me thought Tâ—â—s famous Island into question brought Wâ—th better eares then those my Body beare I bâ—ard impartiall IVSTICEâ—o â—o declare God's Benefits our Thanklesnesse and what Small heed his Love or Iudgements here begat I view'd eternall MERCIE how she strove Gâ—â—'s just deserved Vengeance to remove Bâ—t so enâ—reaâ—t our Sinnes and cry'd so loud That at the last I saw a dismall Cloud Eâ—ceeding blacke as from the Sea ascending And â—â—er all this Isle it selfe extending Witâ— such thicke foggie Vapours that their steames Sâ—eâ—'d for a while to darken MERCIES heames Wiâ—â—in this fearfull Cloud I did behold All Plagues and Punishments that name I could And with a trembling heart I fear'd each houre Gâ—d woulâ— thâ—t Tempest on this Island poure Yet better hopes appear'd for loe the Rayes Of MERCY pierc'd this Cloud made such waies Qâ—ite througâ— those Exhalations that mine eye 〈◊〉 Inscription thereupon espie Bâ—ITAINES REMEMâ—RANCER somewhat said Thâ—se wâ—â—ds me thought The Storme is yet delaid And if ye doe not penitence defer This CLOVD is only a REMEMBRANCER Buâ— if ye still affect impiety Expect e're long what this mâ—y â—ignifie Thâ—â— hâ—ving heâ—rd aâ—d seene I thought nor fit Nor safe it were for me to smother it And thâ—râ—forâ— both to others eyes and eares Have offâ—ed here what unto mine appeares Iâ—dge â—s yâ— pleasâ— ye Readers this or me Trâ—th will be Truth how e're it censur'd be GEO WITHER Britain 's Remembrancer Containing A Narration of the PLAGVE lately past A Declaration of the MISCHIEFS present And a Prediction of IVDGMENTS to come If Repentance prevent not It is Dedicated for the glory of God to POSTERITIE and to These Times if they please by GEO WITHER IOB 32.8 9 10 18 21 22. Surely there is a spirit in man but the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Great men are not alwayes wise neither doe the aged alway understand judgement Therefore I say heare me and I will shew also my opinion For I am full of matter and the spirit within mee compelleth me I will not accept the person of man neither will I give flattering titles to man For I may not give flattering titles lest my Maker take me away suddenly Reade all or censure not For He that answereth a matter before he heare it it is shame and folly to him PROV 18.13 Imprinted for Great Britaine and are to be sold by IOHN GRISMOND in Ivie-Lane MDCXXVIII TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE Most Royall SIR BEcause I doubted who might first peruse â—hese honest Raptures of my sleighted Muse Observing it the quality of most To passe rash judgements taken up on trust And that according to the wits of those Who censure fiâ—st the common Censure goes Perceiving too with what oblique aspect Some glaring Comets on my Liâ—es reflect A while I pawsed whether trust I might My plaine-pace'd Measures to their partiall sight Who mâ—y upon them e're you reade them seize And comment on my Text as they shall please Or slâ—ight or scoffe such men were knowne to me And being loth they first of all should be My Iudges here I offâ—r to your eye The prime perusall of this Poesie For minding well what hopes I have of You What course my Fortunes urge me to pursue What bluâ—res good Studies by those Fooles have got Who sleight desert because they knâ—w it not What freedome Nature gives to eâ—'y soule To speake just things to Kings without controule How farre from noble and from wise they be Who disallow the Muses should be free How eas'd we are when we our minds disclose What profit from our honest boldnesse flowes What Resolutions I have made mine owne And what good cause there is to make them knowne All this well weighing with some Reasons moe Which usefull are for none but me to know I did not feare these Poâ—ms forth to bring To bide at first the censure of a King And loe on milke white paper wings they flye Reade they that lift when you have laid them by But SIR I humbly pray you let not fall Your Doome till you have read and read it all For he that shall by fragments this peruse Will wrong himselfe the Matter and the Muse. Although a tedious Worke it may appeare You shall not wholly lose your labour here For though some heâ—alesse Courtiers censure may That on this Booke your time weâ—e cast away I know it may your spirits recreate Without disturbing your affaires of State And with more usefull things acquaint your eares Then twenty hundred thousand tales of theirs You also know that well it fits a King To heare such Messages as now I bring And that in doing so to take some pleasure Great Monarchs thought it just to be at leasure Long since I have elected you to be Moecenas to my Muses and to me And if my hopes in you shall be â—ereâ—t me I have no other hopes in this kind left me Nor any purpose whatsoever come To seeke another Patron in your roome Nor seeke I now that I from you may gaine What other times I covet for my paine Nor for because my heart hath any doubt That I shall need a Friend to beare me out Against the fury or the fraud of those That openly or secretly oppose Such Works For He that me to this doth call Shall save me harmlesse or I meane to fall Not that I sleight your favour speake I this For deare and precious to my soule it is But rathâ—r that the world may know and seâ— How him I trust that hath inspiâ—ed me Though some suppose I may I doe not feare As many would if in my case they were I doe not feare the World deprive me can Of such a mind as may become a Man Whâ—t ever outward mâ—sâ—ries beâ—ide For God will Meanes or Forâ—itude provide I doe not feâ—re unlâ—sse I merit blame That any one hath pow'r to worke my shame Since they who caâ—slâ—sly my Name shall spot Reproach themselves but me disparage not And sure I am though many seeke to spight me That ev'ry Dog which barketh cannot biâ—e me I oft have lookt on Death without dismay When many thousands he hath swept awâ—y On â—v'ry side and fâ—om him have not stirr'd One foot when he most terrible appear'd I know of Want the utmost discontents The cruelty of Close-imprisonments The bitternesse of Slanders and Disgrace In private corneâ—s and in publike place I have sustain'd already whatsoever Despight can adde to wrong a good endeavor And am become so hopelesse of procuring True Peace but by a peaceable enduring That what remaines to suffer shall be borne And to repine at Forâ—une I will scorne I doe not feare the frownes of mighty men Nor in Close-prison to be lodg'd agen For Goods Life Freedome Fame and such as those Are things
wind-ward from the Rode there commanding Browne bills and Halberts he examined Such Travellers as from the City fled And at the very lookes of them affrighted Sent feeble women weary and benighted Without or meat or drink to try the fieldâ— What Charity their better nature yeelds If this we told it might goe hard when we Should apprehended in their Watches be Or should we shew what policiâ—s did pleasâ— The wisdome of some rustick Iustices Describe that wondrous witty stratagem Which for a while was practised by them To starve the Plague how Christianly they sought That no provisions hither might be brought Should we produce their Orders which of late Were put in uâ—e and wisemen laughed at Or publish to the world what we have heard Of their demeanors when they were afeard How they were fool'd by some of them that fled What course was taken to interre their dead How he who for that worke could hired be Was fâ—r his labour chained to a tree A full month after how they forced some From their sweet wholsome houses forth to come And being sick and weake to make their bed Within a paltâ—y new erected Shed Compos'd of clods which neere some Common-side Their charitable Worships did provide Or should I on some other matters touch VVhich I have heard it would enlarge too much This booke and some of those perhaps perplex VVhom I desire to counsell not to vex But I from aggravations will forbeare And those their oversights at this time spare For some although most others did not so Theiâ— love and Christian piety did show In counselling in cherishing in giving And in the wisest manner of releeving Beside I love the Countâ—y as I pitie The sorrowes and afflictions of the Citie And since they both are guilty being loth To side with either I the faults of both Have shewed so that neither I abuâ—e Now they that like it may the rest may chuse The third Canto The House of MOVRNING which most â—eare And flye so much is praised here It showes that outward Ioyes and Care Nor mâ—erly good nor evill are But things indiff'rent which the wise Nor over-praise nor under-prize The strife within our Authors brest About his stay is next exprest Then doth it orderly recite What Reason argu'd for his flight What Faith alleaged to reprove The Motives urging his remove What Armes for him she did prepare To bide the shock of Death and Feare What proofe she to his Conscience made That he a lawfull Calling had In midst of this great Plague to tary By Warrant-extraordinary What thereupon he did conclude What Ioy and Confidence ensu'd How much this Favour he doth prise Above Earths glorioust Vanities How he his Time desires to spend And so this CANTO hath an end HOw childish is the World and what a path Her Throng of braine-sick Lovers trodden hath Like brutish herds they troupe along together Both led and leading on they know not whither Much hoping where no ground of Hope appeares Much fearing where indeed there are no feares In those things pleased which tâ—ue Mirth destroy For that thing grieved which procureth Ioy Most shunning what might bring most gain unto theÌ„ And seeking most for what would most undoo them How few are so clâ—are-sighted aâ— to see What pleasures miâ—gled with afflictions be Or what contenâ—ments doe concealed lye Behinde the seeming dangers which they flye How few have by experience undeâ—stood That God hath sent their troubles for their good How few consider to what fearfull ends The faire smooth way of easefull Pleasure tends And therefore oh how few adventure dare Where Mournings rather then where Laughters are Though God himselfe prefer the house of Griese Before vaine Mirth and Pleasures of this life Hath termed Thornes that choke the heav'nly seed Yet few of us have taken so much heed Of what the sacred Volume doth record And flesh and blood distrusteth so the word Of his fiâ—me Truth that blindly we pursue Our owne vaine counsels and his Tractâ—schew â—schew 'T is therefore doubtfull it would vaine appeare If I should labour to discover here How many secret pleasures I have seene While in the Ceâ—s oâ— Mourning I have beene And what contentments God bestowed hath When I have walkt the solitary path Of Disrespect assâ—ulted by those feares Which oft affront us in this Vale of teaâ—es Oâ— what prevailing hopes I have possessed When I beyond all hope have seem'd oppressed For vulgar men doe such expressions hold To be but idle Paradoxes told By those who grown distemper'd through some griâ—f Vent melancholy passions past beleefe And as our Vpland Pesants from the shores Beholding how the Sea swels fomes and rores Iudâ—e foolishly that â—v'ry Seaman raves Who talkes of mirth and safety on the waves So they will fondly passe their doome on me Who strangers to the Seas oâ— Sorrow be But though the world allow not what I say Yet that the Love of God proclaime I may That I may justifie him in his Word That for mine owne availe I may recoâ—d What I have seene and that experience might Encrease my hopes and hope put feare to flight In future suffrings here I testifie And Heav'n is witnesse I affirme no lye My soule did never feele more ravishment Nor ever tasted of more true content Then when my heart nigh broke with secret paine Hath borne as much as e're it could sustaine And strugled with my passions till it had Attained to be excellently sad Yea when I teares have powred out where none Was witnesse of my griefe but God alone He hath infused pleasures into me Which seldome can in publike tastâ—d be Such Griefe is Comforts Mother And I mow Oft times with mirth what I in teares did sow Before my eyes were dâ—yed I have had More cause of singing then of being sad The Lampe in darkest places gives most light And truest Ioyes arise from Sorrowes night My Cares arâ— Blessed Thistlâ—s unto me Wâ—ich wholesome are although theâ— bitter be And though their leaves with prickâ— be overgrowne Which paine me yet their flowres are full of down Wherâ—on my head lyes easie when I sleepe And I am never saddest when I weepe Yet long it was before I could attaine This Mystery Nor doth it appertaine To all For ev'n as Sarah had not leave Within her body Isack to conceive VVhich laughter signifies untill in her Those customes â—ailed which in women are So in our soules true Ioyes are not conceived Till we by some afflictions arâ— bereaved Of carnall appetites and cease from suâ—h Vaine pleasures as affect us overmuch To little purpose doe they looke for these Concâ—ptions who are evermore at ease Such comforts are of those but rarely found VVhose wheele of Fortune never runneth round No soule can apprehend what maketh glad The grieved heart but his that griefe hath had And various interchanges nor can he VVho knowes the joyes that in such sorrowes be As these I meane a true contentment take
That of the hidden Manna thou maist eate And gâ—ine the Stone inscribed with a Name Which none can know but he that weaâ—es the same For I must tell thee thou art run astray And like a whorish wife hast cast away Thy old affection thy fiâ—st-love is gone Anâ— other friends thy heart hath doted on Thou â—st not halse that zeale which thou hast bore To thy Redeemers honor heretofore That simplenesse thou hâ—st not in thy workes Put base dâ—ssâ—mâ—ling in thine actions lurkes Some Doctrines also are in thee profest Without â—eproofe which God doth much detest Thou dost let goe unpunished in thee Those persons that notorious sinners be And impudently wicked thou mak'st light Of their misdeeds in vertuous mens despight Thou hast conniv'd at those who in the Land Have with an high and an imperious hand Like Iezabel oppressed and bereav'n Thou poore mans portion in contempt of Heav'n Thou hast blasphemers who dâ—e falsely say That they are Catholiques and none but they Yet if they heeded what their words imply Their owne Distinction givâ—s themselves the Lye The Babylonish Strumpet thou as yet Within â—â—y territories dost permit Who doth sâ—duce Gods people and thy Nâ—â—ions And make them drunken with her Fornications Tho hast those Hypocrites that make a show Of zealâ—â—s hearts when they are nothing so Tâ—ou hast those Bâ—alamites that in the way Of weake Profâ—ssâ—rs stumbling blocks doe lay And praâ—tise cunning sleiâ—htâ— oâ— policy To bring thee bâ—â—ke unto Idolatry To trouble and diâ—tract thee they invent Stâ—ange quâ—stions douâ—tfull and impertinent By needlesse provings by their vaine confutingâ— By over nice distinctions and dispâ—tingâ— And by their multitudes of windy notions They have so inâ—orrupted thy devotions So over whelm'd thy Faitâ— so tired out Thy knowledge with still running round about That there is left but litâ—le care in thee How much decayed thy good manners bâ— Indeed of thy lost Vertues there 's a Fame Remaining still and thou hast yet a Name To be alive but some doe greatly feare That thou art either dâ—â—d or very neare Though Laodicea like thou proudly vauntest That rich thou art and that thou nothing wantâ—st Though thou art hâ—ppy in thine owne esteeme And dost to thine owne sâ—lfe quick-sighted seeme Yet were thy Iudgement cleared thou wouldst finde That thou art wretched naked poore and blinde Thou dost almost that lukewarme temper hold Which neither can be termed hot nor cold Thy wiâ—kednesse is well neere growne as ripe As hers that served for thy Prototype Nay Gods great Volume mentions not a sin Wherewith or place oâ— person taxt hath bin But thou hast practis'd it and of thine owne Host added others to those times unknowne With our first Parents there are some in thee Who â—trive to eate of Gods forbiddâ—n tree And have upon them such an itch to know Those tâ—ingâ— which he vâ—uchsafeth not to show That from their eyes true wisâ—dome it hath hid And mâ—re enâ—ang r'd them then Adâ—m did Thou hast a brood of Cainites that enviâ—s Their breâ—hrens better pleasing sacrifice And peâ—secutâ—s and slanders what it may All those that walke not in their wiâ—ked way And thâ—rst with greedinesse to shed tâ—eir blood Who seeke their safeties and effect their good There be amâ—ng thee some just like that Race Who being made the Soâ—nes of God by Gâ—ace Did with mans female issue fall in love And these beget a mungrell brood that prove The Giants of their times and those that will The measure of the worlds misdeeds fulfill They as those carelesse people did on whom An universall Deluge once did come Eate drinke and take their pleasure without care How many or how great their follies are And though a Iudgement on their head is pour'd They will not heed it till they are devour'd As soone as any Plaâ—ue from us is gone We build and plant and in our sins run on Or when with Noah blessings we have had In stâ—ad of being in Gods favour glad We doe in some vaine miâ—th bewray our folly Iâ— drunken feastings or in games unholy Since out of beastly Sodom they were got Thy Children have among themselves like Lot Committed much uncleannesse whence proceeds A Race which discord in thy borders breeds Like Laban many wickedly detaine The workmans hire and make unlawfull gaine From their owne Children Some with Ismaâ—l Are bitter mockers some with Esau sell Their heav'nly Birth-rights for what d' yee think For worse then porridge ev'n for smoake and slinke We havâ— aâ— mâ—gâ—ty Hunters now adayes As Nimrod and as wilfull in their wayes Somâ— of their brethren merchandizes make Liâ—e Iacobs Sonnes and money for them take With Simeon and with Levi some pretend Religioâ—s cause when for some other end They doe projâ—ct and mâ—â—kes of holy zeale Doe often bloody cruelties conceale For wives for wealth and for our vaiâ—e dâ—lights We change Religioâ— like the Sichemites We have those Iudges who will Iudah-like Their brother for his fault severely strike Deride taunt censure and without compassion To death condemne him for the same transgression Which they are far more guilty oâ— then he And those the Plague-sores of this Iland be We have in either sex of those that are As wicked as the wife of Potiphar Ev'n those who so wil slander and accuse If any to obey their lust refuse Like Er and Onâ—n we have wicked heires Who rather would consume themselves and theirs In fruitlesse vanities then part from ought By which their brothers welfare might be wrought With Phar'oh we Gods judgements do contemn And grow the bolder and the worse by them When he most plagued us we most presumed And sinned most when we were most consumed Nor â—lood nor frogs nor loathsome lice nor flyes Nor murraines biles nor botches can suffice To make our Nations their bad lives reforme Nor Locusts nor the leafe-devouring worme Nor horrid darknesse liable to sense Nor Haile nor Thunders nor the Pestilence Nor bringing us to spâ—ings that bitter are Nor sweetning those things that unsav'ry were Nor strange deliv'rances by sea and land Nor Gods protecting us with his owne hand Nor Qâ—ailes nor Manna blessings which be rare Nor favouâ—s which more ordinary are No nor Gods dreadfull Anger nor his Love Can our hard hearts unto repentance move But we lâ—ke Aegypâ— in rebellion be And full as faithlesse as the Iewes are we Among us we have wealthy men who may Wâ—ole Groves dispend yet on the Sabbath day They 'll gather sticks Ev'n to the Devill some With no lesse worthy sacrifices come Then sons and daughters For what lesse do they Who them in wedlocke wickedly betray To open Hereticks Or they that make Their mar'ages foâ— wealth and horâ—ors sake Without affection And I pray what lesse Doe they who force their children to professe Vnlawfull trades There be among us living Too many that ev'n whilst the Law is giving Doâ— set up golden-calves Such men are they Who in the Church
They shew more zeale and practice more Devotion Then in their holy Callings They delight In Flatterieâ— and the fawningst Parasite In all tâ—e Couâ—ts of Europe cannot prate More Heathnishly nor more â—nsinuate Then some of thâ—m The blessed Sacraments And holy Word are us'd as instâ—uments To compasse thâ—t for them which they projected And oft polluted are and ofâ— neglâ—cted Their sacred Orders are abus'd and made To serve them for an Office or a Trade To be inâ—iched by and to that end The preaching of the Gospel they intend They come not â—y the doore into the fold Things holy they havâ— often â—ougâ—t and sold Conspiraciâ—s they mâ—ke in matters fowle They prey vpon the body and the soule And fat and rich and mighty to become They daub and plaister with untemper'd â—ome With lies and faire pretences they beguile And violate the Law of God the while His Altars they prophane they slaâ—ve his flocke They make Religion but a mocking-flocke And by examples horrible and vile Cause other men Gods Temples to defile There is no avarice which theirs exceeds No malice which a mischiefe sooner breeds No pride so sutly as their Clergy-pride Except among the Beggers when they ride They who but few yeares past would hâ—lfe have broke Theiâ— kindreds to have purchas'd them a cloake And in poore threed bare Cassocks sought to preach Beneath an Vnder-Curate or to teach The chilâ—ren of some Farmers for their meat And seem'd scarce worthy so much grace to get Vntill by counteâ—fâ—it humility By fawniâ—g mixt with importunity And gâ—lt with fained zeale they wrâ—ught on some To bring their wandring feet into their home Ev'n some of these so well have acted out Their partâ— of seeming honest and devout That either like to Micahs Priest by leaving Their Patrons and their hopefull trust decâ—iving Or some suâ—h likely wayes they have acquired A â—iâ—her stâ—tion then thâ—y first desired They have so quaintly humour'd and so pleased Tâ—â— present times that they have proudly sâ—ized Supremest places and now over peere Their heads by whom they fiâ—st aâ—vanced were And vâ—ry profitâ—ble sure it is To heed them since their metâ—moâ—â—â—â—sâ—s For if thou mark how stately now they beare Their lofty heads how insolent they are How pitilesse to suters they become With what contempt poore men be rated from Their angry presence what imperious Lords Their Doctoâ—ships are grown what haughty words They thunder forth what Antichristian state They take upon them how extreame ingrate And inhumane they prove ev'n unto those By whom they from the dunghill first â—rose Wer 't well observ'd how strangely they contemne Their ancient friends and twixt themselves them What distances they set or to their kin How harsh and evill natur'd they have bin Except to those that having meanes to rise As well as they their folly do despise Wer 't knowne what selfe opinion they have got Of their owne worths how they themselves besot With arrogance how peevish and unquiet They be in their attendance and their diet In small or trifling matters how severe In those which of the greatest moment are How carelesse growne how envious of the grace Oâ— gifts bestow'd on those in meaner place Were notice also taken with what straine Of pâ—ide and loftinesse they entertaine Their brethren of the Clergy when they are By any summons called to appeare â—efore thâ—ir Lordships with what Pope like phrase They seek to terrifie and to amaze Their humble Suppliants with what balde conceits Tâ—ey vâ—nt their humors that the crew which waits To claw and sooth such follyes may begin In â—tead of some applause to fleere and grin How tarâ—ly they can chide and raile and play And jest on those who but the other day Did equall them in tempr'all dignâ—ties And are more worthy though less high they rise Were these things heeded and some passages Which name I could as worthy note as thâ—se A man would harâ—ly think that these had beene Those Priests who but a while before were seene So beâ—gerly and so expos'd to scorne But that they had at least beene Prelates borne None could have thought that these meÌ„ had bin they Who lately did so bitterly invey Against the pride Episcopall and plained To see themselves so sleighted and disdained Of their superiors no man would â—ave thought These had bin poore mens children who had nought To give them nurture or that they bereft Of all their friends were to the parish left None would beleeve almost that any such Should from so little rise to have so muâ—h In such a Calling and so woâ—thlesse be In their condition for it seemes to â—e They little conâ—cience make of that Profâ—ssion Whereby they have those glories in possession Since then me thinks so â—ar they would not swerve From his pure word whom they pretend to serve Oh! pray that God would makâ— thosâ— watchmen see What blots and errors in their câ—urses be And that by good example they may teach What they by word unto the people preach For by their actions many overthrow The growth of that which they themselves did sow Or by their failing or their falling fâ—â—m A Christan zeale make others cold â—ecâ—me And some of these are those of whom Christ sayes We should embrace their words but not their wayes But many a one will neither say nor doe What we may follow or give heed vnto Yea we have now among us many a one That could have spoken well whose voice is gone By growing over fat with double Cures And pampring up themselves like Epicures How many Doctors have we who before They were advanced from conditions poore Were glad and willing twice each Sabbath day To preach and all the publike pray'rs to say Yea without any show of being weary The Sacraments to give to wed to bury And often in the week those works to do Which by their Calling they were bound unto Of those how many in these dayes are seene Thâ—t having to promotion raised beene Are well nigh silenc'd now performing neither Of all those duties for whole months together Of these how many lately have I knowne So proud or else perhaps so lazy growne To cast upon their hirelings all that care And al that pains which they themselves should bear Vouchsafing not so much as once a day Though they are present publike pray'rs to say Or preach or of the dutieâ— to be done To ease their Curate in performing one But sitting as meere strangers or as he Who thought such works for him too meane to be Take ease and state upon tâ—em more I wis Then either needfull or beseeming is Indeed when they are any way engaged By publike studies weak or sick or aged Sometime to ease themselves deserves no blame But having no excuse it is their shame How unbeseeming is it to behold Our Doctors who nor crazy are nor old Nor any way disabled save through sloth Or through their pride or else perchance through both To leave that
more carefull of thy weale by far Then parents of their childrens pâ—ofits are Thy Magistraâ—eâ— with wisdome shall proceed In all that shall be couâ—ell'd or decreed As Harbours wâ—en it blowes tempestuously As Rivers unto places over-dâ—y As Shadowes aâ—e to men opprest with heat As to a hungry stomacâ— wholsomâ— meat To thee so welcomâ— and as much conâ—enting Thy Nobles will become on thy repenting Thy Priests shal preach true doctrine in thy Teples And make it fruitfull by their good examples Thy God with righteousnesse shall them aray And heare and answer them when they do pray Thy eyes that much are blinded shall be cleare Thy eaâ—es that yet are deafned then shall heare Thy tongue that sâ—aÌ„mers now shall then spâ—ak plain Thy heart shall perfect understanding gaine The preaching of the Gospell shall encrease Thy God shall make thy comforts and thy peace To flow as doth a River they who plant The blessing of their labour shall not want Thy poorest people shall at full be fed The meek shall of no tyâ—aâ—t stand in dread Thou shalt have grace and knowledge to avoid Those things whereby thy râ—st may be annoid Tâ—ou shalt possâ—sse thy wished blâ—ssings all And God shall heare thee still before thou call But as a Chime whâ—se â—rets disord red grow Can never cause it selfe in tâ—ne to goe Nor chime at all untill some cunning hand Doth make the same againe in order stand Or as the Clock whose plummers are not weight Strikeâ— sometimes one for three and sixe for eight So fareth it with men and kingdomes all When once from their integrity they fall They may their motionâ—urry â—urry out of frame But have no pow'r to râ—ctifie the same That curious hand which first those pieces wrought Must mend them still or they will still be nought To thee I therefore now my speech convert Thou famous Artist who Creator art Of heav'n and eaâ—th and of those goodly spheares That now have whirled many thousand yeares And shall untill thy pleasure â—ives it ending In their perpetuall motion without mending Oh! be thou pleased by thy pow'rfull hand To set in order this depraved Land Our whole foundation Lord is out of course And ev'ry thing still groweth worse and worâ—e The way that leads quite from thee we have tooke Thy Covenant and all thy Lawes are bâ—oke In mischiefes and in folly is our pleasure Our crying sins have almost fill'd their measure Yet ev'ry day we adde a new transgressiâ—n And still abuse thy favour and compassion Our Governors our Prelats and our Nobles Have by their sins encrease encreast our trouâ—les Our Priests and all the People have misgone All kind of evill deeds we all have done We have not lived as those meanes of â—race Require which thou hast graâ—ted to this place But â—ather woâ—se then many who have had Lessâ— helpes then we of being better made No Nation under heav'n so lewd hath bin That had so mâ—ny wâ—rnings for their sin And such perpetuall callings on as we To leave our wickednesse and turne to thee Yet we in stead of turning further went And when thy Mercies and thy Plagues were sent To pull us backe they seldome wrought our stay Or moved to repentance one whole day No blessing no affliction hath a pow'r To move compunction iâ— us for one houre Vnlesse thou worke it All that I can speake And all that I have spoken till thou breake And mollifie the heart will fruitlesse be Not onely in my hearers but in me Iâ— thou pâ—epare not way for more esteeme All these Remembrances will foolish seeme Nay these in stead of moving to repent Will indignation move and discontent Which will mens haâ—dned hearts obdurate more And make their fault much greater then before Vnlesse thou give a â—lessing I may strive As well to make a marble stone alive As to effect my pâ—rpoâ—e yea all this Like wholesome counsell to a mad man is And I for my good meaning shall be torne In pieces or exposed be to scorne â—or they against thy word doe stop their eare And wilde in disobedience will not heare In this we all confesse ourselves to blame And that we therefore have deserved shame Yea Lord we doe acknowledge that for this There nothâ—ng else to us pertaining is Respecting our owne worth but desolation And finall â—ooting ouâ— without compassion But gracious God though such our merit be Yet â—ercy fâ—ll pertaineth unto thee To thee the act of pard'ning and forgiving As much belongs oh Father everliving As plagues to us and it were better far Our sinnes had lesse then their deservings are Then that thy Clemency should be outgone By alâ— the wickednesse that can be done As well as theirs whose lives now left them have Thou caâ—st command those bodies from the grâ—ve Who slink and putrifie and buried be In their corruption Such oh Lord are we Oh! call us from this grave and shew thy pow'r Vpon this much polluted Land of our Which is not only sick of works unholy But almost dead and buried in her folly Forgive us all our slips our neglâ—gences Our sins of knowledge and our ignorances Our daring wickednesse our blâ—ody crimes And all the faults of past and pâ—esent times Permit not thy just wrath to burne for â—ver In thy displeasure doe not still persever But call us from that pit of Death and Sin And from that path of Hell which we are in Remember that this Vineyard hath a Vine Which had her planting by that hand of thine Remember when from Egypt thou remov'dst it With what entire affection then thou lov'dst it How thou didst weed and dresse it heretofore How thou didst fence it from the forrest Bore And think how sweet a vintage then it brought When thy first worke upon her thou hadst wrought Remember that without thy daily care The choicest plants soone wilde and fruitlesse are And that as long as thou dost prune and dresse The sowrest Vine shâ—ll bring a sweet â—ncrease Râ—member also Lord how still that Foe Wâ—â— fiâ—st puâ—sued us doth seek to sow His â—ares among thy wheat and to his pow'r Bâ—eak downâ— thy fence and trample and devoure The seeds of grace as soone as they doe sprout And is toâ— strong for us to keep him out Oâ— let not him prevaile such harme to do us As he desires but Lord reâ—urne unto us Returne in merâ—y Though thou find us slack To come our selves fâ—tch draw and pull us back From our owne courses by thy grace divine And set and keep us in each way of thine We from our foes have saved beene by thee And in thy love oh Lord triumphed we But now behold disgrac'd thou throw'st us by And we before our adversaries flye Aâ— us our neighbâ—ring Nations laugh and jeere And us they â—coâ—ne whom late we made to feare Oh God aâ—ise reject us not for aye No longer hide from us thy face away But come oh come with speed to give uâ—aid
disgraces Or else neglected or else in their places Impoverished or else disheartâ—â—â— so Tâ—at some men will not and some cannot do Their Country that good service which they might And if this hold we lose our honor quite By those adventures which are just and free To ev'ry Nation where good Patriots be Thy sons to fetch thee wealth and honour home Would prodigall of goods and lives become By private cost augment the publike store And by encrâ—ase of shipping guard thy shore If they might freely seek and keep that lot Which by their cost and valour might be got But men that are of courage and of worth Disdaine their goods and lives to hazard forth On servile termes or to be prey'd upon When they returne by some ignoble Drone And by this meanes oh thou unhappy I le Thy â—oes grow strong thou grow'st weak the while I do protest I see not that condition Of man that hath a fortune in fruition That is not perilsome but he that 's borne The mischiefes of this present life to scorne Nor from the highest to the low'st degree Doth any man well pleased seeme to be The King complaines of want his Servants say They stand ingag'd in more then they can pay And they who in their person service do him Want much of that which should oblige them to him The charge of War still more and more doth grow The Customes faile as trading falleth low There 's new occasion ev'ry day of spending And much more borr'wing then good means of lending 'T is said some royall Rents to sale were profer'd That Iewels of the Crowne to pawne were offer'd Thaâ— Church Revennues for the present need Sequestred are to stand a while in stead Of temp'ralties And some themselves perswade That they shall now be lay possessions made But God forbid for he that shall bereave The Church of her inheâ—itance doth leave A curse upon his children which will stay Vnâ—â—ll his whole descent be woâ—ne away To help thy wants so great it seemes they prove There be of those who did not blush to move Religion might be set to â—ale and that We might promiscuous worships tollerate The common people murmur of oppressions Of being robbed of their due possessions Of impudent abuses done by those Who should redresse them ev'ry winde that blowes Brings tidings of ill luck yet still men feare There 's worse untold then that which they do hearâ— For we have lying Newes authorised So long and falshoods have so many spread That when of that a true report is told Whereof a firme beleefe receive we should We cannot credit it and this perchance May to our safety be some hinderance If in our selves we feele not what 's amisse Observe we by â—eflection what it is The Germane Emp'rour and two Kingâ— that be As rich and pow'rfull ev'ry way as he Are Foes proâ—essed and they bend their pow'r Our Countries and our Nation to devoure And while to fight Gods battelâ—men do faine The Kingdome of the Devill they maintâ—ine Our Friends and our Consederates for us Engag'd in undertakings dangerous Have suffred losse and yet in hazard are By an unequall and injurious war Some who possesse an Vnion with our Land Do work their owne advantage underhâ—â—d To our disgrace and losses Other some Are neuters yet who will our foes become And with our enemies the spoile divide If any ill Adventurâ— shall betide That princely Branch of our most royall Stem Made poore by the Bohemian Diadem But rich in her owne vertues and that treaâ—â—re Of heav'nly graces which in plenteous measure Gods bounty gave her that illustrious Dâ—me To whom I owe ev'n more then all I am Lives banisht oh the mischieves of this age And quite excluded from her heritage Her LORD and all those deare and hopefull Peeces Drawne off by them the Nephewes and the Neeces Of our dread Sov'raigne are as pilgrims faine Within a forraine Country to remaine Our costly Treaties do but crossely speed Our new Alliance proves a broken Reed Our foâ—raine enterprizes full of charge Do serve but others glories to enlarge Our mighty Navies strongly furnisht ouâ— Have lost their pains in what they went about One little Towne keeps all our Ports in feare Vpon the Seas our Coasters scared are And we that bore the Trident of the Seas We who of lâ—te with smaller Fleets then these Which now we set aflote did once constraine The Carraks and the Argofies of Spaine To strike their sailes we that have aw'd the Deeps And ev'ry Foreland through the world that peeps Above the Seas yea we that from each shore Whereon the brinish waves of Neptune rore Have brought rich Trophees of our valours home Now back with neither spoiles nor honors come God with our Fleets and Armies doth not so Go forth of late as he did use to doe But divers yeares together as ofâ—ended His arme agâ—â—nst our forces hâ—th extended That hopefull Voyage wâ—ich brave Rawleigh made To prosecute thoâ—e golden hopes he had Was overthrowne and to enlarge the cost In him we more in wit thâ—n mony lost For to resist us God himselfe did stand And stâ—ll against us he extends his hand Vpon Aâ—geir we had a faire designe That much extracted from our silver Mine But nothing prosper'd which was then projected Nor was there ought but losse and shame effected For God preserv'd our enemies from harme And still against us stretcheth he his arme When in Virginia we had nâ—rsed long Our Colonies and hoped they were strong And almost able to subsist alone By nâ—ked people they were set upon And sore endanger'd For on us foâ— ill God laid his hand and layes it on us still Auxiliary forces forth we seâ—t Or voluntarily from us they went To settle on Bohemiahs fatall throne Him whom that Land had cast her choice upon But there our men were wasted and in steed Of Iacobs staffe we proved Egypts-reed For God against our pow'rs his pow'r did set And he his band doth raise against us â—et We made new Leavies and marcht up the Rhine To guard the Country of the Palatine But all in vaine For nothing did we there Except prolong the miseries of War God would not that deliver'd they should be By people that so wicked are as we But scourged them and us in bitter wise And still his heavy hand upon us lies Then mustred we Ambassadors together We sent them oft and almost ev'ry whither But by our Treaties we acquired nought Nay many disadvantages they brought For then our foes for battle did prepare When we of peace together treating were Yea God hath caus'd the hâ—rme that they have done us And still his hand liâ—s heavily upon us The fortune of the War we tride againe By Mansfield which did â—â—kewise prove in vaine To Denmark also we did send supplies And there moreover sick and bleeding lies Oâ—r honor And yet still against our Land The Lord of Hosts hath stretâ—hed out his