AN ENCOVRAGEMENT TO WARRE OR, BELLVM PARLIAMENTALE▪
SHEWING The unlawfulnesse of the late Bellum Episcopale.
As also the Justnesse of this present Expedition for the defence of the Kingdom.
With the Illegall, Rebellious, Trayterous, Barbarous, and bloody proceedings and Intentions of the Cavaliers.
Lately published at the request of a Friend, by John W [...]d Trooper under the E [...] of [...]ford,
Bellum Parliamentale
Bellum Episcopale
Th [...] winds and as the [...] carri [...] away. Iob [...]
Quadra Senatus.
Nitimur in Votitum sed quo rapit impetus aureo
Pellimur haud valleat niti fugimus (que) retrorsum.
TO HIS VVORTHY AND MVCH ESTEEMED GOOD Friends, Mr. John Millington, Mr. Peter Goodwin, and Mr. Samuel Clark.
Sirs,
THough I be already much obliged unto you, for former kindnesse, and am like to remain so engaged: My Lot being so like a blank, in respect of outward abilities, that I am unable for the present, to return you a onely a verball satisfaction. Yet I beseech you to let me run so much further in your debt, as to be pleased to shew my Infant Muse, that favour, as to read over these few of her childish expressions, (she being yet in the lowest form) and to speak mildly of them; that so she may with the more celerity, march to the head of this Ages Hellicon. Which when she shall once attain, (assisted by your favour) she shall never care for the hardest sensure, that any of Zoylus Faction can passe upon her: but shall be gratefull to you, and remain,
Yours, J.W.
AN ENCOVRAGEMENT TO WARRE.
WHat oddes is twixt this Breach? and that late plot,
Laid by the Prelates gainst the harmlesse Scot,
What difference I say? ist not the same
In its Effect? save't hath another name?
That done by Popish Prelates: but this bears
The name of Popish Lawlesse, Cavaliers.
That onely gainst the Scot, but this is made
Th' English, Scottish, Irish, Liberties t'invade
At once: and strike the Parliamentall power
Of the three Kingdoms dead, (even in an houre)
That power whereby the freedome of these Lands
In their perfection, strength, and union stands.
And which once lost, we all must presently
Turn to that old Aegyptian slavery.
What could the Prelates then aspire unto,
That Cavaliers, now'l not attempt to do?
Was not the Quarrell then, and now all one?
The aymes of both, gainst true Religion.
Did not the Prelates then (as these do now)
Perswade the King, the Scots would overthrow
His just Prerogative: because they would
Not by their Romish power be contrould.
Because they would not (as the Scripture saith)
Make them as Lords, and Rulers, of their Faith?
And did they not in our dread Soveraignes name,
As Rebels, all the Covenanters proclaim?
[Page 2] Cause their heroick Spirits would not yeeld
The Episcopall Liturgy the field.
And (though free born) cause they would not consent
To slavery: far worse then Banishment.
And in a word, because they would not be
Enthrald to that hard yoke of Popery.
And do not these French prosolites endeavour.
To make divisions that may last for ever
Twixt King and Subject? Mis-interpreting
All Messages that passe betwixt the King
And his great Councell: Making such construction
Of grave advice, as needs must bring destruction.
And though they understand the sence of Laws,
Yet cause themselves have broke them; and because
Th'intend to live as out-laws: and as men
That never mean to live by Law agen.
Therefore they wrest them from their proper sence,
Stamp them with false interpretations: whence
(The King being once postest therewith) proceeds
Such fears and threats of civill hostile deeds.
Hence tis so many fruitlesse words are spent
In vain betwixt the King and Parliament.
Hence tis the king declares the Law to have
Another sence then Parliament conceive:
Hence tis so many sleight and so contemne
The Parliament: and speak so base of them
And their proceedings: hence the misery
Of England doth most necessarily
Its pedigree derive: and till Misprisions
Disunions, Alienations, and Divisions
Twixt king and Parliament united be:
And right constructions made yea till we see
These spirits of division, sever'd from
His Majestie: and quite casheerd and gone.
England will not be England, but will be,
And so remain, Babel perpetually.
But when these base Malignant spirits are
(Through Gods free mercy, and the tender care
[Page 3] Of our good Parliament) scatter'd, disperst,
As those were that for Scottish blood did thirst.
When th'head of that same Serpents brood is broke,
And their deceitfull Projects want a cloak,
To carry their hid poyson in, and when
The Prelates lordlinesse is laid agen
As low as when it first began to spring
Twards that Exorbitancy that twas in,
Till these few Moneths last past, yea when the Land
Shall freely, stoutly, valiantly stand
In every part from Beersheba to Dan,
United in their Members, as one Man.
For Christ, and for the Gospel, and for all
Just Rights and Priviledges both great and small,
For our dread Soveraignes just Prerogative:
Neither to adde thereto, or to deprive
Him of a haire that's due to him: (the one
Is to detract from him that weares the Crown:
The other wrongs the Subject) and likewise
For priviledge of Parley: Th' Liberties
And Rights of Subjects. And to stand unto
Each promise made in our late solemne Vow;
(Which he tha [...] does refuse, O let him be
For evermore Anathema (for me)
Then shall our Brittish Island that hath been
The Receptacle, yea the common Inne
Where all Idolatry, and Superstition,
Prophanenesse, Armenisme, and Sedition.
Atheisme, Oppression, Blood, and Crueltie,
Extortion, Persecution, Briberie,
Excesse, Oaths, Blasphemy, and every sin,
With great applause hath been persisted in.
Be as the Holy Land: like Israel
The people shall be blest, that therein dwell.
This City shall be like Jerusalem,
Each town, like Sion fair; And as for them
That dwell in Countrey Villages, they shall
Them Christs belov'd, Redeemed people call.
[Page 4] Then shall Rome's pride abate, then shall the three
Distemper'd Kingdoms be at unity.
Then shall we praise our God, and serve our King
Unanimously: without murmuring.
When these Sanballets and Tobiahs, shall
(Enforced thereto) let us build up the wall
Of our own peace and safety, and shall say
That a more just and honorable way
Then setling the Militia cannot be
Thought on, t'advance Brittaines prosperity,
And their destruction, which already they
Know to be true, and therefore plots they lay
To crosse it: but I trust shall never be
Of such considerable ability,
To perfect their Intentions; for where ere
Hushais good counsell is receiv'd, even there
Achitophels rejected is, and then
We know the common end of such wise men.
But since it is our present miserie
By such lewd sonnes of violence to be
Opposed and maligned, yea since it is
To question Parliamentall priviledges:
Their chief endeavour, yea and to disdain
And scorn that power that in them doth remain:
And scoffe at their proceedings, as they were
Objects too base for them to flout and gere.
And since there's left for us no other way,
Our God, our King, our liberties t'enjoy:
But all hopes else are fled, and they alone
Next under God, (or surely we have none)
Are left to be a means to bring this (late
Apostate) Land to a reform'd estate.
O then let every one that knows the prize
And worth of such a Parliament, be wise,
And not discert them; But let every one
Call former Racks and Impositions
Into their memory: O let them call
Those Popish Rites and Innovations all,
[Page 5] That burdned many a conscience to their mind,
And seriously search if they cannot find
Their spirits greatly eas'd; and then consider
So many unjust Courts cast down together,
(The vastnesse of whose arbitrary power
Did many a loyall Subjects state devour,
And spoil them of their Liberties) which we
Without a Parliaments authoritie
Had nere attain'd: and call to mind the cause
Why they were call'd: wast not because the Laws
Were trampled on? When all things out of order
Were rudely cast on every severall border
Throughout the Kingdom: and when civill warre
Did threat our former (sleighted) peace to marre.
Had they not been, our freedoms, lives, estates
Had been a prey to Popish Runagates.
And think upon the call that brought them hither,
To sit so long a time in parle together.
When all the Kingdom was distracted so,
God mov'd the Lords, they to the King did go,
In humble manner him petitioning,
That heede convoke a Parliament, to bring
An end to these distempers, and possest
Him, with the justice of this their Request.
And furthermore advisde his Majesty,
That that alone would work an unity.
Or else confusion would straight way step in,
And all to ruine and destruction bring.
The King approv'd and granted their Petition,
Call'd for a Parley with all expedition;
To settle peace betwixt the Lands divided,
And t'have things controverted and decided
Twixt King and Subject; that exactions might
Be eas'd, that long against all Law and right,
Have been imposde; and that Religion
So long exposde unto derision,
Might have just vindication gainst all those
That have been known to be her godlesse foes.
[Page 6]We see the cause then why the Parliament
Was call'd together, and for what intent:
Their call st [...]n [...]s good in point o [...] Law we see,
From God, and Man, King, Peers and Commonaltie.
So's their continuance too, the King hath seald
Their sitting: which is not to be repeal'd:
Till Church and State have past and overcome
These Agu [...]s, Feavers, and Consumptions;
That make them sick to death: When these are cur'd,
The Court may be adjourn'd: yet they assur'd,
They have discharg'd their duties, and the Land
Shall evermore to them obliged stand
For their good service: and all thought to be
Too mean to answer their Fidelitie.
Let these considerations work upon
Th'affections and desires of every one,
That do desire to lead a Christian life,
And to live free from civill warres and strife.
Or that desire that wholesome Law should be
The Rule whereby to judge indifferently.
As they their God, Laws, King, selves, Liberties,
Wives children, Countrey, and their substance prize;
Or any thing that unto them is deare,
I'th City, or i'th Field, or any where:
O let them stand couragiously for those
That have stood so for them against their Foes.
Have not our Worthies for us sacrifizde
Lives, Honours, States (and what so highly prizde)
For our enlargement? What conspiracies,
Devises, plots, and Hell-hatch pollicies,
By Jesuites and Papists have been laid,
(And all to have their good proceedings staid)
Against their lives what threats have been belch'd out
Against them by that superstitious Rout.
What scandalous aspersions have been cast,
And what grosse sensures vulgarly have past,
Their candide Reputations to bespot
With some pretended ignomimous blot:
[Page 7] As if they trayterously should undermine
Our government Politicke and Divine:
And set an Arbitrary Course of power,
To wrong the King in's right, and to devoute
The Subjects state, and overthrow the right
Of King and Subject by their (lawlesse) might.
How have our Anti-sabbatists, and those
Arminian sottes (true Reformations foes)
In our corrupted Springs of Litterature,
And at our Innes of Court, and (I am sure)
In many other places, (though of late
Th'are growne more wary) in their common prate,
Spoke ill of Reformation, and all such
Ith Parliament, that stand for it so much.
Yea, how have they by every Rusticke Swaine,
And Ignoramus, (that can scarce speake plaine
And tollerable English;) been defamde
Miscallde, abusde, and barbarously nick-namde:
If any shall presume to say, I lie,
Ile bring the world this truth to testifie;
For scarce is there that Citie, Towne, or place,
Where some have not endeavoured their disgrace:
Nor ist unknownet'th' Houses, for themselves
Heare of the rude behaviour of these Elves,
By Information, and perhaps the times
May come when such may answer for their crimes.
But yet, have they been daunted? or dismayde?
At what these envious Spirits did or said?
Have they given ore the worke they had in hand,
Can any say, that slavishly they stand,
In feare of any? No: whose there? will say;
He that dares rouse a Lyon from his Prey?
And force wild Beasts, to fly from den to den,
And fright them, that they dare not turne agen:
Feares any Colours? Who can say of them,
That worthily have playde the parts of men,
Of noble Spirits: but that they should be,
Spoke of with honour, thought of reverently.
[Page 8]They have not flincht a step out of the way,
Although these Curres have held them at a bay;
But (as the spiritfull Horse no notice takes
Of the shrill noyse that every Mongrill makes)
Have in their pious course persisted still,
Promoting good, not fearing any ill.
So let them still proceed, till they have run
The race of Reformation, thats begun;
So let the Spirit of grace and wisedome be,
Redoubled on their heads in each degree;
So let their courage be encreased, and so
Let them Romes power (in England) overthrow;
So let their legall Orders be obeyde,
And all their black-mouthd enemies destroyd:
So let the Lord of Hoasts himselfe as he
In all things hath been with them formerly;
So finish whats begun; and though their foes
Be twenty times in number, more then those
That came against King Asa; let the same
Dismall destruction then overcame
Those Aegyptian Nigers, seize upon
These bloudy minded Villaines every one.
And if no other way, to publicke peace
Be found, but civill warre; or we must cease
To be a priviledgd people; and must yeeld
Base Tyrannizing Cavileers the feild,
Without resistance; and like conquerd slaves,
Crouch to their yoke (outlawes and Banckrupt knave:)
Whose mercies are but Heathenish cruelties,
And their best acts murthers and robberies.
O then Great Britaine (every where) be ready,
To oppose such deeds so tyrannous and heady,
Assemble all your strength with joynt consent,
To fight for God, the King, and Parliament.
Tis time yee Westerne Counties (that have beene
So backward, and remisse) now to begin
To stand upon your guard, (now yee are made
The seate of warre) O let it not be said,
[Page 9] Amongst those Rebells, that your slacknesse lost
The Victory, and so much bloud hath cost.
As may be shed in such a civill warre:
Meet them 'ith face, and drive them back as farre
As they can flie for Sea; and when they can
Shun you no farther, cast them every man
Into the Ocean: Or if shee disdaine
Such base degenerate Spirits t' entertaine;
As Britaine hath spude out: O then to show
How unworthily they got the overthrow;
And how unworthy they themselves have made,
As not to get roome t'have their corpse layd
In Brittish ground: Let them on Gibbets hang
Till th'aiery Foules consume them every one.
And as for those that by the Sword shall fall,
Let none of them obtaine a Grave at all;
Let dogs and ravenous Wolves (if such were here)
And Vermin with their Intralls make them cheare,
Untill their paunches burst, that so the guilt
Of all the causelesse bloud that hath been spile,
May be tooke off, and may no longer stand,
Upon the generall score of all the Land.
Th'Almightie will destroy them certainly
Before us, if wee be not backwardly
And fearefull to oppose them, God hath quite
Forsaken them; yet he for us will fight,
If we will fight for him: These are the times
When God will visite Rome for all the crimes
Shee hath committed, since the Brothers twaine,
Strove which the Regall Power should obtaine.
Now must must they pay for all the Christian bloud,
That for almost two thousand yeares they shed;
Now must they pay for all their blasphemies,
Their oaths, their curses, and Idolatries:
This is the time that all the Popish powers,
Must be exilde this English Coast of ours;
This is the time wherein the Lord hath said,
Babell is fallen, [...]uinde, and destroyde:
[Page 10] This is the time wherein that Whore of Rome,
Must to perpetuall desolation come:
And God hath made us instruments, whereby
To bring to passe that ancient Prophecie.
Therefore may we returne glory and prayse,
And honour to his Name, that in these dayes;
These hard and Iron dayes hath honoured us
To be his people, fight his Battles thus:
Who when all power, authoritie, and hope
Of any good, was frustrate, voyde, and broke;
Revivde our drooping Spitus, and translated
The Ruledome of the State, from such as hated
Justice and Right▪ to such as are ambitious
To honour good men, and correct the vitious,
And hath infusde a Spirit of life and power,
Into these livelesse catcasles of our▪
And hath stird up the body of our Nation,
To speake for, stand for, fight for Reformation,
Against a crew of Rebell Cavileers,
Composde of Popish and Arminian heiress
Whose Maximes, are the bloud of Kings to shede,
And then affirme't a meritorious deede.
Whose purer Language is in peeces small,
To teare Christs body, bloud, heart, nailes and all;
With horrid Oaths, and fearefull Imprecations,
Provoking God to hasten their damnations▪
Whose best expressions are to breath out threats;
Whose perjurde practice is to breake all threats;
T'abolish Lawes, and bring poore people under
Their slavish yoke, (or the Popes dreadfull [...] blnders)
Our Ancestors, did long desire to see
These times, and yet could not permitted be;
Yet did rejoyce to thinke that bloudy Rome,
Should once to finall desolation come.
What they esteemed therefore of such weight,
(Though in reversion) lets not rudely sleight,
That see it now approaching, tis no small
Nor common mercy to see Babells fall.
[Page 11] Such faire occasion comes not every day,
To right our selves; lets doe it whilest we may:
For now both heaven and earth together joynes,
To purge the base corruptions of these times.
Occasions bald behinde, time once past over,
Not all the Indian gold can ere recover.
Then you the Thousands of our Judah, goe
Sheath all your Swords ith bowells of your foe;
Be cloathd with Valour, let your resolution
Be bent to bring all Traytors to confusion;
Let not faire words entice you, but let flie
As thicke as haile, 'gainst such an enemy:
Breake thorow their guiltie ranckes, and overthrow
That Common-wealth of Rebells at a blow.
That that vast treasure they so long a time
Have whorded up, to use in this designe:
And all the Armes they have so slily got,
And kept so close as if they had them not:
Their Horses, Pistolls, Swords, and Carabines,
Their Muskets, Pikes, Callivers. Magazines
Of Powder, Shot, and Bullets; and what ere
From France, or Spaine, or from the Hollander,
Hath been transported hither, to helpe out
To ruine us at such a civill bout.
Wee as our due may seize on for a prey,
When they be slaine (or run for feare away;
That the surviving part may once againe,
Their Freedomes, Lawes, and Liberties obtaine.
That when this corrupt generation shall,
Be cut by heavens bright Sword of Justice all:
The next ensuing age, may quite forget,
And scorne those rites that wee admire at yet;
And may set up the true Discipline and Order,
Of Jesus Christ in every Brittish border.
Now you whose forward Spirits Countreymen,
Affect the Justnesse of our cause, yet when
You heare that odious name of Cavalier
Opposing you; that mazes you with feare;
[Page 12] That traytrous, bloudy, branded name, casts downe
Your drooping Spirits equall to the ground;
So that for feare of such an Impious crew,
Y' had rather (shave) like part from all your dues,
And priviledge, then seeke how to obtaine
Your Freedomes, Lawes, and Liberties againe.
Y' had rather loose all that you doe possesse,
Then take up lawfull Armes to seeke redresse.
How plainly doe such Cowards shew to be,
Given up to base pusillanimitie:
Scorne then to be afraid of such a name,
Which unto them is but a brand of shame,
And not of honour: Can a worthlesse name
Crowne them with glory, or our deeds with shame
Thinke you? Shall arrogated Titles make
You such a just and pious cause forsake?
Can painted shewes, true substances exceed?
Can livelesse Statues doe a manly deed?
Or does the Spirit of Valour rest on them,
Because base swearing domineering men?
Y' are all deceiv'd, the valiant man is, that
Hath fewest sinnes to be affrighted at;
T'rue Souldiers, will n'ere use violence,
Nor fight but to secure their conscience;
Thy are no prophane swearers, nor will curse
Or ban, when things are bad, to make them worse:
Nor will they cry, God damne them, or them sinke,
Nor over-charge themselves with too much drinke.
Nor will they civill war seeke to preferre,
In hopes that they may all prove Conquerers;
But doe abhorre all Motions that may lead
To the execution of so base a deed.
But being once debarde their proper right:
And finding that their liberties, by might
Are torne in pieces, and their freedomes made
A life of bondage, though they have assavde
All wayes for their enlargement; doe prepare
Unwillingly to tight themselves by warre,
[Page 13] 'Gainst their injurious enemies: which showes
Our preparation 'gainst mad-capt foes,
Is upright, just, and legall: cause wee stand
To hold up the foundation of the Land
From Suddaine ruine: and to fortifie
Our Lawes against the rage of tyranny.
Our preparation for a civill warre,
Is to keepe the body from a mortall skar,
By taking off some pieces of proud flesh,
Which will in time her miseries encrease;
And cause her death if let a while alone,
But helpe her health if once cut off and gone.
Our Parliament this legall war begins,
To cut off some superfluous uselesse limbs;
Whose preter naturall vigor being infusde
Through every part, hath every part abusde
With monstrous principles, such as were nere
Affoote (I thinke) in any place but here.
And drawne the Subjects of our English Nation,
T'admit a change, t'admit an alteration
Of Government, as well divine as civill,
(A violent Floodgate to let in all evill.)
This likewise doth demonstrate unto you,
The desperate madnesse of our envious foe;
Who like distracted Bedlams run about,
Their owne and others ruine to seeke out.
These damned Cavaliers, and all what ere
They be that helpe them out of love or feare
It shewes the base unworthinesse of those,
That to their Countrey prove such mortall fo [...]s;
O what Malignant Spirits them possesse,
That they envie their Countreys happinesse!
What Empire, Kingdome age, or generation,
Since Babells rise, or since [...] worlds foundation,
Can shew the like, that ever England should
Nurse up a sort of men, that if they could
Would cut poore Englands throate: was't ever knowne
That any people did envie their owne
[Page 14] Prosperity? Sure no: yet England hath
Foster such hideous Monsters, that would bath
Their swords in friends, kindred, and neighbours blood,
Till down the fields there run a crimson flood.
What judgements this great Brittain? that thy walls
And streets are fill'd with such rude Canibals,
That throw out all thy Courts, Errinnis fell,
That cruell, fierce and hellish Fiend doth dwell?
Thy sins are sure unparrallell'd, which makes
Thy judgements pearlesse, for their odious sakes:
Fire, pestilence, and warre, and many more
Inferiour judgements, waste thy kingdom sore.
What's to be done? to quit us of this grief,
Since we have been so long without relief.
Thou must return from thine Apostacies,
Thy superstitions and Idolatries:
And down before thy Maker in the name
Of his dear Sonne (that on him took the blame
Of all thy sins) thy Saviour, thou must fall,
Desiring him to free thee from them all,
And shew thee mercy: and especially
Invoke him now again, thine enemy,
Beseech him to vouchsafe his helping hand,
This one time more to this distressed Land,
And let him know, if hee'l be pleas'd, to give
Thee victory, he shall much praise receive.
And adde to this thy martiall strength and force
Of Muskets, Pikes, Swords, Pistols, men and horse,
And all munition else, what ere it be
That may annoy thy vaunting enemie:
And he that hath preserv'd thee hithertoo,
Both teach thee and direct thee what to doo.
But specially, O Glouster-shire, improve
My counsell; tis a pledge of native love,
Go muster up your Volunteers, whose number
May strike your damned Foe with dread and wonder.
[...]uksbury.
And thou my native * Town especially,Whom I respect, that hast been backwardly
[Page 15] In this defensive service stirre thee now,
Make it appeare that thou hast payd thy vow.
Where are the scores of Horse, thou hast set forth,
To answer thy externall shewes and worth?
Where are thy voluntary youths, that dare
Defend their Countrey in this civill warre?
Some two or three are gone indeed, but they
Were faine (couragiously) to steale away
Unknowne, lest if they should themselves disclose,
Thy male-affected would account them foes,
And them discourage; yea, since our adew,
They have malign'd us with reports untrue.
But I forgive them: and doe thee advise,
As for thy private good thou wouldst be wise,
(If publike good thou sleightst) that thoudst but make
Inferiour Townes thy president, and take
Them for a patterne: here, as little Townes
As are the least that coast upon thy bounds,
Have set forth fiftie Horse: Young men and mayds
Of all sorts, as th'are able, lend their aydes,
Some six pence, twelve pence some, as they are willing
And storde, some five, some ten, some twenty shilling;
Or more, or lesse, as God hath blessed them
With meanes, and hearts to part from it agen,
Up therefore quickly, be not like the drone
That eats up others sweetnesse, but gets none,
If nothing but dead trading might perswade
To this, that might in common sence be made
A motive to stirre up the drownest heart,
From somewhat towards this great designe to part:
For be assurde that till the Kingdome [...]
Reducde to perfect peace and unitie,
And freed from civill warre, your trading shall
Continually decay, not mend at all.
And this me thinks should stir up every place
To doe the like, because it is the case
Of all the Kingdome; For my part, had I
A thousand lives, and for each life, lying by
[Page 16] A thousand pound (which are above my spheare,
Ide hazzard all to free the State from feare.
But some there be will say, doe what I can,
These ravenous Vulters will not wrong a man
Alas, say they, heres great mistrusts and feares,
Where needs not any of the Cavaliers,
Alas good men, they doe no hurt, they strive
For nothing but the Kings Prerogative:
They be religious men, and they will goe
To Church as well as other people doe:
And speake as well as most men in the Towne,
Where ere they live, few men can put them downe.
And shall we fight against them (God forbid)
Shall we doe what good Subjects never did?
Make warre against the King: Wee'le rather do
The servilst worke he shall command us to,
Is it not better give the King his way,
In setling the Commission of Array,
And to be peacefull: Then to have the Land
In a perpetuall combustion stand?
Alas poore silly gu [...]les, that neither see
Nor understand th'approaching misery,
That such as they have brought upon us all,
If by the Sword of civill warre we fall:
These men given up to slavish feare, have brought
Themselves and us and all the Land to nought.
Did these but apprehend at [...]far deare rates
Our Ancestors, our freedomes and Estates
For us have purchasde? What a world of paines
They undertooke, that we might reape the gaines:
What summes they payde; With what great industry,
Th'obtainde our Suffrages, and Libertie:
Sure then they would not be so easily won
To part from them (as many have begun)
Who Edom-like have for a messe of broth
Sold birthright, freedome, substance, faith and troth.
Did such but know experimentally
The value of the freedome they enioy;
[Page 17] Had they but noble spirits; they would scorn
To live in slavery, that were free born.
But rather chuse to die a noble death,
Then to live here ignobly underneath
The feet of Tiranny: For when our Laws
Are chang'd: and when our liberty withdraws,
Straight every upstart scoundrill will out-brave's,
And English States shall live like Turkish slaves.
As for the carriage of the Cavaliers,
Their tyrranny and wickednesse appears
So grosse, and palpable, that it will be
But needlesse labour, and time lost for me
Their rude and barbarous actions to repeat;
Their robberies and murthers are so great
In Yorkeshire, Lestershire, at Coventry:
Northamptonshire, Bath, Portsmouth, Banbury,
And superstitious Oxford, that was glad
At their first entrance; but are since grown sad,
To see their rude behaviour, and what preys
They make of all things that fall in their wayes.
And now tis scarce unknown to any Nation,
That Papists have a generall dispensation
From their unholy Father; and they may
Now go to Church, and hear Don Bletro say
His Enigmattick Legend and may hear
A temporizing Sermon without fear,
So they advance his work: and do their bests
Through Europe to set up his Papall hests.
Which now are falling down, and those that be
Church Papists, as men terme them certainly
Are out most dangerous enemies; and do
Oppose, maligne and undermine us too.
If any Ignoramus yet there be,
That will not his own priviledges see,
Nor will retain them: But will side with those
That are both Gods, the Kings, and Countreys foes,
And will of such proceedings brag and vaunt,
Let them I say remain still ignorant.
[Page 18] Let the Concomitants of such a warre
Attend them; and let them wax worse by farre,
Till God hath finish'd his good work, upon
This Land, and brought them to confusion.
Now little book flie on the wings of fame,
As far beyond the place from whence I came
As it is thither: that both North and South,
And all the winds may have thee in their mouth,
And take thy counsell: that from Cornwell and
From th'utmost limits of Northumberland,
And Durham: yea from Dover in the East,
To th'utmost bounds of Chester in the West,
Thou mayest have audience: that our Heroes may
Muster their Forces 'gainst that fatall day.
Grave Essex the chief Leader of us all,
And Bedford our Lieutenant Generall,
Not all the Romane States can make us fear,
Nor the great Turke himself if he were here.
Our Cause is just, therefore though thousands die,
We are confident to get the victory.
It is credibly affirmed that the Cavaliers do usually drink this wicked and blasphemous health, viz.
1. A Health to his Maiestie by whom we live, move, and have our being.
2 A Health to the Confusion of Pym, his [...] and his Gospel.
FINIS.