Aut NVNC, Aut NVNQVAM. NOW OR NEVER: For if not Now, INSLAVED EVER.

LONDON Printed in the Yeare, 1648

Aut Nunc, Aut Nunquam. NOW, Or NEVER: For if not Now, Inslaved EVER.

BRave Cavaliers, looke about yoe. The game goes well on your side. That Black cloud which hung so long over you is now dispersing; your fortunes that have been at so long and low Ebb, are now arising. The hopes of those Ma­licious Traiteurs, wholy declining. That Generall, whose continued success never to this hower, admitted a retreat, is now defeated. Victorious Colchester remains unstormed: Kent repents her of her easiness in subduing. v Suffolke repents her of her weaknesse in complying. Both these have vow'd to redeem their fame, or dye it'h field.

Look about you, and behold what a gallant Cavalry, and in what con­fluence, and with what confidence they come to meet you; with what com­pliance they invite you.

Brave Northerne blades are advanced to joyne with our Southerne Spirits — Hounflow Heath, Dunsmore Heath, Black Heath, all Heaths, Boyes, are their Randezvouses. There they expect you; where Honour will receive you: and where a cheerefull calme crowned with the grace­full palms of an Honorable peace, shall period those Brackish storms which did formerly incounter you.

A pursuit after loyall fame admits no feare. See what a noble conflu­ence of bravely minded Citizens invite you to accompany them! The City-aire cannot detaine them: neither the perswasions nor long reasons of seditious Skippon decline them. These are steeled with true resolution; for to dye on the feild-bed of Honour, is a brave conclusion. These see their Prince restrained; when Prerogative Royall should inlarge his Subjects Liberty: deprived of that which he might bestow on others. No Loyall Subject can see this with dry eyes. This it was made these brave Royallists conclude: and from that conclusion to advance hither: That the Princes cure, ought to be the Subjects care. His service, their solace. Neither was it upon low grounds, whereon they built their foundation [...] and upon which they are resolv'd to rise or fall. For they have taken a full veiw of those high and hainous insolencies, insupportable indignities, nay, treacherous plots and Machinations not only practised but ready to [Page 3]be executed (if a divine hand had not diverted the stroak) upon his Maje­sties Sacred Person; holding him too unworthy to live, because too worthy of their love. These, besides that Servile Yoake, whereto their necks have been too long accustomed, too assiduately acquainted, have invited, nay inforced these undaunted Cavaliers to sue for peace with Swords in their hands; with redresse of those crying crimes Nothing may be more truly related more justly aggravated, nor ruth fnlly in­stanced, for I my selfe know the place, where since these Civill Warrs were commenced The Master of the House ninety years old, in stan­ding with the strength he had for the defence of his daughters honour, was cruclly Murdered, hir Daughters ravished, and to compleat this Barbarisme, his house wholy Plundcred Blood, Oppression, Rapes, Rapine, with whatsoever the riot of a Licentious State could produce.

The King must be freed his Priviledges restored, His Forts and Castles repaired: his Loyall Subjects righted, Satisfaction rendred: and those Sage Benchers, whose cramm'd coffers have recruited these Mischiefes, spunged. Such Asses milke will be infinitely Soveraign for the consump­tion of a Cavaliers estate. The Blue-bonnet means to have a whole share too. Reformation is a specious pretence: but the establishment of a Reli­gious Presbytery, deserves a bounteous Booty. Solvat Ecclesia.

They for whom they row ought to pay their fare. These, who set them on worke: are to pay them their Wages. Meane time, wee stand here all ingaged for one quarrell. Stakes are not to be payd till the Course be done. Our cause is too good, to entertaine a distrust: Or to admit a par­ley: A spedy surrender, or no quarter.

O how these Parliamentary Treaties have deluded us! Petitions upon Petitions with humble thankes returned to the Petitioners, by the oyly mouth of their long-lung'd Speaker, for their care of the publique being the very businesse which they had at the same time taken into considera­tion, and now transmitted to Darby House [their Oracular Committee] and after due debate to be resolved — God knowes when. But now comes Cyrus Sword that cuts that Gordian knot and divides all rightly to a threed. Those delatory Pleas might have taken place, without admit­tance of Reply, so long as that brave consistory were Masters of the Mi­litia and Navy: But those wooden Horses no sooner left them, then their Bilbow Blades were turn'd into Wooden Swords. Their late invincible A­treus, their formidable Black-Tom, who was formerly so impatient of a repulse must sit downe with it, His late City-guards skulke for feare to be apprehended, as some of their Cumrades lately were, for the Sacriledg they had committed.

But phoh! I was nearly stifled with the vapour exhaled from the Senate-house. Some aromatick fume or frankincense for those two conclaves of the consulls. They are in a pitifull pickle. — Prosperity comes neither from the East nor the West: nor any coast else for their interest. What Sour faces too, and pittifully complaining Elegies make other Independants for the Death and Buriall of their Anarchiall Protector CROMWELL. [Page 4]But no remedy, the Subtillest Sconc't Traytor breathing cannot avoyd Mortality.

Go too then Boyes, — Either NOVV or NEVER, for if not Now, in­slaved ever. Omit not the least minute of opportunity: Hearts and hands Prayers and Powers march along with yon, to expedite your victory.

YET one word to you, Grand-Sedentary Delinquents. You brave State-Rufflers, who are so farre from paying tribute to Caesar, as you make Cae­sars Subjects tributaries to you: you, who have sit farre longer then the State intended, and brooded more Sects, Schismes and Divisions then e­ver Parliament (without exception of that mad one,) to this day ingendred. you,Hen. 3. who have occasioned more blood shed in one yeare, then all our Ci­vill Warres acted in all our Fore-fathers tyme. you, who under pretence of Reforming churches, have chaced Religion quite out oth' Church. you who have depopulated Towns, ruinated Cities, obstructed traffick, and rubrict your victories with the blood of Innocents. you, who have made so many Fathers, their Sons Survivers. you, who have devoured Widdows Houses: and divided the inheritance of Orphans among your Spoylers you, who have made the City your Stalking Horse, to work your own Inte­rests. Return, return with tears in your Eyes: reverence in your knees: and zeale in your Hearts. As Patience ha's arm'd his Majesty amidst all his sufferings: So his Native goodnesse will cloath him with a princely compassion towards most of those by whom He has suffered. Mindes no­bly qualified, are ever more apt to remit then revenge. Some, indeed, there are, who (co leave Presidents to Posterity, how high and hainous an Offence it is to spurne at Majesty) must be balter'd. For their rebellious insolencies have been of that irremittable nature, as their impunity might call the judgment of a State in question. One or two exuberant branches may be well spar'd to save the Vine.

But if these Motives have no influence over you, reflect upon your own present condition. A House dvided cannot stand: And pray you, tell us, what irreconcileable differences have been raised among your selves? How diametrally opposite have your Votes and Voyces beene one to another! Members, [like so many lopt branches shred from their Root] expuist the Houses for cleaving to their first principles; yet upon better considerati­on, call'd back againe, to make the weaker party stronger.

But how can it be expected that there should be Vnity of opinion, when your Principles are groanded in Ignorance? For should we go by the Poule, and cull out most of the Lower Siedge in both Houses: and Cate­chise them fully touching their Tenets either of Presbytery or Indepen­dency: we might without breach of Charity, couclude, that their Answer [Page 5]would be the very same, which Candaces return'd to Philip: Act [...].1 [...]. Mat. [...]6. [...]0. How should we understand these things without a Teacher? Or as Peter answer'd the Damsell: Wee wot not what you say.

Meane time, these Nominall Professors receive in them pretended No­tions of these undetermined Principles. But it is worthy our Observation, to take a Survey of their differences a rising from a calme time, when no Enemy is in view: and at other occasionall Seasons, when they heare con­siderable Forces approaching. For then must HEROD and PILAT be made friends. Difference in opinion must not beget a distance in their af­fection. They must be call'd home from their Exile to the Capitol: and with such mutuall Salutes, cheerfull countenances, and gracefull regreets, as the Thanks their ingratiating delivery returnes to our City and County-Petitions cannot be more sincerely cordiall. And now so long as it lasts, these two severall Tribes must joyne in their Tenets. Enemies abroad make Peace at home.

Points of Faith which were never yet held Orthodoxall, may without Scruple of Conscience admit dispensation. Their Principles, indeed, were grounded upon a Presbytery: but the Catastrophe closeth with Indepen­dency: and yet only so long as it appears stronger, and weighs heavierith, Skale. [A brave frame of State! A wonderfull Chymick extraction! Where one King is dilated to many: and many strangely elixir'd and re­solv'd to none. If ever Soveraignty suffer'd under such Alchimy,

I appeale to all grounds of humane pollicy.

But the report of a Forraine force is the only cement that Soulders up this difference of Opinions. The noise of our Bonny-Blew-Capps march­ing over Tweed, is of as considerable feare to our feverish Consuls, as e­ver the report of Caesars passing over Rubicon was to the Italians. No more branching.

The Independent and Presbyterian be all one. One Faith, one Forme of Discipline. Their Loyalty and honesty divided equally to an hair breadth least one should maligne the Other, for being either more honest or loyall then the other. And to knit the joynts of their fraternall League more strongly, they have lately entertained a New Creed: and in such a firme Iuncto: that neither of them henceforth is to question what the other believes: because the one knowes not well what the other holds.

But all this curiously woven artifice of State-policy will not doe the seat. Let them run on in their Maze of mischiefe, canonizing their rebel­lious Saints: Ordering Publick Thanksgiving for shedding the blood of Honour: complying with City and County, and fooling them with trifling delayes, upon some hopefull designe: the successe whereof [Page 6]might make them more peremptory in sleighting the instancy of a peace­full Treaty. But what is all this but to scatter dust in the ayre? This will not serve their turue. Those Adjacent Counties by which they were assi­sted: That City by which they were recruited: that Navy by which they were secured, have now with clearer Eyes discovered their fearefull pro­jectments.

The horrour of their desperate and unparalel'd practises has awak't them. One drop of blood t'ane from an innocent Prince is of that deep dye, such holding tincture, as it imprints revenge in a Vermillion colour.

Heavens judgements may sleep, they cannot slip: Nor need we doubt but that these hainouse and hideous plotts have been treacherously con­trived seriously intended, eagerly pursued, and if they had not by Gods goodnesse been strangely disclosed, timely prevented, had been as tragi­cally acted. For else, how had Rolph been so justly accused: and in opi­nion so generally impeached?

Would not the display of these inhumanities, quicken the Spirit of the re­missest Royalists.

Those impious Speeches, (not to be repented with out horrour) late­ly and confident­ly utteredby that forlorne Miscre­ant in Coven Garden, might be here inserted; publiquely pro­testing, That he hoped ere long to wash his hands in the Kings Blood. Yet this impiety passeth with im­punity; being for ought we heare, as yet unquestio­ned at least un­censured Againe to observe how these Villains are shrowded and Palliated! How some labour to mince them; others to suppresse them: all malignantly affected, to excuse them: nay, to asperse the Accuser, and vilifie his testimony, whose loyalty induc'd him to disclose it, and who with his blood will be ready to maintaine it.

I could here take occasion of taxing that triffling penny-sheet man, for his egregious folly & foppery (If the Creature were worthy my reproof) who being as it seems in fee with Col. Hammon, that rigid keeper of his Majesty in the Isle of Wight, has published a Tale, without head or taile, under the name of W. Rishton intituled HIS MAIESTIES DECLARATION in the ISLE of WIGHT, concerning Col. Hammond and Mr. Osburne, and tou­ching the preservation of his Royall Person from Poyson &c. Wherein no lesse impudently then weakly, he takes upon him from the Kings mouth to vindicate the innocency of Hammond, a man of such matchlesse curtesy and affability as his Majesty could not well Imagin his present restraint to be a place of captivity.

A man so conscientious of his wayes: as for him to enter into any such confederacy with Major Rolph or any other Assainate in such a bloody and horrid designe, as was fuggested, was so farre estranged from his thoughts, as no mans honour could be more injuriously impeached. For the King himselfe holds him for an honest morall man; a faithfull Gover­nour; one who would not betray his trust for an Empire. Besides all this; Mr. Troughton the Governours Chaplaine, told his Majesty, that he ho­ped [Page 7]there was not any about him, who durst entertaine a thought of doing hurt to his person (it being a thing so inhumane and barba­rous) the King answered, that he hoped there was not any that was so cruelly minded.

Grave Chaplaine, Gratious Governour! For this Chaplaine, hee's known to be a fugitive fellow, one, who while he Sojourned it'h North­parts; was commonly known by the name of the Conventuall-Belman, for his zealous care of assembling, furnishing, and frequenting private couventicles. But afterward, being accused, impeached, and to be publiquely punished for scattering Scandalous libells with other mis­demeanours, he fled for refuge into these parts, where he has attain'd this unexpected Honour of being made Chaplaine in ordinary (as no Chaplain more ordinary) to this Governour: and where in the judgment of those that know him, he can Preach to the full better then he can Read.

Now for this Declaration of his Majesties in vindication of Colonell Hammon, it is meerly hammar'd from the Forg of their accustomary lyes-Hammon labours to cleere himselfe before his time. These Paper pellets. must not doe it. His and Rolphs clearenesse will appeare very shortly; if Truth the Daughter of Time, may be admitted to come to a Discovery.

Now, What kind of men may these be, who are such Vindicators, nay, prime Agitators in these acts of High Treason; but such, whose private interests and treacherous ambition have brought a flourishing State to this forlorne condition?

Here you shall find one (to render every of them their distinguishing notion) a subtill winding Snake, who has got the Art how to insinuate into the bosome of any active Member: and to oblige too by pretensive, curtefies, which he never means to performe, an Instrument of acquiring his owne ends. This Anarchiall Achitophel, though his desires close with nothing lesse then Monarchicall government, yet his protests imply a de­fire of Soveraignty. But his bosome freinds, whereof he hath but a very few, to whom he dare communicate his thoughts, know right well, that he hates nothing more then an absolute Regall power. Thus cunningly he appears least, what he is most: Seeming most what he least is.

For such State-politicians here grow rare,
Who be the same they seeme, seeme what they are.

It was said of Catiliue, that he spake much and did little; but con­trarywise, Iugurth spake little and did much. A barking Dogge is least to be feared.

Whereas the State-Artists, when they are stillest and calmest, are ever most to be suspected.

There is an other too, who desires much to second him; but falls farre short of him. One, who in his time has done Service for the State: yet found so remisse in his Com­mands, as he suffered in the opinion of the Houses: and at last, with much a doe, after a long perplexive Answer to his Weighty Charge, he purehas'd his intempnity, but with as much difficulty as (dam him) Pembrooke got his delivery.

The Third you shall find a severish runegade; One who knowes what Treason means; yet is more apt to conceale it, then to plot it; and less apt to Act it, then either to con­ceale it, or Plot it.

But Protestations upon his Honour with other Subordinate Votes, have for the present by chance sav'd him; till these neare-approaching evill dayes (to use the new phrase of the time) otherwise secure him: Only know thus much, that he can pocket the injuries done to his owne Person, or Treason to his Prince, with as much patience, and disloyall Silence, as any Flap-fly Lord of them all.

Shall we stept downe to the Lower Stege, though the Subtiler Sophisters? wee shall find there too a Leash, amongst other yelpers of the same Litter, of as active My medons, as those cunning Terriers were, who gave the first sent.

First you shall meet with, is a Sneeking Sollicitous Rooke, who for Lucre has sold his Honour.

One made to baite their pretended Delinquents when they come to the Stake. But had he sayl'd away upon the Stating and closing of Hammonds case, it might have fared better with his fame, though worse with his Fortune.

For the Second, Hee's a prating pertifogger; Sometimes a gangling member of the Pa­chequer Chamber; but now his own fortunes, by the Parliaments pention, have raised this impertinent Speaker to the Seazure of a vast Exchequer. I referre you to Holland, where you may find it.

Meane time, his over-hacney'd Lungs gaspe for respiration, he longs infinirely to have a progresse to the Bath; if his gains would give him leave. Or rather to the German-Spaw; if he might have Sea-rome; but he despayres of both.

For the Third and Last, though neither least nor best of that laste; is an uncleane Beast. One, who ruminates nothing but sence who holds all Idols abhomination, but a wench. one who affects no Elocution so much as Treason. He loves strong lines, but twisted together with such Snarles, as they will go very neare to hang him. [...] The Martin is ever said to build her nest in cleane places: but this is no such Cleane Bird; for his Mouth is the very Common Sewer of Treason, his breast the very Brothell of all pollution.

Now, you have heard their discovery: and you blesse your selves from them, as from Thunder: yet most of these are meal-mouth'd, and will cry Peace, Peace, when their hands are preparing for Battell.

Quicken then your hearts and hands, sharpen your Swords: Crush the Serpent in the Egge; nay, these Scorpions in their full grouth; Leave neither toppe nor branch. Calidon Countrey, City, brave Cavalry, all stand for you.

NOW THEN OR NEVER: FOR IF NOT NOW, INSLAVED EVER.

FINIS

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