SCOTLANDS THANKS-GIVING FOR HER ARMIES safe, joyfull, and prosperous return from ENGLAND.
BLest be the living Lord, who reigns above,
To Scotland, who hath shown such signes of love:
And maugre ravenous Rome, and spitefull Spaine,
Kept us abroad, and brought us safe again
Unto our native soil, with Songs of joy,
Foyling our Foes, who would us all destroy.
Who would have look'd when first we march'd ov'r Tweid,
So long, and well, in England we should speed,
Curbing all those did threat us to withstand,
And feeding on the best fruits of their Land,
Having Christs Word, and Sacraments in peace,
And puritie, in Superstitions Place,
Returning with such credit, joy, and fame,
And blessings great, which no Pen can proclaim.
Seeing our Princes sweet and gracious face,
And feasting with contentment; with his Grace,
Foes gnasht their teeth, so blest a day to see,
When Scot's (who Traitors were proclaim'd to be)
Now counted are best Subjects, by our King,
Which joyes our hearts above all earthly thing.
Blest August, joyfullest Moneth in all the yeer,
In thee we march'd ov'r Tyne, and did retire,
With joyfull hearts, and songs of endlesse praise
To GOD, who hath us blest, in all our wayes;
Gods Israel no moe marvellous favours fand,
Nor we brave Scots, into a strangers Land,
They marvels great did find from God most high,
But all were worlds of wonders, we did see.
Ah wretched vipers, to your native soil,
Who would have wished your Countries finall foil,
Who can paint out your woes, sin, shame, and scorn,
By God, your King, and all true Scots, forlorn.
Rome hang thy head, thy hellish plots are gone,
And bailfull Bishops your bad change bemone,
Your dririe train no help from Laud can find,
And by Saint Peters Chair, is left behind,
Newcastle, Durhame, and you Towns by Ties
Keep what you heard from us, and saw with eyes;
Return not to your wonted dregs of Rome,
Lest you be curs'd, and dolefull be your doom,
And one day we to your just condemnation
Bear witnesse of your breach of Protestation.
Lord blesse our wise, and valiant Generall,
Our Nobles, Cavaliers, and Souldiers all,
Who for Christs cause, and their deare Countries good,
Devoted honours, life, name, means, and blood.
Fame (times eternall Herald) shall proclaim
To Ages all, your never dying Name.
Curs'd be those hellish spirits (who hence shall move)
Sturs us among, to break the bonds of Love:
England farewell, Lord plant his truth in thee,
That thou with us, in Peace and Puritie;
May worship God, and hate that Man of Sin,
Whose brood too long hath Britaine breath'd within:
Welcome sweet Scotland, who is like to thee?
Pay God thy vows, so blest thou still shall be.
Lord blesse our good, our great, and gracious King,
That long in these Three Kingdoms, he may reign:
And that his seed, the Scepter still may sway
While Titan cease, to rule the glistring Day;
That grace and Peace may flourish in our Land,
And blest Astrea have the sole command:
That they who love Sion's felicitie,
His Counsellors, and Courtiers may be.
Lord from his Throne all Parasites remove,
And fire-brands Sion hate, that Rome do love.
So he a blessed King shall reign on Earth,
And Ages all, shall blaze his fame and worth.
God shall be honour'd, and the Kingdoms three
Shall blesse the time, they did King Charles see.
A LETTER SENT FROM John Bacon, an Officer (under Sir Simon Harcot in Dublin) to John Bibie an Officer in the Tower of LONDON.
DEare Friend, for all your former favours I heartily thanke you, and in requitall thereof, I can doe no lesse than impart to you the heads of our late proceedings.
Wee have lost two Lieutenants and two Ensignes of our Regiment on service that wee have been upon; Wee drew out three thousand foote and horse with us, and went twelve miles into the Countrey, wee drew out with us foure field Pieces, thinking to give the Rebells a pitcht Battell, but they run away like dogges, where wee tooke twentie and odde of the Rebells, and hanged them up, that had formerly burned a Towne called Newerd-Castell, and another Castle close [Page 7]by it called Castle-Lyons; and then we marcht for the Nase, where we lay one night and a day, and tooke the Towne, and fired eleven Townes besides, and there wee lay foure dayes in the fields horse and foote: Our Forces were under Command of Sir Simon Harcot, and Sir Charles Coote, and Collonell Crayford. The Horse was under the Command of the Earle of Ormond, Lievtenant Generall of the Field. Since that wee went to a Castle called Artaine, where wee took good provision, and had good pillage, and are now safe returned to Dublin, thankes be to the Lord for it.
Wee may well say, the Lord hath been with us in six
troubles, and in the seventh he hath not left us.
If it had not been the Lord, who was on our side,
when men rose up against us:
Then they had swallowed us up quicke: when their
wrath was kindled against us.
Blessed be the Lord: who hath not given us as a prey
to their teeth.
Dublin Feb. 12. 1641.
I rest yours to use, JOHN BACON.
FINIS.