THat Indian Hand had some reason it seemes, which put upon it that name of the Ile of Providence, the speciall hand of heaven ruling and leading the searching ad­venturers to this place; and bringing them through long labours and hard indeavours to pitch and plant on that ground. And before I have done with this narra­tive and discourse; I shall make it good, that there is ground for the naming of this Kingston or Hull, A Town of Providence.

Where, as on a Stage of Mercy, Divine Providence has of late act­ed parts of love, care, power, kindnesse gloriously, before, and for un­worthie both Spectators and receivers: The Lord hath so done his marvellous workes, that they ought to bee had in remembrance of all them that feare him.

If any be such a stranger in Ierusalem, as has not heard nor knowne the things, that are come to passe in these dayes, I will informe him, (to quicken my selfe, and others to gratefullnesse,) how the Lord has heated the furnace of his love, and care for Hull, seven times hotter then he has done for any towne in England. And gladly would I have the Land to take notice of it, because though the Sun rise in one corner of the Heavens the East; yet the light, heat and influence of the Sun fills the whole Earth, and cherishes every creature. So, though the best part of the Kernell of this deliverance falls particularly into Hulls mouth, and the people there, both in-dwellers and the Lords sojour­ners, yet doubtles it sends much good influence, & reviving beams into the Gospells cause, now quarrelled for, into the Church, into this Kingdome, into the Parliament, into the armies on foote, for the res­cuing of our Realme, from the pawes of the Lyon, and the beare: the Churches Lyon, that would oppresse it with Antichristianisme, and popish prelacy, and the Common wealths savage Beare, that would devoure Truth, justice and righteousnesse, and leave neither law, nor liberty nor rights, for the Subject, but what must come out of the bo­some of licentious Atheisme, where will and power shall create Ma­gistracy and the acts of it. Now that the Lord hath banished such blou­die [Page 3]and cruell Gaolers, which laid upon all that came under their pow­er, iron yoakes and fetters, how can we doe lesse then seeke out the au­thour of this deliverance, and give him the cordiall and reall acknow­ledgements of thankefull spirits, which either speaking, writing or printing may make knowne to our little world of England, least the glory of God, which, of all other things should never know a funerall, and be buried in oblivion, be any way obscured or ecclipsed. And sure­ly if we enquire after the father, and mother, and nurse of this amiable and comfortable child of salvation, which we can never looke in the face, but it makes us smile with joy: we can finde none to owne it, but only Providence divine, which has done all. This hath been so clearly and manifestly stirring, from the Alpha to the Omega of the a­ction, that we silence all subservient Ministers, and ministred helpes, as strength, guns, swords, munition, care and industrie, and onely write God with great letters and figures, and make all other great helpes, to be but as a great cipher without divine concurrence. When we name Providence, as the superintendent and superefficient of all, we under­stand not chance or fortune, the Ethnickes providence, nor that of the Stoickes, who made providence a fortune or fate-telling old-woman, to administer all things, as the universall soule of the world. But by it we understand the speciall care, and love of God towards his, which is at great cost, and charges of infinite power, fore-sight and wisdome, to worke in all and every individuall thing for his people, Lilius. Cy­rald. de dijs Gent. Syntag. 76. and having wrought it, to make it again be directed to worke for their good. And if at Delos the blind Heathens for some conceived blessing could erect a Temple and call it, [...], The Temple of Providence: Doe not Christians owe as much to Jehovah, as they to their Jove? Shall not our Delos, our Hull be called, [...], The Temple of Providence, where it hath been most admirably conspicuous, and efficacious for de­liverance. It is well knowne, 1 how heavenly care did at first reserve this Towne; 2 that at first it fell not under the unruly rule of those un­worthy Royalists, who never thinke they doe any thing royally, 3 but when they make Rome blush, 4 with being more superstitious and idola­trous then she is: or when they make beasts blush, with being more savage and cruell then they: or make Pagans and Heathens blush, in being more unjust and unhonest then they: or make the devill and bell blush, to see them more zealous and deepe blasphemers, then they. In these actions all their royalty and cavalerisme consist. What a speciall hand of heaven was that, prevented this Marquesse (whom blood not in his owne veines, but bloud plenteously shed out of all the veines of [Page 4]the North, hath raised to this title of Marquesse) from being governor of it at first, when his Majestie sent him and offered him for that pur­pose to the Towne. The prevention of such a Hornet, that he was not set over his Bee-hive, deserves our tongues to speake as loud as the E­gyptian Magitians, and to say, this was Digitus Dei, the finger of God. For say he had bin the resident ruler here; what an influence of mis­chief would he have sent hence against London, Parliament, and all the places under the rule of well ordered justice and peace? How would this have been the [...], the scumme-pot, into which would have been gathered all the living and working villanie or Atheisme of Dun­kirk, France, Holland, Flanders, &c. And what Country soever would have sent men-beasts, that in a mercenary souldiarie are willing, to sell their soules in any warre, yea will take the pay of hell, to fight against heaven? But blessed be the eye of heaven, that watcht, and the hand of heaven that wrought another way, and brought this key of the king­dome to hang at the Parliaments girdle, that they should not be in an hourely feare of this, as of a Northerne Algiers, or nest of Sea and land Pirates. Why is Newcastle and not Hull in their power, a continuall vexation to the good cause? There is no reason of it, but what lies in Gods breast and bosome, so he liked, so he would have it.

Under Sir John Hotham the Lord began to put this Towne, as a sig­net ring on his finger. How did the Lord animate the Governour and his small forces to stand unappaled before his Majestie, when he comes in his owne person, and with all his power he could then make, to de­mand, nay to command the rendring of the Towne into his power, yet even then God made wormes stronger then the Lion, when Hotham royally stood and feared neither Herald, nor Proclamation, nor the voyce of a provoked King, which is the messenger of death O that this fine gold had never changed! But O the misery of foolish man, made drunke with authority and power! Hotham honoured like a King, fea­red as an Emperour; sitting in peace, that might have had the Country for the good cause wait on his whistle; how has he degenerated and soi­led all his fair burning light, in ending with a ducking down of the soc­ket, breathing at last with a vaporous, & ill savoured exit. Time will try, and justice will boult out (I fore-judge not, nor anticipate our Iudges of this cause.) Whether justly father or son Hotham, or both, be guil­ty of miscarriages in the North, at Yorke, of the Queens entrance u [...] in­terrupted, of Scarboroughs and Chomeleyes base Apostasie, of the West crying out of the rising Sun, and saying, all her miserie came from the East, where Egyptian reeds did not only faile them, but pierce them, [Page 5]and helpe them to be covered in that Chaos of tyranny, wherein that good and goodly Country now lies low and poor, only rich (besides Gods secret favour) in fulnesse of oppressions and cruelty. I leave these servants to the judgement of their master, who will make their sins appeare as mid-night, or their righte­ousnesse as mid-day in due time: I know it is indeed thought and said, in rela­tion to Hotham and Cholmley, that Scorborough and Scarborough are the springs of most of our misery in the North. Let others say as they please, Gods candle in fit season will seeke out darkest corners. Let the just have his righteousnesse for cloathing, and let the unjust be arrayed with his own confusion, and shame as with a cloake. Proceed we to the change of Governours and see miracles, and great peeces of extraordinary providence in that. In one mor­ning gates, walles, block-houses, armes, men, commanders, guns, ships, all that is called strong, is easily and quickly yeelded to the power of the Towne, no bloud-shed, no soule lies gasping, no streets know streames of bloud, but wa­ter, for all this, why, this is wonderfull, friends, kindred, deare ones, in places of trust, yet none resisting, but yeelding up office and power, as being over­come with power and reason for it, or both. So great a thing, so long and strongly setled, so easily altered and turn'd without combustion & broil, would make an Atheist, that saw it, name God and Providence, for that very actions sake. Besides, the enraged Towne, against their suspected Governour, being so calmed into justice, and prudently reserving father and son, to be weighed by the Parliaments ballance, and not precipitately cutting out for themselves, was a speciall favour of God, to honour them with so well a carried businesse. Then loe again the Artifice, and rare working of Architectonicall providence; verily thou art a God that hidest thy selfe O God of Israel the Saviour. At this present, things are thus carried at Hull, the noble Fairfax is in his Western de­clination, and Beverly is ready to be chopt for the pot, by the assaulting enemy. Marke how the wheele runs. From Beverly the enemy is repulsed with shame and losse. But in the West, two or three dayes after, the swarmes of New Ca­stles waspes sting the Armie of the honoured Fairfax, there he and his heroick Sonne, after faire hopes loose the day, quit the field (though to the great cost of the adversary) and leave that noblest part of the Country in the hands of the ignoblest men (if inhumanity be ignobility) where as they were bred and prin­cipled, so they maintain it, there is no good play unlesse some play the devill in it. How have they imitated that infernall paternity of theirs, by being as cru­ell and unmercifull to that worthy people, as hell could make them. Then tho­rough what dangerous pathes and parts of Countries did the Lord bring hono­red Fairfax, and his son, and the remainders of his scattered Army? How did the Lord hard before this fore defeat, make Hull ready for them, whose pray­ers and longings waited for such a Governour at the gates of heaven? Com­pare [Page 6]but the times of these things falling out, that Hul should be made fit to re­ceive a Governour, fit to succour a dispersed people, who fled from a bloudy sword and speare. Let Hull and Western dispersed ones, and the whole king­dome contend about it, which of them has the largest share of fatherly provi­dence in this thing. O the providence is much for us, may Hull say, that we should receive so faithfull and right a Governour in our necessity. It is provi­dence for us may West say, that we should get succour there. It is providence for us, may the whole kingdom say, that so quickly the government was setled there, and though there was so great a wound, yet the Lord quickly prepared a good and great plaister. How deepe is the Lords wisdom in his doings? How can hee strangely, at one and the same time, win and lose, cut and cure, wound and heale, throw downe and raise up his people, and make one and the same cloud both darke and lightsome?

Let the people of God observe it, they never have any notable fall or affliction, but God gives them some notable rise after it, to stand on high ground againe, and to meet with some comfort and blessing succeeding it, of such a depth and latitude, as entered not into their imaginations. And now Rabshakeh railes and Thrasoes boast, and every [...], now opens his mouth, and laughs to see Christ lie loaden with a crosse in the streets of Leedes and Bradford. Now the Irish Prelate, the bishop of Derry, must turne the Psalmes of David into a scornfull Jigge, and must not only abuse the Saints of God, but the Scripture of God. The Ministers pulpit is his stage, which hath bin commonly the: May-pole where scorners of Gods Saints have danced themselvs giddy, and there he pre­tends he will stir them up to give thanks to God, and to God alone, in these words of David: I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my Sword save me, but thou hast saved us from our enemies, &c. Ps. 44.6, 7. But he forgetting his theame, so dotes on his Marquesse, Si pergā ad acuta rerū, plus toge lae­sêre rem­pub. quā toricae. Tertull de pallio. that he must needs make him the bow and the sword, as though he by his care and wise carriage had freed now all York-shire from oppression and from the crushing of the Parliaments friends, and now there was nothing but one poor corner of caitiffs, all sedition and faction now laid gasping within the wals of Hull. Let not Bishops speak of oppression, for they have bin Pharaohs most curst task­masters, set up to afflict the Israel of God. Nor let Yorke be the tribu­nall at this time, to judge the dispersed of Christ, that are met in Hull. After that way, Sr Bishop, which you call sedition, there are such Saints serve God, as the latchet of whose shooes (saving the reverence of your bicorned mi­ter) you are not worthy to loose. Well sedition and faction lies gasping within the walls of Hull; what then? Why then New-castle and his Army must come hither to the funerall of it, if it lie gasping, it will die shortly, and they will be so officious, as to come and close our eyes, and carry us to our grave; or if we [Page 7]be not so neare death, they can think of such a thing as this, Come let us kill them that the inheritance may be ours.

About the 4th of September, that goodly Town of Beverley fals into the hands of a merciles adversary; ours beholding their great numbers, and considering the state of the Town to be such, as it could not be held against them, though our num­bers had bin trebled. Wherupon warning is given to retire and leave it, and some no doubt were to blame, that left some lesser peeces of Ordnance there, and did not timely convey them away, which they might have done. Beverley smarted then on all sides by enemies cruelty, by friends negligence, presently is the Town made bare and stript naked, and compelled to speake largely of the little charity, & mercy of the promoters of the Catholike cause, who are semperidē, inhumane & barbarous. Hard before their coming, one Bushell a kinsman of the infamous Bush­ell (who is filled with more then four pecks of an Iscarioticall spirit) came with a Tinker, himselfe acting a bad mettall man with him, to view both Beverleyes and Huls works, having done it, were at length taken prisoners, and found to be bad mettall. Having swallowed Beverley they make Hull ready for the dresser, and their cursed Cooks made a great fire, hoping this Town should be their roast-meat. They begin their siege, and have all kind of furies redressed with snakes to torment us. With them are come, as goads in their sides, to set them on, and as candles in the darke to guide them, the fox-heads, subtill, cunning, and busie spi­rits of Hull, which she had vomited out, whose names are in the booke of the ge­neration of vipers, which have watring teeth to eat thorough their mothers bow­els. The poor arayed and forced souls are made to tugg and worke worse then the slaves at Adrianople, day and night, to raise Mounts and Works with turves and baskets, to brew our ruine. It will not be amisse, to see how God works the deli­verance of his people with many crosse thrids, and makes a smooth web in the end of that, which has many knots in the beginning. Wheras at their first com­ming we had a spring-tide that might have flown with streams of molestation to them, and hindred their works, if ours could have agreed to cut the banks, and lend them some salt water, yet so it pleased God to divide the consults and con­clusions of men about it, that this is hindred, and therby they exceedingly furthe­red, in hopes to warme themselves at our fire. Nay, when afterward there were found Propositions, upon rationall grounds, of daming up the fresh water, so as it should over-flow very much to the much annoying of them, it may be to losse of all their peeces, and for much comfort to us, out of Town for ground and cattell, for helping them within Towne with sufficiency of fresh waters; yet it pleased the Lord to throw all these devices out. Divine providence bids this humane pro­vidence stand by and step out of the way, that not Joab, but David might have the name of the day. Humane helpe and industrie is good, though oftentimes evil in the abuse, when men make them vails and curtains to hide the divine face, that [Page 8]we do not so much see and admire the beauty of it. God thus in one and the same busines weds together our comfort and his glory, even by those things that seem to forbid the banes. Ours had soon after the beginning of the siege, a sallie out with a good number of men upon them in their quarters at Anlabie, they had some intelligence, though it was early in the morning, ours had some prevalence, and our souldiers some were too busie fingring their carriages, and looking after pocketings, so as though we brought divers of theirs prisoners, and some of them were slain, yet we also had some of ours taken, that we might take our selves for our sin, that must needs pick the Lords day morning for such a work, as we being the assaulters, might have well found another day for it. Every night the enemy gets a fresh worke, and with new incroaches and approaches, comes nigher us, so that in the morning we stand wondring, to see what is done that night. In the space of 6 weeks siege, they seem to have so bestraitned us, as there is no hopes of deliverance; but that their hopes and ours are not alike. The Cater-pillars that follow the campe, are invited from York, and those parts, to come, and carry a­way the plunder of the rich and goodly Town of Hull.

I shall dispatch the particulars of Gods singular providence in the remaining part, to the happy upshot of the busines, by borrowing 15 branches of this salva­tion, as I find them fitly summed upon a Sermon at the low-Church, on the so­lemne day of thanksgiving, and celebration of so rare a peece of providence in the fore-noon, Octob. 18. being the seven-night after, only putting in some additions of inlargement, as quickning colours to make the picture looke more lively. The text discoursed on, as the bellows to blow up the flame of praise was Isa. 25.9. And it shall be said in that day, loe this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoyce in his sal­vation. In which, after many other things the Sermon proceeded to urge rejoy­cing in Gods salvation after this manner. We should not only speake of Gods acts, but as the Prophet David saith, we should wisely consider of Gods doings, and gather up ramenta auri, all the filings and little sparks of gold, because mercies are a singular and rare mettall.

From the 120. Psalm there are 15. Psalms, which are called Psalmes of degrees, which it is thought by some are so called, because there were 15. steps or degrees to that part of the Temple, where men were to worship the Lord, on which the sacred Choristers of divine musick sung these 15. Psalms. How ever that were so or no, our Temple of praise has 15. notable steps or stairs, on which we may stand and sing our Psalms of degrees, which have in them contained so many Hallellu­jah's for so many remarkable branches of our salvation. That we may the better take notice of them, let us gather them together and make them faggots of juni­per or sweet-wood, to kindle our fire of thankfulnesse.

1. The first branch of this salvation, is the speciall providence of God, in making [Page 9]such an union, as souldiers, towns-men, sea-men, strangers were all united closely as one man, to stand couragiously against the common enemy; wheras they with­out did hope there would have bin a division within, and that division would have bin the mother and sure seminary of confusion and ruine. For dividing and destroying commōly go together, as Ps. 55.9. or are but a very little while parted asunder, A kingdome (a town) an house divided against it self cannot stand, Divide and Impera come from the braines of the old divident, who set up a schoole of Arith­metick in paradise, and taught the unhappy rule of division betwixt God and man. Division commonly puts an enemy into the Imperative mood. But blessed be the God of union, who is but one, and made this people of one heart, and one way in this businesse, though a people as likely to fall into bad peeces as any.

2. A second branch, with sweet berries growing on it, was the Lords care to give food to his people and preservation of the mils, which in all probability they might have attempted to beat down, or fire at the first, as well as they attempted it at the last, by raising a work hard behind one of them. Yea though they had pin­ned us fast in 6 weeks together, yet the Lord provided better meat then Quailes, and though we had not Manna from heaven, yet we had rain from heaven, which stood us in very good stead, when our fresh water was cut off. So many Beeves and sheep were preserved from those great cattel stealers, that meat a good while was cheaper in the siege then out of it, and I believe the proud enemy in a great part of the Army, would have licked their lips at our fragments. David thinks we have good reason to praise the Lord with our whole heart, even for giving meat to them that feare him. Ps. 111.1. & 5. verses.

3. A third branch of saving mercy, was in the firing of the North block-house blown up in a part, where the powder-barrels and hand Granado's, ill companions being together, and some fire coming to that Assembly, it blew up with a terrible blast, a part of that strong building, yet for all this Gods power and mercy orde­red it excellently, the Lord commanding the fire and fury to be within on our side and not to the enemies part, that they might have no advantage at all by it. The Lord if he had so pleased might have made a fearefull rupture by it, and opened a gap for them, which they that were so prodigall of mans bloud, would with fury have set upon, though it had cost them a thousand men. Further when the blast in one room had beaten open the window into another, and the flame entered into it, where there were 12. barrels of powder more, and some with loose covers be­ing opened, it pleased the divine dispenser to suspend the flame, and it reverently held and drew back from seasing upon that powder, which in al likelihood might have done far more harm, both to murthering of more men, and dismounting the ordnance. Nor did the enemy scape in this kind, for they had a magazin blown up and their store of Granado's, which they had provided for us. Ours, as it did us some hurt, so it did them no good at all. Blest be the Lord, for so speciall a branch of his salvation.

4. When their great bullets of 35. lb. weight, both roast and raw, hot and cold, came so fast and frequently into the Towne, and all over it, they having a great mark to shoot at, and likely to speed where ever they fell; yet though day and night they came into streets, houses, beds, the Lord so charmed and charged them, that but 3 were slain by them, a man, a woman, and a child. Heaven found strange means, to conjure these bullets into quietnes, and stop their force. One quarrel'd with a poudring-tub, another stuck in paste, which was a providing for food, and was choked in dough; another drunk it self our friend in a barrell of wine; another burnt the bed-clothes, and spared a woman in the bed, so as she slept still soundly and quietly, having so hot a bed-fellow, till she was by neighbours wakened and pulled out from the fiery danger. They aimed at our Churches, when we were met together for the word and prayer, yet never hurt any in the Church, going or returning. But in their quarters and at York fame rang another peale, of many hun­dreds slain in the town, and divers coming to, and going from the Church. We al­low those two Universities of lies, the one of Oxford, the other of York their poe­ticall and lying licence. We have found those two Africaes alwaies bringing forth monstrous things, and lies of a prime magnitude. We are begun to thinke, that it may almost gain the strength of a proverb, that Yorks printer, minter and minster, (when they print or preach of the Parliaments affairs) seldom vent small lies. The souldiers complain of their minter, for minting too much false mony, and for their minsters Sermons, aiming at our cause, they smell very little of truth or charitable divinity; and their printed Pamphlets are notorious. Pardon this digression and going out of the way to cudgell a liar.

5. When they were so neare, as within reach of Granado's as they trusted, yet we heard but only of 3 or 4 of them, and those were either short or over: where they digged deep into guts of earth, but touched not any man. What would they have done, if the Lord had given these hot officers of his anger leave to come into market, Churches, streets, houses, what terrible marks would they have left of their burning and tearing foot-steps.

6. Our issuings out proved mostly succesfull to us, though with small strength, but alwaies hurtfull, to the cost and losse of the enemy, loosing men, and having some worke pulled down by ours, they flying as driven away.

7. Our horse were happily preserved, and safely conveyed into Lincolnshire, when our fresh water & fodder was so little, as staying they should have had short com­mons, and many of them would have perisht being foodles, and all of them would have bin useles, because of the enemies propinquity and nearnesse. God reserved them for another place, where they were serviceable in a glorious victory.

8. When the state of the Town was very depressed, and earthly hopes were at a low nepe, our men being few, and worne out with day labours and night-watch­ings and fightings from their works, there being not sufficient for number to ma­nage [Page 11]the works wel, and clothe the wals, if the enemy should approach nearer. In that very nick of necessity, God sent us a competent number of souldiers, with that good Commander S^r John Meldram, that did exceedingly animate and put fresh spirits into our wearied souldiers, and very much conduce to our great help.

9. When on a sudden, a company of their pickt and resolute spirits, with fury and strength had almost got one of our best works, the west jutty, and were in a man­ner possessors of it, yet ours slew and discomfited them, so as divers of them were slain, some 15. and some taken prisoners. The rest fled away with wounds & shame, as full of cold fear, as they came full of strong water, of which the slain and taken notably savoured, having fired their spirits into a desperatenes with the spirits of hot waters. In all the time God so wrought for us, we held the works we had. And this deserves a finger to point at it, a tongue to praise for it.

10. The Lord pared away from the strength of their numerous Army, by a reig­ning sicknes among them, by the running away of many, and by diverting a part of their forces into Lincolnshire, that they might be something weaker, and more fit for us to deale with them, though still their numbers did treble ours.

11. Marvellous was the Lord in the prevention of their firing the Town & ship­ping, which they were mad to doe, and confident would be done, either by their wild-fire, or wild bullets glowing hot (they imitating the fiery darts of their fa­ther, the wicked one) yet the Lord kept them from lighting on combustible mat­ter, or easily fire-catching stuffe. They were so confident of burning us, that they caused country people divers times to stand on an hill, & promised thē with great oaths and damning language, they should presently see Hull on a light fire, but God sent no fire to consume their sacrifice in token of acceptation. They are served with the Germane proverbe, Deus non audit felium preces, God hears not cats pray­ers to accept them, that is curses and execrations, more unwelcome to God then the harsh cries of cats. No, when their Apostle M. Thruscrosse (who no doubt is wel-pleased that the crosse is found in his name) speaks of winning Hull, he tels them they must fast and pray, or els never thinke to win it: for, saith he, you fight against a praying people. He fore-saw curses, that come from a tongue and heart set on fire of hell, could never set on fire Hull, and therefore he gave them more ghostly counsell. And they report from Pomfret, which I annex, that a man, and they name the man, came from that Town towards Hull, big with expectation and hope to see it on fire, and when he returned he found his own housing fired. So wisely and justly doth God meet with men in unjust and cruell waies. Besides firing, they were by the same providence prevented of blocking up the river, when on Lincolnshires side and Holdernesses, they were begun to make forts, but by some of our men landing were driven away, and the fort was razed down.

12. In compasse of six weeks, all which time they begirt us with that strait and troublesome girdle of a siege, by our sallyings out, and all their bullets sallying in [Page 12]among us, not 60. persons as 'tis thought were slain in all of ours, few or none of note, when 'tis certain of theirs above 2000 are perisht by sword, bullet, sicknesse and abundance of them fairly tryed their heels and deserted them. Some of their Commanders of note, Lieutenant-Col. Levinston, Serj. maj. Boyard, Cap. Knight, and many others, which they conceale from us in the dark book of secrecy, went to their last bed in the dark chambers of death before Hull. Divers of their Captains that had compleat companies went back to York with ragged remains of some 9 or 6 of those they carried out thence, and many in great numbers, grievously wounded to make up their black triumph some went with them, and after them others, to adorne their glorious carriages.

13. It was a notable favour of heaven, that such a resolute and couragious spirit was raised in ours, as that they went out, and set upon the enemy, the wednesday 7 night before, being Oct. 4. and beat them out of two of their works, slew and took some, and brought in many of their muskets, which they running away left. One of those works they h [...]d newly raised behind our wind-mil, which was a ve­ry hopefull one for them, and was likely to be very damagefull to us, had it bin let alone but that night. But God was in some sort visible that day, giving ours pow­er to beat those wild and furious cocks on and off their own dung-hill. And that Wednesday was a fairly ominous preface to the next Wednesday, which was vo­luminous to us in big mercies.

14. Further, when this day of blessings, Oct. 11. the day wheron the siege was rai­sed, was well gone on for us, the other gathering much fresh force, came on for­midably against ours, insomuch as our souldiers are body and soul for a retreat, and shamefull retire. See now how hoavenly providence comes in to succour. Ours were basely timid, and prophecied dangerous things to themselves, from the ene­mies fresh and full appearance, where one sudden cloud of feare, was likely to be the blacke mantle or curtain, to hide the light of a very hopefull day. Some good spirits of Captains and souldiers were as much tormented with shame, to see so sick a fit upon our armie, as the retreaters were tormented with feare; wherupon some Commanders, and by-standing spectators did earnestly beg and beseech they would turn again and face the enemy, and some of the horse couragiously leading the way, and giving a f [...]esh on-set, it animated the foot, where the Spirit of the Lord set up a Standard in their spirits, and they fell on bravely, and out of weaknes were made strong, Heb. 11.34. and turned the enemy into smoake, which fled before them as driven by the wind, shewing many backs, but few faces against ours, in which backs they see faire printed the adversaries defeat, and their own victory. God so blesses this new assault, that they take from them their great guns, 9. of them, some greater, some lesse, beats them from their strong & great works with very little and small losse of ours, in which great pecces and works many of them trusted, more then in the great God. Our Cap. Rainsborow by a mistake was taken, but for him we had many of theirs fell prisoners into our hands.

This 11. of Oct. was a great and glorious day, that such multitudes of men out of many and strong works, from many and great guns should be beaten and driven away by them, that came to assault them in the open field, is a rare example of suc­cesse to the Parlia. battels, and is as notable a peece of pure military valour, as has faln out since the beginning of these wars. The souldiers, that went home by wee­ping and bleeding crosse, doe cry out of our stratagem to retreat on purpose, and then with renewed strength to come and ruine them. Indeed it was a brave stra­tagem and a rare plot, but it was Gods stratagem and a plot of providence, which we never contrived nor thought on, till his waking thoughts brought it about. How comfortably did the whole Towne almost look over the walles that whole day, and see this salvation of God?

15. Lastly, being thus breakfasted on wednesday, that night they sup with fears and curses, and hasty purposes of being gone from us. The Lord on a sudden sweeps them away, they steale away the remaining Ordnance in the night. A spirit of fear lends them wings to fly, they go away with shame, losse and stinging consciences: So that the siege is raised, w^h we expected not; the enemy is gone suddenly, we lookt not for it. Many of them left their muskets and other weapons in the works, and though it was a very sore day of rain, yet away they must, they dare not stay for fair weather. Presently our state is marvellously changed, we heare not of their guns, we receive no more ridings of their fiery bullets, we are deliver'd and yet doubt whether we do but dream of it. How are our fears and foes suddenly vanisht, & we quickly restored to walking on fresh ground, breathing in fresh air, having enough of fresh water, & many comforts our enemies had straitned us in? They gave out they raised the siege, because of the wet weather, & I believe it; for they had some case-shot among them, with store of other bullets; which made that a wet day, though it was very fair, in that it could not but rain good store of bad bloud. God has overcome us and o­verflown us in our desires: we looked but for a little, and the sea of mercy has broke out and drowned us with a deluge and cataclysme of blessings.

The Country mourns, yet God made us to laugh. They are impoverished every way in their mo­nies and goods and men: their best tables, trees, timber are taken and laid in the ditches by the enemy, to help the conveyance of carriages & ordnance from work to work Only their hasty and Eagle-flighted fear has done some this kindnes not intended, that they have filled the barns with corn, and in an unkind kindnes (as having no time to thresh it out, to sell it, or carry it away) have left it for the owners, who finde it, at their repossession, gathered to their hands by servants whom they never set on worke. Nor is this all, God when in his mercy he flows, he overflowes. On the same 11^h of Oct. he gives us a glorious victory in Lincolnshire, as free, fair and full as the most have bin got fince the unhappy hatching of these warrs, so as that day hath given them an astonishing blow, that they have staggered ever since, & know not on what ground to tread, God following them with soul-stupifying terrours. These are the full branches of the Lords saving providence, the first fruits of our expected harvest in this miserable country of York­shire, where some 80 not of the meanest Gentry have proved drunke with the Queens cup, full of Roman intoxicating spice, and have made a mad market-venture of their names, families, estates, bodies, souls, only to preserve the Papists reliques, and the Prelates micers and damaske cassocks a­mong us. Now these furious Salamanders and fansie-frantick spirits, begin to see, their busie acti­on may come to end in miserable passion, because they doted on their lady Mary, & have forsaken the Lord Iesus in his cause. Take we but these 15. acts of grace, put we them together as so many letters, & see if they do not evidently compose these a words, Divine Providence, which ran in & thorow the whole action, & therfore all tongues should sould the divine Praise. Especially ô Hull thou hast by this day faln into great debt to God, who has taken away thine Alastors and Furies [Page 14]from thee. Let thy Motto be that of the L. Boyls in Ireland, as I have heard, Gods Providence is mine Inheritance. Blesse God from the ground of thy heart, that though they were proudly & audacious­ly disposing of thy houses, streets, & great mens estates, thus & thus, this to, that commander, that to this officer, & gladding themselves with the rich spoils of their presently to be caught prey, yet there is not one of the to be found in thy town or houses as possessors, but only as prisoners. What a mercy is it, that thou art not filled with that lustfull and letcherous vermin, with that spawn of cruelty, that to their power would destroy souls as wel as bodies. Let a Minister of ours of good credit witnes their vertues, who being late their prisoner at Cottingham, was carried into a cham­ber, where an Officer of theirs lay in bed with 2 whors at once, and there was another bed at feet, where another lay with another whore. This vertu­ous provost Marshall shewed the whares to him, & told him he did this to vex the round heads, not caring at all, or remem­bring that it vexes God more. Surely Rome has need to send out a new Bull, for the comfort and pardon of these beasts. Without doubt this is the only way to maintain the Liberty of the Subject, & the known Laws of the Land, & these men go the direct way to set up the Protestant Religior. It were well they had grace to purge their hearts, as well as these unholy waies to purge their reins But God hath given them over to act all wickednes with greedines and impudency, so far as they have a famous whore, a minion to one of their. Lords, who goes openly among them with her pistols, & bears the name of one that has a troop. Al these vertues Catholick & Cardinal should have bin acted in thy streets & houses ô Hull, to make thee as miserable a seene as unhappy York. Either study Hallelujabs & holines al thy daies, & set forward some new act of reformation for thy men & manners, to the honour of God, or els thou art the unhappiest Town, that this day stands upon English ground. Set up a royall pillar in the market-place, & in golden letters engrave this delive­rance: or set up an holy statue of heavenly purposes in your hearts, to be a more holy Town, lesse proud, luxurious, &c. or els by this I testifie to all the land, God has some other scourge for thee, to which he will reserve thee, who has hither to preserved thee. O that you were wise, that as God has bin Al for you, so you would be somthing more then heretofore for him, or els this great mercy will undo you. Be perswaded to sing the mercies of this day, so long as you have a day. Call it not the souldiers, nor the seamans work, but only the Lords, who only doth wondrous things. When God is found so much a blessed Dative, Calv. in opusc. in praefat. ad Bald. con. take heed thou be not a cursed and unjust Ablative, as Cal­vin saith, one Baldwin was named for lurching things from his fellow-students.

By this I have endeavoured to lay out in plain colours this large salvation, that the land may know it, and when they heare of extraordinary mercies, they may name Londons mercies, Glocesters deliverance, and Hills salvation. By this, as a performance of my vows in part, I publish the goodnes of God to me and those with me, that under the sha­dow of Divine Feathers were preserved in the circumvallation of Atheisticall and cruell spirits. And by this let me ad­monish all the Lords scattered ones, [...]. 2 Pet. 2.4. who have found the salutary and saving breathings and blasts of the celestial Ze­phyrus of special providence, to fal down & say with Heze. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the fa­ther to the children shal make known thy truth The Lord was ready to save me: ther fore we will sing our songs to the strin­ged instruments all the daies of our life, Isa 38 19, 10 Henceforth let Cavendish remēber the signs in Nottinghamshire, ar­med with his Armes and Motto, Cavendo Tutus. This will be as good a Monitor for setting upon Hull, as for them that enter a Tavern or Ale house: & as it is his own, let him betime draw practicall Rules from it. For his shattered and bullet-batter'd Army, let them flie to their old Letany, From Hell, Hull, Halifax deliver us, and leave out their God damne me, for their damnation in hell will be worse then their confusion at Hull. Nor need they wish it, and so earnest­ly desire it; for S Peter saith, the damnation of such sleeps not, and if it did sleep, I am sure this sect of God damnists are likely to wake it, that it shall have but a short sleep. I conclude with a Text for thee O Kingston upon Hull, com­ment upon this thy deliverance with Ezra's words, and with sutable works. Seeing thou our God hast given us such a deliverance as this, [...] 9.13, 14.should we again break thy commandements, and ioyn in league with the people of these abominations? Wouldst thou not be angry with us, till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor escaping? Admiration was the mother of Philosophy, let it be the mother of your Divinity, in this thing to admire the Lords wonderfull mercy, wisdome and power, that did so act and worke for an handfull of his people, whom he might have thrown out of the way, and there could no Iudge or Iury have found him guilty of any thing for it, but iustice and righteousnesse in the action. Wherefore season all your hearts with sense of unworthinesse on our part, and ample apprehensions of goodnes on his part, that the flame within and without, may alwaies keep you in heat with this fire, burning you up with admiration of spirit, and exaltation of God, both in language and life, till you be ready to live and die in Da­vids temper, Ps 72, 18.19. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doth wondroue things. And blessed be his glori­ous Name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.