For the Right Honorable, The Councel of State.
From the Lady Eleanor, Octo. 1649.
AS known to all, the true way or touch-stone, other none to try them by, but that Salt the life of all things, All things whereby were instituted, without which (his word the Way and the Truth; where Legions of division the like unknown, a like possible to expect peace one with another, as to thrid Needles with a Cable, or in a day build Pauls.
And so behold, all like as when stung by fiery Serpents, were healed by another in that likenes; also of those Legions entred into that wilde man, as ensues, a taste or tryal of them tendred [Page 3]to these restless days, wherein every man in his proper language, hears the wonderful word of God, as in a chrystal mirror presenting the visage of the present, extracted from that distracted MANS recovery, sent hither to Preach (askt What his name was?) declaring What God had done for him (no infant or babe) directed to the Gentiles, a light for the last days, as though askt Great Britain, and Germany, their Names should answer Gergesens, they both a compound of it; from Gadarens as also derived Gallia or France (lying over against England) as that Region over against Galilee; so Whether thence comes any good thing, like that saying of old: Also former Marriages (what successes have had) who wots not, [Page 4]shall come to the matter (Mat. 8. c.) of our Saviors pilgrimages or weary progresses.
And when he was come to the other side of the Countrey of the Gergesens, there met him two possest with Devils, which came out of the Graves, very fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And the devils besought him, &c. and he said, Go; whereof in a paraphrasing way thus proceeding, verily their pass for Gravesend those twain Rup. and Maurice, returned to Grave Maurice, Cousen Germain with the Boors, issue of the late Palsgrave of the Rhyne, that German Prince turned out of his Countrey, making in the Low Countries his abode, whose Offspring those furies or fiends broken loose here, sent home again: To [Page 5]this day which Family are constantly visited with a Spirit before the death of them, a thing known to all; and thus as though a Babe new born should speak the hardest Names.
Mark 5. on this wise going on with it, of the aforesaid unclean spirits baptized in the lake, &c. certainly emblem of the Gentiles being return'd to wallow in the mire, as waters of troublesom times giving warning; where thus, And when he was come out of the ship, there met him incontinently out of the Graves a MAN that had an unclean spirit, who had his abiding amongst the Graves, bound with fetters and chains, &c. neither could by any man be tamed, his Ghost (as it were) that Bear Canterbury, brought so often to the stake or Bar on his knees; where [Page 6]beside his Habitation, where those Monuments in Cathedrals, whose House at Lambeth with its scituation not onely pointed to, but of its denomination borrow'd from the house of Bethlam, otherwise called Bedlam: As his Name withal whence derived from the Grave-maker or Sextons Office, their digging or opening vaults, not unlike to be one of his Godfathers; so much of his raving fit, that bad our Savior avoid: foreshewing had those times been in his, had given him that oath of forswearing himself, or his own accuser to be, as forced no few in that undue kinde, his own Obligation so well observing, questioned not his spirit of continency, any more then whether the name Puritans a persecutor of, or [Page 7]given Judas pass, gone to his own place, Canterbury the last of his name on a Friday executed, the day on which our Lord was buried for his long service, that in a field Gules gives the Halter or rope, from henceforth a chain left to hang their Keys in. And so much for him and them both answering, For we are many fryers, whose twelve Godfathers withal besought, (as it were) Him not to torment he adjures them; which concerns more then any Lord Majors Oath, or his Show on the water.
So each in his order, where follows Great Britains last King, or Englands late Tyrant, into whom many Devils were entred from several parts; but one above the rest (no short time) vext with most, whereof [Page 8] Luke 8. thus, And when he WENT to land, there met him a certain MAN out of the City, which had a Devil a long time, and he ware no clothes, neither abode in house, but in the Graves, and he commanded the foul spirit to come out of the man, for oft-times it caught him, &c. therefore he was bound in fetters, as the cause of his binding shews; so from those words, that it came out of the man, as much to say, a woman, his Vasthi put away or departed, bereft of the Breeches, &c. in recompence Crown'd by her Servant German. And so much for this misled Man, went away from his House of Parliament and Hampton-Court, turned out of City-houses and Country both, took up his restless Lodging among the slain in the field, afterward in [...]