MAIOR LINDESY'S LEGACIE. Aprill 25. 1645.
Bequeathed to his Country-men, the Scottish-Commanders, and his Fellow-Souldiers and Sufferers in this Terrestriall Warrfare.
It being found in his Tronke after his Death, in the forme of a Letter; VVith this SUPERSCRIPTION following:
For his noble worthy Friends and Country-men, the Scottish-Commanders in the Parliament service.
Deliver not this Letter till J be in my Grave, and then J pray You conveene these Gentle-men together, and deliver it unto them as my last WILL: And here-with present my LOVE unto them ALL.
MArs never met upon Pernassus hill
At Randevouse; nor did hee dip his quill
In Helicon, thence to extract that Art
Which Poets need, his Offpring to impart.
Expect not then, expressions from my pen
To please the Criticke, nor those curiousmen
Who love to Carpe; I only leave to thee
That all I have by way of Legacie,
It is not Gold, nor treasure evill got.
My just designes, such Shaddowes followed not,
But 'tis experience fetched from a farr,
Bought with my life and blood in forraine Warr.
I spent the prime time of my age abroad
In serving Kings, hut still observing God
I spar'd no paines, but spent my dearest blood
To learne knowledge, for my Countries good,
Nor did I loose the labour I bestow'd,
Such as imploid mee paid me what they owde:
Rewarding mee with what I could desire,
The Workeman being worthy of his hire.
Thus being fraught with knowledge and reward;
Returned here in couscience and regard
Into this Kingdome joyning heart and hand
To doe them service by my best command:
Which I perform'd; unchalleng'd for offence,
Not wronging any on the least pretence.
Remembring still, the duty of that Oath,
Wherein the Kingdomes are united both;
To save our Soveraigne, and maintaine the Lawes,
The Subjects freedome, and the publique cause,
For this I fought, induring to the death,
Am hated therefore with a world of wrath,
Would fast a Weeke, have neither meat nor drinke,
But all was for the cause then you must thinke.
Deare Countrey Men in this, let me advise you,
Let neither wrongs, nor want of Pay intice you
But suffer still though ye be scourgd and scant
Your neighbours have enough, though ye may want;
Yet you must not envie, that were a sinne
We suffer for the cause we did begine:
Goe on, indure, have patience, Fast and Pray,
And be not wearied doing well I say,
The cause is Gods, good brethren be not sory,
Ye know this life's but vaine and transetory,
What then, although you have not meat, nor drinke?
Nor Money, What? you must not alwayes thinke
To have those things, ye know the Poore and Lame
Shall have reward, God only thinkes on them.
Forsake your countries, Houshold, Wives, and friends
And be not alwaies for your Private ends,
And though they chide you; they are not angtie ever
'Tis but to try if you will still persever,
They correct them whom they love and chasten too
Their dearest child Indulgent friends so doe;
Yet dare I not condemne you for your feare
To see me lie and starve for hunger here
For I protest, I thought my sufferings good,
Till I had Paunde my very Clothes for food;
But being Naked, Hungrie, sicke, and Poore,
I could not then for shame goe to the doore.
Doe not therefore as I did, lie not still
Untill ye starve, but labour to fulfill
The Scripture, saying pray; they bid you too
To use the meanes, as well as prayer allow:
The Scripture bids you, Knock, and Seeke, and Aske,
And you shall have, this is an easie taske,
I know ye aske but then you aske amisse.
Ye aske not all in faith you faile in this
Are not your Judges just? why doe yee then
Not speake in time; they'r Gods as well as men,
Then God forbid that men should be debat'd,
The Just will ever give the Just reward,
But tell them this, the will of him that's dead,
That what they mind to give, they give with speed:
And that they send you not to seeke Debenters.
The Auditors, are tedious Male-Contenters.
My fatall houre prevented my desire
If I had liv'd, I had had all my hire:
But as I doe assigne you to those things,
Which wofull time, and my experience brings.
Even so I bid you be not slack to send
And seeke your due; they swore for to defend
Each one the other suffering for the cause,
They will not breake their Covenant, and their Lawes,
But if you wait, and wait as I did doe,
Yee cannot tell what may befall you too,
Thus have I runne my race, and writ my will
I pray you then be carefull to fulfill,
Those things you came for Brethren; So I end,
And humbly doe my Spirit recommend
Unto it's Maker, and pray's you if you can
To bury mee, Even like an honest man.
And so farewell, remember what I said,
Ye'ill live and dye the better, that ye'er paid
Lindesy's last farewell.
Printed by T. Paine, 1645.