Dagon demolished: or, Twenty admirable examples of Gods severe justice and displeasure against the subscribers of the late engagement, against our lawfull soveraign King Charls the second; and the whole House of Peeres, in these words. I do declare and promise, that I will be true and faithfull to the common-wealth of England, as it is now established without a King or House of Lords. Also against some of the judges of the late King in the high court of injustice. Published, to reclaim such fanatique persons, who have been too forward to promote this wicked, destructive engagement; and still designe it, which hath wounded the consciences of so many Godly Christians in this kingdome. By that late worthy patriot of his country, Mr. John Vicars.

Dagon demolished: or, Twenty admirable examples of Gods severe justice and displeasure against the subscribers of the late engagement, against our lawfull soveraign King Charls the second; and the whole House of Peeres, in these words. I do declare and promise, that I will be true and faithfull to the common-wealth of England, as it is now established without a King or House of Lords. Also against some of the judges of the late King in the high court of injustice. Published, to reclaim such fanatique persons, who have been too forward to promote this wicked, destructive engagement; and still designe it, which hath wounded the consciences of so many Godly Christians in this kingdome. By that late worthy patriot of his country, Mr. John Vicars.

Dagon demolished: or, Twenty admirable examples of Gods severe justice and displeasure against the subscribers of the late engagement, against our lawfull soveraign King Charls the second; and the whole House of Peeres, in these words. I do declare and promise, that I will be true and faithfull to the common-wealth of England, as it is now established without a King or House of Lords. Also against some of the judges of the late King in the high court of injustice. Published, to reclaim such fanatique persons, who have been too forward to promote this wicked, destructive engagement; and still designe it, which hath wounded the consciences of so many Godly Christians in this kingdome. By that late worthy patriot of his country, Mr. John Vicars.

Table of contents

Title page

The Stationer to the Reader.

The Westminsterian Engagement.

The summe or substance of the penalty of not subscribing it.

The Observation on this Penalty, for non-subscribing the Engagement.

Twenty admirable examples of Gods displeasure against Subscribers of the Engagement, and complices with the late Power.

POSTSCRIPT. Unto this I shall onely add two Quaeries.

§

§

§

[Page]

DAGON Demolished: OR, Twenty Admirable Examples of Gods Severe Justice and Displeasure against the SUBSCRIBERS of the late ENGAGEMENT, against our Lawfull Soveraign KING CHARLS the second; and the whole House of PEERES, in these words. I do Declare and promise, that I will be True and Faithfull to the Common-wealth of England, as it is now Established without a KING or House of LORDS.

Also against some of the Judges of the late King in the High Court of Injustice.

PUBLISHED, To Reclaim such Fanatique persons, who have been too forward to promote this wicked, Destructive ENGAGEMENT; and still designe it, which hath wounded the Consciences of so many Godly Christians in this Kingdome.

By that late Worthy Patriot of his Country, Mr. John Vicars.

Eccles. 10. 20.

Curse not the King, no not in thy thought. God hath Woollen feet, but Iron hands. Aug.

London, Printed by T. Mabb, for Edward Thomas, and are to be sold at the Adam and Eve in Little-Brittain, 1660

The Stationer to the Reader.

[Page]

Kinde Reader,

THis Ensuing Narration came to my hands casually, from a Christian friend of Mr. Iohn Vicars, lately Deceased; from whom he had it, being written with his own hand; The end of Publication is, that God may have the Glory, and that all true Christian Protestants may Receive some benefit by it, which is the unfeigned prayer of,

thy Friend, E. T.

The Westminsterian Engagement.

[Page]

January 2. 1649.

I Doe Declare and promise, that I will be true and faithfull to the Common-wealth of England, as it is now established without a King or House of Lords.

The summe or substance of the penalty of not subscribing it.

BE it enacted by Authority of Parliament, that whatsoever person or persons shall refuse the taking or subscribing of this Engagement, shall be disabled to hold or enjoy any Place or Office of publique trust, profit, or employment whatsoever; And that if he do continue therein without any such subscription as aforesaid, contrary to this Act of Parliament; he shall forfeit all such offices, places or employment and profits whatsoever; and shall forfeit also double the value of such profits and benefits as they shall have received and taken as aforesaid: And for default of distresse and sale of such offenders goods, the offender to be imprisoned, till the said [Page] forfeitures be fully satisfied and paid. And it is further enacted and declared, that all and every person or persons so offending as aforesaid, is, are and shall be uncapable of Voting or giving his suffrage or consent in the choice or election of any Officer or Magistrate in the City of London or else where, within the Common-wealth of England. And shall also be uncapable of the benefit of Law from any Courts of Justice of this Commonwealth, in any manner of Plea whatsoever, between Plaintiff and Defendant, in or for any Suit, Plaint, Bill, Action, Information, Writ, Demand, Execution, or any other processe whatsoever, except onely in case of Treason, Felony, or breach of the peace and good behaviour.

The Observation on this Penalty, for non-subscribing the Engagement.

THe sum of the aforesaid penalty, amounting to thus much, that every person whatsoever, that subscribes not their Engagement, is made an absolute Out-lawed person, unable to help himself, or to be holpen by any, against any wrongs or injuries whatsoever, done to his person or estate, except as before, by them excepted. Such a cruelty and tyranny as never was heard of in this Kingdome, nor in any Nation, or well governed State, or Common-wealth in Christendome; especially to be enacted or executed upon any of their Natives, or free Denizens, though never so foul or hainous offenders (much lesse upon their pious, peaceable and most honest people) save onely among the Antichristian Romanists, against those whom they call and counted Hereticks.

[Page] Wherefore since the Saints godly party at Westminster (as they most audaciously and falsly call themselves) and all the rest of their most hypocriticall adherents have been so bold thus to set up this Dagon by Gods Ark, and their posts by Gods posts, and so deceitfully to glory and triumph in their pretended Providences and successes, ever since their, thus, setting up this Dagon, the Westminsterian Engagement, in opposition to the Nationall Covenant. I shall here, now (therefore) give the godly and impartiall Reader, divers most remarkable examples, and apparent Demonstrations of Gods evident and eminent wrath and indignation, expressed against them ever since their setting up their said Dagon, in these most memorable and remarkable examples, following:

Twenty admirable examples of Gods displeasure against Subscribers of the Engagement, and complices with the late Power.

1. THen consider, admire and wonder, that upon the very first day of the publication of the Act for taking the Engagement, which was January 4, 1650. in the evening of that same day, did that most terrible and fearfull fire by Gun-powder break forth at Barkin-Church, neer the Tower of London, the like to which was never seen or heard of before, in or about the said City, in which were most suddenly blown up and destroyed above a hundred houses, and above 120. persons most lamentably kill'd and destroyed, and their Carkases miserably torn in pieces; among whom was Lievtenant Col. Smith, one of Sir Hardress Wallers chief sticklers, to pull the secluded members out of the House of Commons in Parliament. And was not this a most fearfull forerunner [Page] and heavy Harbinger of the wofull effects of this their immediately following Engagements.

2. One Mr. Mosty Minister of in Essex having taken the engagement (and that in his own sense and limitations, to his best content, as he thought) yet was immediately after so perplexed and distracted in his Conscience, that he could neither Preach nor Pray, nor be at any quiet or peace within himself, till he had procured liberty to race out his name from under the Engagement: whereunto he had subscribed it.

3. One Col. Russell, a great favourite and Commissioner in the Army, after his taking of the Engagement, was so vexed and distracted in his soule, that he confessed to some of his religious friends (himself also being lookt upon as a very religious Gentleman) that immediately upon his taking the Engagement, he found by evident symptomes, that the Devil took actuall possession of him, and made him desperately prone to commit any notorious villany whatsoever, even to the ravishing of his own maid-servant; but afterward gave most eminent testimonies of his true repentance, and abhorrence of his taking of it.

4. One Mr. Edward Fisher, a very tender consciencious Christian, and godly Citizen of London, in the Old-baily, having taken the Engagement, and though in his own sense and limitations (as he thought to his full content) yet presently after, being extreamly grieved and perplexed in spirit, for that he had done, therein laboured to Alderman Allen to have his name raced out, but could not be permitted, to the increase of his great grief; and thereupon fell into great distresses and trouble of Conscience, and into pyning and languishing sicknesse, caught a great fall in his house, which put his shoulder [Page] out, of what, and lying in continuall distresse and perplexity of spirit, complaining still of his taking the Engagement: thus pining and languishing away, he shortly after died.

5. One Mr. Hall of St. Needs in Huntington-shire, having been a most eminent professor of Religion, and extraordinarily gifted in Prayer, and godly conference; afterwards complying with the times, taking the Engagement, and turning a great stickler with the Army; at last, turned a very So [...] in matters of Religion; and one night going forth of his house in an out-room hang'd himself, and there was found the next morning.

6. One Mr. Midgeley a School-master in Ouldham neer Manchester in Lancaster-shire, having been an Engager, and great prosecutor of his eminently godly Minister, Mr. Constantine, and having been writing (one night) divers accusations, and such like papers against his said Minister, whereunto he was hired by one Mr. Ashton a Justice of Peace of the same Parish, and by diverse other eminent enemies of the said Mr. Constantine, because he would not take the Engagement; and they having paid the said Mr. Midgeley for his pains; and he going home that night, there having been a great snow on the ground, and the weather very bitter cold, he was the next morning found dead in the snow, and onely his finger and thumb of his right-hand, eaten or bitten off from his hand.

7. Also the aforesaid Mr. James Ashton of Chadarton in the said Parish of Ouldham, once a desperate Malignant in the first War against the Parliament, but afterwards having made his peace, taken the Engagement, and turned a great stickler for the present times; was made a Justice of Peace, and became one of the aforesaid Mr. Constantine's greatest [Page] enemies, sequestred the said Mr. Constantine out of his Living, and for the cause aforesaid, the refusing the Engagement, imprisoned, and after banished him out of the County; and after this, hearing that Mr. Constantine had preached twice or thrice in the Country, he summoned him again to appear before him, intending to have punished him sorely for his presumption: But in the mean season, it pleased the Lord to strike this Mr. Ashton (who before had been a Gentleman naturally very healthfull, and of a strong constitution of body) into such a languishing sicknesse, as made him daily pine away; so as no means or physick could help him, and (which is most remarkable and fearfull) before his death, he became so full of Lice, continually, that all the shift and attendance that possible was used, could not cleanse him from this filthy Vermine; and thus either upon the day before or the day after Mr. Constantine's coming to Ouldham, to make his personal appearance before him, the said Mr. Ashton thus miserably departed this life.

8. One Mr. Bray Minister of Michaels in Lancashire, having once been a very zealous Presbyterian to see too; at last, for the gaining of an Augmentation to his Living, took the Engagement, turned a great zealot for the Independent Faction, and immediately after, an Order comming for the pulling down of the late Kings Arms in Churches; he was so hot therein, that he would needs (as he did) pull them down himself, and sent the boards, on which the Kings Arms were painted, home to his house, intending to have made a doore of them, to one of his rooms of his house; but it pleased the Lord presently to strike him with a sudden and violent sickness, whereof he presently dyed, and those boards were made his Coffin to bury him in.

[Page] 9. One Sir Thomas Martin, Knight of Cambridge shire, an Engager and a great Complyer with the times, having been a hunting in Holmby-Park, and the Deer being faln, stuck and opened, and he desired (together with the other Gentlemen) to wash his hands in the Deers blood; No (said he) I had rather wash my hands in the blood of the young King of Scots. And immediately after this, riding home the same Day at Evening, his Horse very suddenly and violently threw him, in which fall, he pitch't on his head, mortally brake his Skull, and shoulder, of which wounds he very shortly after died.

10. The Constable of Shaw in Lancashire, four miles from Manchester, having taken the Engagement, was presently after so perplexed in Conscience, that notwithstanding all the Godly Exhortations, and Comforts administred unto him by godly neighbour Ministers, yet the apprehension of Gods wrath, for what he had done therein, so increased upon him, that he fell distracted, and so continued many weeks together.

11. Also one M. Rich. Smith Minister of Stoke, Prior in VVorcestershire, having taken the Engagement for the procuring of an Augmentation to his Living, returning home from London after he had taken it, fell presently into such a frighting horrour of Conscience and Distraction of his Senses, that he had oft endevoured to beat out his own brains; But at last recovered his Sences by Gods great mercy repented bitterly of what he had done, and thereupon in peace departed this life in a sickneess which then took him.

12. Dr. Doris [...]aus, the Westminsterians Juncto's first [Page] Embassadour, sent from them into Holland, and therefore no doubt a great Engager, and desperate Complyer in all things with them, as in the Kings death; being arrived in Holland, was therein immediately and suddenly assaulted and murthered as he sate at dinner in his house.

13. Also Mr. Anthony Ascham, a Gentleman of excellent parts, being sent (as the Juncto's the Embassador) into Spain, very shortly after his arrival there at Madrid, was in his own house there suddenly and most furiously set upon and assaulted, by divers desperate English Caviliers, and he and his Interpreter was hen and there murthered.

14. Collonel Rainsborow, a mighty Engager and prime stickler for the power at Westminster, a desperate header of the Levellers, & Admiral of the Navy at Sea, was suddenly also assaultéd by a company of Caviliers at Pomfrait town in Yorkshire in an Inne, and there murthered by them.

15. Mr. Tho. Hoyle, formerly lookt upon as a very pious and strictly religious Gentleman, an Alderman of York, and Member of the Parliament; but afterward having taken the Engagement even against his conscience, and turned a great complyer with them at Westminster: Not long after, it pleased the Lord so to leave him to himself, that on the very same day 12 moneth, that King Charles was beheaded, yea as near as possible could be judged about the very same houre of that day this Gentleman hang'd himself in his own house at Westminster, and was found stark dead by his woeful wife when she came home, having been abroad that morning.

[Page] 16. Mr. Shereman a Citizen and Silkman in Pater-Noster-Row in London, who had formerly been lookt on as a godly and religious Gentleman, had been a Tryer and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church Government, a singular good friend to Mr. Love; then his Pastour; but afterward he turning with the times took the Engagement, and that in form of an Oath, whereupon he was made a Common Council man, turn'd a desperate enemy, and hater of the said M. Love, who shortly after being in his shop with his wife, as perfectly well as ever ever in his life, yet in the Evening standing at his counter in his shop, and his wife close by him, he suddenly sunk down by her stark dead, and never spake one word after it.

17. Also Collonel Ven a Citizen of London, formerly a great Professor of Religion, and a long time Mr. Love's precious dear friend, and a Member of the House of Commons in Parliament; but being turned with the times, was a great Engager and mighty stickler for, and with them at Westminster; yea, he proved afterwards a most bitter enemy to the Presbyterian Ministers of London, and upon occasion used those words against them, Viz. They at VVestminster should never be at quiet, till they had provided a pair of shooes and a staffe for the turbulent Presbyterian Ministers of London, and banisht them out of the Kingdom: But it pleased the Lord, that on the very next day after that horrible abuse and banishment done to Mr. Jenkin then Minister of Christ-Church London, in both sequestring him out of his said Living, and banishing him out of the City, wherein this Coll. Ven had a hand also, and had most churlishly carried himself toward Master Jenkin in the Committee [Page] even that day, whereon this godly Minister was so censured, which was July the 6. 1650. being Thursday. It pleased the Lord, I say, that Master Ven next Friday following, July 7. and at night, this Coll. going to bed, as perfectly well and in health, as ever in his life, and his wife lying by him, he fell asleep by her immediately, and slept soundly without any complaint of the least distemper, but the next morning about 6. of the clock his wife awaking, found him starke dead by her in the bed, never having made the least groan, or spoken one word to her since the day before. And thus God banished him first out of the Land of the Living.

18. One Sir Henry Holcroft, why had formerly been a great Professour of Religion, and to see too a practiser of the power of Godlynesse, but afterwards drew back and Apostatized to the Independent Faction, took the Engagement, and fell into great complyance with them, being a Committee Gentleman, and acting strenuously for them. But immediatly after this, it pleased the Lord, that he fell into a sore disease, and much and often bleeding at his nose and mouth, and so continued all the time of his said sinful complyance with them, and at last fell into such fits of extreme bleedding, and strongly vomiting up even of gobbets of blood at his mouth, and flowing out of blood at his nose with such unstintable violence, that he most sadly departed this Life, in one of the extreme fits thereof.

19. In August 1650. Barron Rigby, a most desperate Enemy to the Presbyterians Church Discipline, as being a great Independent together with Baron Yates, the two Judges [Page] for the Assizes then held at Chalmsford in Essex, two grand Engagers (as every one may know) and deep complyers with the VVestminsterian power: They both being at Chalimford, and hearing the Assize Sermon preach't before them, the Godly Ministers Text being out of Luke the 16. 2. Give an account of thy Stewardship, for thou maist be no longer Steward. Immediately after this Sermon, it pleased the Lord to strike Judge Rigby with present sickness, so as that they could not keep the Assizes there, but were forced to adjourn it, promising and hoping to come again and finish it there, and went thence to Croydon in Surry to hold the Assizes there; but having begun to sit, both Judge Rigby his sickness so increased upon him, and the like sicknesse suddenly so assaulted Judge Yates also, and with such violent pain and great distemper upon them both, and also upon the High Sheriffe of Surry then present with them, who also was smitten with the same sicknesse, at that time that the Assizes was enforced to cease there also, and they all three were speedily conveyed away thence to London, where they all three died immediatly after, even within a seven nights space, or thereabout, of a most violent pestilential Fever; and very many more of their Clerks, Officers, and Attendants on the said Assizes died also at the same time, (as was generally, and most credibly informed and reported, and I my self know one Captain Hindely, one of Judge Rigby's chief Clerks or Officers (who died at the same time) immediately upon the very same time of these Judges death. A most remarkable and fearful Example of Gods wrath upon Engagers and sinful Complyers with workers of iniquity. [Page] VVoe woe therefore to all Apostatizing Temporizers, and perfidious Backsliders, Heb. 10. 38. And as is further most evident in those Scriptures, beneath following.

20. I shall conclude all with the memorable Example of Gods Divine Justice upon Lockyer, an Active Agitator and Leveller in the Army, who had a principal hand in seising and bringing the King to his death, Cried out, Justice, Justice, Justice, openly against him, and spit in the Kings face in VVestminster-Hall as he was going to his Tryal, before his condemnation, Conducted him to the Block; and was shortly after condemned in a Counsel of War by some of the Kings own Judges, and shot to death as a Mutinier in PaulsChurch-yard London. Also John Lilburn's double Tryal for his life; soon after, a grand stickler against the House of Lords: The proceedings against Saxbey, Syndercombe, and other Levellers, who were chief Instruments to bring the King to Justice; and the Grand Opposers of the House of Lords: Also the Imprisonments and sufferings of M. G. Harrison, Collonel Rich, Collonel Okey, Lord Grey of Grooby, and others of the Kings condemners, who were all Engagers against the King and House of Lords.

May it not awaken the stupid seared Consciences of all those now living, who had any hand in these Tragedies and Engagements against King and Parliament, to bring them to speedy and sincere publick Repentance for them; Lest they fall into the like Terrors or Judgements, as others that have so wilfully ingaged against King and House of Lords?

POSTSCRIPT.
Unto this I shall onely add two Quaeries.

[Page]

WHether those persons that are living, that took upon themselves the Name, Stile, and Title of the Parliament of England, Scotland and Ireland, (though by their Writs by which they Sate, they were but the fragments of the Parliament of England only) beheaded their Lawful Protestant King, banished his Posterity, overturning our antient Government it self, Consisting of King, Lords and Commons, which Constitution continued many hundreds of years, and was the best and fittest for these Nations that could be, and brought the Nation into such a Labyrinth and Confusion, by endevouring to set up an Utopian Common-wealth, a mere New-Nothing; VVhether the persons may not justly fear they may fall down Quick into Hell, or fall into the same Exemplary Terrors, Judgements, and self Executions with others, if they repent not for their Abominations.

2. VVhether These men that set aside and repealed the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance as unlawful Oaths, which themselves took, or ought to take before they sate in the Commons House; and also the Protestation, Solemne League and Covenant made in Pursuance of them, and Diametrically contrary to these Oaths, to set up a New Engagement, to which every one must Subscribe to be true and faithful to their New Common-wealth, without King or House of Lords, bringing all English Freemen into a New Premunire, which thousands of our Godly Protestant Ministers, Gentry and Freemen refused to take; whether these men that can swallow all kind of Oaths, though directly contrary one to the other; Neither reverence God or Man, are fit persons to be Trustees for the Nation in this Time of Eminent Danger, now the Nation groans under so many Oppressions and Dangers.

§

§

[Page]

Hebrewes 6. 4, 5, 6. It is impossible for those who were once enlightned, and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the Powers of the World to come; If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucifie to themselves the Son of life afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Jude 11. 12. Woe to them, for they have gone in the way of Kain, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. They are Trees whose fruit is withered, Twice dead and plucked up by the roots.

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

Dagon demolished: or, Twenty admirable examples of Gods severe justice and displeasure against the subscribers of the late engagement, against our lawfull soveraign King Charls the second; and the whole House of Peeres, in these words. I do declare and promise, that I will be true and faithfull to the common-wealth of England, as it is now established without a King or House of Lords. Also against some of the judges of the late King in the high court of injustice. Published, to reclaim such fanatique persons, who have been too forward to promote this wicked, destructive engagement; and still designe it, which hath wounded the consciences of so many Godly Christians in this kingdome. By that late worthy patriot of his country, Mr. John Vicars.

Vicars, John, 1579 or 80-1652.

Edition statement

1660

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A95883

ID [STC]

Wing V298

ID [STC]

Thomason E1021_2

ID [STC]

ESTC R208354

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99867311

ID [PROQUEST]

99867311

ID [VID]

119618

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A95883)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 119618)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 151:E1021[2])

Source

— Dagon demolished: or, Twenty admirable examples of Gods severe justice and displeasure against the subscribers of the late engagement, against our lawfull soveraign King Charls the second; and the whole House of Peeres, in these words. I do declare and promise, that I will be true and faithfull to the common-wealth of England, as it is now established without a King or House of Lords. Also against some of the judges of the late King in the high court of injustice. Published, to reclaim such fanatique persons, who have been too forward to promote this wicked, destructive engagement; and still designe it, which hath wounded the consciences of so many Godly Christians in this kingdome. By that late worthy patriot of his country, Mr. John Vicars., Vicars, John, 1579 or 80-1652..

Extent

16 p.

printed by T. Mabb, for Edward Thomas, and are to be sold at the Adam and Eve in Little-Brittain,. London :: 1660.. (Thomason E.1021[2].) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "April. 12".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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