time They ar mustering now of Sathans regiment Their plot is lay'd hope feeds their vild intent When time shall be into combustion thrown And falsehoods nurse to hostile actions growne Wars thunder then when it shaâ—â—â—â—â—l shake the world People shal be into amasement whorld A scaâ—â—â—â—â—let horce shal stomble and fall downe And after him a triple hallowed crowne The beast whose legges of claye and Irone wrought Must be vnto a feareful ruine brought Because Gods tâ—â—â—â—â—uth for to defile he sought He and his sea shall wast and come to nougâ—â—â—â—â—t 〈◊〉 seat doeth shake and reele I see him â—â—â—â—â—alling The wounded monster on the earth lies scravvling He gapes for breath strangled himselfe he choakes About his eares his painted Pallace smoakes Downe tumble must that triple crowned whore Once falâ—â—â—â—â—e her fall not any shall deplore But those that would her spotted garments weare Whose foreheads doe the marke of Dagon beare The Champions all which would the best maintaine Shall at his feete by conquering swords be slaine Gog ouerthrowne Magâ—â—â—â—â—g shall thinke to come With fire and sworde through glorious Christendome From Eâ—â—â—â—â—phrates and Tygris then shal â—â—â—â—â—ise A strength that will our tyrants tyrannise Arabians Gulâ—â—â—â—â—e to Percias Gulfe shall flow From whence a high reard softly floud shall grow Whose Sea like waues from thence to Fes shall roule Downe tumbling all that would their force controule Râ—â—â—â—â—uenge and death to warâ—â—â—â—â—es alarums leades The Eagles last continued monstrous heads The mountaine VVolâ—â—â—â—â—es froÌ„ Christian bounds cald hence Christians then by force shall driue them thence And Christendome whilst God her peace doth shield Shall striue aright in her Gods house to build That she may teach the nations thus to say Her Christ is God we will his lawes obay Our Bishops then the truth shall ratifie In order chiefe not in authoritie And that Religion shall stand most beloued Whose rule is best by Scriptures truth approoued And for a Iudge a Church finde out we can That knew the truth before the Pope began Then shall the Church be built on Peters faith And that beleeue which holy Scripture saith Then shall Gods Church her strength and glory see When Christ alone her corner stone shall be Aboue Gods word shall then be raisde no head By Christ their Sheapheard shall his flock be lead Such Vnion shall the Northren Prince contriue As Christians shall no more with Christians striue Then Christendome shall all her power bestow By force to worke the Pagans ouerthrow All Christian Princes will themselues protect As shall the Northren Prince their course direct And now me thinkes I see a glorious sight A Christian Armie shining wondrous bright Marching in warres 〈◊〉 fit for fight In the defence of their Redeemers â—â—â—â—â—ight The Northren Emperour doth the red crosse beare To whoâ—â—â—â—â—e command the armie craues to sweaâ—â—â—â—â—e With 〈◊〉 bloud their warlike weapons staines 〈◊〉 fields and faire Hungarian plaines Whilst 〈◊〉 Ismael and the cursed seed Doe striue to make each others breast to bleed Working that worke for which they were compouÌ„ded That each by other may be with warre consounded The tâ—â—â—â—â—mperour of the North that Prince of fame Brings Christendome into her wonted frame And all that did vnto that Empire bend At last shall back vnto that state descend Empires and Kingdomes shall at once recoile And bend their strength to worke their spoilers spoile Those lockt vp Deuils in wildest Mountaines bred Whom Christian hands from thence deliueted To whom at first the Sarazens gaue pay By whom at last themselues destroyed were they By all that strength which hath their wrong indur'd Shall be at last their rac'd out name procur'd Sara and Ketura shall a conquest winne Of whom there is a mightie power vnseene And then once more in pompe of Empire swels Those that are calde Religious 〈◊〉 Before they doe the sacred truth retaine Mongst them is 〈◊〉 and Elias slame From forth the North a Lyons voyce shall rore And make them then the murthered dead deplore The doctrine which they taught once calde to minde Shall Heathens teach the way heauens path to finde Old Magog then new built his name shall loose And for his God the God of Gods shall choose The Northren Empire shall to him disclose That Truth gainst which he did himselfe oppose The Persians shall the Christians kindly greet When both their Armies shall with conquest meet Mount Harmons dew that sweetly then distils From off the tops of faire Arabian hils Shall fall on them of Abrahams line the race Though yet vnseene by faith the seeds of grace Then hungrie Dogges no more a stray shall wander Iudeas race shall finde the Bridegromes chamber Time takes in hand to worke this wonder great A Northren blast must coole the Sothern heate For of the Princes that shall worke this thing The worthiest power from forth the North shall spring A Potent Prince a strong and powerfull King His famous deeds through all the world shall ring It is establisht and his Throne shall stand Whose force shall take a wondrous worke in hand In his blest Liâ—â—â—â—â—e triumphant glory goes With glorious Race of conquering Emperours This is the winde and Lion of the wood From whom a most Emperiall strength shall bud And to the Eagle in wrathes fiers fury speake And al his winges and Feathers peâ—â—â—â—â—cemeale breake The Heathens he at iudgments bar shall set And make them know the power gainst which they freâ—â—â—â—â— He shall the land from Paganisme deliuer And wash heauens flock in faith's saluations riuer He shall the earth with heauenly grace refresh And vnto her heauens lawes with truth expresse The foes whereof he shall with force destroy And turne earths bondage into freedomes ioye Set free her hope shall waite on that saluation whose mercies iudgment layed her first foundation This Royall line the whole continuance summes Of all the yeares vntill great Shilâ—â—â—â—â— comes God shortly will the businesse vndertake For which he doeth the Northen Empier make Vpon his head stands an Emperiall Crowne Whose Monarchy shall throw Romes Empire dovvne Fooles though they brag their cloud of earths elusâ—â—â—â—â—on Both must and shall come to a rac't confusion And that eare long time doeth a course beginne Whereby consum'd shall be worlds sinke of sinne This happen shall and when these signes appeare Know then the day of iudgment draweth neere Be I excusd and not condempn'd of men No deuill-borne Merline doth direct my pen. Vnto an end time doth each creature driue From holy writ do I these words deriue This rotten age pointing at worlds decay But well obseru'd doth wondrous things bewray Both heauen and earth mankind so loades with sinne They pray heauens God he would their rest beginne And set them in that state wherein they stood When God made all and said all things were good Of time to come what meanes my pen to write Whom present time holdes in such base despight In spight of time and times
and materiall Substance of that which I desire to describe Though time receiues disturbance by some neither valiant wise nor honest but in their hearts no lesse then State disturbing Catalines for Libellers are meerly such whose thoughts be in themselues rebellions and actions tend vnto rebellion but in despight of them and treasons treacherie God will bring his purposes to passe by the instrumentall meanes of Humane gouernment and Britton shall as now it is by a prudent wisdome iudgement and prouidence be for euer vprightly gouerned Thus may it please your Honours I haue once more aduentured by my vnworthy and yet well meaning Pen not to present this booke alone but therewith to dedicate my poore and vnrespected selfe vnto your Lordships and though my labours doe neuer chance to meet with the approbation of this sentence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet I hope my now indeuours shall not make me say Solabarâ—â—â—â—â—atis contraria Fata rependens for my labour doth but desire to liue to the end my liues imploiments may wholy be deuoted to my countries benefis But vnto that all powerfull prouidence which holdes the hearts of Kings within his hand do I commit my hopes and you my Lords to heauens eternall happinesse Your Honors in all humble dutiâ—â—â—â—â— Robert Priâ—â—â—â—â—ket To the Reader THough custome doth in a sort compell my Pen by this Epistle generally to direct my labours to the vulgar multitude yet I neither do desire nor expect a fauourable censure of euery one that reads for my affection bouÌ„ded in a compasâ—â—â—â—â—e more particular doth onely desire to content and please the Graue wise religious and well affected Readers for the rest let them in opposition stand for my part neither lou'd nor fear'd yet in my charitie I wish amendment vnto all least all bee marde for want of mending Such as my selfe either Souldiers or generally the poorer sort whose pouertie vnto the earth is crusht with the massie burden of their woes calamitie to whom is giuen no hand to helpe them vp but hate contempt and scorne to keepe them downe whilst Enuie Pride and Malice mercilesse strange Monsters-like with heâ—â—â—â—â—ds of Brasse hands of Lead feete of Yron and hearts of Flint with violence and insulting steps doe tread vpon the aduerse fortune of a poore mans miserie vnto those poore ones though in this worlds respect accounted absolutely comfortlesse yet may my lines to them the comfort of the sweetest consolation bring if with a Christian patience they do indure their wants and in the sight of their impietie confesse that God is iust and iustly punisheth and then if in the inward feeling of griefes true compunction and sorrowes sound Anxietie for sinne Their soules humilitie and repentant hearts doe from these things beneath with ioy direct faiths eyes aboue to looke they shall behold the glory of that throne where shines the euer radiant golden beames of heauens eternall glorious malestie where at the right hand of God the father sits redemptions only strength worlds alone saluation Iesus Christ who hath prepard a kingdome for his Saints from whence the greatest power can neuer plucke the poorest soule that on his grace depends and in the meditation of this felicitie and vncompared neuer ending happines let them reioyce who in this world do want each worldly cause of ioy Those Idle vaine misgouernd dissolutes the spots and staines of our corrupted time proud plumed gallants whose actions Atheismeticall do seeme as if they scornde both heauen and hell for them I wish they did but know themselues or could perceaue the fearefull horror of their owne estate for certaine the world shal passe from them or they from it and they not here on earth their sinnes repenting the world to come shall be to them most terrible When they in vaine shall wish earths mountaines on their heads to fal thereby to hide them from the wrath of God those therefore that make a gaine of sinne and letts adultry and fornication out to feare those that by whoredome reape an anuall rent and do resolue by them to liue vpon whom they haue spent their meanes of liuing such as do with most delight sucke vp the filthyest dregges of worst Impiety and glut themselues with ranke damnation whose proud presumptuous sinne doeth as it were euen in a desperate vilde despight proudly beare it selfe against the powerfull greatnesse of their makers maiesty with their sauage rude and godlesâ—â—â—â—â—e blasphemy doe rendâ—â—â—â—â— and teare in sunder the glory of saluations name those of that number which vsually do vse for affirmation of their vildest filthynesse to sweare God confound them Gods curse light on their hearts God damme them body soule perpetually and if it were not so when for because it was so all that they wish on their owne heads shall fall and in the presence of heauens Iustice their names beeing regestred in hells black booke they one day must receiue that sentence which shall throwe their soules and bodies into that sulpher lake where for euer in endlesse burning flames amongst the diuels they must shal indure the al coÌ„suming fury and fiers indignation of Gods eternall iudgement Oh may we therefore here on earth our selues so iudge as that in the world to come we be not vnto hell adiugded You little least and almost vnseene number in respect of worlds great multitude who in your hearts doe purpose to performe those actions that vnto righteousnes belong know I canot giue offence to you by plainly setting foorth the true Anotamy of our times abuse doe you as those of heanen beloued increase in loue and heauenly charity for those whom God doth iustifie their affections are also sanctied vnto the obedience of his will Make therefore your election sure by sufficient testimony in your selues on earth by holy workes let your faith bee dignified that in heauen by faith alone you may be iustified bild not the sollace of your faiths content vpon the fruitlesse florish of vnfruitful leaues nor let a selfe concealed pride or wilfull arrogance disturbe the peace of Syon and glory of our church but as becomes the members of Iesus Christ our head ioyne in the fellowship of saints and walke together in the pathes of sanctity stil praysing God whose mercie hath preserued great Britonâ—â—â—â—â— monarke with the princely state and glory of his monarchye Concerning Rome if any Papist chance to reade and find himselfe agrieued at my words let him or them euen as they will or can be satisfyed for were the Pope a temporall Prince and so accounted and no more I would vse him with some reuerent respect although I know him as indeed he is my countries enemy But as he is the now reuealed Antichrist and siâ—â—â—â—â—tes vpon the seat and Sea of blasphemy I will not vse any shewe of reâ—â—â—â—â—erence to his misnamed holines whose vildest predecessor Boniface the 3. at first did builde the strength of euery Popes supremacie vpon the bloud of Christians and spoile
curious cost As that the most haue best foundation lost Some thinke such power in them remaineth still As Gods commandements breake and keepe they will But if there did such strength in vs remaine God then should vse saluations meanes in vaine What Adam lost all humane race did lose And what he kept that for our part we chose Will to do good that force in Adam died Since when that grace was to his seed denied So in our selues sinne euery action staines That to do good in vs no power remaines From Heauen where God doth in his glory dwell By Adams fall he and his children fell And when to rise no meanes at all they knew The promisd seede did Death and hell subdue We are restorâ—â—â—â—â—d by our Redeemers hand Not of our selues but by his grace we stand Then let the soules of righteous men expresse That in their Christ doth liue their righteousnesse I sigh to heare some vilde ones vildly say That vnto life or death foredoomd are they A soule dâ—â—â—â—â—ownde vp in hellish desperation Saith he beleeues in Gods predestination Or heauen or hell or well or euill to do He hath or doth what hee 's ordaind vnto Taught by the deuil falsely affirme he can Without Gods will ther 's nothing done by man Our knowledge hath brought forth infectioâ—â—â—â—â—s fruite When hell borne â—â—â—â—â—mpes dares thus like deuils 〈◊〉 Eares stopt and hearts with burning Irons sear'd As â—â—â—â—â—uell are for Gods fierce wrath prepar'd Who thinkes of sinne that God the author is Shall be exempt from Gods eternall blisse The strength of Gods vncomprehended state Is that whereby we are predestinaâ—â—â—â—â—e Yet doth he suffer what he doth not will Wherein his Power is vndeuided still The euill we doe he willes not to be done For in our selues that cause is first begun God by his Grace doth so mans soule attend As that we know what t is for to offend If euill we doe and shall his grâ—â—â—â—â—ce reiect The fault is ours for done by our neglect Heauens iustice then most iustly doth dispence Presumptuous sinne is a most damn'd offence Doe well and then in Christ thy deeds are knowne Doe â—â—â—â—â—uill and sinne is in thy selfe thine owne Be not deceiu'd good workes thy faith must proue For God in Christ doth all good actions loue Christ dyed for me so each beleeuer saith As Infidels are men of fruitlesse faith Profession fiâ—â—â—â—â— it doth too much dissemble Not vsing that which most Christ doth resemble Where are the hands which should poore creatures cherish Christ saues not those that lets his members perish Do good to them that of faiths houshold be No the world delights their greatest wants to see On earth alas to whom should poore men flie In vaine their words tels forth their misery Honor which should the poore mans cause defend Helpes not that hope which doth thereon depend Compassion so in all estates is vanisht As by decree it were from all sorts banisht Religions name is but dessemblers mockery And seeming saincts are maskt in hells hipocrisie Oh in this age such is the worlds condition As this word poore doth spoile the poore petition Poore man poore hope poore to thy plaint not put Poore gainst it selfe it selfe al dores doeth shut The poore mans heart with griefe to death is stung In vayne he speaks that wants a goulden tongue Silent be he whose come his cause declareth A feeling sence which vnderstanding heareth An honest name diuine religion two Is bought and sould all this can money do Who to good fame by gou den steps can mount Him doth this world for worthiest man accompt Let vertue in a poore man cleerely shine A guilded gull is counted more diuine A sattin suite be dawb'd with siluer lace Beyond desart doth vildest clouâ—â—â—â—â—ship grace Immodest talke and shameles ribaldry With monstrous oathes is court like blasphemy In mony now there is such wondrous might As that a clowne will striue to be a knight Bright Honers wreath vaine idle fooles will craue it That want wherewith to keepe it when they haue it No doubt but now a gallant veluet company Three times a weeke may banquit with Duck Humâ—â—â—â—â—ery In blood our gallants once cald to vse worâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 With running they will sweâ—â—â—â—â—t most fearfully They le do no lesse vnto the fild once led Then Romes braue youthes for their great Pompay did Proud 〈◊〉 lookes in scorne of all disgraces Will turne their backes to saue their amorous faces A face starke nought in feare of present harmes Muffels it self with crosse wreth'd recreant armes wheÌ„ once Sir mony Knight heares the fier'd mouth'd guns He startes and shakes and sweares and hence he runnes Disgrace not deares to touch the worthy merite Of any valiant well resolued spirit What i st the worst may not for money buy Honour much Loue and seeming honesty Rich let him be and who caâ—â—â—â—â— hurt him then Knaues wrapt in wealth are counted honest men Honest if poore he this reward must haue Hang him baâ—â—â—â—â—e roage proud begger impious knaue No place nor oâ—â—â—â—â—fice can the poore man buy Wealth neere so vilde can mount it selfe on high Such is the â—â—â—â—â—orce of this corrupted time Downe trampled poore helpes wealth aloft to clime Wealth doth so much from natures lawe digresse As that it feedes vpon the poore mans flesh Seauen leaâ—â—â—â—â—e beasts had of seauen fat oxen power But now seauen â—â—â—â—â—at do seauenty leane deuoure Rich men do make poore tradâ—â—â—â—â—s-men faint and sweat Who in their wants their cloathes and tooles must eate The science which made Englands weale to florish And of the poore did many thousands nonâ—â—â—â—â—ish Must now inrich a forreine strangers store And leaue vs heapes of vnreleeued poore From England if raw cloathes might not be sent It would redresse poore pâ—â—â—â—â—oples languishment And pay farre more in taske and subsidy Then now is rais'd to Brittons Maiesty In common wealth a man may thousands see That common wealths-men doe disdaine to bee Selfe scraping gaine the children are of sloath In publique weale they are like mothes in cloath Monopoliâ—â—â—â—â—ans are they whose policy Commits a vilde yet vncheckt felony Let poore men thus of this or that complaine Rich men will hould the course whereby they gaine Who findeth fault with things that are amisse If he be poore he must affliction kisâ—â—â—â—â—e The poore man saith that Iustice wants a hand It beates the bad not helpes the good to stand That Soueraigne Mistres should the euill reiect But not refuse her children to protect Oppression swims amidst exâ—â—â—â—â—ortions streames And doeth not know what restitution means Rich men do wrong no it 's right though it be wrong At lest he makes it so whose 〈◊〉 is strong A poore man struck his cry hates â—â—â—â—â—age doth threaten For crying then he must againe be beaten Poore men accusâ—â—â—â—â—d though no offence be proued Hate is thâ—â—â—â—â—ir meede they are of none beloued Do euill and then Iustice will seaze on thee Do well and
then thou shalt contempned bee From good desert 〈◊〉 reward is stealing Trust wan ing truth doth vse perfidious dealing Like 〈◊〉 fish let poore men swimme or flie They haue no meanes to shunne their misery A poore man whilst his greefe woes passion weepeth Dispaiâ—â—â—â—â—e the dore of his affliction keepeth A minde whose thoughts no force noâ—â—â—â—â— danger feares Is forc't to weepe his wife and childrens teares Vaine sighes vaine teares when want proclaimes 〈◊〉 woe The poore man knowes not vnto whom to goe Poore man poore wife poore children all reiected Apes Parrets Dogges and Monkeys more respected The poore mans words plainely and truely tels He cannot finde the place where Mercy dwels And yet he seekes and hath a long time sought His labouâ—â—â—â—â— hath his woes inlargement wrought For whilst he waites on time best time obseruing Himselfe and his by want of food are steruing Those hands cannot their Countries weale preserue Which in their Countâ—â—â—â—â—y must indure to sterue Hard world when loue to doâ—â—â—â—â— a thing most iust Shall cause the poore that wrong indure they must Iustice loue 〈◊〉 and faith all these are raced When things well done must be with force disgraced When Law commands an action to be done Why should that act into vilde scandall runne If so the law and makers thereof must In cause of euill be iustly blamed first To King and State a Souldiers honest loue Hath causde his heart sad woes extreames to proue A Souâ—â—â—â—â—diers hâ—â—â—â—â—nd halfe staru'd and wanting might Shall for them both want force and power to fight No peace on earth though seeming most secure Can well resolue how long it shall indure When warres staâ—â—â—â—â—u'd force threatens a kingdoms land Bâ—â—â—â—â—st safetie then liues in the Souldiers hand In peace me thinkes those men should not be steâ—â—â—â—â—ued By whom the strength of peace is best preserued Iâ—â—â—â—â— to respect time present barbarous be The time to come should wisdomes eyes foresee All those great nations which themselues dispeâ—â—â—â—â—se Vpon the bosome of worlds vniuerse For rash attempts are not so much condemned As is that I le in which our selues are hemined Pâ—â—â—â—â—oud witte that is with selfe conceitment swolne Makes fast the dore when first the steed is stolne An after-wit is counted Englands guise A forehand lookes iudiciall wisdomes eyes For gaine men will their liues and country sell A generall spoile makes some to prosper well Our Corne that goes vnto corruptions friend May feed a strength against our selues to bend We not respect although both heauen and earâ—â—â—â—â—h Doe in their course foretell a threatned dearth As Dragons we our selues desire to bite Our hands our selues doe most vnkindly smite Warres weapons we vnto those countries send Whose vse at last will most our selues offend We haue no feare our land no danger knowes Vntill it feeles the force of dangers blowes Britaine hath foes who in their thoughts doe striue How best they may our countries harme contriue But this I thinke our â—â—â—â—â—ame shall thus be spred We may be beat but neuer conquered I would to God our land may so prouide As we at first might kill presumptions pride Peace smiles on vs but view heauens motion well Combustious times doth Sunne and Moone foretell This yeares Eclipse a fatall period maketh And God thereby all earths foundation shaketn The Planets in their â—â—â—â—â—spects differ farre From former time by course irregular The Crab and Goate whose Circles doe deuide The sweating Summer from frostie Winters tide Keepe still the times of auncient nomination But want the force of wonted operation Ver Eastus Autumnâ—â—â—â—â— Hymen all growne strange Seeme as they would their seasons each exchange Celestiall fyers that round this world impale And should from hence corruptions dregs exhale Leaues them beneath that noysome pestilence On earth might fetch materiall cause from thence When from the graue corruptions slime doth soake Mantling the earth in clouds of stiucking smoake Deuouring creatures in that fogge shall breed Earths brest shall then her children scarcely feed Corruption grosse thick fatte sad slimie slowe Shall by the Sunne to a combustion growe Those dreggs congeald by steps to hugenesse creepes By Ayery Orbes a wandring motion keepes Turning about from place to place their sent Spreading themselues on earths vast continent Taking the shapes from whence they first did grow In Ayerie formes like men and beasts they show When so they doe themselues with wonder spreed It tels they still expect on Death to feed Amidst some plaine so are those Meaâ—â—â—â—â—ures spred As were an armie there imbattelled And when they thus on heapes together cluster They fummon men vnto a generall muster But humaine eyes amazde cannot dispence With reasons force of Natures influence Inuolued heapes growne once vnmeasured great They striue to rise against the Clowdes to beat Exhaled once in rotten showers doe fall Infectious drops such as men Mill-dewes call And then at last in Midle Region fed They are with force from thence exturbated And hauing climbde the vpper Regions hem To blazing fierie Commets tourned then For so our God by mightie wonder makes Prodigious fiers threatning Kingdomes states Then shall the vilde ones of this world dispaire When they behold such flames amidst the ayre A while beneath those exhalations stayes Which shortly will foretell some dangerous dayes But not to build on humaine foolery I thus much ground on scriptures Prophecie EVen in the dayes when the seauenth Angell should Begin to blow his Trumpet then God would His Ministrie accomplished should be As to his Prophets before reueald had he The Angeli hath long time his Trumpet blowne Which to the world worlds latter end hath showne Before which time the worlds Deceiuers must By wraths fierce hand be all in sunder burst And first falles he with stroake of Yron rod Who in Gods Church doth sit as he were God With suttell craft when he suspects his fall By secret force himselfe defend he shall When as gainst him a long feard power doth grow Such as before the world could neuer showe Then desperate mad his anger and his feare Against that power a secret wrath shall beare To hell his hope doth for assistance flie And then corrupt earths Princes secretly An hoast of tigers shal them selues combine With sauage hogges to spoyle the 〈◊〉 vine And thinke from grapes to draw a bleding flood When in one night shal raine a shower of blood A winter greâ—â—â—â—â—ne their somers hope doth make They thinke their force shal cause â—â—â—â—â—oues Iland shake That downe they might heauens goulden Pallace take A strenth shall rise from hells infernall lake The Leopard the Wolfe the Fox all these Shall vnawares vppon the Lyon sease The Lyon rows d his foes shall soone be torne With him shall ioyne the princely Vnicorne And push the best with his all clensing horne And make him wish he neuer had bin borne Hells dogs shal thinke oaâ—â—â—â—â—e mountayne tops to clime But breake their necks before their wisht for
same shall to the heauens aspire Great Britaine so is by Gods hand instal'd As it shall be the land of conquest cal'd But now to ease a poore mans grieued minde In things aboue my sight shall comfort finde I know the time when I poore wretch reiected Shall as the best be no whit lesse respected When Kings and Queenes of greatest excellence Twixt them and me shall be no difference And there dwels Mercy Oh there a Sauiour liueth That to the poore saluations comfort giueth Not many Kings nor Queenes nor Nobles shall Triumph before heauens throne maiesticall But those that in this world their heauen doe make Shall in that world before Gods iudgment shake The beautie which on earth no praise doth lack Maskt vp in shame hels sulphure smoake makes black The snowe white hand moyst soft foule sinnes desire Shall burne in lake of hels eternall fire where diuels meÌ„s soules with fiery darts strikes thorow And in their iawes like dogges they them shall worow Where God doth so his angers iudgment frame As that his wrath shall blow hels endlesse flame Euer Euer oh fearefull word for euer Where plagues encrease but shall be ended neuer Where torment brings torments with fresh supplie Where dying soules doe liue but neuer dye And ther 's the place where earths proud dignitie Shall plunge it selfe in endlesse misery But happie those whose soules by grace made pure Exempt from wrath shall no such plagues indure And most of them poore soules scornd and disgrac'd Are those that shall with God and Christ be plac'd When most on earth the poore despisde doe stand It doth presage Christs comming neere at hand Deiected base and out-cast pouertie Reioyce triumph in Mercies clemencie You are heauens flock a Shepheard doth you keepe Who of his number will not loose a sheepe Thus hath my sigh an honest passion breathed And of my woes a weeping garland wreathed My sighes my teares my woes my griefes lament My plaints my groanes all fruites of discontent Doe not themselues vpon one substance feed A generall doubt makes heart and soule to bleed A generall cuill a land to vildenesse bent Must needs expect some fearefull punishment Of present time the things desired heere Time prooues my words and makes the truth appeere Of time to come I humbly doe auowe Experience shall my words for truth allowe Search but the Story of that writte diuine And vnderstand the change of euery time Fiue hundred fiftie two yeares coumpted was A period whole which euer brought to passe Strange alterations both in Church and State Kings Kingdomes then did striue to ruinate Temples were rac'te Religion cleane despisde Tyrants by force of sword new lawes deuisde And now the time doth on such period stand As if it meant to take like course in hand Do but obserue each Celestiall spheare And see what signes doe in their course appeare Compare the time with antedated times And vnderstand the Heauens true speaking signes Then will you not these lines of mine deride Nor smother them with smoake of scornfull pride A Souldiers writing like his fighting is His course noâ—â—â—â—â— knowes how dangers rockes to misse Those Pens doe most their hopes in peeces batter That cannot best with oyled smoothnesse flatter A Souldiers name striue not for to disgrace Poore should not be accompted 〈◊〉 base And that I may not from the truth digresse My humble lines shall thus my state expresse The Souldier which doth scorne the lye to take Should scorne as much himselfe the lye to make The open fields to me is made my bed A bancke of earth a pillow for my head In shadie groues and sollitary places My steps doe make their sorrowes mournfull traces Imprisonment woes wofull habitation Hath forc't my Muse to secret contemplation In winter nights when I a Souldier was Alone my Muse should priuate motions tosse When in the warre I warres attire did beare My bookes to me most kinde companions were And some sad houres on skie-bornâ—â—â—â—â— bookes I read Amongst the flarres an humble path I tread And see the great and strange Conâ—â—â—â—â—unctions there Of angrie Saturne Mars and Iupiter Since fiâ—â—â—â—â—st the Planets disclosde their variation Saturne neer had more Lord-like domination What it foretels my weaâ—â—â—â—â—y Muse sorgets In Dragons taile when strange Coniunction sets His name stands rouled in perditions booke Whose taile from heaueÌ„ of starres the third part strooke Vnder the Dragons taile is fixed fast A strength that shall him and his tayle downe cast Mankinde the starres that Heauen should 〈◊〉 Shall be vpreard with glorious dignitie Though obseruation rightly may collect The iudgment of some retrograde aspect Yet Christ our King and kingdomes hath possessed With that wherein ourselues and world is blessed Though Lâ—â—â—â—â—os house hath such reflection glided As tels there is some wondrous thing prouided I leaue to write and will conceit the rest Our land shall still by Gods great loue be blest A constant faith true resolution proues Feares not what vnder the first moouer mooues And in this thought I see with humble eye The mighty worke of Prima â—â—â—â—â—obili And know the world in fiery flames shall burne Before he doth to his first point returne For Heauen and earth by fire once purgd then sure They shall remaine as they at first were pure When God the world to iudgement summon will That first great mouer keepes his motion still Whose slow pace round doth roundly comprehend Those lesser Orbes that vnder him doe wend. In order each his fixed iourney takes And in their turnes celestiall musicke makes And then I thinke of that most happie time When I shall heare their dulsiue heauenly chime Aboue them all faiths eyes through Bethelem Be holds the glory of new Ierusalem Where sits vpon a Throane maiesticall The mightie maker of this wondrous all When thether once my ioyfull thoughts are sent I am amazde with wonders rauishment Nor tongues nor Pens nor Angels can expresse The glory of that glorious happinesse From thence to Luna not any Orbe to misse I cannot finde where Purgatorie is So that I thinke it sure remaineth yet Within their bellies that deuised it And those that would attaine to heauens great ioy Must leaue bye-pathes and finde in Christ their way But for the Starres I creatures them account Aboue them all their makers power must mount And by their influence more I will not learne Then Rules diuine shall teach me to discearne And in that course men sometimes are befriended Of those pure fiers by whom they are attended God euer yet by signes and visions told So as worlds change worlds worldlings might behold But cloddes of clay because they will not greeue This course they take to heare but not beleeue To gesse to speake to iudge great states to touch For me poore soule it is a strength too much Who so doth tel what things themselues doe show May doubt his words wil too presumptuous growe FVll twenty times nights Bride her selfe
hath chaung'd Since from my former worke my muse estraung'd Her grieued thoughts my owne estate to viewe Still being fed with wormewood gall and rue And now though wrapt in foldes of mournefull care I am rowsde vp some part with them to beare Which doe reioyce as theirs so is my ioy That God is pleasd hells actions to destroye And now my muse in more then wonder wrapt Will speake of what since first shee writ hath hapt Two nights before the night of Englands wrack Such greifes themselues vpon my breast did pack That from woes Cowch I rose alone to walke And with myselfe of my sad faâ—â—â—â—â—e to talke For when daies light vpon my face should shine I knew those wants would â—â—â—â—â—ip both me and mine No sooner vp and forth my chamber stept But straight my thoughts into amasement lept For round about I saw so cleere a light As that I thought it rather daie then night And well I knew that Luna then did please To shew her selfe to the Antipedes And when aloft I did suruey the skie There was no starres that any man could spie To search the cause resolu'd of my intent I walkt abroade to view the Element A tossing winde whorl'd round the earth below as from earths wombe some tombling noyse did growe Said I such noyse as this is said of some For to foretell an Earth-quake nere to come And looking vp a generall seeing flame With burning streames bemantled all heauens frame That from one part did not arise lights beames But heauen was Cloath'd with vniuersall streames Amids the Ayre I might sometimes espie The flashing flames vnto a roundnes flye And then dispierce themselues immediatly The world ore spreeding with a burning Cannopie When thus I saw sent from the fiery spheate Such burning streames and flashing flames so cleere Said I this truth doth on these signes depend Doubtles the world is neere vnto her end And then I thought that such despisde as I With ioy should haue an end of miserie Thus hauing view'd till eyes all dazled were My reeling steps my dussie braines did beare To sorrows cell the Caue of former Care Vnto my selfe I did my woes declare From Sol to Mars with vsuall attribute Foure times Aurora in her Crimson sure Had bid god morrow to her friendes beneath Whilest all this time my griefe woes sighs did breath And then my minde griefes danger to eschue For solace went Gorguntus walles to viewe Abroad my steps had me no sooner brought But straight my eares had such a rumour caught As made me start and in a maze to wonder How hell deuisde to rend the world in sounder A treason no A deuill borne fiery rage A worke nere thought of in precedent age A Sauage wrath whose like nere staynd a storie Should haue destroyd the heauen of Britons glory It s true in warre that souldiers not refuse Against their foes the like deuise to vse But in a kingdome by subiects to their King The world till now nere heard so vilde a thing The name of England with datelesse infamie Had stood ingrauen to worldes posteritie Breeder of Deuills so sit for villany As at one blow could sack a monarchie The whore whose lawes allowes such deedes of horror Let heauen and earth and all the world abhorre her The Proiect of these trayterous homycites A booke at large to euery mind recites And though I would I dare not speake no more Of Treason plotts then hath beene spoke before But now I see the night that I admyred Foretold the flame that should the world haue fiered And yet the generall of heauens fiety warte Included more then on particular Oh if that God for Englands sinne had pleasd That horred act on king and state had seazd Great Britons breast had now beene drownd in blood Rac'd sackt and spoyl'd bereft of euery good Theft murther Rape and euery act of hell Had built their house on Englands face to dwell The spoile of man of humane race the shame Would haue rac'd out all humane vertues name Vilde dissolutes prophane and insolent Like Tirants would haue wrong'd the innocent A Goathian Armye amongst ourselues maintain'd Would theÌ„ with blood our townes streets haue stain'd Our lawes of God our lawes of man should then haue bene of force to gouerne faithles men The rich mans wealth should not his owne haue bâ—â—â—â—â—ene But made a spoile vnto the hands of sinne Faire London then her glorious pompe and state The vildest hands would vildely ruinate Young maides and wiues of feature excellent Had beene abusde by brutish rauishment Beautie most rare if it continued chaste Had then vnto luxurious armes beene cast The courtly nimphes faire wise and trimly gay That could not but with silkes and veluets play Whos 's maskt vp cheâ—â—â—â—â—kes from winde sunne are fled All fresh to keepe their artificiall red There beauties sheild white breasts scarce paper proofe Must then haue tumbled with some ruder stuffe With correspondeÌ„ce rude armes besmeer'd with greace Should haue imbrac'd a painted sluttishnesse And they perhaps resolu'd in miserie Would smiâ—â—â—â—â—e at that their least calamitie But mindes refin'd of purest substance fram'd Such as on earth may be heauens Angels nam'd Whose beauties no adulterate deeds haue staind But spotlesse they haue truly chaste remainde That Angell number with hels rage ore spred That Heauens impression vildely rauished Oh what a terror should their hearts haue felt When vilde ones would with them haue vildely delt Euill to suppresse when Iustice sturd had beene Then bloud and murther had mainteind hels sinne The strength which makes the magistrate most strong And giues him warrant to suppresse each wrong The name which doth vnto the lawes giue force Had hence bene snatcht if hell had held his course In vayne should then the officers haue said In the Kings name wee charge le ts be obeyd In the Queenes name then if iustice out should crye Hells howndes had said she with the king should die Prince Henryes name if iustice should haue tried Sweete Prince he should with King Queene haue died If to the Duke of Torke our hopes had fled Doubtles hells hands would him haue murthered Should iustice then vnto the Princesse flie She had beene seidze by traytors tyranny The honor'd Councell might help the iust to saue For King Queene Prince them was made one graue Then to the Lords and Bishops of the land They with the rest had dyed by treasons hand Should in the Iudges then our hope haue ioyed They with the rest had beene at once destroyed From knights and burgesses if safeties hope distilld They with the rest a sulpher flame had kilde With bibles then should faithfull preachers presse And breath forth iudgments gainst sinnes wickednes And saie Behold heauens indignation feare This booke of God doth Gods fierce wrath declare The rage which should from Romishe flames haue fum'd Would quickly haue them and their books consum'd Oh then of whom should iustice help
require All these Consum'd by flame of rutheles fire No age makes record of so foule a sinne Since god did first to frame this world begyn Doomes day to England now bin threatned hath Ore which heauens God hath shakâ—â—â—â—â—e his hand of wrath Oh may our deedes his mercy so Commend As still his grace may Britons I le defend But now behold the fruites of Romish faith And know for truth what Popish doctrine saith Of binding and of loosing Popes haue got A strength which knittes of euery euill the knot And makes damnation seeme saluation sure If so thereby Rome may her gaine procure What most she craues is euery course to take How best she may her selfe worlds Monarch make The Pope that saith himselfe worlds God to be Speakes truth for so 's the deuill as well as he But Pope from Peter doth deriue his race And saith to him belongs the keyes of grace And he Christs vicar of all Gods church the head Must be supreame all Kings his frowne must dread With any oath he can at large dispence And at his pleasure pardon each offence Aboue Gods word he doth himselfe auow And his construction must the world allow True Christians they onely his doctrine likes And all the rest are damned Heretikes Gainst this the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda cries And tels the Pope that like a diuell he lyes But still the Pope will keepe heauens golden gate And doth from thence Kings excomunicate No King on earth must haue his name inrold Vnlesse that first on him his Crowne he hold And al the world that on his sea not dwels Are Ethnicks Pagans faithlesse Insidels Those that not grow vpon his stock intire Are branches wilde fit for destructions fire Such hath he power to any death to put And from lifes tree those saplesse twigs to cut Without the Church as Iewes and Turkes they be That will not yeeld to his supremacie And Popish Romaines they are taught to know It lawfull is to worke their ouerthrow That will not yeeld obedience to the Pope In whose behalfe is giuen so large a scope That Traytors doe for heauenly merite hope Though thence the deuill doth pluck them in a Rope If for Romes sake they kill their lawfull King Bald iades for them shall trotting trentalls sing And they because so vilde a deedâ—â—â—â—â— they did For Saints at Rome shall be canonized The Pope such power vnto himselfe doth take As he a diuell a Saint can quickly make Heere briefely see the power of Rome set downe Aboue the world himselfe himselfe doth crowne Aboue Gods word and sacred Lawes diuine The monsters proud ambitious steps doe clime And from his seate of blasphemie hath flowne The fire that should haue King and Realmes vp blowne Villaines that would the world in sunder riue Say for Religions sake they did contriue That damned plot oh hellish insolence When deuils will make Religion euils desence The actors in a worke more then Tyrannicall They did themselues their countries purgers call In all they did meerely their countries loue Did them vnto the vildest actions moue They would not leaue her but like Champions stand Till they from bondage had freed their natiue land They but resolu'd to be most mercilesse To free the Catholicks from their long distresse From desperate times disease euils strength to loose They were inforc'd a desperate salue to choose The worst of euill was bâ—â—â—â—â—st in their esteeme From worse then euill their countrie to redeeme The Pope might them for faithfull Christians take When what they did was for religions sake Their plot found out the very place to sack Where all the lawes were made that wrought their wrack And this conceit in them a hope prefers They should be thought Gods iustice ministers These Realmes with Rome in vnion to vnite Was all the cause for which their hopes did fight For Romes auaile and for the Church her good King Kingdomes they would haue drownd in bloud For these good deedes whatsoeuer did befall Saints at the least the Pope would make them all Now see their worke and cause for which thâ—â—â—â—â—y wrought And iudge how well Rome hath her children â—â—â—â—â—aught Their euill to doe they were so confident As to performe't they tooke the Sacrament Christs Royall body substanciall flesh and bloud They say they eate and dranke and thereby stood Bound to performe the euill which they intended Oh then how farre should be their faith commended Here doth my Muse want words my thoughts to speake And doth into a strange admirement breake Oh God how durst these meâ—â—â—â—â— Sathanicall Imbru'de in bloud with hearts Tyrannicall Made blacke with treason gainst Gods annointed King Themselues before heauens Iesus Christ to bring And though from bread they can him not 〈◊〉 Yet in the signe he 's representatiue And bread not chang'd yet holy scripture saith By it we feed on Iesus Chrisâ—â—â—â—â— by faith Not to dispute but say as they accoumpt Into what height doe their presumption mount When as a wretch before his God shall stand And thinke he holdes his Maker in his hand And yet with soule all stain'd as black as hell Euen at that instant doth in damnation dwell And records God and in him all the Trinitie To be the witnesse of his hell-borne villanie And sweares by them with desperate hand to act The vildenesse of the very vildest fact And thus resolu'd his Sauiour vp he eates So arm'd in proofe a King and State he threates Oh fearefull thing the seale of mans saluation Seales vp to them assured condemnation Yet they so blinde in faithlesse hopes doe trust And thinke thereby their vildest actions iust Heere see the strong delusion that should mocke The race cast from the number of Christs flocke Heere see the cup of worlds abhominations And know the whore that breaths forth execrations Against heauens throne the Lambe and all his Saints And yet she so her damned vildenesse paints As that she seemes of holinesse the seate But God for her hath laid vp iudgments great She and her pack that had our fall compounded Shall be ere long by Gods fierce wrath confounded And they that did for vs one flame desire God hath for them prepar'd an endlesse fire NOw would my Muse desire to expresse In vildest euill false traytors readinesse Catesbie so soone as he did Winter mooue Consent straight ioynd the worst of euill to proue There needed no perswasion to be vsde Hels motion was at first not once refusde What course so ere hell could to him propound His liues aduenture he thereon would ground So all the rest with selfe-same swismesse ranne To worke an euill the like nere wrought by man Their labour then their care and diligence Their watchfull heed their bountie and expence Their desperate and resolued confidence Till death to fight gainst heauen in hels defence Approues what power the deuill doth beare in those That serue his will and to his Aulâ—â—â—â—â—ers goes In England now