must him raise Then Talmai rose and looking round about Perceiv'd that all his servants were gone out For well-bred Courtiers thought it no fit thing Uncall'd to heare the secrets of a King But soon as they their Master walking heare All in his presence readily appeare Where he commands them all they do their best To entertain his sonne so goes to rest THE SECOND BOOKE Ioab projecting OLd Israel did never so lament For Iosephs colour'd coat all bloody rent As David for his murdred first born Son And absence of his loved Absolon As when great Ioab trecherosly had slain Brave Abner by a false and subtil train So to revenge the blood of Asahel The King and all the Lords of Israel With garments torn and ashes on their head Lament and mourne for Abner lying dead So lowd did David weep that all might heare And followed unto the Grave the Beer So now the King and all his servants mourn For Amnons losse who never will return Yea Passions Davids reason so confound He all the day lyes sorrowing on the ground And though the Elders of his house and Peeres Perswade him to represse his grief and tears By all their prayers they cannot him intreat To rise up or refresh himself with meat Till Bathsheba out-leading Solomon Upon her hand bespeakes him thus alone Let thy great wisdome Gracious Soveraign Lord Descend to heare thy handmaid in a word Nor think O King as his Stepmother I Too lightly think of thy calamity Be sure I could a full proportion hold With thee in sorrow if that mourning could Thy first-borne Sonne to thee bring back again But ah alas such teares are spent in vain We may to him he cannot to us come Remember when thy first-born of my wombe Was with the sicknesse struck whereof it dyed How you besought the Lord and to him cryed If for our sin he would be reconcil'd And by thee be intreated for the child Thou all the night on earth laist without meat Nor could the Elders of thy house intreat Thee to sit up but when thou heardst 't was gone Thou didst arise and wash thy selfe and soon As thou with thine Gods house hadst visited Didst cheerfully refresh thy self with bread This was our patern then let it be now The same to thee thou mourned hast enough Then cease more to bewaile thy first-born Son And cheer thy self with little Solomon To whom yet in my womb God gave a name To shew that he should be a man of fame Then said the King My dearest Queen the light Sent from my God to guide me in the right Which seeing I allow yet go astray So Passion doth my Reason oversway Yet with good reason I may this lament Not as a losse but as a punishment Of Rape and Incest suffer'd in my Land For God is just and hath no partiall hand Affections divert Administration Of Iustice which is free from acceptation Of persons and doth at the head begin Greatnesse is no protection for sin To Amnon now as he deserv'd is done To save one I have lost another Son God us both justly to his Barre doth bring Him for the rape me for not punishing Not as if I the Murtherer excus'd Whose malice as an instrument God us'd Us unto judgement for our sinnes to call For God is just and we offenders all The Sunnes pure beames draw up from filthy soile The lees yet doth it self no whit defile So of our sinnes pure God oft makes good use Yet 's without sinne as we without excuse Oh God how wondrous are thy works throughout The world thy judgements all past finding out Shame unto us all praise to God is due For he is righteous and his judgements true Thus lauds he God whilst little Solomon Who newly able was to run alone And like a Pye or Parrat 'gan to chatter All sounds he heard though nothing to the matter More chear'd the King with pratling non-sense Then all his Courtiers studied eloquence And as young Davids Harp oft dispossest Saul of his evill spirit and him refresht So did this Parrats pretty melody Dispell the clouds of his melancholy And passions of grief to joy convert Nought more than children chear an old mans heart Oh blessed Child saith David in thy face I see a modell of all heavenly grace Thou shalt in wisdome wealth and power increase And be a King of happinesse and peace A Type of that great Prince of peace and rest In whom all Nations of the world are blest The God that alwayes dwelt with us in Tents Since Sinai thundred his Commandements Will be content t' abide within the frame Thou shalt erect to praise his holy Name Type of the Heav'n of Heav'ns which we live under The Nations glory and the earths great wonder To thee shall all the Nations Presents bring As to the highest and the wisest King As stones shall Silver in thy streets remaine And Cedars as wilde Fig-trees on the Plaine All Kings to heare and see thee shall desire But they that neerest come shall most admire To heare thy heav'nly Wisdome plaine expound The hardest Questions that they can propound Oh happy couldst thou keep upright thy heart But ah strange women do the best pervert â—o thus is Davids sad melancholy â—urn'd like Sauls hatred into prophesie â—s torrent swift which long his course hath held â—n sudden by immoderate showers fill'd â—reaks down the Banke and beares the ground away And finding new his former course doth stay But all these goodly hopes of Solomon Could not divert his love from Absolon Wherefore since Amnon could no more return He now takes comfort and begins to burn With such affection to Absolon That even to fetch him home he could have gone Which Ioab by some signes discovering A woman wise from Tekoa did bring In mourning-clothes with ashes on her head As if she had long mourned for the dead Who being well instructed in her part By Ioab thus begins to shew her Art She meeting David at set time and place Low to the ground falls down upon her face And cryes out help O King thy servant save Ah woman said the King what wouldst thou have I am saith she a woman widowed And live alone thy hand-maids husband's dead Who leaving me two sonnes whilst in the field Each strove with other both too stout to yeeld And there not being any nigh to part He that struck first was stricken to the heart So now he only doth to me remain Who in his fury hath his brother slain Happy yet were thy servant if I might Enjoy this onely Son my soules delight But all the kindred of my family In just revenge for brothers blood do cry Give us the heire to slay So they my light In Israel would ah me extinguish quite Not suffering this one man on earth alive Thine hand-maids husbands name here to revive The King by nature most affectionate With her in sorrow doth participate And saith go home good woman be
content Concerning thee I le give commandement But she repli'd againe my Lord and King The guilt of this iniquitie God bring Upon my Fathers family and me Thou and thy Throne of justice shall be free Good woman feare thou nothing said the King The man that speaks against thee hither bring And I will give him an expresse command Against thee never more to lift his hand Oh King saith she remember God thy Lord Nor suffer more the sharp revenging sword To forrage as it formerly hath done Lest as my first it slay my second son Now as the Lord doth live by whom we all Doe live from 's head this day no haire shall fall Yet said the woman I thine hand-maid pray Let me speake one word more the King said say Then said the woman Oh why should the King On us Gods chosen people evill bring For by the words the King hath uttered Thou plainly hast to us discovered That thou indeed art faulty oh my King That home thy banished thou dost not bring â—y Liege and Lord consider this thing well What danger 't is for Davids heire to dwell â—ut of the Kingdome and live banished â—ea with an Heathen King his life to lead â—or as pure water spilt upon the ground 〈◊〉 soon dryed up and can no more be found â—or is the scent and purity retain'd â—ut whilst in some pure glasse it is contain'd â—o people perish all without a head Or like so many Sheep are scattered But God who till this time hath him preserv'd Unto this people hath for good reserv'd And mov'd their hearts to wish at home againe Thy sonne that yet doth banished remaine And now I to the King these things have said Because I of the people was afraid Thus thought I let me speake unto my Lord 〈◊〉 may be he will heare his hand-maids word And be as gentle unto Absolon â—s to thine hand-maid and mine onely Sonne Whom thou hast saved from revenging hand That me and him would pluck out of the Land I thought if to preserve a family Thou wouldst not let the sword my sonne destroy Thou mightst do much more for the Kingdomes peace And for Religions wealth and strength's increase For as an Angel God hath given thee skill To heare and judge aright of good and ill And therefore since the Act of this my Son Is one with thine God make thy judgement one The King repli'd good woman I desire Hide not from me the thing which I require Tell Is not Ioabs band with thee in this Ah good my Lord the King said she it is I will not leave the truth on either hand For thou O King wilt soon it understand Thy servant Ioab to my mouth convei'd Even all the words which I thine hand-maid said That by their circumstance my Soveraigne might Without affection see and judge aright And not the peoples and our wishes crosse For Absolons offence or Amnons losse Therefore oh King as now thou hast been wise For to discover all we could devise And as Gods Angel here dost all things know So by that wisdome all things wisely do Thus ends the woman when to Ioab so The King begins as thou wilt all must go This thou projected hast it shall be done Go haste and fetch the young-man Absolon Then Ioab falling down upon his face Gave humble thanks for this so high a grace Oh King saith he what grace hast thou exprest In yeelding to thy servants bold request And now thought Ioab with this simulation To make at once an utter supplantation Of Bathshebes projecting for her Son By bringing back from Geshur Absolon Such is mans nature ay with envious eye To view our equals rais'd to dignity And would more willingly though with more danger Than to their own be subject to a stranger But Bathshebe perceiving his designe As prudently did worke her counter mine And to the Prophet straight her self applyes They best direct that first with God advise And thus begins Good Prophet seest thou not How cruell Ioab cunningly doth plot To bring in grace again proud Absolon And ruine utterly my Solomon What then shall all those prophesies betide Which have by thee of him been propheside If Ioabs craft against us may prevail Ah help Gods promises do never fail Madame saith Nathan they shall ay endure And like the Mountaines stable stand and sure The Goat shall easelier dive into the deep And Dolphin up to top of Mountains creep Than earthly powers Gods promises with-stand What 's arme of flesh against his mighty hand Mens subtill windings close dissimulations Are even as vain as their imaginations Turn'd by his power and wisdome to those ends And purposes his goodnesse here intends God works not here by likely meanes as man What he is pleas'd to will he alwayes can By causes he sometimes oft times without Against all causes brings he things about All things are wrought according to his will They happy who it cheerfully fulfill And voluntary Agents do their best Upon his goodnesse faithfully to rest Experience forbids us to distrust Th' Almighty as unable or unjust All Sauls projectings David to keep down Were but as steps to raise him to the Crown The more deliverances the more his praise No keeping down whom God intends to raise Good Nathan saith the Queen no eloquence Instructs us like our owne experience I now delight not to recount my story Mine be the shame I give to God the glory From bed of sinne which did me wel-nigh smother He rais'd me up to be the happie mother Of such a child whose wise and potent hand Should sway the Scepter of this holy Land And be to all succeeding generations Our glory and the astonishment of Nations Lo Nathan I have bred him in my wombe And suckel'd at my brests till hee 's become Of Learning capable Now I him bring To thee to be instructed like a King Madame saith Nathan 't is the best of Arts To give right rules to children for their parts For as of other things so of man-kind In youth the time is to instruct the mind What liquor they be season'd with they hold To middle age yea even when they are old Then as the yeelding tender twigs in field Contented are to husbands hand to yeeld And as it gently them directs do grow Up towards Heaven or to the ground below So Tutors may their minds depresse or raise To base desires or thoughts deserving praise Sweet Manna only did with morning last Soon as the Sun grew hot the time was past This is the time true vertues seeds to sow That they with them in strength may thrive and grow And not discern grown up to middle stature â—f they be thus by precept or by nature First be they taught their Parents to revere Distemper lying and deceit to feare To have Gods dreadfull Name in reverence For hope of good and feare of punishments On them yet this inforce not but instill It gently with good
teach Where now dumb Priests have all that never preach Your great ones now do only stand for show And them that beare the burthens keep full low Thus peoples itching eares the Rebell feasts By rayling on their Governors and Priests A trite and common way to palliate Rebellion to traduce the present State That makes the people 'gainst their Rulers rise The rude and ignorant against the wise This makes the commons side against the Peeres The worst of ills the utmost of our feares But now the more t' encourage you to fight We war against the broken Ammonite Whom late you did with Sawes and Harrows teare And now aids David not for love but feare Barzillai that rich ancient Gileadite Who comes with wealth not power to the â—ight And Machir of Manasses who do bring Great store of wealth and victualls to the King Will adde but little honour to the day But they will wondrously increase the prey For since the Tribes on Iordans other side Stand for our right and these from us divide Well may we all their goods and Cattels take And preys of all their Towns and Cities make This oily speech of his did frame the heart Of most of all his Souldiers to his part â—ut most those that by warres hop'd for increase And more than death did feare a needy peace But th' Armies now on both sides draw so neere They each to other terrible appeare Neere to Mehanaim there is a Wood Ignobled for much losse of Hebrewes blood Where when as Ammon war proclaimed had Against th' Inhabitants of Gilead And nothing his ambition would suffice But all the Land that over Iordan lyes Lo valiant Ieptha commeth to their aid And all their foes in open field dismaid Which Ephraim bold taking in foule despight That Ieptha without them should go to fight Him challeng'd openly upon the plain Where all are put to flight that were not slain And taking Iordans passages beneath Slew all that could not utter Shiboleth In this Wood Ioab rather chose to train And ranke his men than on the open plain For seeing's foes did two to one abound He took th' advantage of a narrow ground But Absolon most eager of the fight Presuming on his number force and might Calls out My friends brave courage on our side The Cowards in the Woods themselves do hide Should they our numbers see in open field Their courages and hearts would fail and yield You fight not now with men but chase the Hind Which we in bushes woods and thickets find This said the Trumpets sound they give the sign The Armies meet and both in battail joyn The Rebels Host o're all the plain are spread The Kings was close compact well ordered Both meet so close they leave no little space Mens bodies against bodies fill the place Swords against swords a Speare against a Speare Some kill and some are kill'd no sparing there In such close ranks there is no choise at all They victors are that stand they dye that fall The ecchoing woods rebound with shouts and cryes Of wounded men and shriekes of such as dyes Yet clashing of mens Armes yeeld such a sound That it doth all the other noise confound No man his help lends to his neerest friend To save his life or haste his wished end In heat of Battails ay the gentlest brest Is as remorslesse as the cruellest But now the Kings two wings give back to train Their foes in compasse of the Battail main And other close ambushments in the Wood By Ioab laid to make his party good Where stakes pits thickets trees wild beasts conspire To pay rebellious Traytors duest hire Lo here a company unwares do fall Into some cover'd pit are drowned all Here one doth seek the enemies sword to shun And to the pawes of cruell Beasts doth run Here one puts on his â—ourser fresh and free And his own brains knocks out against a Tree One seeking to avoid the cruell push Of sharper Pike is hanged in a bush All had ill footing but who ere did fall Was certain to be trodden down of all Here is a quagmire where some sticking fast Their fellowes following tread them in for hast One leanes against a Tree to take his breath And lo a Serpent stinâ—s him to the death Here is a Ditch in which so many fall It now is fill'd the rest passe over all Thus by the Wood more perish than the Sword Such help the Heavens to Traytors ay afford But whilst before his Host the Rebells fall The King falls to his Armes spirituall For like to Children then we come to God When we lye underneath our Masters Rod. Oh God judge thou my cause saith he do right Against my foes with whom I now do fight I never them offended to this houre And yet they all my soul seek to devoure Shall they escape thus with their wickednesse Nay thou O Lord shalt bring them to distresse But now I pray 'gainst him whom most I love Oh therefore had I wings ev'n like a Dove Then would I flye away and be at rest Untill these stormy winds and tempests ceast When lo the watch-man lifting up his eyes One running to the City-ward espies Which he as suddenly tells to the King Oh sure saith David he doth tidings bring Ah saith the watchman I a second see Come running but know not who it should be But lo the first oh King doth seem to run Like to Ahimaaz old Zadocks son Ah! saiâ—h the King he ay good newes doth bring Who lo then comes and saith All 's well O King God blessed be who now hath set thee free And giv'n unto thy hands thine enemy But oh saith David is the young-man well My Lord saith he Ioab and Israel Prevailed in the field against â—hy son Before I came away the field was won But when he me and Cushai to thee sent I tumults saw but knew not what they meant Then turn aside saith David stand by here Till Cushai with his tidings doth appeare Then Cushai comes and tidings cryes O King God on thy foes doth all their mischief bring He hath aveng'd thee on thine enemies And all that up against my Lord do rise But ah saith David how is 't with my son So be 't saith Cushai unto every one That up against my Lord the King doth rise As Absolon be all thine enemies When as the Rebels first before us fled And Ioab and thy servants followed The young-man post upon a Mule did ride Under an Oake whose armes dispreaded wide When lo his haire which he weares somewhat long Was so intangled in the boughs among The Mule not staying but still putting forth There left him hanging 'twixt the heaven and earth Which when a Souldier saw he Ioab told Who thus repli'd couldst thou him there behold And yet forbeare to smite him to the ground For which thou shouldst no small reward have found Ah saith the man though thou to me shouldst give A thousand
Thence flies he to Ahimelech the Priest Who paid too deare for such a Royall Guest For spitefull Doeg did to Saul complain And neere a hundred Priests by him were slain From thence to Achish Prince of Gath where he Pretendeth madnesse and simplicity From thence he hunted to Adullams Cave Like to a Partridge flies his life to save To Ziph Eugaddy Maons Desarts where He cut off Sauls coat-lap but 's life did spare And after took his Sreare from 's sleeping head Then he the second time to Achish fled Of whom he was most kindly entertain'd For hate of Saul and Ziglags Town obtain'd Whence he to warre on Iudahs Coasts pretended But so 'gainst Amalek his forces bended And other foes of ours that to complain He never let one man alive remain By which he faln now into th' indignation As Achish thought of his own King and Nation Was brought to field 'gainst Saul his King to fight But these Philistine Lords that knew his might And fearing he to th' other side should turn Made him again to Ziglag back return Which burnt he found their women captive led With all their children that him followed For which all were so grieved and offended His Souldiers there to stone him had intended Amid all troubles God did him sustain And helpt to win his own and more again For he so close pursu'd th' Amalekite And them unwares so furiously did smite He all the Host left dead upon the plain And losses all recovered again Inriching them with spoiles that with him went And many presents to our Elders sent In all his troubles which of you can say He did me wrong or made of mine a prey Was he not rather unto you for all Your Goods against your enemies a wall Aske foolish Nabals servants they will say He was a wall to us by night and day No sheep were lost no Lambs of ours were slain Whilst David neer to Carmel did remaâ—n And though the churle did evill him requite Yet God who is the Iudge of wrong and right Reveng'd his churlishnesse with losse of life Rewarding Davids goodnesse with his wife By this Saul and his sons were overthrown At Gilboa which soon as it was known To David how did he compassionate Their deaths and those afflictions of the State Which were so great they over Iordan fled And many of their Townes abandoned So as by this so great an overthrow Were Israel and Iudah brought so low They to the son of Ishai presents bring And him acknowledge their annointed King For what was closely done by Samuel Was known to all the Tribes of Israel Had he not been a valiant man of warre The Philistins prevailed had so farre We surely had long since their servants been And not these dayes of liberty have seen Abner long at Mehanaim maintain'd The son of Saul whilst he at Hebron raign'd Till Traytors did his head to David bring Then all the Tribes acknowledge him their King Oh with what wondrous joy and acclamation Was he accepted then of all this Nation He went before us in and out in all The warres in times of Samuel and Saul He saved us from all our enemies And honour'd us with glorious victories Oh! then he was of our own flesh and bone And fit to govern all the Tribes alone Sure his deserts were infinite before But hath he not to these still added more Witnesse this place where now Gods Arke is pight In th' heart of Iudah which the Iebusite 'Gainst Iosuab Iudges Samuel Saul maintain'd By Davids might and prowesse now obtain'd This holy place where now you meet to pray And offer sacrifices night and day For Sions Mount your Kings brave habitation Worlds wonder and the Glory of this Nation Whilome of theeves and murtherers a den Whence they did steal your goods and spoil your men And sacrifice to Rimnon morn and even And worship'd daily all the host of Heaven Yea often to appease th' infernall Ire Did drive your sons and daughters through the fire This fort defended by the blind and lame He builded and Hierusalem did name Did not all Palestine their forces bring 'Gainst David soon as he was crowned King Whom all to weak his valour to withstand God twice delivered into Davids hand Yea ev'n the God of Hosts to shew his right Led him forth from the Mulberry trees to fight Soon as his enemies subdued are He wholly on Religion sets his care Gods Ark into your City home to bring That God might dwell with you as did the King Why should I here sad Vzzahs breach recite Whom God for his presumption dead did smite For staying but the Arke up with his hand Medling with sacred thing 'gainst Gods command For which it was to Obeâ— Edoms led Where whilst it staid all things well prospered But ah how did our Prophet dance and sing More like a holy Levite than a King When th' Ark was brought up hither to be rear'd And set up in the place for it prepar'd Who though he then was scorn'd in Michâ—ls sight God never did in him take more delight What hath he not for this your City done Besides his many Royall workes begun And finished whereby he chang'd this hold Of earth and stone to streets of brasse and gold 'T was in his mind a Temple here to raise To Gods eternall Worship laud and praise Till God by Nathan otherwise declared Yet he for it materialls hath prepared The which his son that Prince of peace shall raise And blesse with peace and honour all his dayes For all such as have had their hands in bloud As David though their warres are just and good From medling with Gods Altar ought abstain The stones whereof should all in peace be lain For what are all our Rites and offerings Arke Incense and all other holy things But figures of eternall peace and rest No bloudied hands may minister this feast Irregularity for second wives Is vain as you shall see by both their lives And therefore David leavs it to his son He after all his former battails won Hath taken Gath the key of all your Land The Bridle thus wringing out of the hand Of Philistins who now 〈◊〉 brought so low They all their knees to Iudahs Monarch bow Ittai one of their Lords of greatest might Serv'd under David in this civill fight Moab you know with lines was measured Two lines to save alive another dead And Hadadezar Syrians King of Kings With all his Vice-Roys presents to us brings Now Aram and Damascus ours remain Twenty two thousand of them being slain He hither all the Shields of gold did bring Which he had taken from the Syrian King We quite through Edom all our Armies led And of them eighteen thousand slaughtered So as in all these Cities and wall'd Townes The King hath put strong men in Garrisons Yea ev'n Damascus though as Queen she reigns Above the rest a Garrison maintains What Presents did the son of Tohu bring Of Gold
to invite Her to the Court sometimes to take delight Till her belov'd Vriah did return And not to sit all day at home and mourn Glad was the woman that her Lord and King Did so much for her Husbands honouring And sayes though for Vriahs safe retire To pray and mourn I onely do desire I will my self and him this thing denay Ere I my gracious King will disobey Soon as the King her in the Court doth see Amongst the Ladies like faire Cypresse Tree Amongst the Shrubs or Cynthia shining bright Amid the twinkling Starres in frosty night He first begins her beauty to commend And blushing kist her cheek and calls her friend And said that if he might a servant be To such a beautious Mistris his degree Of State should bow her humbly to observe And do his best her favour to deserve Thus though her Husbands Honour first did bring This Dame to Court yet proud now that a King Should there confesse he did such service owe For few faire Ladies but their beauty know As ready was to take as he to offer All Complements of Court the King would proffer Not once suspecting such a godly King Would offer her the least dishonouring Nor could all Satans cunning him have brought At first to entertaine so foule a thought But as a simple Lambe on flowrie banks Of Iordan bounds and leaps and plaâ—es his pranks Till his faire shadow in the watry glasse He spies which seemes the substance to surpasse Whereon he nigher comes and comes to look Till unawares he falls into the brook Whence he may strive to get out but in vain The streames by force him carry to the Main Even so the King at first begins to play With her pure hand as on his Couch he lay Then gazing on her eyes and modest face Reflecting beauties like a Looking-glasse He unawares in Beauties snare is took Ev'n as the Lamb was drowned in the Brook Oh lothsomnesse deceitfulnesse of sinne The sweetnesse bitternesse we finde therein Beginnings fawnings growing terrour smart Our weaknesse Satans envie mans false heart Thus Mortals which to Heaven should seek the way As Fishes which in fresher water play Swim in delights and lustfull pleasures all Till unawares they in the dead-sea fall But as you evermore shall see one sinne Beget another to lye hidden in So David his Adultery to hide Commits first drunkennesse then homicide For she perceiving that she had conceiv'd And fearing lest for being so deceiv'd The Lords and all the people would her blame Because her Lord could not beget the same Who had been three full months to battail gone Before her bathing and the act was done She hereof closely certifies the King Who seeks thus to provide a covering He sends to me a Letter which requir'd Vriah home as if he had desir'd To know by him how all things did succeed But 't was to father what his wife did breed In brief Vriah comes and doth relate To David mine and all the peoples state And how the warres went on and prospered Then David wisht him get him home to bed Refresh thy self thy journey hath been great And after him he sends a messe of meat But brave Vriah hating all delight Or pleasure which disabled him to fight Among the Guard did all that night attend Nor would to his own house and wife descend Which when the King next morrow understands He of Vriah thus the cause demands Brave Hittite may thy King the reason know Why this last night when thou didst from me go You went not home but tarryed with my Gard As of thy journey thou hadst no regard Who said the Arke with Iudah Israel And my Lord Ioab in their Tents do dwell Abroad i' th' field What then shall I alone Lye with my wife and eat and drink at home As thy soule lives and as thou liv'st O King I am resolved not to do this thing The King yet caus'd him in the City stay All that and afterwards another day In hope at last he to his wife would go But when he found that this way would not do He makes him in his presence sup that night And drink down healths untill his head was light Yet he his wife regarded nere the more But with the Gard all night lay as before Oh such brave Spirits saith Abishai would raise Unto themselves and us immortall praise Were they but as they due deserve regarded But see saith Ioab how this was rewarded He brings a Letter sign'd with Davids hand To me which did to this effect command Of thee and of thy host I did inquire By this and finde all things as I desire This onely now to thee I do not find This Hittite answerable to my mind And therefore set him formost in the fight Where thou discern'st the men of greatest might And when he is in danger soon retire And let him dye No other cause inquire Of thy King David Having this command My part was to obey and not to stand In disputation were it wrong or right And therefore where I saw most men of might Defend the walls I brave Vriah sent Where all succeeded just to mine intent Of Davids servants many likewise fell Both of Iudea and of Israel Whereof when first I certifi'd the King He seemed much displeased with the thing But when he heard Vriah also di'd His wrath appeas'd he thus again repli'd Salute thou Ioab tell him after-care Or grief avails not 'gainst the chance of Warre For thus the sword doth usually devoure All that do come within his reach or power Be not discourag'd make thine Armie strong To be reveng'd of this and all our wrong What said his wife saith Abishai hereto Ev'n mourn'd for fashion as â—ich widdowes do Saith Ioab but as soon as that was done The King her makes his wife and takes her home The joy to be a Queen soon dryes her eyes And with her husbands murtherer she lyes Wondrous iniquity saith Abishai I never heard the like untill this day A head distemper'd thus cannot but ake And make the heart and all the members shake He were a man of wondrous wisdome sure That could to this disease apply a cure Is not one Prophet left in Israel That dares the King of these offences tell Yes sure saith Ioab there 's a skilfull one Hath searcht this sore unto the very bone Good Nathan yet with such a gentle hand He made the King his faults to understand By telling others so the sore did presse With prudent gentle pious tendernesse For Prophets that reprove such faults in Kings Must strike at one to sound out other strings And not reproach their errours to their faces Nor publish to the people their disgraces Since Bathsheb as conception did begin The King slept in this Lethargy of sinne They both had like beginning life and growth And have like bringing forth and birth of both As skilfull Leech to cure his Patients ills With gold oft covers biâ—ter wholsome
feet Most proudly trample up and down the street And all Ierusalem and Iudah ring With daily triumphs of their hopefull King Their eyes and tongues intangled thus in snares He likewise fetters for their hearts prepares He rising early standeth by the gate And for each suter is an Advocate His eare all causes heares his tongue doth flatter Couldst thou be heard my friend good is thy matter His hand even like his tongue still courting is His lips salute the meanest with a kisse And nothing gives him cause of discontent But this the present state and government That is by him as deeply censured As all his Clients causes flattered Thus as a Theef that breaketh in by night For these heart-sâ—ealers alwayes shun the light Layes hold on every thing that he can get And all is fish to them that comes to net Ne'r pondering the weighty from the light No more had he respect to wrong or right For being crept at that by-window in Their hearts he seeks to steal away not win Alas how little silly people knows Right to distinguish truth from glossing shows All is not gold good friends that glisters bright No naturall colour shows like painted white And now nought wants but some religious Cloke To keep the fier cover'd lest it smoke The trechery of an ungracious son Must have his warrant from Religion The vow he made in Syria must be paid And 〈◊〉 shall for there the plot was laid How he the peoples hearts should steal away And by pretended vow the King betray Thus Hypocrites mock God to have their ends And foulest fact the fairest meanes pretends But nothing more could please the Fathers mind Than so devout a â—oly son to find Return'd from Geshur that idolatrous Court Where they of true Religion make a sport Yet whilst he bowes his knees and humbly prayes God to accept that sacrifice of praise At Hebron where he first began to raign When Saul and 's sons on Gilboa were slain His son is there projecting to cast down â—rom's Fathers royall head th' imperiall Crown His doubâ—e guilt of feigned piety Such grace and favour wan in ev'ry eye That lo two hundred honest meaning men Go with the Traytor from Hierusalem True hearted Israelites whose just intents Are sound and good as is your conscience â—oore silly Sheep you right go crastray â—ust as your Guides direct you in the way Beware of them that holy vowes pretend But have like Absolon a wicked end That under promise of reforming things Do reach at Crowns and dethronizing Kings Nought better than their fruits to you will show them Yet take these speciall marks whereby to know them They alwayes with the times are discontent Still blaming States and Churches government Kings Nobles Judges Priests and Rulers all Without respect within their censure fall Whose faults are greater in perspective shown But all must cover'd be that are their own They have an open greedy itching eare No time nor hands to practise what they heare Oh! prophesying is the onely thing No duty else they know to God or King Well-minded people heed well what you do Beware how you with such to Hebron go To offer sacrifice which they oft season With high contempts rebellion and treason And now the Prophet's tuning sweetest Layes Unto his God and Saviours endlesse praise When lo a Messenger comes trembeling And thus begins God save my Lord the King The hearts of all the men of Iudah are Turn'd after Absolon these eares did heare The Trumpets sound the people cry amain In Hebron Absolon as King doth raign And further he hath sent out spies to tell The same to all the Tribes of Israel In fine the Polititian subtly wise Whilst he in Giloh offer'd sacrifice A wicked sacrifice as did thy son Is sent to for to come to Absolon Oh my Lâ—ege Lord this hath been plotting long Achitophels conspiracies are strong For still the people more and more increase With Absolon the enemy of peace Ah saith the King then all of us must flye â—f we within the City stay we dye For lo the people ignorant and rude â—he violent unbridled multitude â—ike waves of raging seas do ebbe and flow When neither we nor they the causes know â—esist their fury it will hotter burn Give way it like the tide will back return They that cry loudest Absolon doth raign May be the first will bring us home again â—ire popular ay like a shadow flyes â—rom them that follow her and as fast hy's To them that shun her who speed best of all â—atch but an empty shadow with a fall Thus was the King out of the City sent â—nd all the Country mourned as he went â—he Ark and Priests and all accompani'd â—he King with teares unto the Rivers side â—hen thus the King to Ittai Ancient friend â—he son of mine own bowells seeks mine end â—hy shouldst thou me from Gaâ—h accompany â—nd so partake of my calamity â—ow must wander out and God doth know â—ere I shall return again or no. â—he greatest gift I to my friends can give 〈◊〉 license to depart from me and live â—hen Ittai thus My dearest Lord and King 〈◊〉 force not on me such dishonouring â—o leave a King in danger merits blame 〈◊〉 to forsake a friend eternall shame â—ith thee I am resolv'd to live and dye â—o suffer thus is no calamity Thus Ittai past the ford when to the King The Priests and Levites th' Ark of God did bring To whom he thus Reduce into his place This holy Arke if after I find grace With God A mighty he again will bring Me hither to behold this holy thing But if in me he cannot take delight Do he with me as seemeth in his sight This he to all To Zadock then alone He thus begins with tears to make his moan Most reverend Priest grave wise religious The Mediator 'twixt our God and us Yet art thou but a Type though Arons son The true high Priest and Substance is to come I know th' Arks presence and thy gracious sight Would better us encourage to the fight And all our wars have been most prosperous Where Levites carried the Ark with us But I resolve now not to trouble them You shall return all to Ierusalem These holy things to thee committed are That thou of Gods true worship shouldst have care Serve him yee shew thy duty to the King Which thou maist best do by discovering The plots of wicked-wise Achitophel Which knowing I the better may refell Thou seest these Polititians devise To cloke their treasons under sacrifice Lo both their vowes religiously must pay At Hebron and at Giloh on a day For both the things which they have vow'd are one To put down Gods anoynted from his Throne Thou that the secrets of mans heart dost sound Their hypocriticall device confound And as they do thy holy Rites prophane So make their worldly wisdome foolish vain â—he holy Bishop whose pure chrystall teares â—hine in his eyes
which ne're Amnon heard least good or ill Till Absolon it punisht 'gainst thy will And now thy gentlenesse and indulgence By yeelding to the vain profuse expense And costly bravery of Absolon More â—itting for a Monarch than thy son Who could not up and down the City ride With lesse than fifty footmen by his side Hath rais'd his high ambition to thy Crown And thus lo thou art vexed by thine own The â—reasures of thy Kingdom must supply Him meanes for managing this treachery Sure had he liv'd this day to see thy face Thou hadst receiv'd him to thy former grace But we that have adventur'd goods and lives To save the King his daughters sons and wives Secluded from thy face and presence be As if wee all were Traytors and not he Now therefore here I sweare before the Lord Except thou hearken to thy servants word And come and stand in some faire open place To shew thy servants comfort in thy face Of all the men that thus for thee did fight There will not one remain with thee by night Which will be worser far oh King than all The evils that ever did thee befall Alas saith David I could not allow In other men the things which I do now But Parents love is strong and naturall And violently down the hill doth fall Flouds falling from precipite hills you may As well as Parents loves to children stay But if mine errors onely you relate You do not me advise but exprobrate 'T is easie others faults to reprehend True wisdome others and his own to mend But Ioab seeing speeches-liberty Did only rub not heal the malady Begins with modesty to blame the time And some of those offenders that were prime When David thus what must we here abide Or shall we go on Iordans other side What thinkst thou must we try another field Or will the people and the Cities yield No doubt saith Ioab all the Townes will yield None of the faction can maintain the field Nor do I know a man now he is gone They will accept to be their minion Now that the streame is turn'd behold the tide Will flow as fast unto the other side Mens fancies like an optique glasse make all The eye is fixed on seem faire great and fall Where people love they showes for truth will take And where they hate of vertues vices make What made them else so vain fantasticall To follow Traytors and from thee to fall For as we in Prospective glasses see Things farthest off far fairer than they be So people by their fancy do approve Kings vice or vertues as they hate or love Be but at first of these thy friends secur'd Who now much danger have for thee endur'd And thou as of one man shalt draw the hearts Ev'n of all Palestina to thy parts The Tribes which now beyond the floud remain Will strive which first shall bring thee back again Yea Iudah who was first to put thee down Will come first to restore thee to thy Crown Thus came the King into the City gate Which when the people heard they that of late For griefe and sorrow fled unto their Tent Do thither come for joy incontinent Who them with comfortable words so pleaseth He all their former griefs and sorrowes easeth The King was scarse descended from his Throne When Rumors over all the Camp are blown That all the Tribes do strive about the King Which first of them him back again should bring Oh say the people he is just and wise And saâ—ed us from all our enemies And from the Philistines delivered Yet now out of the Land from us is fled For Absolon late in the Battail slain Whom we annoynted over us to raign Ah saith the King then will it be a shame For Iudah of my kindred tribe and name If when as all the Tribes of Israel haste To bring me home againe they be the last And therefore sends he to the Priests that they Should in this manner to the Elders say Why should you be the last that seek to bring Again unto his house with you the King Now seeing all the other Tribes conspire To that the King of you doth most desire You are my brethren mine own flesh and bone Then be not last but rather come alone To fetch me home to you and I will grace Your Captain Amasa with Ioabs place Is he not also of my flesh and bone What though he fought against me for my son This was and is a politick wise fashion To sway the people by the Priests Oration For they have at command the peoples eare And what they teach we all are bound to heare In Iebus City is a spacious Court Where Elders and the people ay resort To heare the Prophets and the Law expounded And Rules of good and holy life propounded Where God whom heav'n of heav'ns cannot contain Doth with his Ark in Tents of skins remain Here reverend Zadock to the Congregation Out of his Pulpit utters this Oration By which he wisely did the hearts command Of Elders all and people of the Land Men Brethren Fathers whom I see this day Assembled here in great concourse to pray For th' health and safety of our holy King Whom God in peace and honour to us bring I will not exprobrate your least omission Of any duty in his last dismission I onely of his merits make narration And leave all to your loyall application Will you be pleas'd to heare me first begin Where first he your and Israels hearts did win Th' uncircumcised Giant he did quell Defying all the host of Israel To count his strength and vallour I forbeare In killing of the Lion and the Beare For this was his first signall act of fame Whereby he honour wan to Ishai's name By which he was made known to Saul and wan Such grace and favour with sweet Ionathan Who as his soul most dearly David lov'd From which he would by no meanes be remov'd And though Saul would perswade his son to hate Him as the assured ruine of his State Against his violence he firmly stood And never ceast to do King David good After Goliah slain he for his hire Became to be Sauls servant and Esquire And on his Harp so cunningly did play He often drave Sauls evill spirit away From whence he was advanc'd to have command Amongst the men of warre when with his hand The jealous Tyrant sought to strike him dead As on his Harp he plaid and solaced To â—ide his hate yet to betray his liâ—e Saul proffers him his daughter unto wife So with twice fifty fore skins he endow her In hope his foes and him thus to devower But this hope failing Davids victories Began in Saul such feares and ielousies That divers wayes his death he practised But God by Michol him delivered Whence he to Samuel in Ramoth fled Saul thither him pursuing prophesi'd Then sav'd he Keilah by the Philistine Besieg'd and took great store of Sheep and Kine
Like savage beasts their fellowes each assaile Where strength and fury 'gainst all right prevaile Like Pikes in pond the most of might and power Do all the other underlings devoure Here heapes of bodies lye unburied Here Infants slain and Virgins ravished Nor is the perill of the enemy More dangerous than privie treachery Where great ones seem to take their Soveraigns parts Yet cleave unto the Rebels with their hearts And therefore him unfaithfully advise Disclosing's secrets to his Enemies Amongst such Traytors good and loyall held More perill is at home than in the field These and a thousand more calamities Of civill warres now th' Hebrewes miseries And bred at first on this side Iordanes floud Are forded over now to Ephraims wood Which though ambition them at first begins God sends for scourges of the peoples sins But Absolon that might no longer raign Than he the peoples madnesse could maintain Besides he many of their hearts did find From him unto the better part inclin'd March'd on till both the Armies were in sight On purpose to provoke the King to fight And David who was stronger now become By many friends that to his aid were come It thinking foule dishonour for a Crown To be besieged in a walled Town Caus'd Ioab draw his men out of the gate That he might view them all there as he sate Where he appoints some Captaines over ten Someover hundreds some a thousand men For all or most part of his old Commanders To follow Absolon had left his standards When Ittai Davids prudent faithfull friend Begins my Lord stay here thy servants send Against these Rebels for our King to fight Why should we hazard putting out our light What though ten thousand of thy people fall Thy life is of more value than us all True-hearted Subjects more will every day Turn after thee and fall from him away With which we 'l battail after battail try Till God and our good cause give victory When thus the King Ioab and Abishai And Ittai you are men on whom this day My life my Kingdom and my State relies And therefore I will do as you advise The Army order as you shall think fit To each of you a third part I commit Let Ioabs might for our main â—attail stand Iâ—tai and Abishai the wings command But good my friends remember Absolon Forget not that he is your Soveraigns son Intreat the young-man gently for my sake On 's youth and my gray haires some pitty take This charge he in the gate with many teares Gave all the Captaines in the peoples eares But Absolon who found the people totter And waver like the Seas unstable water And that the Tribeson this side Iordans floud Who for the King more than the Rebels stood Resolv'd to dye all in the Kings defence Against his sons rebellious insolence Rais'd on his Mule and arm'd in war-like fashion To all his Army utters this Oration My friends and fellow-souldiers not mine own Content or private coveting the Crown Me caus'd these Armes and Weapons up to take But for the publike profit and your sake Alas you know how braâ—e and plenteously I might have liv'd in all prosperity Grace honour credit glory and renown Nought wanting but the dangers of a Crown Of which succession made me not so sure As all your votes and wishes did secure But this your favour to the rising Sun Which by my love and care of you I won Was made high treason by these to the King Who of the State have all the managing Whose tirannous oppressions should I name I should laâ— ope mine own and Fathers shame For such do rule the King that are not able To rule themselves a thing intollerable This must be righted I you hither bring To fight against these Tyrants not the King 'T is yours and not my cause for which we fight I only lend my counsell strength and might My friends and kinsmen I you all leave free Go on which side you most desire to be Some tyranny account a benefit So they at home in peace may quiet sit And rather had the heaviest burthens beare Than noise of Drums and Trumpets sounding heare Such wish I to their Cities soon return But you brave friends whose hearts do inly burn With zeal and hate 'gainst publike tyrannies And seek to vindicate these injuries Whom by your faces brave alacrity I easely from base Cowards can descry As with brave courage you with me remain With me as victors you shall ever raign Whilst they whose harts them fail for cowardise Shall lye and groan still under tyrannies As Moses led you by a mighty hand From bondage of a cruell Lord and Land So come I up resolv'd to set you free From all oppressions wrongs and tyranny The justnesse of our cause shall us acquite But you that are so miserably light Again for Aegypts flesh-pots to return Though you their Brick and Lime for ever burn Return I say and live in your own City Your lightnesse merits not such blame as pitty Since I return'd from Geshur to this Câ—urt I view'd your grievances of every sort Tell me to which of all your causes here I have not lent an understanding eare Your suits were good but either none there were Deputed of the King your plaints to heare Or else the Iudges wanted time and leasure All must attend from Term to Term their pleasure Oh! there is no more gainfull occupation Than Law in practise with the Iewish Nation Clerks Patrons Proctors Lictors more abound Than Merchants Farmours Souldiers can be found And whence live these but on the injuries Of you my people and your miseries As Winds by Conjurers are oft up blown That Conjurers again may get them down So do these Lawyers suits and questions raise Not for their Clyents profit but their praise Nor will they them dismisse with little gain For many suits eternally remain With so great costs as they that overcome Had better been condemn'd when they begun And ev'n as Souldiers by continuall jarres Grow senselesse of the cruelty of warres So Lawyers us'd to wrongs and injuries Compassionate no Clyents miseries I cannot finde that all the civill broiles So much oppresse the subject as the toiles Men take when they for justice sue and right More safe in field than at the bar to fight Have not some Courts yet in your memories Doubled against all equitie their fees As if they had no table law nor taske But you were bound to pay what they will aske Which th' unlearn'd deskmen to such states doth raise And leaves Professors onely place and praise These and more grievances I will redresse And make the number of your Lawyers lesse Which when they have no place to act their parts Will study other profitable Arts I will appoint for pleadings certain dayes And Iudges to do right without delayes Yea many other wrongs I will reform The Levites which your consciences inform Shall take the tenths of all the soules they