wrought by curious Chymistry To an Elixir to make thousands by The many-headed Antichristian-Beast With names of Blasphemy upon his brest Judas hayl Master with his loving Kiss The brazen Bull of cruel Phalaris All guests to fit Procustes Iron bed By stretching joynts or chopping off the head Whatever I have said describes it not But like as Hell is fanci'd fiery hot Th' eternal Mansions of damned Sprites As we pourtray by that which us affrights Just so the Covenant do I express By likening it to the pit bottomless Or to the Locusts which thence did arise With dreadful Strings Or to the fatal eyes Of that Serpentine Monster which can slay Only by sight yet still whate'er I say Ten thousand times comes short of that degree Of hellish Venom and Malignitie VVhich in the Solemn League by proof is found That Scotch-born Pest nourish'd in English ground VVhich hath devour'd alike both beasts and men Lands Houses Churches Castles surely when Grisly Abaddon with Destruction met That Sire and Damme this Goblin did beget Which to the life t' express doth pass my Skill Puzzles my Fancie and out-dares my Quill For beyond all that I can think or say It is Great Beezebub's ET CAETERA UPON The Detestable LIFE And Accursed DEATH OF OLIVER Lord PRO-TRAYTOR OF England Scotland and Ireland with the Dominions thereto appertaining HOw many wonders centre here in one Well may we call him Wonder 's Legion He 's Prodigies in gross a wholesale Pack Of strange Portents Amazements Almanack To think what first he was to what he grew Would startle Faith and non-plus Reason too No doubt but future Ages will suspect His Story yea had we not seen th' effect No Rhetorick could win us to believe Nay we might doubt our eyes did us deceive But that we also felt as well as saw The weighty load of his imperious Law God bless me when I look on him I fear As if some dreadful Comet did appear More frightful never was that blazing Star Whose flaming Tayl struck terrour near and far Nor could a flying Dragon scare me more Nor Thunderclaps which over head do roar Nor yet that rending Thunderbolt which falls Mingled with blasting Lightenings Fire-balls Such trembling horrour and amazement bring As that Vile Monster who destroy'd his King What is he dead No no it cannot be Can Lucifer taste of Mortalitie Rather the time expir'd he here should dwell And hence he went to play his pranks in hell Who can imagine him of mortal breed Hell's Off-spring onely durst act such a Deed. His Nose betray'd his Lin'age and did show His Pedegree th' infernal fire below As in a Landskip there was set to view VVhose frequent Pimples seem'd a Damned Crew Thus Hell was represented in his face Himself the Divell acted with such grace Who saw him took the Actor for the same Thus he and Satan differ'd but in name Some think an Incubus his Mother prest And while she bred him say she was possest Nor is 't improbable for that old Hagge Prov'd afterwards his Oracle would bragge Much of her cunning and some say would tell Of secret whispers in a private Cell No sooner was a Health drunk to his Nose But she as quickly could and did disclose Yet let his Sire be what he will we know That Lucifer he oft-times did out-do Some call him Jeroboam and pourtray Him and a ghastly Goblin both one way Turning blinde Fortune's VVheel to get a Crown Though Oliver put Jeroboam down He was to him a Saint two Calves of Gold Although he made his Crown thereby to hold Yet openly rebell'd seem'd what he was But Cromwel in the dark unseen did pass Step after step with gilded Perjury And with the most refin'd Hypocrisie All Jeroboam's sins he did commit And far out-strip'd him he a Kingdom split Rent it in twain but not to pieces broke Forsook his King but not with fatal stroke Murther'd him at his door nor was ingag'd To Rehoboam rather was inrag'd Against him for his fathers sake who sought His life but he by flight his safety wrought This villain to the death his King pursu'd More fierce then fiercest Tyger he inbru'd His hands in Sacred blood which to defend Oft he had sworn did the whole Kingdom rend From his Successor Jeroboam left Two Tribes to Davids Son Cromwel bereft His Sov'rains heir not only of his Crown But all his friends most proudly trampled down Rob'd him of all the comforts of his life And drew against him his blood-thirsty knife Instead of Golden Calves to be ador'd This daring English rebel well was stor'd With monstrous heresies which vented were Without coutrol all found protection here Old darkness was esteem'd both light and new Religions all were free except the true Oh! what a Zealous Sycophantick gang Hosanna sung what new Sects daily sprang The vilest Jeroboam chose for Priests Cromwel at this was expert and supprest All that were ablest who durst not comply With his designs were with contempt cast by Thus sects with us like the Egyptian swarms With humming musick dance to Cromwels charmes So that if now I should his name devise He should be Beelzebub the Lord of flies Old Holofernes one was pleas'd to call This rebel but beneath the mark did fall And yet did very well he level shot Aim'd at the white although he hit it not For that great Captain at his Kings command Led forth an hoast fell by a womans hand This monster rose in arms against his King And slighting vows to publick death did bring Nor would when summon'd unto death submit But sturdily strove to abate its writ Till Lucifer in blustring storms did come To ravish him perforce unto his doom Then did he yell howl blaspheme rave And four days respite humbly beg'd to have Then then this wretch unto his place did go There to eternity to suffer wo. Old Holofernes his Kings foes subdu'd To such who did submit he mercy shew'd Cromwel both King and all his friends brought under His native Country he did rod and plunder Jerusalem by force one did assault Vaux-like th' other in a secret vault By secret practises knew to delude And brought his Masters into servitude Better his own vile name then other may His more accursed qualities pourtray Henceforth let it serve for a Magick spell A spirit rais'd back to remand to hell And as a Bugbear froward children stills The trembling Scots his name with horror fills Dunbar and Worster fatal Proofes they found How well the Cov'nant thriv'd in English ground Our Covenanters learn'd to slay their King And on her knees their Kirke old Nol did bring He to their grief taught them and made them feel Their League was to be purg'd away with steel Now fie upon him Loon the Kirke did cry The League was gud he took it wickedly To rise in Arms our Covenant allows To root out Prelacy nor do our vows Forbid to sell our King this doth agree
ground His Birth his Valour his Exploits and Glory All tumbled in a heap of Doubtful Story Even so at length Great Conqu'rours shall you be O'er-come confin'd as close as low as he Ten thousand Armies strength will not defend Your Conquests and your selves must have An End Nor can they yeild you comfort when you die Be'ng nothing but a splendid Robbery Since the Julian Institution Since the Gregorian Emendation Our State have been reforming twelve long years The Church Court Country City Hair and Ears Should they the English Kalendar omit 'T will be forgot when they begun to sit Ages to come who thirst to celebrate Their famous Deeds shall find them without date And know no more when CHARLES or Strafford dy'd Then some When Christ was born or crucifi'd Perhaps mistake the Persons with the Times Finding so like their Suff'rings and their Crimes 2. Vnder the Feasts and Fasts VVhat Changlings were the Presbyterian-Crew VVho pull'd old Crosses down to set up new And burnt Christs Picture whilst they did embrace Those Antique Draughts of Calamy and Case That durst adventure on such dangerous shelves As to un-Saint th'Evangelists themselves And leave us not a Festival beside VVhat they so called and had sanctifi'd But Heav'n is just For lo they 're forc'd to bow The Synod's down and stinking-Elders too Onely they bark at Moon-shine now and then To witness they are Dogs more like then Men. 3. Under the Kings c. I 've said y' are Gods Who dare you Tyrants call Since Good or Bad y' are his Vice-gerents all But you shall die like Men This I allow For Men must die so did our Saviour too VVhen once the Rulers Priests and People cry Away with him Pilate must crucifie 4. Under the Table of Terms Lawyers prefer the sharpest Laws as best To keep a Commonwealth in Peace and Rest If so why should those Gown-men Frown and Puff To see the Courts of Justice lin'd with Buff No Plea ere moved as a Sword can do For that o'er-ruleth Judge and Jury too 5. In January VVelcome ye pregnant times whilst you shall be As cross to some as they were curs'd to me VVelcome prodigious Births wherein appear No fewer Monsters then are days i' th' year Thrice welcome are ye For y' are none of mine A Poets issue is A Princely Line 6. In February Disturbed Heav'ns produce disturbed Pates Confused Councils more confused States A Quarter-witted Clergy half undone Their Grand Impostures clear as is the Sun Whence Giddy Zealots take the Craft in hand And breath a holy-madness through the Land 7. In the moneth May. VVhither an Army now VVell I could say VVho 't is will get or who shall loose the day Thrasillus-like inform you who shall prove Victorious in 's Ambition who in 's Love But I am silent Nay I must be dumb T is TREASON now to pray Thy Kingdom come 8. In November The Nation mourns because of monstrous Oaths Her scarlet sins cause want of Bread and Cloathes Diseases rage and strongly multiply Our New-Republick's sick and like to die London bewailes beshrews her lewd pretence Of begging for a Posture of Defence 9. Where speaking of the Mutations of Empires Kingdoms and Commonwealths he pithily concludes Thus Changes come thus Changes will ensue Till these corrupted bodies change for new And put on incorruption Men and Things VVhole Countries Cities Beggars Princes Kings He who but lately wore a Crown of Gold Crown'd now with thorns exil'd or basely sold He clad in rags and fed with scraps before Now thron'd in 's stead and surfeiting with store A glorious Church and Kingdom but to day To morrow both the VVolf and Foxes Prey The Learned Lawyer Orthodox Divine Once high esteem'd now rank'd with filthy swine The Hospitable Lord erst fed the Poor And cloath'd the naked nak'd turn'd out of door His sorrowing VVife and helpless Children gone To try their Friends perhaps be frowned on And he in 's hoary-age Petition bare Those that his Grooms at best but lately were The Fool in 's Coat the VVise-man in his Chair Th' Indulgent Father and the Hopeful Heir The griping Landlord and the greedy Clown The glittering Tissue and the gray-friz'd Cown The Rosy-Cheeke and the unfurrowed Brow The Freckled VVainscot-Face that milks the Cow The Flowry Bride girt with chaste thoughts about VVill all once changed be their Lamps must out Nay Heav'n it self grows old and will away It had a Birth and shall a dying day All all to change and dissolution tend Poor Almanacks ev'n they must have an end In Hemeros 1654. this ingenious Person wrote these following Heroick Verses 1. Of the Feasts c. Go ring the Bells let Priests and People pray I know no Treason in a Holy-Day 2. Over the Table of Kings c. Here stands the Regal Table till it be Convict and Banish'd for Malignancy Under the Kings Call me no more Malignant since the Tearm Hath Hydra's Head I Hercules his Arm And though no God nor worshipped at Tyre Remember yet great Jupiter's my Sire Let States and Kingdoms whirle mine shall not fall Except when time is done this Globe and all So Wolf and Lamb salute the first for blood The second to be offer'd for our good 3. Over the Terms Thus may the Terms begin thus may they end As yet we know not what we do intend Under the Terms Friends send your Sons no more to th' Inns of Court But breed them Souldiers Men of loud Report So need they fear no rude Return of words Or Writs nor yet Exception 'gainst their Swords So shall their Terms be never out of Date Nor liable to change but with the State So may they chuse the trade most profit brings Set up or Lawyers Priests or Petit Kings 4. In January Now CHARLES is dead the Senate in a ditty Sung in Wild Airs about the holy City The ill-got Lords made worse then Indian slaves And Priests like Churches hovering o'er their Graves Whose turn is next speak you as may be free I dare not meddle with SUPREMACY 5. In February Fetch Me a Ladder and a Broom that I May sweep the Cobwebbs from the azur'd skie Dispatch the fumes that cloud the subtile Air And make the Heav'ns look Maiden-smooth and fair Else is that Roof too mean for those that vie With Gods themselves for Crowns and Majesty 6. In March Justice now flows and Righteousness doth stream Throughout the streets the Conduits run with Cream Our Virgins Lamps be full of holy Oyl Themselves o'er-charg'd and ready to recoil Old men dream dreams and young men visions see Their cloven tongues are tip't with Prophesie 7. In April Well fare Gay knacks and men to change inclin'd They raise the dust and cloud the work design'd In gilded Roofs who doubteth of deceit In troubled waters who can see the Bait He that would closely bring great things about Must mud as well as fish the Rabble-rout 8. In June
Skies And Phoebus view without an Eagles eyes Then rouze up Muse from thy Lethargique strains And having first invok'd the God of Brains Let the Grand subject of thy Measures be No soul to England like a Monarchy 4. In February It is the Image of that Domination By which Jehovah rules the whole Creation Angels nor Saints do in his Kingdom share God is sole Monarch they but subjects are Whose Laws are such as when they did rebel Sequestred not but sent 'em straight to hell 5. In March As Old as that Paternal Soveraignty God plac'd in Adam rul'd his people by Disown'd of none but them whose minds aspire And envy One should have what all desire For be 't a few or many we live under Such shall repine still whilst not of the number 6. In April The Antients did a Monarchy prefer Made all their Gods submit to Jupiter And when Affairs and Nations first began Princes Decrees were th' onely Laws of Man Experience will avow it where there 's any One honest man is sooner found then many 7. In May. The rational soul performs a Princes part She Rules the body by Monarchick Art Poor Cranes and silly Bees with shivering wings Observe their Leaders and obey their Kings Nature her self disdains a crowded Throne The Body's monstrous hath more Heads then one 8. In June A Monarchy's that Politick simple State Consists in unity inseparate Pure and entire A Government that stands When others fall touch'd but with Levelling hands So natural and with such skill endu'd It makes one body of a multitude 9. In July In order wherein latter things depend On former that 's most perfect doth attend On unity but this can never be The Pop'lar State nor Aristocracy For where or all or many bear the sway Such order to confusion leads the way 10. In August A Monarchy more quickly doth attain The End propos'd for 't is the single Brain That ripens Counsel and concealeth best Princely Designs till Deeds proclaim 'em blest Whilst numerous Heads are rarely of one Mind Slow in their Motion louder then the Wind. 11. In September Treason nor Force so suddainly divides Th' United strength that in a Crown resides Sedition prospers not it seldom here Results an Object of the Prince's fear Than when an Empire Rome was ne'er more strong Nor triumph'd under other Rule so long 12. In October A Monarchy abates those fev'rish fits Of Emulation a Free-State begets A Prince cannot his Reins so quickly slack Or throw his Burthen on another's Back But where so many Rulers have command The work 's transfer'd and toss'd from hand to hand 13. In November The People or the Nobles to debate The deep Concernments of a troubled-State Set times and places have assign'd them they First meet and then adjourn from day to day Whereas a Monarch who by Nature's One Deliberates always never's off his Throne 14. In December But hold Methinks I see the three Estates Conven'd thrown open prison-doors and grates Extinct our paltry Jealousies and Fears Grace offered to all but Cavaliers And Papists yet with patience they abound In hope for better now the wheel goes round 15. The Conclusion Thus trace we Time and in our several Spheres Slightly pass over ne'er-returning years Thus States and Kingdoms to a Period draw Their Politicks must yeild to Natures Law Thus Kings and Beggars are Companions made Shake hands and knock the Scepter 'gainst the Spade Thus Courts and Cottages become one Roof And Carts and Chariots meet without reproof Thus all the Greatness Mortals do contend And Damne their Souls for slideth to An End In Kalendarium Ecclesiasticum 1659. these following Pithy and Prophetique Verses are to be found 1. On the Moons Eclipse in April Now have amongst ye you that stand On slippery ground or build on sand Seditious Spirits play their pranks Inundations break the Banks Rumours of Wars about us fly Thrice happy Man dares bravely die Intestine Tumults taken Towns Besieged Cities Princes frowns Astonish Us. But I 'll to plough And never minde what Mad-men do Mavors and Hermes bear the sway May He deserves it have the day 2. On the Moons Eclipse in October Quick work and crafty He that sways In this Defect brooks no Delays Beware of Pyrates High-way Thieves Dull Heresies and Hanging-Sleeves Of scarcity and dearth of Grain VVith uncouth Griefs 'mongst Cattle reign Tempestuous VVinds Quotidian Fevers Ptisicks and Priests that cock their Bevers Debates that into question call The Peoples Laws ev'n God's and all For Stilbon onely hath command And him alone I understand 3. On the Suns Eclipse in November VVhat noise is this methinks I hear Some dread Heroe drawing near A busie Clergie belching fire Some Prince depos'd and in the mire I see by th' light of one fair Star VVhole Nations going out to war Risings Arraignments sudden death And Ruine rushing on the earth The Rivers lessen'd Fountains dry VVaters corrupt good Subjects die For Mars is rampant and what hand Can turn the Edge of Burlybrand 4. Under the Regal Table Sacred's the name of King and full of splendour Famous the Title of the Faiths Defender Yet when on such the Rabble fix'd their spleen Who had regard to Faith to King or Queen But now such Comments on the Text they make All Mortals must submit for Conscience sake 5. Under the Table of Terms Thanks busie-Term-time thou bring'st work to do For Judge for Council and Attorney too But should'st thou end and never more Commence Lawyers would lose their most voluptuous sence The knotty Laws which now so dear we buy Be rated like Bishops Divinity 6. Under the Tide-Table The Sea hath fits much like this giddy age Sometimes she pines anon she swells with rage And makes a rupture where she overflows The Fertile Banks yet never further goes Without a Miracle then Natures bounds Or if we think she do 't is where some Towns Encroach upon her interest For she Is full as constant far more just then we 7. In January All hail my Masters I must now implore Your Ticket for a twelve moneths recreation I know no Plot save that which keeps us poor And this of mine to gain your approbation All my designes lurk in these Rural strains My Guts conspire indeed but not my Brains 8. In February I honour all that have a Soveraign Pow'r Extol their Prowess be it more or less Admire them growing in a golden showre Observe but point not at their vain excess The Suns defects seen in a line direct Hurt th' eyes not when in water they reflect 9. In March I pray for Kings and think 't a pious Deed Good Princes very well deserve our pray'rs But thereof bad ones stand the most in need For such be sure do stand on slippery stairs And like to Iron generate the rust From their own substance turns 'em into dust 10. In April I 'm hugely taken with the Golden Train Those lofty
Bless me what is the matter this would fright A Champion himself a man would swear That Hell were now broke loose and coming here Fetch me some holy water in a Ring Encircle me about a Crosier bring VVhat horrid thunder claps I hear Sure Jove Armed therewith is coming from above The show more ghastly seems to represent Lucifer with his Train a ulph'rous sent Attends them Thunder makes their way I trow B'elzebub now makes holy-day this show So strange so frightful that the like before I never saw and hope shall never more But hold the wonder 's over now I see The ground of this uncouth Solemnitie And is it possible this doth amaze My trembling heart that this should be the cause Of such infernal Triumph Heav'n defend England and English-men thrice cursed Fiend VVho did invent this execrable snare Good men for to intrap while wretches dare Take it Sans scruple and with no less ease Break it and dally with it as they please This day the Solemn League first saw the light That Caledonian Imp Lucifer bright Incubus-like the Scotish Kirk bestrid So got this Brat which carefully he did Afterwards nourish till it lusty grew And of it then he did make publick shew Beelzebub he play'd the Man-midwife's part And â—aid the groaning Kirk with muckle art That though this Brat abortive prov'd and came Before full time yet liv'd and had the name Of the most Solemn League and Covenant Now nothing else but Godfathers they want England and Ireland perswaded were T' accept this honour but it cost them dear In the remembrance of whose birth each year This solemn show is celebrated here Pluto this day observes a Festival His Courtiers revel others great and small Throughout his Kingdom yearly thus do rant Upon the birth-day of the Covenant O Solemn League whose Sire 's so great a King If all th' infernal Rabble Io sing In celebration of thy famous birth That their loud shouts do thus resound on earth Let no man marvel if I take some pain A little knowledge thereof to obtain I view'd it carefully as it did pass I saw its shape though knew not what it was But now on second thoughts I shall pourtray This famous Bugbear so far as I may 'T is like the dreadful Polyphemus Den That fearful one-ey'd Monster who on Men Gorgeth himself his Guests who doth devour Not sparing any that 's within his power And 't is the mildest fate which doth befal His friends he them devours last of all This is the tertium quid which reconciles Prodigious differing Sects though each reviles And hates the other herein all agree The Solemn League brings them to Unitie The true Distinction is the Covenant Betwixt the Sectary and Protestant This is the Shibboleth to know them one Makes conscience of an Oath the other none One having sworn religiously stands ti'd The other twenty Oaths can take beside Allegiance and Supremacie can swear Yet take the Cov'nant without any fear This Dance was led by the Presbytery And closely follow'd by the Sectary The Solemn League seems like that brand of fire Betwixt two Foxes tayls who can conspire In mischief though their heads look several ways Thus Sects unite when each the Devil plays Herod and Pilate quickly were made Friends While Christ with scorn one to the other sends It doth resemble theevish Cacus Cave To which he drew his Oxen or the grave Of snakie-headed Typhon whose last breath Fired the Mountain Aetna at his death It 's like the Lions all-devouring Den To which all footsteps led but back agen None could be found returning But pronounce The Covenant 't is not the Libyan Ounce Nor the Arabian Panther's half so fierce This through the Body to the Soul can pierce And like th' inchaunted Bulls which none can tame Doth at its nostrils break forth smoak and flame The Trojan Horse enclosing armed Men Or roaring Lion new rouz'd from his Den Could not the object prove of so great fear Better to meet the fiercest Northern Bear Rob'd of her VVhelps then in the claws to fall O' th' Solemn League which far surpasseth all This is the Babel of the Sectaries VVhich they intend shall over-top the Skies But as the number so their Sects increase Untill Confusion cause that work to cease Turn the Sectarians over and you 'll find Scarce any four concurring in one mind This doth resemble that Gygantick VVar VVag'd against Heaven when men rag'd so far The Gods themselves most proudly to defie Pelion on Ossa heap't t' approach the Skie Till Typhon burnt with lightning from above And strook with Thunder from Vindictive Jove To wash his wounds unto the River went VVhich such infected sulphrous odor sent Into the water with his dropping blood As poyson'd all the streams o' th' cristal floud Nor Aetna nor Vesuvius throw out More coals vomit more flames nor round about Disgorge more ashes cinders burning stones Then doth the Solemn League who takes it once Take him and wash him at the head of Thame Or Isis and so far as Thames its name Descends he will rebellious poyson send From beyond Oxford down below Gravesend Name but the Covenant and you have spoke Thunder and Lightnings Earth-quakes Flames and Smoak Rebellion Schisme Murther in that League Lie couch'd as doth a Chicken in an Egge VVhich being hatch'd under a Sectary Out comes a Hydra straight of Villany Had I the Cov'nant here scarce durst I read Two lines nor further on my life proceed Unless I were within a Circle hem'd 'T were a fit Neck-verse for a Thief condemn'd The bare pronouncing it such Fiends would call As would spectators fright hangman and all It 's Gorgons Visage and Medusa's Head The sight of it 's enough to strike one dead All the beholders brests it turns to stone Another Circe whose infernal tone By haggish Spells men can transmute to beasts A fierce Hyaena which loves humane Feasts Th' Aegyptian Crocodile to this compar'd Is like a harmless Lizard t' hath ensnar'd Kill'd and devour'd ruined and destroy'd More then that poysonous Dragon which annoy'd The Babylonish Confines and did wast The Country by that Venom which he cast Whole Towns and Villages his poys'nous breath Consum'd nor prov'd less fatal after death So great a stench his rotting carcass made Which by no Antidote could be allay'd Thus from th' expiring Covenant did spring That curst Engagement which renounc'd our King It 's a mysterious hidden villany Treason in ambush Pimp to Perjury Gods Name abus'd the Devil to conjure Hypocrisie which can the Rack endure Without discovery 't is the Nut of Vice In Vertues Shell Satan in Paradice It is a ravening Wolf in sheep-skin clad A Necromantick Charm of Scripture made Borgia's Precepts of true Piety And tender-hearted Tereus Leiturgy Machiavil's grounds play'd in Division The secret Character of Babylon 'T is her mysterious Name spel'd out at length 'T is Death's like Sampson's secret lock of strength The Devil