and are still in possession of the prime seat of the greatest Christian Emperours that ever lived in the World and yet by your own confession and true assertion the Christian Religion is the best and is indeed being rightly professed the only true Religion that is upon the face of all the Earth and therefore presume not to make your prevalencie a pattern of your piâ—ty for these you will find to be fallacious arguments in the end and then I protested unto him that if I could possibly be made sure by being a Rebell to enjoy to my self and the Heires of my body untill dooms day as much land as all the whole Kingdome of England contained yet I would be torâ— in places Limb from Limb before I would holâ— up my hand against my King or any that take his part for surely said I the end of all Rebells will be naught â—â—d if we look seriously inâ—o all Records either Holy or Historicall we shall find that their portion hath ever been according to their practise and that the Wrath and Vengeance of God hath seldome ceased to prosecute all such and their posterities as have been Enemies Traitors to their Prince and the Peace of their Country yet for all this the Trooper and I did agree for the Hay and so parted in a very civill manner Some few daies after came the Constable with his carts to fetch away the bargain and when it was 〈◊〉 loaded very honestly according to his promise â—e paid me the monie for it but then he pulled a paper out of his pocket and said that he had a rate there for me to pay What is that said I And then he replied it was for contribution to maintain the Armie Ha quoth I why thou knowest that I never pâ—id any of these rates since the troubles did begin but have been robbed of all my means for my refusal and aâ—â— likewise as loth now to yeeld contribution to mine enemies that are still so readie to destroy me and mine That is not the matter quoth he you must pay it there is no remedie I doubt thou art deceived said I for I will not then I must return your name replied he for I know not else what to do or say in the business I will then tell you said I what you shall say but I prethee do not spoil the message or errand in the delivery thereof I would have you certifie such as shall be concern'd therein that I am King Charles his Subject and If I had but one great in the world it were at his service but as for Sir Tho. Fairfox I desire to have nothing to do with him for I am loth to be his slave neither monie will I send him upon any terms and if he or any of his be so cruel as to take away any thing I have yet I shall pray for patience and so rest contented until it shall please God to send a remedie and that is the sum of my resolution Soon after this there came to my house in a morning next my heaâ—â— a creature 〈…〉 ped a Quarter master but I rather think a fiend of Phlegeâ—hon and yet I had the courage and cunning to conjure him soundly this fellow at 〈◊〉 began to prate like a proud â—â—â—bell as he was you quoth he as I hear will send no contribution to the Army no marry will I saidâ— you will 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 qâ—oth he to be of another mind and I wonder what is the Reason than you seem to be so stubborn my reply was that the Army and their Complices had undone me already and 〈◊〉 that both Religion the King and the laws commanded me not to assist them here is much ado with a King said he but ere long there will be a course taken with the King and you and all such c. speaking such horriâ—le and villainous wordâ— as my heart abhorreth to think and my pen is ashamed to make mention of Wretch quoth I thou doest me too much honour thus ignorantly rashly to couple and make me equivalent with my King and I much admire in what beâ—tâ—all Kennel thou weâ—t brought up for thou dost savour neither of Divinity Humanity or good mannerâ— but the Wâ—aâ—h of God will meet with such cursed Shimeies as thou art and indeed he put me into so great a passion that I could not well remember all that I said unto him but sure I am that we parted upon very bitter termes About three or four dayes after I did espie this Traytor at my gate again all alone but before he had a Trooper with him Out I marched presently and thus encountered him How now said I are you come again are you of the same mind you were when you were last here I come quoth he to see whether you be the same man or not Yes surely said I the same mind that you left me in when you last did see me doth still continue constant for I cannot endure to be counted a Turn-coat or Changling but if it be your mid to exchange a few words you may come in if you will here is no body shall hurt you the man alighted and in we came together and there fell into deep discourse that was sometimes fair and by and by foul enoug yet still I most highly maintained the justnesse of the Kings case and did diswade the Party from Rebellion with all the reasons and arguments that I could then excogitate telling him the History and Fate of that seditious Earl of Leicester in the time of Hâ—n the 3. and of that valiant but inconstant Eaâ—l of Warwick in the dayes of Edw. the 4. and shewing him also as briesly as I could how fearfull and dismall the destruction of traitors had been in all ages and countries whatsoever but the sad result of all our conference was that ere it were long he must come again either for my bodie or goods Mâ— bodie said I will do you but little good but rather vex you much for you see the manner of my discourse and so it will continue unlesse you kill me and for my goods I have nothing sit for your turn but a little corn to make us bread and it were harsh crueltie to deprive us of that besides I have very little monie at the present having got nothing a great while because of the troubles in the countrie for the Law is silent within the verge of the Camp and therefore if you fetch me away as a prisoner I shall be in danger to be starved for want of means to maintain me it were pitie said he that a man of your spirit should starve and if you be my prisoner you shall not want victuals so long as I have any for my self Gramercie Friend said I if you be so charitable your comming for me will be the lesse formidable but I intreat you before that you come either for me or my goods to goe to God Almightie by fervent and unfeigned
conscience and dutie towards God whose command iâ— when thou art converted strengthen thy Luke 22 32. brethren That Subjects owe obedience to their Soveraign the whole consent of Scripture doth agree The Psalmist resembleth Kings to Gods upon earth and indeed they have their rule and Ps 82. 6. power by Gods appointment Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings reign and therefore to such as rebell against them it may be said as God said to Samuel touching the Israelites They have not cast â— Sam. 8. 7. thee away but they have cast me away that I should not reign over them I hope none are so impudent to compare our King to Saul rejected of God but if any such be had they any touch of the grace in Davids heart then would they yet pray with him Lord keep me from laying mine hands upon the Lords anointed let me intreat them with a single eye and humble spirit to read â— Sam. 26 the historie of Davids carriage towards Saul and to remember the wise counsels of Solomon My sonne fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change for their calamity shall rise suddenly The fear of a King is as the roaring of Prov. 20. 2. 3. a Lion who so provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul it is an honour for a man to cease from strife but every fool will be medling an evil man seeketh only rebellion therefore a cruel messenger Pr 17. â—â— shall be sent against him The wrath of a King is as the messenger Prov. 16 14. 15â— of death but a wise man will pacifie it for in the light of the Kings countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain And again in Eccl. I counsell thee to keep the Kings commandement and Ecc. 8. 3. â— 4. â— that in regard of the Oath of God be not hastie to go out of his sight stand not in an evil thing for he doth whatsoever pleaseth him where the word of a King is there is power and who may say unto him what dost thou Let us never forget that divine precept of our Saviour the King of Kings set down in three of the Evangelists Give unto Caesar the thing that are Caesars Remember the Apostle of the Circumcision Fear God Honour the King and submit your 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 17. selves to all manner of Ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be unto the King as unto the Superior or unto the Governours as those that are sent of him Observe the decree of the Doctor of the Gentiles writing to the Romans then governed by Nero a most cruell Tirant Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers Rom. 13. â— 2. for there is no power but of God whosoever resisteth the Power resists the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves Condemnation And in the Marginall Notes upon the old Translation it is well observed that because God is the Author of this Order therefore Rebells must know that they make war with God himself and cannot but purchase to themselves great misery and calamity For though the King hath not Power over the Conscience of man yet seeing he is Gods Minister he cannot be resisted by any good Conscience And in his Epistle to Tiâ—us he gives a special memento Put them in mind that they be subject to the higher Powers and that they Tit 3. 1. be obedient and the like in divers places of his Epistles The King of England is an absolute Imperiall Monarch by the Law yet he is to govern his Subjects by the Laws and Antient Customes of his Kingdome But the King is the only supreme Power next under God and so acknowledged by all Parliaments and the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance do prove as much And by a Statute made in 1 of Elizabeth any man is disabled to sit as a Member in the house of Commons untill he hath taken a solemn Oath upon the Evangelists whereby he doth acknowledge the King to be the only Supreme Governour of these Realmes in all Cases whatsoever And also promiseth that he will to the best of his Power assist and defend all his Majesties Royal Priviledges Prâ—heminences and Jurisdictions graunted or annexed to his Imperiall Crown and yield his Obedience thereunto Which Oath how faithfully some do now observe I leave to the Judgement of God and their own Consciences It is confessed by all knowing men that a Parliament truly understood is a Court of the highest Nature and Authority in this Kingdome and that it hath power to make and alter Lawes And that matters there in question are to be decided or agreed on by the Major part of Voices But it must not be a Parliament without a Head not a Parliament rent in pieces that hath power to do this For to make any Obligatory Act to bind the Subject absolutely either in Life Liberty or Goods there must be a concurrence of the Major part of both Houses with the Kings Royall Assent added thereunto in whom the Legislative power doth alone consist And therefore I know not how any such thing can now be done at Westminster the King being absent and the farr greater part of both houses nay almost all the Lords being also departed and now joyning themselves with the King in all his designes But it will be objected that many things may be done by Ordinance of Parliament I will not deny but that both Houses of Parliament joyntly assembled may possibly have power to make Ordinances for the present good of the Common wealth And that these Ordinances may be binding during the time of that Session Provided that they â—e no wayes contradictory to the known Laws of the Land For the Subject enjoyeth his Life his Liberty his Lands by the antient Customes and Statutes of this Kingdome which are indeed the fundamentall Lawes thereof And therefore the Subject cannot be deprived of these rights but by a Law of as high a nature and that must be a Statute Law at the least How then can any man by an Ordinance contradictory to Law be legally dispossessed of his Liberty or Goods which he doth enjoy by the Power of the Law But some say that these things may be done by Priviledge of Parliament And if there be such a Priviledge come to light that doth over-top all Law Reason and Religion then much may be done But I beeleeve that if any such Priviledge be now found out that it is as new as the inventers thereof for venerable antiquity their betters in learning and knowledge never yet heard of any such matter It is known to all that have but smelt of the Law that both by the Common and Statutes Lawes of this Kingdome it is high Treason to levie Armes against the King or to be Adherent or Assistant to the Kings Enemies and these Laws when they be once
high Treasurer of England and in the Reignes of King Henry the 6th and King Edward the 4th there was another of my name that was a Knight of the Garter and of the Rhodes and also a Noble and warrlike Baron of Wenlock in the County of Salop from which place my Ancestors were first derived and had their Extraction as appears by Antient evidence Records I shall be heartily glad if I can but make your Matie to smile at these my Relations but I entreat your Majestie to beleeve that it is not fondly a vain glorious humour that prompts me to relate these things but my desire is to give a gentle caution to some gilded Mushromes or pursie supercillious Upstarts of the new edition that esteem themselves to be the only brave men dâ—spising others that are brought low by their sufferings and contemning all learning and loyalty that is destitute of a golden key which they corruptly conceive to be the only means to open the doorlock that leads to preferrment but your Majestie well knows how and when to conferr your Favours and though some of your Majesties suffering Friends are not looked upon so soon as they expected yet their hopes are still firm enough and we know that Desideâ—â—ta diu dulcius obtinentur and we can wait with patience but must not be too negligent peâ—entis negligentia reprehendâ—tur ubi de dantis miserecordia non duâ—itatur and of your Majesties mercie there is sound experience and it is a prime policie for your Grace in convenient time to reward Loyaltie for in so doing it will give Occasion to others to have the better esteem thereof Regis ad exemplar totus componitur orbis but if vertue be now neglected let pass without regard how few hereafter will ever endeavour to be good in so bad times and one saith that both pitie and sin it were that such whose light the late Aegyptian Darkness could never extinguish should now be suffered to sit in obscuritie Somâ— perhaps that shall read this book will take my expressions to be rash and violent savouring more of animosity then prudence but when Croesus his life was in danger it made his dumb son to speak and cry out and when the King the Father of our Countrie the Church our Mother and the peace of the whole Kingdom were so treacherouslie exposed to the danger of utter ruine what true hearted Son or Subject could be so supinely silent as not bitterlie to reprove such horrid actions Quitacet consentire videâ—ur but such as have tasted any true rellish of Religion do well know they must not be mutes in matters of such moment Dissimulation may serve the turn for a time and in the view of a carnal eye it may seem to procure some good but we ought not to do evill that good may come thereof Hypocrisie is a sin so odious in the sight of God and so contrarie to his divine nature who is truth it self as those that practise the same can never expect to be matriculated members of the celestial Societie but such as wait for their souls comfort must be content to forsake all rather then to part with a good conscience and so endanger the soul But I fear that too many of late have stifled their Consciences to keep their estates and maintain their reputation amongst the Vulgar but such policie will not allways go away with the Garland it was well said of a Noble Spaniard once in England that he would never forfeit his Soul and his Honour to save his Life and indeed some brave Spirits but meer Moralists have thought it a more Noble Exploit to preserve Honour then Life and could never buckle to any dishonourable thing but in despite of Ambition and desire of gain or the pressures of Necessitie they have still resolved to tread in the pathâ—s of Virtue And how many Heathens as Codrus a King of Athens Curâ—ius a Noble Knight of Rome and allmost infinite others recorded in Historie have freely exposed themselves to unavoidable danger and death for the good and safety of their Country whose memory ever since hath been immortall and can Christians adventure upon any design too dangerous when the glorie of God the Honour and Power of his sacred Deputie and the â—eligion and Peace of their native Nation lay all in the dust involved in blood Pardon my presumption I beseech your Majestie in what I have here inserted amiss or unworthy the view of so roial and exquisite an â—iâ— and then I cannot but be confident that your Grace will take some pitiâ— upon me being now grown into years and disabled by my great sufferings and losses to put on and preferre my self as some others â—â— for I finde the Poet to be a true Prophet that long 〈◊〉 said Haud facile emergunt quorum virtutibus obstat Res angusti domi but this defect may soon be supplied by the least glimpse of your Majesties favour and I am sure your Majestie well knowes that it is the Masters honour to take notice of a faithfull sâ—rvant and that such as dare declare and stand to the truth in bad times of danger are none of the worst subjects And I doubt not but that your Majesty in due time will most roially perform whatsoever your loial and loving subjects may in truth of modestie and justice expect from your gracious bands and that your Grace shall attain unto and accomplish all those happie and blessed intents and ends for the which your Omnipotent Creator hath so justly and mercifully restored and advanced your Grace to the glorious throne of your so eminent Ancestours Where God grant that your Majestie and your Roial posteritie may safely sit and triumphantly reigne to Gods glorie the Churches peace and these Kingdoms happinesse even so long as the Sun and Moon shall shine upon the face of the earth So will ever Pray Your Majesties Loyal Humble and Officious Subject Iohn Wenlock To the Kings Most Excellent Majestie Most Royal and Magnificent Monarch and my Soveraign Lord IT is a Proverb of the Wisest amongst Earthly Princes that righteous lips are the delight of Kings and they love him that speaketh right for he that speaks the truth sheweth forth righteousnesse and all such aâ— be true in heart shall follow the same and there is good reason for their Encouragement to proceed on in such a Virtuous way as tendeth to eternall felicity for certainly the time will come when that saying of the Psalmist will be verified and made manifest to the World There is sprung up a light for the righteous and joyfull gladnesse for such as be true hearted and the Lord God likewise layeth up sound Wisdome for the righteous and is a sure Buckler for them that walk uprightly for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdome and a good understanding or successe have all they that do his Commandments the praise of it endureth for ever And this was truly experimented in
or walk upon hollow and deceitfull Qâ—agmires but upon reasonable sound justifiable Grounds and I have no other certain way or manner of means how to make my Self or my Case truly and effectually known to your Majesty but only thus and I now do cry to your Grace in the words of the Psalmist to his God The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty but O leâ— not the oppressed return ashamed The beloved Sonne of Jacob by the despire and envy of his Brethren was sold into Aegypt for a Bondslave where he lived in long obscurity and endured much pain and penury untill his Case was known and the word of the Lord had tryed him but then the King delivered him the Prince of the People let him go free and after all his sorrows and sufferings his successe was admirable I shall be heartily sorry if in any Passage herein I have given to any one the least occasion of a just offence but if your Majesty please to remember some Considerations written upon the life and services of an eminent Statesman and Counsellour to Henry the Great your Royal Grandfather of Fraunce your Grace will there find that the Offences of Tongues Pens and Impressions above all others may be dissembled and winked at and therefore I trust that the sayings and writings of such as intend no hurt but are void of impudency and seek only to illustrate the Truth shall receive a milde and gentle interpretation And thus with my humble and hearty Prayers to God Almighty for the true felicity of your Sacred Majesty and all your Royal Relations I most humbly submit my Self and all that is mine to your Majesties mercy and most favourable censure and clemency craving leave to proceed on in the relation of my services and sufferings where for method and order sake I must begin with my Addresse and Declaration intended to his late Majesty of ever blessed memory which had been presented unto him if I had met with the happinesse of an accesse to his Grace TO THE Kings Most Excellent MAJESTIE The humble Declaration of Your Majesties Written in the year c. 164â— Loyal and Obedient Subject J. W. of L. in the County of Ess Counsellour at Law briefly shewing his Troubles and the true occasion thereof in these Times of Rebellion May it please your Majesty AS I am in duty bound in the first place to render most hearty thanks to God Almighty for his great goodnesse towards your Majesty in blessing and preserving you and yours so graciously in these wofull dayes of distraction So I cannot but esteem it a great mercy of God and a most infallible signe of his favour towards me your poor Subject that he hath alwaies given me a heart so constant and loyal towards your Sacred Majesty as I may boldly say that neither my hand or tongue or thought hath agreed to any thing conducible to the beginning or fostering of this most unnatural Rebellion For when your Majesty sent forth Writs for the summoning of this late Parliament your Subject dwelling upon the Confines of Suff. and hearing what indirect and unlawfull means was used in the election of the Knights there Ignorance and Affectation ambitiously striving to be the principal Electors did begin suddenly to smell a savour of some worse intentions and thereupon when some of his Neighbours requested his company to Chelmsford in Essex to give a voyce to the electing of the Knights of the Shire there your Subject made this Answer That he would not stir a foot upon that occasion because he verily believed that the Parliament would never come to good It was a rash Speech I confesse but I have thought since that surely I spake It by some Prophetical inspiration and God knows I have many times wished that I had not guessed so right And afterwards when your Majesty had granted to an Act that the Parliament should not be dissolved without the consent of both Houses your Subject soon after being at a Publick meeting in the Town where he lived where was then present one that was a Justice of the Peace and a Lawyer who told it your Subject for good News That your Majâ—sty had condescended to such an Act and that now the Parliament would go on very confidently without any obstacles or fears Your Subject made him hereupon this subitain Answer That indeed if your Majesty had granted to such an Act it might possibly conduce to some good end if it pleased God to give to the Parliament the Spirit of Grace and Wisedome that they went on in a legal and moderate way but if they digressâ—d from that method it might then be a means to introduce great Inconveniences and Distractions for that your Majesty would perhaps depart from them and so their Expectations would be frustrated For we that have read the Law said I do know that both Houses of Parliament cannot make nor alter Lawes without the Kings Royal assent Yes quoth he they will make Ordinances Whereat your Subject smiling did again smell some dangerous Project to be in agitation and believed the said Party was one of their Fraternity and that he had sure intelligence of their indirect intentions of proceeding In which your Subject was likewise a remarkable Presager of the event of things for the said Party is since proved one of those good instruments called a Committee-man And in the year 1642. your Subject being come down from Easter Term hapned in Whitsâ—n-week after to be at a Meeting in his Parish where the said Justice of Peace was present and all the Chief Inhabitants thereof and much inquiring there was of Newes concerning the setling of the Militia and your Subject told them That he had heard of your Majesties Proclamation touching the same but had not yet seen it To which one of the Company made answer That he was at London the last week and had both seen the Proclamation and also an Ordinance of Parliament to the contrary and that he had them both there to shew Whereupon the Party pulling them forth your Subject took them and read them before the whole Assembly with an audible voyce then they asked your Subject what he thought thereof and what he intended to do therein To which your Subject remembring his natural and legal Allegiance to your Sacred Majesty boldly answered That he was soon resolved what course to take in that business without any study for that he would by no means disobey your Majesties Proclamation in submitting his Arms to the Parliaments devotion and besides informed them all openly That by the Common and Statute Lawes of this Kingdom it was High Treason to levy Armes against the King Which assertion of the Truth they little esteemed but affirmed notwithstanding that they would all send their Armes and that it would fall heavy upon your Subject if he refused to do the like But your Subject knowing a good Conscience in Adversity to be more
beleeve that and therefore I never vvent but being novv in the Trained-armes I vvas enforced to come upon this service and upon a little more discourse I found that I knevv divers of their Masters vvhose Armes they served in and thereupon the Souldiers seemed to be sorry that it vvas their unhappiness to come to trouble me in this sort well quoth I it is my portion to be thus dealt withall but I pray tell me in good earnest who it was that sent you hither and they told me an old Woman that dwelt above a mile off and by their description of her I knew it was the Wise of him that had possessed the most part of my land by colour of Sequestration and perhapps she was content I should have been killed lest I should live to call her Husband to an accompt for his Knavery Well now I did invite them to come in and gave them some curteous accomodation and being in discourse according to my usuall manner I chanced to speak something against their Generall whereat one of them took great Exceptions against me and began to prate very sawcily and hereupon a Corporall that was the chief amongst them started up and wished him to be quiet 〈◊〉 he sware that he would slash him soundly for thâ—â— quoth he is an honest worthy Gentleman that we are much beholding unto and most of us here will dye at his feet before he shall suffer the least wrong and thus the Rascall was glad to put up his pipes and be silent and I have thought since that God was offended at him for as they went back to Colchâ—ster this fellow fell sick and went into a Barn and there died the next day within a while after one of these Souldiers came alone to my house and being in talk with me desired seriously to know my opinion what I thought of their Siege and what was like to be the issue and success thereof Alas said I the sins of this Kingdome are very great and God only knowes what dolefull events may ensue upon these troubles but howsoever your Country was ill advised in sending their Armes against their King your Master knowes me and what I am and tell him that I say that whensoever the Wind and the Tide turns he may fairly be hanged for sending of thee and thou for comming if you meet not with the more mercy About this time some of their â—â—â—smen came to my gate upon a Sunday when we were sate at dinner and being discovered our went I amongst them and when they demanded quarter I presently put in this plea to their action but I had been a great sufferer and almost unâ—â—â—â— by the times and was unable to afford them that they desired in regard I had been so hardly used then one of them who undertook to be the Prolocutor said If you have been hardly used it is but according to your desert for you are a Malignâ—â—t How do you know that said I Yes very well quoth he for you have a Soâ— in Colchester to which I replied I hope that I had a Sonne there â—â— he were yet living Well said he that is enough to make you to be woâ—se used then ever you were yet Gods will be doâ—e fâ—r that said I â—or indâ—ed I shall never be ashamed of my Soâ—nes being there and â—elping to maintain so goâ—d and just a cause in the behalf of God 〈◊〉 King and his Country and I am glad that you have no worse matter to lâ—y to my 〈◊〉 for I hope to fare the better for that in the 〈◊〉 and Friend said I be it known unto thee 〈◊〉 if I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thousand Sour and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to give to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would I venture them all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Religious and Honourable a Quarrell and thâ—s I 〈◊〉 to far out-face this 〈◊〉 that suddenly he turned his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and gal 〈…〉 away and the rest of his Fellows sate still a while and laughed â—eartily at his repulsâ— Sâ—on after some of the Officers in the Town were at me to buy some Hay which I had in my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I asked them 〈◊〉 what use They answered to send it to 〈◊〉 Yâ—â— marry said I if it were there I should be glad and think it well bestowed faâ— I believe that I have Friends within the Town that are in need enough of it Yâ—â— sâ—â—ely said they but we must carry it to those that are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Town I believe so indeed quoth I and you are well imployed in the mean time and therefore if you buy it for them you shall pay sweetly for it Sir said they you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to let us have it a good penny worth and we will pay yâ—u for it but if the Souldiers once know of it perchance they will take it away for nothing Well said I if it happen tha◠〈◊〉 roâ—bed of it you shall not see my countenance much change at the matter I shall take it as patiently as I have done losses of greater value but if I do sell it I will have my price for it as I think it to be worth And soon after there came to my Gate one of the Constables and a Trooper with his Pole-axe in his hand and asked for me and I went out unto them the Fellow was civill enough and told me that he understood that I had Hay to sell and if it were good they would buy it of me and desired to see it and so they did and liked it very well and asked me the price of it which I soon set them it is somewhat dear said the Trooper well said I so much I will have for it if I sell it but if you will talk any more about the businesse let us go in and you may there taste a cup of sequestred liquor if you please is it sequestred beer said the Tropper yes surely said I it hath been so for many years Well in we went and amongst other discourse the Trooper said that he did believe their case was good because God did suffer them to prosper so long in it Alas Friend quoth I that is no good argument on your side for we know that God doth many times permit wicked men to prosper in their wayes to their own destruction and if you were an Historian you would know that God hath suffered the Turks so to prevail against the Christians for many hundred years because of their sins and which do you esteem to be the best Religion either that of a Turk or that of a Christian Certainlâ— said the Trooper the Christian Religion is the best You say very true said I and therefore consider well with your self and do not believe that you are better Servants of God then we or that the Religion of a Round-head is more pure then that of a Cavalier because God for our sins hath suffered you thus a while to over top us for the Turks have had far greater sucâ—esse against the Christians
prayer and to seek his grace and direction that you may do nothing but what you may well answer both in this world and the world to come and then on Gods name come as soon as thou wilt and in this sort we civilly parted at this time and I never heard of my Chapman after But at divers other times I had been formerly plagued with troopers demanding of assâ—ssments and the like and still I made them an answer that I had nothing for them for I was undone already and then their ordinarie replie was that they must have their pay Yes would I say to them it is fit you should but then you must take it of those that set you on work and I was none of that turbulent tribe and then their common answer was that the Countrie set them on work and thither they must come for their wages No said I the principal that set you at work was the Dâ—vil and he will pay you all your due wages and just arrears in the conclusion I cannot passe over a passage without remembrance which happened between my self and the Parson of my Parish during the time of the siege I had a small field of corn growing and upon the day that it was a reaping the Parson came to demand tithe of it indeed said I my opiaion ever was that tithes were justly and lawfully due â—o the Church so long as Churchmen did truly perform their duties but now most of them hereabouts have most foully forgoâ—ten themselves and are much out of rule and order and since they have been a means to make others suffer it is no matter if they lick a little â—â— the same sawce for you know that this little coâ— is the chiefest stock that wee have to help our selves withall and seeing that you and such as you are have preached up these distractions amongst us and so have been the instruments to bring honest men to a low â—â—b I think that with a safe conscience and lege talionis vvee may withdraw your tithes until you deserve them better and surely none you shall have here as yet unlesse you claw for it Whilst we were thus in discourse off thundred the Ordinance at Colchester List yonder Parson quoth I what do you think of this the Sword hath raged all the Kingdome over and it is now come home to your door and are ye not yet penitent for your peevishnesse his answer was that he hoped to meet with a mâ—rcifull King yes certain said I you will find I beleeve more mercy then you eâ—pect I am sure more then you deserve for although the King be Gods Depâ—â—y upon Earth and therefore we ought to honour him above all Creatures living yet he is but a man and his goodnesse may perswa'e him to peace and to pardon offences but have you lived so long and is your Divinity no better then to teach you that the making of your peace with the King will be sufficient for you I tell you nay for you have offended the Majestie of an eternal God by preaching of blasphemie and treacherie and thus abusing the King and seducing his Majesties liege people into errors and grosse mistakes and as your offence hath been publick so your contrition and satisfaction must be the same for as you have preached the people into errors and absurdities so you must endeavour to preach them out again and to reduce them into the right way and so seek to make your peace with God for your great aberrations or else you may go to the devill at the last for all the making of your peace with the King Not long after the siâ—ge broke up left an odious stink behind it by the base barbarous bloody assassination of those two most loyal and valiant Knights Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle the report whereof did much afflict our minds but whether with more grief and horror or terror of amazement is a question and soon after â— report was spread abroad that aâ—l such young Gentlemen as had been for the King in that siege should soon again be laid hold upon and sent beyond the seas no man knew whither and this enforced my poor son not yet recovered of his siege surfet to depart from my house and for his saseties sake to follow his fathers pattern of perigrination about the Countrie continuing in that pitiout posture untill after that most horrible hideous and for ever to be lamented murdering of his late Sacred Majestie and then he presented me with a letter enough to melt my heart into a floud of sad tears and wherein after many sorrowfull sad expressions and fears of his dear Fathers danger he uttered this Oh Sirâ— if they have had the execrable impudence and crueltie to cut down the high Cedaâ— how may the low and siâ—lie Shrubs expect to be trampled upon But he being gone aside and so escaped out of their pinching pawes my self alone must therefore suffer the â—ull force of their furie for about some two moneths after the siege ended there came near twentie Troopers to my house upon a Saturday towards night and there violently entred to search for me but I was gone to a neighbours house nâ—â— long before and they were informed for certain that I was not in or about the house at that time notwithstanding they searched for me very narrowly and went into my barn and tumbled about my hay and corn with candles lighted in their handâ— and with danger enough to have set my whole house on a fire and when they could not yet find me they said aloud that all this while I was shut up in my studie and if that door were not opened they would break it open and then my Wife protested unto them that I was not there neither could she open it because I had the key in my pocket but yeâ— to satissie your selves said she you may have a ladder and so look in at the window and easily discover that he is not there and for all this with a strong iron they reaved open my studie door and there rifled and stole from me divers books and pâ—pers which I am sure could do them but little pleasure and yet I would not wiâ—lingly have lost the same for twentie times more then they were worth and also they plundered away divers parcâ—ls of my linnen and other goods and did strike and abuse my children and took meat out of the powdering â—â—b and broiled it upon the coals and after mary such prettie prancks there played away they went So soon as they were gone my Wife sent unto mâ— and certified me how the matter was and I came presently home â—â—t some wished mee not to lodge in the house that night Yes but I will said I if it please God and yet I beleeve that I shall hear of them again before the morning but I fear them not for had I known of there being here before I would have come home amongst
his cause And many Proclamations against your Lives and Estates for to reclaim you from persisting in your Errours and also many generall pardons to win you by Love and Clemency But these are dishonestly hidden from the sight of many places in this Kingdome that so the People might still be kept in a cloud of Ignorance and Errour Yet who is so blind that observeth not the beginning continuance and successe of these Wars against the King First set on by petitions in the names of whole Counties and none of the understanding part ever made acquainted therewithall then by borrowing of Plate and Money to be repaid with interest but I doubt not while after doomes day Then by sending forth voluntary Souldiers who should make an end of the businesse presently without resistance but failing herein then continued by pillaging plundering and imprisoning many of the best rank and soundest integrity then by notorious Lying Pamphlets Diurnalls and Ridiculous reports invented by the Devil and now at last by pressing and compelling men to turn Rebells against the Law both of God and Nature and by killing some to terrifie others If this murdering and robbing of honest men for their distraining of mens goods is no better and if the leaving of whole Families destitute of comfort and maintenance that have a long time relieved others if the skaring of men from Gods Church from their Wives Children Estates and Professions because they will not go against their Conscience be Christian charity Righteous dealing and love one towards another let any upright man judge if it be not then let them mark what St. John saith In this are the Children of God known and the Children of the Devill John 3. 10. whosoever doth not love righteousnesse is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Beloved let us make Gods word the ground of our Actions we know some generall Counsells have erred and the great and Learned Assembly of the Jewish Rabbies were much mistaken in Crucifying the Lord of Life And there be some now that are esteemed Gods Messengers but they Jude â— 10. are ignorant and seditious Hypocrites and false Prophets that speak evill of that they understand not and by their deluding of the People have wrought and fomented much mischief They have forgotten That he that turneth away his Prov. 28 9 10. Ear from hearing the Law even his Prayer shall be Abomination And he that causeth the righteous to go astray in an evill way be shall fall himself into his own Pit And indeed without great repentance the lowest pit of Hell will be a just reward for such Wretches I fear it I give but a glimple of these things and yet speak as plainly as I can to the understanding of the the meanest let him that shall cast his eye hereon do as the Act. 17. 11. men of Berea did in Acts 17. 11. search narrowly whether these things be true or no and if he reaps any good hereby I have my desire Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding 2 Tim 2. 7. in all things Amen UPON THE Rumps Eclipse Written in Febr 1659. ALL Royal Loyal Christian hearts rejoyce And chaunt Hosanna with a chearfull voycâ— Extoll that happy Planet doth Presage A Tragy-Comedie on our English stage Let all the Muses in our Hemisphaere Loud Ecchoes ring with an harmonious chear And celebrate with sage Apollo's lipps The gladsome Omen of the Rumps Eclipse Truth 's Mathematicks ever sung the Story That God at length would vindicate his glory And give the proudest Rebels late so jolly The Sodom's fruit of all their frantick folly And make that Tribe intoxicate in brain The symbole of our Liberties again Methinks the Constellations make us smile And leap for joy this present Bissextile Babel will down the Nurse of all Confusions Which fed Illiterâ—tes with such damn'd delusions For Justice strikes and Vengeance cryes aloud When Sinners grow most obstinate and proud When wicked men do flourish most secure Their sinnes a sudden deluge do procure Besotted England feels the curble pinch And like to Aesops horse doth kick and winch And being ridden till their backs do break Like Baalams Asse at last begin to speak Poor apish Zealots now they see too late The sad effects of mad Sedition's fate Rebellion is the Devils bosome sinne And he at first that Witchcraft did begin Which ruin'd all by force of Faction foster And jugglings of Schismatical imposters But now the vulgar see with clearer eyes And these deforming Hypocrites despise Their long dear bought experience sadly feels A Government that madly runs on wheels Now down then up then tottering like to fall How can it stand that hath no leggs at all That Body 's witched with some fatal charmes That loves to rest on nothing but his armes With Head recurved as asham'd to see The Heaven to blush at stolid Treachery When lower parts mount higher than the Crown That Structure needs must headlong tumble down A proper Project likely to prevail That sets the Head beneath the stinking Tayle Such Policy was used herefull oft And this advanc't the rampant Rump aloft The Heads erection yet the Poet sings And Learning true declames for lawfull Kings Amongst the Wise it is a Maxime sure Usurping Tyrants never long endure And what more pleasant Theme to English Slaves Than manumission from a pack of Knaves No higher Trophies can this Nation raise Nor ever merit more renowned praise Nor yet secure on our backs their fleeces But by the rending of this Rump in pieces And let no simple Soul remain perplext In doubt or fear what Government comes next No fowler Monster can afflict this Age Unlesse the Devil himself comes on the stage But if he should he knows his doom so well He durst not act such Villanies out of Hell His proper Center where he 's yet a King Though here his rump can challenge no such thing For were they not of all the World the shame The Sons of Wrath and ignominious Fame Had they not been from Mothers womb accurst They would have known their Soveraign Charles the first And were they Christians and their Oaths of force They must confesse the second comes in course For what can hellish Instruments invent Against so just a legal true descent Confirm'd by nature law religion reason Oppos'd by none but th' Imps of Schisme and Treason A generation of degenerate Spirits That fear destruction for their foul demerits Yet rather seek to damn both Body and Soul Than Regal justice should their Acts controul That patroniz'd their perjuries and lyes With all the shifts the Devil could devise What streames of Bloud have barbarously been spilt To shield and cover the infernal guilt Of Monsters mad whom Nature may deplore Beyond all Tyrants ever bred before Pilate an Heathen urged by the Jews To judge to death Christ Jesus did refuse Upbraiding them for craving such a thing With Ecce shall I