is a Third Stella cadens wandring Star who for private ends seems fixed to another Orb the Church of Rome but his light is so dim and influence so dangerous that none but fools or mad men will follow this Ignis fatuus who is now cryed up for a good man and a Saint on Earth out of which Commendations he may creep in time to be a Confessor to some Revolted Ladies if they please to be so simply deluded CHAP. XXXV THe next who followes in the Legend is a bird of the same feather with Goff called Master Doctor Vane who timorous Lapwing was quickly afrighted out of the Nest and singed not with the flames but the fears of a Civil war in England took wings and fled to France where his Arivall was much more welcom to some for the company of the fair Dame his Wife than for any admiration of worth or parts in himself which by those who best knew him in the Pulpit or the Schools were never much admited And as for his starting and alteration in Religion that work is rather lookt on as a fair complyance to maintenance and subsistence in these sharper times than any fundamentall cause or ground Indeed the change of one who had been the Kings Chaplain though but extraordinarily might cause some noise and notice in a strange Countrey and the work of Changing being then more rare cause some pity and the Romish Priests and pity and interested friends might sollicit for the promise of a Pension but all this pretence was only as a bait to catch and secure the Gudgeon not to feed him the Priests and Jesuites who scrued him into their obedience engaged him to put forth his scandalous Libell against the Church of England which Vane called his Ovis perdita his Lost Sheep but with how many falsities that malicious Tract is stuffed is easily discern'd by a judicious Reader And an ingenuous Man cannot but blush that so young so raw so illiterate a proficient in Polemical Arguments who certainly scarce ever read one Greek or Latine Father intirely in all his life should so boldly though with the help of other learned Clerkes use Quotations and Cite so many Authors though impertinently or falsly in his late Tract Yet the Apostat once Revolted was so heightned with insolency and malice that he thought no venom strong enough to be spit at and then to destroy that tender good Nurse who had received him into her arms and given him so much innocent milk and fed an unthankfull child with so much solid Truth by the fruits of this bitter Root Vanes present he prevailed to get some acquaintance amongst Strangers who catcht with Novelties and his detestation of that which they hated became persons interested to sollicit and petition the Queen Regent of France for a Pension for the new Convert which the Court of France easily promis'd and importunity prevailed for the sum of one hundred Pistols to be paid but in the expence and strength of that the Family was to be considered and the Doctor was engaged to a Journey and Pilgrimage to Rome for an unerring Benediction after the kiss of his Holiness slipper which made the Doctor so infallible in his Conversation that he drank freely and daily the pleasant Wines of the Countrey to such proportions that he and his Comrades became the discourse of his own Countrymen and of the sober Italians Their money at last growing low and the Visit made to Rome over the Doctor returns as wise as he went to Paris where being of no great esteem notwithstanding his present of Ovis perdita his Lost Sheep the sneaking Wormb is crawled into the practice of Physick hoping by that Profession to gain something out of Patients of all complexions In this new guise savoring more of his Serpent than his Dove he is now return'd into England where under the colour of a Physitian he is to administer his Spirituall Pils to try how they can work in the veins of his Countrymen Thus the Theological-Physical Doctor works as he wanders abusing Hypocrates and Galen as well as the Fathers but if his Pils prove no better for the body than his rules and doctrine for the soul his Patients will have no more comfort of his Remedies than a company of starved Mice of Mercury or Rats-bane to their breakfast CHAP. XXXVI THe next who fitly followeth in the wooden Legend Mr. Hugh Cressie is Mr. Hugh Cressie whom the storms of Ireland and England have blown over into France and into another Religion than what he seemed to preach and profess to the world for many years It is very probable this discontented despairing creature was bred a Puritan and understood little of the doctrine or practice of the Church of England In his Apology for his Reconciliation to Rome he rails mightily against the persons of Luther and Calvin and the Protestants in General and through their sides strikes fiercely at the Divines of the Church of England whom he chargeth falsly That all of them contrary to their Oathes and Subscriptions had submitted to the late Covenant and so abrenuntiated their former obligations and tenets but how falle and notoriously untrue this scandal is is visible to all mens eyes who live in these sad dayes In other places of his Book he makes Calvin and Luther the Fathers and Founders of the Religion of the Church of England which is a charge equally mistaken as Mr. Hooker adviseth in his Eclesiastick Policy and as all men know who understand any thing of the Reformation of the Church of England begun in King Edward the sixths dayes This unsatisfied Seeker hath tasted of many waters in divers Countreys as Ireland England Italy France and Flanders and like a light Bowl having not been well byassed at first was apt to turn out of the way with the least Rub his wings could not endure the scorching heats of of a Civil war either in Ireland or England and therefore he composed himself for travell into other Countries where he did not only change the air and climat but his mind and resolulutions of his soul renouncing timorously and most unworthily his Religion and Profession and became a Roman Catholique insnared to that new choice by the hopes and promise of being to be admitted an idle Drone or Monk in the Charterhouse at Paris where he might live as warmely as lapt all over in Lambs skins and like a Bee in a plentifull Hive fed with the purest Amber honey With this golden delusion was Mr. Cressie caught and so strangely wrought upon to alter Truth for Falshood Religion for Superstition and the Church of England for that of Rome In this violent fit the deluders insulted on his bad humors being predominant at that season and gave him such Physick or rather Poyson as made him swell with venom and malice against primitive and antient Truth and in this mode he not only solemnly renounced the Religion which he had long
a dark Scotish mist others liked no air but what was breathed from Rome and having abjured and renounced what they had so long imbraced and admired they transplanted their thoughts to another Religion new interests and ways to thrive in the World at least expecting dissentiones augente licentia That dissentions much encreasing they might the better * Julianus primum securitatem suam slabilire ab hoc christianorum dissidio conatus Ammianus establish their own hopes and security by the rended opinions and distractions of the times and either to live in the ruines of what was to be destroyed at home or in the detestation of that which could not give them a farther support and maintenance and in that garb to travel abroad and shark in other Countries CHAP. XLVIII OR if these relations of temporizing sins seem to General leaving the Discourse of the deluded hot Presbyters to the sense of their own violent folly which now seems somwhat qualifyed with better temper and repentance for former impetuosities as not to touch the quick nor search the wounds to the bottom It may be proper and reasonable to discover particular instances that have inveagled and caused severall Revolts and sudden alterations * Motives to Revolt to Rome A design of getting great Favour great Power profitable places mixt with Curiosity and other self-interest * Ambition hath been a temptation too prevalent with many to change their Religion as Seamen and Mariners stand over to several shores if any Wind or Tide crosse them the better to gain the fair Haven of their own desires Some weak †Rashness Careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat Ovid. rash judgements measure Truth in Religion by successe in humane Affairs concluding that Church is not well reformed nor is it sound in faith and doctrin which is not attended with victories and the Glory of Plenty and Prosperity and transported with the violent errors of self-opinion resolves not to be any longer of that Religion whose Defender and Professors have lost so many battels This Argument is fit for none but short-sighted censurers who are more guided by sense than reason and rather conclude as meer Animals then rational and understanding men Such a demonstration as this a Scotish Merchant used not long fince at Amsterdam who because he had many losses at Sea being a Christian was perswaded to be Circumcised to go to the Synagogue and turn Jew and so to get Mammon denyed his Saviour It any be of this opinion he may if he please become a loyal Turk and plead for the Grand Signiors cause and rights because he and his Predecessors have subdued and captivated the poor Greek Christians and so long prospered CHAP. XLIX A Golden delusion and dream of a restitution of Abbey-lands and a re-edifying of those fair Monuments of Piety and Chariâ—y is a bait that serveth to catch some greedy Fish and in this fancy some not so religiously as * Covetousness covetously and ambitiously promise great honours and commodious preferments to themselves beleeving that the Jesuits and Roman wits looking at present so cheerfully on the rubbish and ruines of antiquity they may live to see a restauration of Pontifical Structures and themselves famous Grandees and Trustees by their Commissions from his Holiness at Rome This very design was hot and high in Ireland but proved as ridiculous as monstrous having effected nothing but further ruines and greater confusions CHAP. L. EAse security and * Luxury luxury fresh air good cloaths delicat wines and fruits and all enjoyed without the noise of Drums and Trumpets in peaceable Cantons and Countries whilst their own hath been in hot combustions and wars have inchanted and besotted some rather to turn their Religion than to starve heir belly and although they would be reputed holy Converts yet let their own Conscience be their Confessor if Phil. 3.19 as those belly-Gods the Philippians they love not their Meat above the Masse and follow a new Profession in Religion as some did Christ Joh. 6.26 not so much out of love to him as for the bread and loaves and when that fail'd they forsook him CHAP. LI. AN Atheistical and Prophane humor of some scoffing at all things that are divine and holy Atheism hath seized on some who presume to be as blasphemous amongst Christians as Lucian was rude bitter and uncivil amongst the grave Philosophers and in this mode they can indifferently keep a Sabbath with a Jew a Christian or a Turk and as usually goe to Masse as to Market so they may but get the least smile or favour of advantage CHAP. LII AN office in the Camp or in the Court Preferment in the City or at Sea in a good Ship A Mistresse or a Wife these poor Relations have startled some who have so Idolized their own Interests that rather than not enjoy their expectations they resolv'd to turn any way and to imbrace any nâ—w commands though never so dangerous to the soul CHAP. LIII THe hopes of an honourable Mariage A fortune in Mariage accompanied with youth plenty a great joynture a noble train and a compleat equipage are silver lines which have drawn some to be married at Masse whose Religion hath entred no further than their eyes and ears which have been too much dazled and tickled with sweet sounds and gorgeous and gilded apparitions CHAP. LIV. POverty hath a terrible face Durum telum necessit as and pincheth shrewdly the fear of the loss of Liberty hath alarum'd some out of their quarters Fear of want driven them timrously to comply with the Roman interest not so much out of Conscience as Complyance to get Pensions and Portions from Strangers hands And in this changeable condition how have many disgraced their Religon dishonoured themselves and made themselves not only sinfull before God but scandalous and ridiculous to all the world turning and returning and turning over and over †L. K. with any new blast or gale that might better fill their wavering sails These Cords made up of Gold and Silver twist have strongly fetched over mâ—ny who undutifully scorning their own Mother clad in a torn and ratter's habit and poor persecuted dresse have made choice of a rich cunning Stepdame and have strained their Consciences to supply their Conveniencies but it is wisdom for those who change to look well to their choice and where they lay their heads lest a Serpent lurk under the Pillow CHAP. LV. REligion is not a meer Politique obligation as many use it but a Sacred bond whereby men are ingaged to serve the Everlasting and All-seeing God from whose sight and intuition nothing can be obscured or concealed if Hypocrisy or dissimulation could veil the eyes of the Almighty the dissemblers might have some colour for their fraud if gifts and bribes corrupt the offenders might hope for Advocates and Patrons but in the High
then when once they begin to be vainely-confident in their owne fleshly Abilities But let our Governours beware lest such Terriblenesse and Pride of Heart deceive them as it did sometime the Edomites Ier. 49.16 Alas they will finde these Perswasions to be but false Enthusiasmes consisting onely in superficiall appearances without substance or like to the Egyptian-Reed on which if a Man lean'd it would pierce his hand As for the Time wherein this sad Presage shall bee accomplish'd though it bee not here punctually reveal'd yet by all probability it must be suddenly Neither let any Man thinke that I speake these Things by way of siding with Parties farre be it from mee for I call Heaven and Earth to record this day that what is here written is written from the very truth and sincerity of my heart Wherefore my humble Request upon the Premises is this That wee bearing Gods Image and the Names of Christians might no longer devote our selves like Beasts to Sensuality and uncleannesse that we might no longer blaspheme that Worthy Name by which we are called by such abominable Actions that the very Heathen blush at their remembrance But that whilest our Sun of grace shineth we might have a speedy and generall Reformation both in Church and State and that from the highest to the lowest having every man of us in particular put away the evill of his doings and removed the accursed thing from him wee might with the Ninivites humble our selves before the Throne of Grace with Fasting and with VVeeping and with Mourning crying mightily unto GOD that it would please his Divine Majesty to spare his Inheritance and to receive us graciously Who knowes whether the Lord may returne and repent and leave a Blessing behinde him I beseech you my Brethren in the Bowells of Christ Jesus let this my counsell be acceptable unto you breake off your sinnes by Repentance and make straight paths for your feete Lest the LORD kindle a fire in Ierusalem and there be none to quench it Why these strange and prophetique VISIONS should thus appeare to Mee above many thousands beside that I ever heard of certainly I know not neither can give any other accompt of it then from those Words of God Exod. 33.19 I will be gracious to whom I will bee gracious Nor shall I here have recourse to any mans private censure it being a Matter as I conceive altogether indeterminable and not obvious to Humane Reason To conclude This Paper I presume will meet with many skoffing and tumultuous Spirits as the World never yet wanted them taking it perhaps for some mad Frensy or Diabolicall Illusion and thereupon I say taking occasion some to mock it and others to persecute it as it is impossible but that Strong Meats will be offensive to unsound Digestions though those stomacks indeed that are better constituted will receive them according to their native worth all which I cannot helpe neither am I to observe Howbeit These are to let all men know that Herein my Conscience is discharg'd How reproachfully so ever the Things signified may by the men of this Generation be exploded and kickt at yet for those Types or Emblems by which they were represented to my understanding if wee compare them with the Types of sundry Prophesies in Holy Scriptures wee shall finde them in no measure contemptible To feare Persecution in this Matter I should sin egregiously This Burden I must deliver though Bryers and Thornes be with me and I dwell among Scorpions For Necessity is laid upon mee and woe is mee if I deliver it not Alas let such Evill-surmizers consider if these horrid Judgements befall this City as I am most confident they will unlesse a speedy Reformation prevent and I being thus pre-inform'd of them should neverthelesse retaine them unreveal'd I say let them consider what Blood-guiltinesse I should draw down upon my head by such silence And let Such likewise beware lest in persecuting mee they be found to fight against GOD. Delivered in a Copy from my own hand this 26. of Octob. 1652. FRA. WILDE THE PREFACE THE Broils * Quem bellum civile delectat euÌ„ ex numero hominum ejiciendum ex finibus humanae naturae exterm nandum puto Tullius Phil. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Iliad and Civil Wars of my own Country caused my thoughts to wander abroad to seek Peace Curiosity invited me to be a Traveller * Mysterium Theologia facta est populare oblectamentnni vir faeninae senes paeri quaestiunculis ludunt sasciviunt 〈◊〉 Lipl advers Dialogist lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the dissention and distraction in Religions as well as Government hath prompted my thoughts to more serious observations left to much pleasing my sense with fresh varieties I might endanger my soul with the loss of heaven Apud nos etiam opificibus offusasunt arcana Theologiae atqueâ—ta omnes inhiant ratiocinatiunculis sermonibus syllogisticis ut herbae pascuâ—s armenta I cannot boast of any content that I have met with by tasting of the severall waters so artificially distilld in other Countries Though I have seen the Popes Throne and his crimson Conclave of Cardinals at Rome Calvins Consistory and his Presbyterian Succession at Geneva Luthers rich Altars and Superintendents in Germany the severall Sects tolerated in the Netherlands the Jewish Synagogu at Amsterdam Nicep Greg. hist lib. 11. factionum principes interse digladiabantur linguas contrase mutuo â—rmabant non zelo divino sed itacundiae impetuducti Idem Hist lib. 6. yet I left a poor Persecuted Mother at home the Truth and Religion professed in the Church of England which is more lovely and truly venerable than them all I stretched my Travells to view the Romish Inquisitions and the Scotish Assemblies which have bended severities untill they are ready to break and it is hara to Determin whether of the two are more intolerable with their extremities In the multitude of these many objects Haec in Graecia olim fuere quando cum paulo post ruit my eyes have had many glances but my thoughts have chiefly fixed themselves on tâ—hse two great Enemyes who have on different Interests violently banded their greatest strength to ruine if possible my dear Mothers very being It was a piece of the Lord Archbishop of Canterburies Sermon before he dyed Venient Romani the Romans will come and will take our Countrey That Prediction proves now a true Prophecy See the Politique Union of * In illo vero die Pilatus Herodeâ— facti sunt amici intersele nam antea inter se erant inimici Luke 23.12 bitter Enemies using the same †They set a trap they catch men Ierem. 5.26 means to contrary ends The * Quibus quies in seditionibus in pace turbaesunt tumultum ex tumultu bellum ex bello serunt Papist and the Presbyler both agree That the Scaffold was fitter for an Archbishops
Interest the great Diana which most men adore and worship have chased Innocency Honour and Religion out of most mens brests The Projectors have used the Serpents tongue to flatter and insinuate and his tail to poyson and sting both making one Circle to compass and besiege the credulous deceived multitudes and so in the end to subject all Power to their own humor and obedience drawn by degrees first within the lines of Fraud and then of Usurpation and Cruelty * Tantum Relligio potuit suadere malerum Virg. Aenaeid The Church of Rome hath been most Cunningly Active in this desperate work and from her inveterate malice to the Church of England and her Reformation in the Reign of King Edward the sixth hath either marched furiously with her bloody colours of Persecution Fire and Faggot Imprisonment or Banishment as in the Reign of Queen Mary or secretly practiz'd mischief and ruine to all who had shaken off her superstitious yoke and imbraced the Antient Primitive innocency and doctrine and practice of the Holy Apostles hating the professors of Gods true Religion not so much for their wiser choice of better things but because they had acquitted themselves from the intolerable vassalage of the Romish Authority and Usurpation and withdrawn themselves from that blind obedience which they had too long payed to the See of Rome which is not dainty of any dispensations either in doctrine or practice of Religion Provided alwayes that her Annates Tenths First-fruits Peter pence and all pretended rights and profits may be continued and solvent and a Soveraigntie acknowledged to her as the great Mistress and Queen of all the world To consummate the hopes and attain the height of these ambitious aspirings what art what craft what plots have not been used When in Queen Maries dayes the Pope by special Letters sollicited the Queen to endeavour to recover not only the publique practice of the Mass and Romish Religion but likewise proposed to the Queen and her Chancellor a restauration of all Church-lands Seigniories Dignities and Revenues and that all Orders of Popish Abbots Priors Monks Fryars and all Orders of Regulars formerly planted in England and Pastoral Seculars to be speedily reinvested and repossessed But this motion before 't was started by the Lord Chancellor in Parliament met with a private debate in a Cabinet Counsell and Consultation where the Lord of Bedford being then present was so venemously stung that he burst soddainly into great passion and choler breaking his chaplet of beads from his girdle and flinging them into the fire and he sware deeply to boot that he valued more his sweet Abbey of Wooburn than any fatherly Counsell or Commands that could come from Rome Bedford parting away in such a high snuff and passionate indignation the Queen and her Lord Chancellor were able to guess at the tempers and inclinations of other Subjects and therefore concluded it greater Policy to smother and conceal than to publish and prosecute a motion that would prove so generally distastfull CHAP. II. THese Great hopes of Restauration of Lands and Revenues being over and suspended if not extinguished The designs were laid how to vex and torment those who professed the Religion Reformed in King Edward the sixt his Reign and there was no want of Invention to create sharp Lawes loud Proclamations cruell Edicts and violent Resolutions to raise bitter and bloudy Persecutions Death and Martyrdom grew suddenly very familiar and was the common high way wherein many Reverend Prelates and pious Clergymen walked whose patience and holy examples many thousands religious and devout people followed enduring rather the loss of life Liberty and of all things than of faith and a good Conscience Imprisonment then was accounted but as a more secluse Retirement more fit for Christian tears and prayers Banishment was looked on as a more tolerable Burden being so much the lighter because born amongst Strangers in a farre Countrey and the Afflictions were the more easie because the Sufferers were permitted to live as good Confessors and though in a sad condition thereby were able to breath out and testifie the truth and justifie their innocent Cause both at home and abroad This storm being over after 5 or 6 years Queen Elizabeth succeeded to the Crown in whose prosperous Reign what malice and mischief was contrived and acted by the Roman underminers what scandals against the Queen her Person her Honor her Government her Authority All Histories of those times describe very plentifully All those malicious damps and vapors rose from the venome of the Jesuites and Romish vipers and their Confederates They did breath and spit the same loathsome Poyson on K. James whose Golden pen hath left a treasure to after-Ages of his great Abilities and Learning the dint and impression of his skilfull strokes lyes heavy on the memory of Cardinal Peroon and Cardinal Belarmine and many others of that black Society who have been worsted and confuâ—ed by the most powerful arguments of his Reasons and Learning Collected out of undoubted Antiquities Councils Fathers Histories and unquestionable Authorities And when the Jesuites could not distemper his Majesties Remonstrances nor Replyes with most unmannerly scandalous Language nor interrupt his Pen with monstrous lies nor convince him with their slight and cunning Answers and Objections they drove on their designes with a Powder-plot which timely and providently discovered and prevented the Contrivers and Actors had the reward of Traitors in England though Recorded and honoured as Martyrs at Rome And the Countenancers of that black conspiracy are accounted by all rational men and good Christians no otherwise than as Leopards and Blackmoores whose sports and ugliness can never be washed and wiped away CHAP. III. THese Spiders have twisted their Webbs made their Circumferences and drawn their Lines throughout the Reign of the late King Charles and then like high-towring Eagles soaring aloft they hoped more confidently to build their houses sublime and stately They judged the Advantage great if the foundation not sure because of a toleration of the Roman Religion in the Queens Chappel and Court under which privilege much mischief might be hatched and contrived and some part acted to the disturbance of the Peace Vnity and Vniformity of the Church of England And yet all sober-minded men may be easily satisfyed and perswaded that the Inconveniences which rose from that toleration neither thrive from the connivency much less encouragement or contrivance of his Majesty who then reigned who gave his Queen and her Ghostly fathers the Priests and the Roman Catholiques of her Majesties family leave to enjoy the Roman Reliligion according to the Articles of Mariage agreed on betwixt the two Crowns of England and France and if it be ugly and most unhandsome in a Gentleman it were more ignoble and sordid in a King to break his word It cannot be denyed but in the first 14 yeares of the late Kings Reign the Romish Engineers had more calm opportunities to frame
obedience lest by remisness and to much relaxation the frames of Government should suddenly dissolve into ruine and confusion From this consideration have the number of the Penal Laws daily increased to bind and faster to incorporate the nerves and ligaments of Politique Government of which the Moderator hath collected some into a Schedule and presented to the Committee for the regulating of the Lawes as far forth as they have any influence on Recusants and Roman-Catholiques CHAP. XXVIII THe Moderator closeth his second Part with Motives Considerations Reasons and Proposals of the Roman Catholiques which need no answer nor examination more than of the Reader in his transient perusal of them as having been Cases formerly stated And as for those places of holy Scripture quoted in the conclusion Matt. 18.23 1 Kings 19.11 12. Mat. 5.44 It is agreed on by all Christians on all sides that being rightly interpreted and rightly applyed it is most true that Christ hath given and forgiven us ten thousand talents and therefore we ought to forgive our fellow servant an hundred pence And it is as true that the Lord was not in the great and strong wind c. but in the still and small voice That we are to doe unto others as we would that they should doe unto us that we should love our enemies and bless them that curse us And it is to be wished that as these places of Holy Scripture are alleged by the Moderator for more meekness and tenderness of one Christian towards another so the Papists would be examples in the practice of these holy duties then there needed not any erection or use of Romish Inquisitions in the Popish Territories nor any disturbance by his fulminations and thundering excommunications abroad CHAP. XXIX THe Moderator thus viewed over in Generall Considerations it may be now seasonable to take a stricter view of his Legend and Romish Proselites and to find them out in their most abstruse and darkest paths it cannot be amiss but to the purpose to observe how active cunning and resolute the Romish Priests are in their seductions and tamperings with their fellow Subjects against the Lawes of their Countrey and therefore more justly lyable to Punishment The Lines of these politick Emissaries and their Instructions are fixt at Rome but they are stretched and drawn into most parts of the Christian and Heathen world where these busy Flies are whispering their pernitious infatuations and smooth delusions And now that the deceived multitudes may not be longer hooded and masked by the Art of these glosing Impostors it cannot but be usefull to these times to observe what advantage these labourers promise to themselves and what a liberall Harvest as they now confidently boast of publickly and boldly brag off and tell the world they hope to reap very shortly in England Scotland and Ireland and to this purpose as these Sophisters are most pragmatick and confident in their discourses so are they nimble and swift with their Pens filling the Presses with printed Books of all kinds that may either exercise or delude the courteous Reader or greedy Novellist to a deviation if possible from his old Principles in Faith and Religion formerly professed Their business consisting chiefly not in calming but inraging the angry Seas and present troubles wherein if the Church of England prove a wreck they despair not but that of Rome shall quickly be Predominant These dissemblers like the lying Greek Fidens animi at que in utrumque Paratus Seu versare dolos seu certae occumbere morti Sinon in Virgil's Aenaead 2. can make loud out cries against their own Countreymen and swear and forswear prate and lie and endure the adventure of any misery or torture to perfect and effect a desperate plot and thereby to set a City like Troy or a whole Countrey and Kingdom on fire Nay in a considerable design these bold undertakers like that false Persian Zopirus cùm semetipsum flagis caecidisset nasoque auribus mutilatis Babylonios circumvenisset quibus sidem ei adjungentibus prodidit Dario urbem saepiùs est ex Dario auditum malle se integrum Zopirum quà m centum potiri Babylonibus Plutarch Apotheg can torture and whip themselves cause their own noses and ears to be cut off and in deep diffimulation not stick to rail at and accuse their own King or State their own Generals and Commanders and not think it amiss if to drive on their end to call the Pope Antichrist and Rome the Scarlet Whore Provided alwayes that this dark and hellish hypocrisie may inveagle credulity or gain Proselites and erect higher and inlarge more spaciously ' the Towers and Territories of the Roman Prelacy In this design they spare no cost nor fear any danger if any adventure or endeavour may raise and elevate more sublimely their monstrous and ambitious head And having now as they boast put on their work to a very possible Conclusion the Monarchicall power in England being so abased and extenuated the Hierarchy of the Church and Episcopal Orders so much shattered and disgraced and the two Lamps and Lights of Learning so puzzled and dazeled they begin to magnifie themselves Cambridge Oxford and glory in their Iniquity And the Pope hath already told the world That Ireland was Insula Sanctorum an Iland and Countrey of the Roman Saints and a part of St. Peters Patrimony and they vainly and falsly Prophecy That England and Scotland shall not enjoy Peace until both Countreys return to the obedience of Rome and render their choicest First-fruits to support the pride and grandure of the triple Crown and help more richly to embroider the glorious Cross on his Holiness slipper CHAP. XXX TO compass these Imperial ends and high thoughts the plots in Ireland were first laid in deeper acts of bloody cruelâ—y and Massacres of the poor innocent Christians professing their Faith and Religion according to the Orthodox Reformation of the Church of England and the horrid murders and devastations committed there were aggravated with the sting and venome of Romish Buls Curses and Excommunications which though they reached not the soules of the innocent sufferers yet thrust their persons into such an odium with all of the Roman Catholique affections and interests that the poor creatures were almost devoured and swallowed up by barbarous cruelty in a moment their lives and fortunes being suddainly made a prey by the bloody and ravenous Wolves of the savage Country To countenance the bitterness of these proceedings a martial fiery Nunâ—io was sent from Rome who brought with him as wel S. Pauls Sword as S. Peters Keys born up with the Popes Commission to burn and kill and slay all opposers of that usurpt Authority In this heat the Italian Jehu marched furiously kindling all Ireland into a hot combustion and conflagration prosecuting the integrity of loyal obedience with the most prodigious violence of hostility and a most merciless War The breath of this venemous Hyà ra being too hot
if he had found in the See Pope Urban the eighth instead of Pope Innocent he might possibly have received a greater quantity and a better number of Benedictions For Urban was as much a pretender to be Prince and Oecumenical patron of Poets as head of the Church but Innocent being more harsh and dry the poor small Poet Crawshaw met with none of the generation and kindred of Maecaenas nor any great blessing from his Holiness which misfortune puts the pitiful wier-drawer to a humor of admiring of his own raptures and in this fancy like Narcissus he is fallen in love with his own shadow conversing with himself in verse and admiring the birth of his own brains he is onely laughed 〈◊〉 or at most but pityed by his â—ew Patrons who conceiving â—im unworthy of any preferments in their Church have given him leave to live like a lean Swine almost ready to starve in 〈◊〉 poor Mendicant quality and â—hat favour is granted only because Crawshaw can rail as saâ—yâ—ically and bitterly at true Religion in Verse as others of his grain and complexion can in Prose and loose discourses this fickle shurtlecock so â—ost with every changeable puff and blast is rather to be laughed at and scorned for his ridiculous levity than imitated in his sinfull and notorious Apostacy and Revolt CHAP. XXXVIII ANd now in this Ring and Rabble of Turncoats enters a Saint indeed and worthy a letter or mark in his for head he is famous by the name of Rowlands Mr. Rowlands one who probably was never of any degree in a University yet perhaps had the honor to creep up to be a poor Curat in England This drunken sot had the luck to reel out of England into France and to stagger from London to Paris there to guzzle as deeply in the juyce of the Grape as he had swil'd himself in that of Good Ale This Fellows head is like an Irish Bogg a spungy Quagmire his brains are in a perpetual Sowse-tub the pickle is onely now changed from Ale to Wine This parboyld Rat would be accounted a great Rabbin beyond Sea did not his besotted countenance betray and discover his ignorant stupid dull soul This profound Soaker knowes nothing better than how to swallow and carouse and daily surfetting to vomit and spew his loathsomness which bringeth up with it falshood and malice This Buffoon is one of the common scorns of all Civil people as carrying about him all the signes and tokens of a shameless Sot his eyes are ready to tumble out of his head his Bacon complexion is greazy dropical and like the gelly of Veal his breath and belchings are strong enough to cause an infection his cloaths stink as nastily as the lees and droppings of a mouldy Hogshead or a Brewers apron And as the beast hath on him the Drunkards marks so he hath had their guerdons and rewards Some of his own companions tyred and ashamed with his foul disorders having first sowed him in a blanket have tossed him as a fungus or maulkin stuffed with straw sometimes they have singed his hair and otherwhiles set the ends of candles burning on his feet which have scorch'd his toes before the Buzzard could be made to wake or becom sensible This Secular studies most in Cabarets and Taverns is the companion of Water-Merchants Crochettiers and Porters his rest and repose is usually upon benches and chairs and stools in petty Tap-houses unless he chance to creep under some Cart and get a pile of Faggots to shelter him from the rain This debauched wretch is ambitious to be accounted an example of piety presumes to climb up into the Pulpits at Paris and disputes before the Gates of the petty Burbon commonly in the streets with simple weak Hugonots and doth spit and froath and draffle as much non-sense malice and vanity as can be imagined and being Chaplain to Father * Abbot it is possible for his great worth Mr. Mountacute this Monster may get into the Legend but if such horrid ignorant Asses stumble into the Calendar it matters not much whom the Church of Rome curses and excommunicates for Schismaticks and Hereticks These severall more notorious Ringleaders are to be lookt upon as persons not of any eminent piety but of self-ends and interest and their company and doctrines shunned as most pernicious and dangerous their conversation is very contagious and their infection hath poysoned too many already who are reduced and become their miserable proselites some simple men and women having become seduced to stray with these Grand Impostors CHAP. XXXIX TO the number and tribe of these English Revolters a famous Scot may be seasonably added Mr. Simonet Master Simonet sometimes a great zealous Preacher and Presbyter of the Kirk and Assembly of Scotland This bold brazen-fac'd dissembler did with much art and cunning pretend great zeal to piety and used a form too common and too much now in fashion of Godliness under the guises of these holy pretences Simonet crept a long time into private houses Conventicles secret meetings as well as the publique Congregations where he wrought much mischief and with long prayers in Hypocrisy devoured Widdowes houses and committed many vilanies At length the shameless confident Scot insinuated into the company of Sir James Hamiltons Lady whose Husband living abroad the dishonorable Dame was tempted to lewdness in his absence and the lecherous Presbyter insnared the Lady to a base unworthy familiarity at last yeelding to his unchast motions the Lady was got with child by the Presbyter and most shamefully cast off the obligations and promise to her noble Husband made in the bonds of Wedlock and Mariage This most sinfull and most notorious Accident was quickly and lowdly talked on through all Scotland the Knight so abominably affronâ—ed by his Wife and Simonet at last received the Alarum and newes of these particulars and thought of nothing but Revenge upon the Fornicator and the Adulteress The Assemblies of the Presbyters were in a great dispute and could not well resolve Whether to look on Simonet with compassion and tender his condition as a weak Brother who had been tempted and so faln or else Whether to stand upon their Assembly Privileges and to acquit and defend their lapsed Partner or if that proceeding might shamefully and too much irritate the people Whether Simonet should be punisht according to the severity of the Lawes of the Kirk whiles these agitations were in debate and some publique determinations by the Presbyters Simonet contrives to withdraw himself out of Scotland and getting beyond Seas he suddenly takes Sanctuary and to cover his sins and secure his person from further danger either of Sir James Hamilton or his Brethren the Presbyters he turns Roman Catholique and lurking in the habit of a Secular Priest at length he got to be Chaplain to the Archbishop of Corinth Coadjutor of Paris and in that service he doth continue his old impudence and villany seducing
and disturbing the change is onely this from a cunning sharking Scotish Presbyter he is transform'd into the shape of a more impudent sawcy Secular Popish Priest in which capacity he rails as much at the Church of England though with much ignorance envy and falseness as he did when he was acting the part of a proud piert lascivious Presbyter And this is another such like Roman pillar who is likely to prove as great a Saint on that side the sea as he was to have been in the Kirk of Scotland CHAP. XL. THese great Impostors like cunning Juglers have deluded many Some as Children are easily puft up and enticed with every triviall blast of new doctrines and much taken with Babies toyes and trifles and sometimes those of elder Age grow doted and deluded It hath faln out thus with many wanderers of these times who afrighted out of their Religion and perhaps out of England wiâ—h the terror and effects of a Civil War have found out new faces new fancies and new resolutions at home and in other Countries where for better assurance of gaining ease or the hopes of plenty and safety they have parted with substances for shadows and truth for errors vaing loriously concluding into the bargain that they should get the names and reputations of good Roman Catholiques The greater numbers of these Converts and Revolters might yet follow Men and Women subjects more soft and easie and therefore more fit to be tamper'd withall as more thirsty after new fashions and so more capable of alterations and the dress a la mode But a decyphering of them and their interests might seem a work too tart and bitter therefore charity spares their characters And it is lesser wonder to see smaller Shrubs scorched and burnt up with weaker flames when seeming Oaks and Cedars so suddenly fall and tumble down overturn'd with the gusts and winds of a Civil War CHAP. XLI THe strokes of Afflictions are very sharp trying the very hearts and reins and as they engrave glorious marks and characters in religious Martyrs and patient Confessors who are well grounded in the faith so their smart lashes afright and drive away to any desperat mutation the light and giddy humors of unsetled minds This is a common experience in the History of the sacred Book of God where Iudas was as certainly affrighted with the news of our Saviours passion and therefore fear'd his own troubles and Persecution as tempted with the price of blood and the thirty pieces of silver that reward of iniquity Fear and Covetousness are very ill Commanders and lead on many ugly followers their company is infectious the design sinful and the end very damnable These two capital betrayers of worth and honesty fear of further loss and hopes of future gain inclin'd Iscariot not onely to forsake but to betray his Master and not only to fall from but to fall on Innocency it self There are some other Vipers which attend these horrid Monsters as Envy and Malice at others both parts and fortunes Ignorance and thereby a dull uncharitable measuring of others though of great abilities by the narrow scantless and short cubit of their own imperfect and ruder judgments Rashness and impatience cruelty and detraction keep the timorous alwayes company and it is most true oderunt quos metuunt men ever hate though without cause whom they fear It is no wonder then if timorous afrighted spirits forsake and fly from a Profession and Religion which may for the maintenance of its truth render the Pofessors either more miserable or less secure in their Plenty and Content It was even thus in the College of Christs own Apostles which was dissolved and they scattered when the great Shepheard of our souls was arraigned condemned and crucifyed One betrayd him but all forsook him and fled Mark 14 50. But except one Traytor who desperately dispatched and hanged himself Mat. 27.5 all the other holy Apostles speedily recovered themselves from fear and cowardise St Peter though afar off yet still followed his Master and though he sate without Mat. 26.96 yet even there was he within the Palace and when driven thence he went out into the Porch though he denied shamefully his Lord with his mouth yet he manfully defended him with his hand when he dared to smite off one of the High Priests servants ears The glorious company of the Apostles whose souls seemed to have been in deliquio almost quite melted for sorrow of Christs Passion quickly revived at the noise of his resurrection from the Grave and those who shew'd themselvs than men when Christ was crucifyed did put on the courage of Angels when they understood he was risen from the dead recoÌ„pencing the failing of their flesh with the great fortitude of their minds and the few minutes of fear with their whole age of better resolutions boldly professing that Truth which they followed to the Crosse and at last sealing with their blood what they preached with their tongues and published to all Nation CHAP. XLII THe many Demasses of this age who like frosted leaves have faln from that Tree that nourished theÌ„ with the juyce of truth surely have not beleeved this doctrine or not followed these examples but rather in these times of sharper trials like those dissemblers who pretended to be Christs disciples as neither willing though it were to save their souls in the ark of Gods Church to indure hard language nor hard labour much lesse to suffer the losse of their plenty â—ase coÌ„tent or safety St. John records the infamous Apostacy Iohn 6.66 From that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him Thus have too many disobedient children forsaken their Mother and as infected with the falling sicknesse of the times have in their distempers frothed out the vâ—nome of their disease The constitution of these lapsed Revolters is not much unlike the ignoble temper of Aratus Sicyonus in Polibius Lib. 6. Qui ad Civilia omnia mirificè vafer appositus trepidabat in bellicis nec exequi aut facere cor aut corpus ei firma Aratus was of an excellent wit very subtil and crafty and very active and prompt in Civil affairs but if call'd to Martial counsels or the businesse of War the Coward and Pultron trembled having neither a heart nor a body for such heroick enterprises but as that Historian goeth on hic autem ipse si quando in Aperto acie dimicare vellet segnis in Consiliis timidus in Aggressionibus nec aspectu quidem aut vultu pugnam tolerans If the great Politico were concern'd in a battel or a fight he proved flat and dull in his advice timorous and fearfull at the Re'encounter and durst neither see nor be seen in an Army ready to engage an Enemy CHAP. XLIII THus many verbal champions who in calm and serene days and more Civil times seemed to love truth impartially and for her own sake are fallen flat and tumbled into those