1THE Evill Spirit Conjur'd, And caſt out of the PARLIAMENT.
A Melancholly miſchievous ſpirit having crept of late into the Parliament, under I know not what pretext of Godlineſs (as the Devil is never more Devil than when he transforms himſelf into an angel of light)2 in the perſons of ſome who craftily had counterfeited themſelves good Patriots, and zealous for the Religion, Laws, and Liberties of the Land, until finding themſelves in authority, they preſently caſt off their mask, and declared the ſpirit which was in them, playing ſuch reaks there, as never did any pernicious ſpirit in houſe which was hanted and poſſeſs'd before. The Lord General and others prudently perceiving it (alwayes carefully vigilant for the Common good) and finding how much they had abuſed their truſt and ſuffrages3 in Electing them, timely provided to caſt this ſpirit forth, before its exorbitancy ſhould proceed ſo far, and arrive to ſuch a heighth, as to diſturb the peace of the Cōmonwealth, and quite ſubvert the intended ſettlement, and eſtabliſhment thereof; yet this not without firſt proceeding with ſuch maturity in doing it (to diſabuſe ſuch, who ignorantly elſe perhaps might have imagined, that in lieu of a bad ſpirit, they had caſt out a good) as they expected with much longanimity, until it ſufficiently had declar'd it ſelf in4 divers Actions, tending to the ſubverſion of the Religion, & Laws, and Liberties of the free-born people of England, which they were conſtituted there to eſtabliſh and maintain, as by the ſeditious Preachings of thoſe of their faction in Black-Friers &c. ſufficiciently appear'd, they uttering more ſcandalous and ſcurrillous things in the Pulpit there, than ever did the Play-houſe, againſt which they preacht ſo much.
Which action of his Excellency and others was received with ſo general applauſe and ſatisfaction of all, as the5 Bels were rung for joy, and the ſmiles outwardly appearing on every face, did ſufficiently declare the inward Iubilee of their hearts; The twelfth of December being render'd as Celebrous by it, and worthy to be ever celebrated with Bels, Bonfires, and Thankſgiving, as was the fifth of November for the happy deliverance of the Parliament before. For what true born Engliſhman would not rejoice, who loved his Country, and the honour of his Nation, to ſee that ſpirit caſt out of the Parliament, that had been ſo pernicious to the Commonwealth6 (had it been longer tolerated) it would not have left the leaſt footſteps or memorials of its Antient Religion, Lawes and Liberties? and had done actions ſo manifeſtly ſhamefull and injurious (to the Grief of the other Members of the Houſe who more prudent and conſcientious, were joined with them, and forcibly hurryed away by the impetuous torrent of thoſe who were agitated by this ſpirit) as would have call'd an Infamy upon our Nation, not only from the remoteſt parts of the VVorld, but even from the Barbarians themſelves,7 who for all their barbariſm were never ſo unjuſt as they.
Who would not rejoice to have that ſpirit diſauthorized, which was ſo unworthy its authority, as whileſt the grave Reaſonings, and prudent Diſcourſes of other Parliaments were the admimiration of all neighbouring Nations, this ſpirit, as if it were beſotted with its place, (which ordinarily renders others wiſer,) to the indignation of all the wiſer ſort, would riſe up with its Hat at its fingers ends, (like a School-boy ſaying Grace) and inſtead of all other Reaſon8 and Diſcourſe ſay forſooth, That notwithſtanding all that could be ſaid, his ſpirit told him it was ſo, and ſo. And if this was not declining to the ſpirit of Tyranny, let any one be Judge, when Stat proratione voluntas, my Reaſon is my Will, is the higheſt point of Tyranny as can be imagined?
Who finally would not rejoyce to have that ſpirit caſt out, and ſilenced, who would have ſilenc'd all but it ſelf? and ſhortly Enacted, that it ſhould be a crime for any one to laugh, or be merry, under the pretence of9 Godlineſs (forſooth) only to render Religion irkſome, odious, and burthenſom unto all, which being of it ſelf a chearfull thing, as the holy Scripture teſtifies, Hilarem datorem diligit Deus, &c. that God loves the chearfull Giver, they on the contrary would make it ſo ſullen and melancholly a thing, as our Nation, alwayes of a gay and jovial diſpoſition, would never brook nor endure it. Religion being not to be given and adminiſtred unto us, as a Medicin, with loathing and bitterneſs, but as our meat, and daily food,10 ſavoury and pleaſant to the taſt, to delight the palat, and provoke the appetite.
For the farther diſcovery of this ſpirits miſchievous diſpoſition, and pernicious machinations and deſignes, I remit the Reader to theſe following Animadverſions, written ſome moneths before its caſting out of the Parliament, as a preſage of what ſhould afterwards enſue; where, though then I ſtruck at them thorough others ſides, I being alwayes moſt cautious not to offend thoſe in authority, being alſo premoniſhed that furor eſt ſcribere11 contraeos, qui praeſcribere poſſunt, yet now I dare confidently draw the Curtain which ſhadowed it before, and invite them to the reading it themſelves, with this avow, de te Fabula narratur, that it was meant by them, whoſe cuſtom it was, for the deceiving of the people, to ſuborn ſome of their own Faction to Petition them to do that, which they were reſolved to doe before.
Mean time let us congratulate with his Excellency and the reſt, and ſing Panegyriques in his praiſe for12 this great Action, and (if I may ſay it) greater than all his other Victories; the other being only over men, but this over the infernal ſpirit; the other not being without bloodſhed, and making of Widdows and Fatherleſſe, but this preſerving us from it, and the Calamities of a new Warre, which this fiery ſpirit would have driven us unto, might he have been let go on.
And if any demand, what we ſhould doe with him, now he is caſt out of the Parliament? by my Advice, as thoſe Devils who were13 caſt out by our Saviour, together with the Swine which they poſſeſſed afterwards, were all precipitated into the Sea, ſo I could wiſh they might be all ſhipt, and ſent away by Sea from the Old, to New England, as a juſt puniſhment for their attempting to have made a New England of the Old.
However ſince ſuch ſpirits as theſe are not only caſt out by Prayer and Faſting, but ſomtimes by force and violence (as Cor. Agripp. teſtifies) let us not only pray, but uſe our utmoſt endeavors, as we have done for the expelling14 him, that this ſpirit ſerve us not, as that wicked one did in the Goſpel, who being caſt out, and the houſe clean ſwept of him, did but wander about a while, and afterwards returned ſeven times more wicked then he was before; but of this we need take no care, things are in good hands, and we may no wayes doubt, but thoſe who have ſo well begun, will not be wanting to the perfectioning of them.
FINIS.
To the Supreme Authority of this Commonwealth of England, The Honourable Court of Parliament now ſitting,The humble Petition of ſeveral of the Godly party in the County of Salop,
Sheweth.
THat we cannot omit the acknowledgment of all thoſe various Providences God hath made his people in this Nation partakers of, in owning our Armies, and making them both formidable to, and victorious over, our Enemies at Sea and Land; in ſtaining the glory of the proud, dedegrading unprofitable men from their ſtations, and planting you in their room, whoſe beginnings begin to revive our hopes, That our Lord Ieſus Chriſt will yet have in England men executing judgement, and ſpeaking the truth. Certainly if you go on, we doubt not but the children that are to be born will have cauſe to call you bleſſed, as the repairers of our Breaches, the reſtorers of paths to dwel in, and you will render your ſelves of more worth and value than thouſands, ſo that your precedency of Honour and Grace, will tranſcend your predeceſſors; and in all probability, God will eſtabliſh you as ſo many Luminaries in your ſtations, to ſhine more and more unto the day of our deliverance. In hopes whereof, as alſo of your real inclinations to hearken to the deſires of the meaneſt Saint, and of thoſe that wiſh well to Truth & Peace, amongſt the other large endeavours of others, we have taken the liberty of preſenting the ſmall mite of our Propoſals (which we hope will be looked at) amongſt the thouſand of Iſrael.
1. That as God hath truſted you in a ſpecial manner with the guarding of the Truth and Goſpel, you will have a ſpecial eye to the propagation thereof. And becauſe there ar many idle, ignorant, ſcandalous, & malignant Miniſters permitted, that endeavour the ſubverſion thereof, as apears to many of the dear Saints of Chriſt, to the great grief of their ſpirits; We humbly deſire that ſome ſpeedy courſe may be taken for the ejection of ſuch men, and the ſetling of thoſe that are fit and faithful for ſo great a work; and that thoſe may not be ſuffered as Preachers thereof, who hate to ſee it proſper, and ſtand like the Red Dragon ready to devour the child Grace as ſoon as born.
2. That notwithſtanding the ſufferings of many of the People, and the great deliverances vouchſafed them, yet they ſcarcely know them, as by the effects of them, in any encouragement they have yet received, more than the moſt notorious and bittereſt of your Enemies: It is propoſed, that you will have a ſpecial regard to your friends above your enemies. Had the late King prevailed, his friends had received large rewards, as appears by his own Ingagements, you and yours threatned with total deſtruction: Oh then why ſhould you not countenance your friends as well as your enemies theirs? we hope you will not tread in the paths of your predeceſſors to reward evil for good; but will give the right child to the right mother, and ſuffer thoſe now to rejoyce with you, who have formerly mourned with you, and will ſtill (while you are for God) live and die with you.
3 Becauſe we hear many Souldiers complain, who have ventured their lives from the beginning, and want imployment ſince their willing ſubmiſſion to former commands of Disbanding; we humbly propoſe, That a deep inſpection may be made in your Army, for the ejection of thoſe that would not be liſted for you ſo long as they could find an Army with which to fight againſt you, and the number may be made up again by thoſe who have been your conſtant friends.
4. That whereas many men by their fawning flatteries lie at your doors out of ſiniſter ends, to beg for places, we deſire that none may be admitted to any place of truſt, either in the Army or Commonwealth, but ſuch as are known to you for men of fidelity and integrity, or elſe commended to you by the Certificate of five or ſix of your Friends, that ſo things may be carried on more by the publick ſpirit of the Saints, than the private ſpirit of any whatſoever.
5. That whereas we hear many of our Nation ſaying to you, as the children of Iſrael to Rehoboam, take away our burthens, take away our taxations; we further propoſe, That the burthen of Contribution may be laid upon thoſe who have been the grand Incendiaries and Contrivers of the War (we mean the Cavaliers) it being unjuſt (as we humbly conceive that they ſhould cut out the work, and we bear the burthen, they double the tale of Brick, and we do the Task: O let the right child have the right Mother, it will make them more willing to ſit ſtill,
6. That whereas many take liberty of keeping Wakes, ſetting up Morice Dances, and other prophane Sports, againſt which there is no particular Law; we humbly deſire ſome poſitive Rules may be framed for ſuppreſſing thereof.
7. In regard it it generally obſerved, that the foul Sins of Adultery and Fornication are too frequently unpuniſhed, more than before the day of our deliverance, for which our Enemies reproach us, ſich the Act only limits the puniſhment to the teſtimony of two Witneſſes; that a mock may not be made of ſuch foul ſins, We deſire a way may be found, and ſome ſpecial Law inſtituted for the puniſhmet thereof.
8. That in regard of the freedom given to Saints in their ſeveral Churches and meetings on the Lords day, is abuſed, ſo that Papiſts and other prophane perſons take liberty of contemning the Sabbath, and publick Ordinances, and ſpend the day vainly and idly in their houſes, or elſe walking in the Fields; we propoſe, That ſome ſpecial courſe may be taken of reſtraint, that the freedom of the Saints may not be turned to the prophanation of the Lords Day.
9. That the Excize may be taken away in the oppreſſive manner of farming it, that poor people may not be bought and ſold in this Nation, as too frequently they are, and ſome raiſe vaſt eſtates by the bargain.
10. That the poor which dayly ſwarm in England, both in City and Country, begging in the Highways, and at our houſes, to the great dishonour and prejudice of the Nation, may in ſome due way be provided for, and not ſuffered to wander as Vagabonds upon the face of the earth.
And your Petitioners ſhall pray, &c.
1Animadverſions ON THE PETITION.
THere is nothing more ſpecious than the name of Reformation, and nothing leſs, than the thing it ſelf (I mean that which the vulgar magnifie, and cry up ſo much) the diſeaſe of mens minds, rather than of the Times, untill their Imagination fools them into a real malady, and never lets them recover2 afterwards; the Itch of Good Times, and the Ulcer of Ill; moſt pernicious to Kingdoms and Commonwealths, as alwayes Enemy to preſent Government: Every one who would trouble the State, taking it for their pretext, till getting into higheſt place, and looking on things at neerer diſtance, they ſee the Impoſſibility of Reforming them; when caſting away all care and hope of it, the next take up that pretext which they have quitted, and with as great privat heat, and as little for the publique good, never leave putting for it, till they have obtain'd the others place; whence it conſequently follows, that but open this Gate once of Reformation (which their ſhoving and juſtling never ſuffers to cloſe again) and you Introduce by it, nothing but diſorder and3 confuſion. I grant you yet, it hath done great things in the World, but undone greater; and ſome good, but far more harm and miſchief; theſe buſie Reformers ſeeing ſomewhat or other which they would amend, but not a hundred others which they marr in mending it; whence the Wiſe, when they ſee things amiſſe, meaſure their Enterpriſes by the poſſibility, and utility of amending them, which when they find wanting, they pity the Condition of poor Humanity, that hath nothing ſo abſolutely good, as to be wholly exempt from fault and blame, rather than vex and torment her for it, by tampering ſo long to mend it, till they marr it quite. Of which over-buſie ſo long to mend it, till they marr it quite. Of which over-buſie folly the Engliſh Nation in particular are Tax'd; it having paſt almoſt into Proverb, That your Engliſh-man4 never knows when things are well.
And ſuch Reformers as theſe they were, who lately repreſented this Petition unto the Honorable Houſe of Parliament, under the name of the County of Salop, though their reſtriction to ſeveral of the Godly party there, ſufficiently acquits the County, and declares them to he ſuch as one pleaſantly deſcribes,
A ſort of hot-headed, half-witted Fellows, who in the vehemency of their zeal have more harm'd and miſchiev'd Chriſtian Religion, than Turk, Jew, or Infidel ever did, and have more texts of Scripture for it too, than the other out of the Talmude, or Alcoran; who have found out a new way under the name of the Lord, to aboliſh the memory of Jeſus Chriſt, and of that of Godlineſſe, all Chriſtianity; being the worſt ſort of Affectation, affecting5 nothing but what is contrary and averſe to all good manners, and education. Who are more familiar with the Lord, than to ſtand upon Ceremonies with him, and approach him with far leſſe Reverence than a Serving-man does his Maſter, or a Clown his Landlord: ſo hating the name of Gentleman, as they cann't indure God ſhould be ſerv'd like one, and ſo abhorring the name of Church as they wage war with the very ſtones of it (like cowardly Currs, who bite the ſtones, when they cannot harm the perſons) confounding by it all things, ſacred, and profane: Mean time, any place ſerves them to Preach in, as any place, indeed, is good enough for their Preaching, who teach nothing bu Sedition, and Infatuation: ſo as whilſt others people Heaven with their Preaching, theſe people Bed-I am. Mean while they wave the Evangeliſts, and flie to the explication6 of the Prophets, the better to hide their Ignorance, (ſince ther all are almoſt Ignorant alike) like him, who when he could not run, challenged an excellent Footman to flie with him. Men indulgent only to their own Vices, but moſt rigid to thoſe of other men; who call themſelves pure, like him, who being all over defiled, bragg'd, He had never a ſpot on him; and thanking God, with the Phariſee, for not being like other men: it being the trueſt word they ever ſaid in their lives; for they are worſe than they.
And now let us ſee whether this Character fits not our Petitioners, as well as if it had been made for them, by conferring their Petitions with theſe Animadverſions of ours.
And firſt, to ſay nothing of their Preface, nor their Goodly ſtile, all ſtuff'd and interlarded with Scripture phraſe, ſo ſenſeleſly7 alleg'd, as I will not ſay their reading of the Scripture ſeems to make them mad, but certainly this I dare affirm, that thoſe who read it leſſe, write far better, and more ſenſe than they, and would never have ſaid the paths to dwell in, (as they do) but rather the paths to walk in, according to the more proper metaphore; ſo abuſing every where the Scripture ſtile, as Piſtols phraſe in the play, He hears with ears, would no more ſeem to Sir Hugh ſuperfluous, and abſurd: But they are thoſe dear Saints of Jeſus Chriſt (as they ſpeak of) and therefore have the liberty of profaning the Scripture on every occaſion; but for their ſanctity, believe it who liſts for me, for my part, I believe none to be leſſe Saints, than thoſe who call themſelves ſo the moſt; and give me the8 dead, and take the living he that will: ſo it ſhall alwayes be in my Letanie, to deliver me from the Devil in an Angels ſhape, and I'll deliver my ſelf from the Devil in his own ſhape well enough.
But let us come to their Petitions, and in the firſt four we ſhall obſerve a vehement deſire they have, That none but they ſhould be admitted to the charge of the Miniſtry, of the Command of the Army, of the Government of the Commonwealth, and finally, to the diſtribution of all other Preferments and Rewards; they ſeeming much troubled that they are not conferr'd upon them: and troubled ſtill may they be, rather than we ſhould ever be troubled with them. By which, we may perceive them to be ſome diſcarded party, caſheer'd9 from the Army for their cowardice, and want of diſcipline; ſome rejected, and excluded from the Government of the Commonwealth, for their want of Talent, and non-ſufficiency; and finally, ſome refuſe ſtuff, and out-caſts of the Miniſtry, for their turbulency, and non-conformity; people of no parts, nor merit at all; elſe 'twere to tax the State, and the wiſdom, and prudent Conduct of the General and Officers, for not admitting them to Charge and Imployment. Such raſh and ſtupid fellows, and ſuch Poltrons and Cowards withall, as, ſhould I give the right child to the right mother, which they urge more than once, I could ſhew how they never yet had the management of affairs, but that they brought them to ruine & deſtruction; nor ever fought, but either they10 were beaten, or ran-away; which being ſo, far be it from the Commonwealth to have ſuch to reform and govern it, who are hardly fit to govern a Cobblers, or a Botchers ſhop; and far be the Omen from our evervictorious and conquering Army, to have ſuch as theſe mens Fortunes joyn'd with theirs, or to be mix'd with thoſe, who deſerve not to be named the ſame day a brave ſpirit, and valiant man is mentioned: No, live the Commonwealth, and flouriſh the Army ſtill, and it ſhall never ſhame nor repent us of our change of Government, ſo long as ſuch as theſe come not to govern it, Men of ſo narrow, & ſo Ignoble minds, as nothing great and generous ever entred into their breſts; for ſo 'twould be a degree below ſervitude, nothing making ſervitude more intolerable,11 than the Ignobility of the Maſter; and thoſe who can ſuffer ſuch as theſe to command over them, deſerve worſe. And for the Government of the Church, we had done nothing, (or rather too much) to have ſhaken off the yoak of Rome, and Lambeth, to ſubmit our necks at laſt to the Kirk Government of a ſort of Banbury-men, of John of Leydens and Knipperdollings, who would govern us juſt as they did the Town of Munſter, till with their fine ſpirit, and Revelations, they had brought all to confuſion and deſtruction, as they did there, and tyrannize over us a hundred times worſe than the others did: who, ſince they urge their merit, (leſt we ſhould ſeem to grant them nothing) let us accord them this, that they were the firſt Authors of the change of Government, tis true,12 but not of this, nor that, they being ever Enemies of the preſent Government, and as they were formerly of the Kingdom, ſo will they be now of the Commonwealth, unleſſe they may have the Government of it themſelves, as they ſufficiently declare by that exception, and clauſe of theirs, (in the end of their ſecond petition) That whilſt they are for God, (that is, for them, according to their own Interpretation) they will live and dye with them, (and not otherwiſe;) a rereſtriction, which had it iſſued from the pen of any Papiſt, or Proteſtant, they had been preſently exclaim'd againſt, for Malignants, Seditious, and Traitors to the Commonwealth: but theſe men are the dear Saints of Chriſt, and may ſay and do any thing.
To conclude then with them,13 before we paſs to their other Petitions, we may anſwer them in urging of their merits, as Philip of Macedon did a certain treacherous Commander of a place, reproaching his beholdingneſs unto him for delivering of it up, That if he had not betray'd it, he had not ſo ſoon been maſter of it; 'tis true, but that made him rather fear, than reward him for his Treachery.
To proceed then, after, in the end of their 4th Petition, they inſinuate their deſire. That none ſhould be advanc'd to any place of Truſt, either in the Army, or Commonwealth, but ſuch as ſhould be recommended by the Certificat of ſome five or ſix of them, that ſo things (as they ſay) may be carryed on more by the publique ſpirit of the Saints, than the privat ſpirit of any whatſoever; (bold words, and glancing at thoſe in Authority, and in derogation14 of all beſides but themſelves.)
This publick ſpirit wch they like ſo much in their Saints, they approve not ſo much in their women (as it ſeems) when in their 7th they urge the Amendment of the Act of Adultery; & whereas the former had gone as far as they could in Law before, to hang them up, on the Teſtimony of two Witneſſes, theſe would go farther yet, and hang them up, without any Witneſſe at all; and then what a ſhower of Halters ſhould we have raining down upon our heads, when our very Sexes ſhould be our crimes, which, but with our beings, we could not depart withall?
And whither with this ſeverity of theirs, would they drive this Vice at laſt, but more and more inwards ſtill? as Diogenes wittily ſaid of that Young man, who iſſuing15 from one of thoſe lewd places, and ſeeing him, ran in again, not to be ſeen by him, which he perceiving, call'd after him, and ſaid, That the more he ſought to hide his lewdneſſe, he but entred the further into it, and ingulphed & plung'd ſelf into it the more. So we may ſay, theſe would inforce men to do, by the ſeverity of the Laws they would enact, &c. For (I ſpeak it not to patronage Vice, but to plead the cauſe of Virtue,) they have look'd as narrowly to this Vice already, as modeſtly they can, and to look nearer to theſe ſecret ſins, would but make them indeavor ſtill to ſin more ſecretly, Reſtraint but more irritating Vice, as we ſee in thoſe Countries where they truſt more to reſtraint and cautel, than to peoples honeſties; it being more the16 conſcience than cautiouſneſs, can keep them honeſt; and to take off the bridle from mens conſciences, and afterwards expect to conſtrain them to be virtuous, is juſt like him, who ſhould take the bridle off his Horſe, and afterwards by ſwitching expect to manage him as he pleaſed.
Beſides, the ſetting ſo high a rate on the forfeiture, but indears and renders Vice more precious; and juſt as we ſee in Gaming, makes foul play lawfull, by ſetting a Tax and penalty on their not playing fair; they ſeeming by that manner of proceeding, not ſo much to puniſh the Act, as the being taken in it; whence conſequently, men ſtudy more to avoid the being taken in it, than the Act it ſelf.
In the fifth, theſe lovers of Juſtice and Righteouſneſſe propoſe, to have all the burthen of17 Taxes and Contribution layed on the Cavaliers, againſt the Publique Faith given them in their ſeveral Articles and Agteements, which Faith theſe ſeem to care as little for, as they do for Good works; whence we ſee, that had theſe men the management of Affaires, they would ſoon throw their Juſtice and Temperance after their Prudence and Fortitude, hating all Cardinal virtues, ever ſince they underſtood they belonged unto the Pope; never conſidering how dearly already they have payed for their new-ſtyl'd offence, by the Sequeſtration of their whole Eſtates, or being Mulcted in the greateſt part of them, of which they are not in preſent poſſeſſion, but by dearly buying them again; yet would theſe moſt equal Juſticers have them more taxt than others who enjoy their Eſtates intire.
18And mark what a wiſe Reaſon they give you for it; For ſo (ſay they) It will make them the more willing to ſit stil '; to riſe rather they ſhould ſay, as moſt commonly does any man of ſpirit, when he finds himſelf too much oppreſſ'd; none beſides being willing to do that, which he is forc'd unto. Theſe men who counſel and perſwade this, (like thoſe, who after a body has been once ſick, will never ſuffer it to recover health again) never conſidering, That a Commonwealth founded on the injury and oppreſsions of others, is only built for ruine and deſtruction; That ſternneſs, cruelty, and ſeverity, is for Slaves, but for Free-born men, gentlenes & debonairity; That there the Government is ever moſt aſſured, where men govern ſo, as it may be expedient for all Good men the preſent State19 ſhould continue, and thoſe who govern otherwiſe, may be ſafe, but never ſecure; and, That finally nothing better declares the wholeſom conſtitution of a Commonwealth, than a cheerful and ſmiling countenance, with no diſcontent ſadding its brow: a ſad and groaning State being never long-lived, ſince as the Poet ſayes, Non vivers, ſed bene valere vita eſt, that that which we call Life, conſiſts not ſo much in living, as in living well.
For which conſideration, thoſe who formerly had the ordering of the Commonwealth, after they had ſufficiently Mulcted the Cavaliers for that, which only the fottune of the ſide ſeems to have made a crime, and an offence, wiſely admitted them by divers Treaties to Compoſition, and laſtly, by the Act of Oblivion,20 to the common Freedom and Liberty with the reſt, which now to infringe, were no leſſe diſhonourable than dangerous.
But in the 8th, their main Combat is againſt the Papiſt, who is alwayes the Giant theſe doughty Sir Lancelots and Don Quixots muſt overcome, and like old Calianax (in the Play) beat over and over, when any elſe hath offended them, whom they dare not meddle with. The poor Papiſt by perpetual ill uſage having been ſo cow'd and cowarded, as he lies quaking and trembling, and dares do nothing, but pray that no body may moleſt him, he accounting it obligation to thoſe who but ſtrike him only, when they have power to kill. He is the Dogg that's always beaten in the Lions preſence: and be the fault whoſe it will, he is ſure to undergo21 the blame and puniſhment; ſo, as if Perſecution be no the nigheſt way to Heaven, certainly he goes the fartheſt way about; Their Adverſaries (ſuch as theſe Petitioners) always crying out againſt them, like cunning Thieves, who joyn with the Hub-bub, and follow True men with Hue and Cry, the better to eſcape themſelves. And truly I do not know why all your new ſale-made Religions (though differing among themſelves) ſhould joyn ſo unanimouſly, and with ſo great Animoſity, againſt the Papiſt, unleſſe perhaps, for fear they ſhould marr their Market; juſt like that bungling Painter, who having painted a Cock moſt monſtrouſly ill, ſet his Boy to keep away all Cocks from about his ſhop, for fear, leſt in compariſon with them, the deformity22 of his work ſhould more manifeſtly appear; they advantaging the Papiſt the whilſt by making people imagine, that there is ſomwhat extraordinary in their Religion, rendring it incompatible with all other Sects; and make this dilemma, that either all Religions profeſſing Chriſt are true, or but only one; if all, why not the Papiſt amongſt the reſt? if but one, why are not the reſt as much perſecuted as he? And here I cann't omit a pleſant ſaying of K. James, That the Papiſt was his honeſt Aſs, on whom he might impoſe what burthen and load he pleaſed, and hee'd grunt and grunt, but patiently bear it ſtill; wheras the Puritan was like a skittiſh Jade, which kicks and winces at the leaſt load laid on him, crying out before he was hurt, to keep off danger ſtill far enough from him, which skittiſhneſſe23 of his hath render'd him ſo reſty and pampered, as none dare hazard the breaking and backing him, but only the Army, (to whom nothing is difficult, and impoſſible) the enterprizing of taming which wild and head-ſtrong Bucephalus, to their perpetual fame and felicity, like another Alexander, ſeeming only to be reſerv'd to them. Mean while, whoſoever out of theſe unworthy timid reſpects, does tolerate them, ſhall find, as your Kings have done, by dear Experiment at laſt, that they are in Kingdoms and Commonwealths, juſt like your Hedge-hoggs brood, which when the Damn finds prickly in her womb, ſhe ſhrinks up, and dares not inforce her ſelf to be delivered of it, till deferring it from day to day, they becom ſo grievous and intolerable at laſt, as they cannot be delivered24 of them, but with their lives and all. And here comes well to purpoſe (to the Army and the Commonwealth, into whoſe number theſe would ſo fain inſinuat themſelves) the Fable of the Hare and Hedge-hogg, who in a cold winters night came to the form or muſet of the Hare, deſiring to ſhelter there againſt the rigor of the ſeaſon, to whom the Hare at firſt anſwered wiſely, that her form was but ſtrait and narrow, and he ſo prickly, as without her much Incommodity ſhe could not admit, nor harbour him; when he craftily replyed, That for his prickles, as he could briſtle them up againſt an Enemy, ſo for a Friend he could couch them ſo cloſe unto his back, as they ſhould feel them no more, than as if they were down or feathers; which the Hare ſimply believing, admitted him25 into her form, where he was no ſooner come, but he began to briſtle, & ſo gor'd the poor Hare, as ſhe cried out for pain, when the Hedge-hogg gave it only this comfort and anſwer, for all its hoſpitality, That thoſe who found themſelves agrieved, might quit the place; and here I leave to each one the Application, to come to the examining what grievous crime they charge the Papiſt with, as 'tis moſt commonly no leſs than the Invaſion of the Land, or the blowing up the Thames, &c. to the deſtruction both of fiſh and fleſh.
For that Papiſts, &c. (ſay they) take liberty of contemning the Sabbath, and publique Ordinances, and ſpend the day vainly and idlely in their houſes, or elſe walking in the fields, we propoſe That ſome ſpecial courſe may be taken of reſtraint, &c. And what unreaſonable people26 are theſe, that will not permit them to go to Church, nor tarry at home, to remain in their houſes, nor to walk abroad in the fields? what they would have of them elſe, I do not know, unleſs they would inforce them to work on the Sabbath day; & more unreaſonable would they be yet, to ſeek to enforce them to go to other Churches beſides their own. If they think they be ſo idle at home, why do they ſearch their houſes ſo oft to find them at Maſs? and what reſtraint they intend, I do not ſee, unleſſe they mean to pound them, when they catch them in the fields. In fine, their condition is lamentable the whilſt they will not permit them the liberty of their own houſes, nor ſo much as the benefit of common air: But of this enough.
The next whom they fall foul27 upon (in the 6th) are your Wakes and Moris-dances, meaning quite to overthrow the Hobby-horſe, horſe and man, holding him litle better than the beaſt, and maid Marian the whore of Babylon. Mean time, what harm the poor Moris-dancers do unto them, I do not ſee, but only that the melancholy Devil which poſſeſſes them is enemy of all mirth and harmleſſe Recreation, which makes the poor ſouls in ſighing, wiſh for the merry devil of Edmonton again, and the days of Puck, and Robin-goodfellow, as I doubt not but their wiſdoms who govern the Commonwealth wil ſhortly grant them u'm, & reſtore them their former ſports again, which as they during the Time of our late Calamities did prudently debar them of, (when, indeed, all mirth had been unſeaſonable) ſo that time once over, they28 will ſuffer them, no doubt, to return unto them again, and conſider that as the Poet ſaid, Pane & Circenſe, give them but ſports and bread enough, and you may rule them at pleaſure: whereas, take from them but thoſe outward amuſements of their minds, and you but convert their thoughts inwards, to meditate on nothing but their grievances, and diſcontent; for which Reaſon, perhaps theſe men would prohibit, and abridge them of them, that ſo they might only ſtudy miſchief, like themſelves. Mean time, ſuch as theſe would make rare Governors of the Commonwealth, who, whilſt they ſhould be making Acts, for the overcoming of our Enemies abroad, and rendring us formidable to all the world, would be making Acts againſt Moris-dancers, and Hobby-horſes, to render29 us ridiculous unto every one.
And thus much may ſuffice to ſhew the malice and foppery of their Petition, which I know wil fret and vex them to the very hearts (& much good do't their good hearts with it) to ſee the ſecrets of their Cabal diſcovered, and their deſigns laid open, ſo pernicious to the preſent Government of the Commonwealth; It being the Religion of the common fry, and ſuch brown-bread ſpirits of the ſame batch with them, they making the Rabble their only Rabbins, and inviting them to liberty, which in effect is nothing elſe, but licentiouſnes, and Shrovetide-Ryot, ſuch having nothing to loſe, being ſure to gain by each change and mutation: The more deſerving the Magiſtrates care and coertion, the more numerous, and indigent they ar. Mean time, 't ſhall never repent30 me to be an Enemy of thoſe are Enemies to my Country and Religion, and I'm ſure the Army & Republique will thank me for't, theſe men being the greateſt Enemies they have, as their many vain Attempts to change the Government of the one, and fight againſt the other, ſufficiently declare. To conclude, all men are to admire the rare temper and wiſdom of the State to admit of all Petitions, and yet be moved with none but ſuch as may be ſalutarie for the Commonwealth, and rejoice in the Liberty the people of England enjoy, the while they can deliver ſuch Petitions as theſe, without being ſent to Bedlam for their pains.