THE FROGS OF EGYPT, OR THE CATTERPILLERS OF THE COMMON-WEALTH.

MOnopolers by their nefarious Pro­jects, and impious exactions, have con­taminated the Land with ſuch a con­tagious exulceration of wicked im­poſitions, that I may with a coequall ſympathie, aſſimulate them to the Frogs of Aegypt. Firſt, In regard that thoſe Frogs were the ſecond Plague that was brought upon the Aegyptians: So theſe Monopolers (in reſpect that Biſhops had the priority) were the ſecond Plague, which with diſaſtrous aſperſions, did infect our Nation. Secondly, As thoſe Frogs came unto Pharaoes Bed­chamber, and upon his Bed: So theſe Diabolicall Pa­raſites, did creeep into our Kings boſome, with their Phariticall Calumny. Thirdly, Thoſe Frogs did come upon all the people in Aegypt, throughout their Territories: And who is there in all our Kingdom, that have not beene infected bv the contagion of their ve­nenoſive aſperſions: they were a Neſt of Waſpes, which did Tyrannically ſting the Kings loyal Subjects with their exacting impoſitions: They were a ſwarme2 of Vermine, which did pollute ſincere purity, and like the Frogs of Aegypt, did over-creep the Land. They warmed themſelves at other mens fires, and though the peoples fingers ends were a cold, by regard of their impious Project, yet they would alwayes remember to ſay with Mantuan, Optimum eſt aliena frui pecunia. They ſip't of honeſt mens cups, and did diſtend their purſes in their Bacchanalian ryot, for they drowned them­ſelves in Bacchus Fountaine, while other men payd the reckoning. They did alwaies ſhare with the Butler in his Box, yea they grew ſo fat and plump with damned Projects, that it was eaſier for Hercules to beate the Triple-headed Cerberous out of Hells Stygian Portals, then for us of late, to ſpeake againſt theſe curſed Pro­jectors, who abuſed the Triple Crowne. But (we thank the all-directing providence of the mighty and Al­mighty God) we have found the like ſucceſſe with Her­cules, and by the inflexible Iuſtice of the Parliament, we ſhall with him, drag theſe Hell-hounds upon the earth, who did eradicate the well planted branch of Plenty. They were heretofore ſo Epidemically ſtrict, that they would not bate us a pin in their exactions; they have worne a Vizard a long time: But a Vizard ſayd I? Their pride was a ſufficient Vizard, for it was no mar­vaile that no man elſe could know them, when they knew not themſelves. But when the Parliament ſhall once unface theſe, they will prove as bad as any cards in the packe. They were Janus-like, and had two Cloakes to hide their knavery; and like the Pythagore­an Monſter, they did threaten to devoure the whole Commons at a mouth-full. In Aegypt the thirſty Dog could never lap of the River Nilus, but the Crocodile3 would aſſault him immediatly. Neither in our Land could any honeſt man, whom drie neceſſi­tie by compulſive coercion required to allay his ſitia­ting thirſt, ſip at the odoriferous Spring of Bacchus, but incontinently he was aſſayled by theſe curſed Cro­codiles, the rubbiſh of Babylon, Honeſties Hangman, fomenters of Impietie, Iniquities prodigious Mon­ſters, Plenties execrable Foes, Envies individuall Companions, deteſtable Enemies to loyall Subjects; and in a word, that I may fully paint them out, The Devills Journey-men. The Romans were never in more danger of the Sabines, than wee have beene of theſe pernicious members: the Sicilians never feared the Baſilisk more, nor the Cretans the Minotaure, neither the Athenians that peſtiferous Serpent Epidaurus, than we have juſtly feared theſe wicked Dragons of impiety. They are like the Grecian Horſe, in the midſt of Troy, under pretence of ſafety, but at length conſumed the whole city: So theſe firebrands of iniquitie would have extirpated the flouriſhing plenty of the Land, but (thanks be to God and the righteous Parliament) they are now extinguiſhed. For as a rotten member Enſe recidendum eſt, ne pars ſinceratrahatur, ought to be cut off, leaſt it infect, and contaminate the whole bo­dy; ſo ought theſe wicked members of the Common-wealth to be executed with the Sword of Iuſtice, who have already too farre polluted the body of the Realme. Tis a plauſible aſſimulation which Hippocra­tes obſerveth, that in the body naturall, as it muſt be truely purged, before it can be truely ſound: ſo like­wiſe in the body politicke, unleſſe theſe improbous malefactors be purged out, it can never be truly ſound. Their very name Monopolers doth ſtigmatize them under the brand of knavery, which is derived from Móroc2〈1 page duplicate〉3〈1 page duplicate〉4which ſignifies in Engliſh, Onely: ſo that Monopolers, are the Onely Polers of the people, which have abuſed them by their Projects: But now (alas poore men!) they are intruſs'd and like to be whipp'd. Their very Projects themſelves are ſet againſt them: Their Coles which they did aggerate are ready to conſume them: The Butter, which before greaſed their pockets, now melts in their mouthes: The Sope ſcornes to be pro­jected any longer, and will invert its firſt Letter S. into R. and become a Rope to them rather. The Salt is ready to pouder them to Tiburne: The Cards ſcorne that they ſhould play the Knave any longer: The Pinnes could pin their Heads to the Gall-houſe, The Wine threatens to lay them dead — drunke: but hang them they are ſo crafty, that although they fall downe in a Wine-Seller, yet they know how to riſe up agine in a Tobacco-Shop, but I hope before they riſe there, they will firſt riſe up at the Gall-houſe: where I'le-leave them — By theſe, and the like enormities have our Land beeue too farre overſpread, it hath lately flouriſhed too luxuriouſly in impiety, which did accumulate ſuch inſupportable burthens to the weather-beaten Commons of this Realme, that they were almoſt everted. But thankes be to the all-diſpoſig omnipotence of immortall God, who have alwayes preſerved this Kingdome from innumerable evills, and have kept it as the apple of his eye. I ſay thankes be to his Supremacy, who among other evills have preſerved us likewiſe from the Tyranny of theſe inſulting Projectors. But we now ſolely depend upon the Parliaments exemplary piety and great Juſtice, of whom we beg with all humility, and with affectionate fervency to the truth, doe ſupplicate that they would with expedition extinguiſh theſe curſed firebrands5 of the Land, who like Samſons Foxes have conſumed the Lands and Poſſions of the Commons. Wherefore let every true hearted Subject enumerate his expreſſe thankefulneſſe to Almigty God for the preſervation of this Kingdome, and the multitude of his favours ir­rigated thereon with all alacritie.