The character of a good commander together with a short commendation of the famous Artillery (more properly military) Company of London : also a brief encomium on the great duke and worthy prince, Elector of Brandenbourg : lastly plain dealing with treacherous dealers : whereunto [sic] is annexed the general exercise of the Prince of Orange's army / by Captain Tho. Plunket.

THE CHARACTER OF A Good Commander,

Together with a SHORT COMMENDATION Of the Famous ARTILLERY (More properly MILITARY) Company of London;

ALSO A Brief ENCOMIUM on the Great Duke, and worthy Prince, Elector of Brandenbourg.

LASTLY PLAIN DEALING with TREACHEROƲS DEALERS.

Whereunto is Annexed The General Exerciſe of the Prince of Orange's Army.

By Captain THO. PLƲNKET.

Licenſed, March the 4th. 1689.

London, Printed for William Marſhal at the Bible in Newgate-Street, 1689.

TO His moſt Excellent MAJESTY, WILLIAM III. By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the True Faith. WHat greater Good than timely preſervation, From Fire and Sword, Deſtruction, Devaſtation, &c. Can come to any Countrey, great or ſmall? Which I ſuppoſe will be confeſt of all, That Heav'n hath pitch'd on You, truth to advance, And work for us ſuch great Deliverance; You that kick at this Providence, the ſame Providence may kick you out of all, if you don't mend your manners. None but blind Papiſts, will or dare deny, Or blinder Proteſtants; (for ſuch we ſpy.) You came, Sir, in the very nick of time, Even when our Foes were in the very prime; Yea, when they wanted nothing but the word From Hell, and bloody France, to draw the Sword, To Kill, Burn, Maſſacre, (&c.) juſt then you come, For which we praiſe the Great JEHOVAH's Name: For which, to thank you all good Men are bound, For which You ſhall for ever be renown'd. For all the Proteſtants throughout the World, Had into woful miſeries been hurl'd, If Britain had been loſt, and all ſubverted; But ſuch a Curſe your comming hath averted; Alſo preſerv'd our Lives and Liberties, And freed us from a Thouſand Tyrannies: Yet ſhall you meet with vile ingratitude, Rubs, Cenſures, Cavils, and baſe blanditude, &c. Yea, and from Stars of the firſt Magnitude? To Chriſt, the King of Kings, be all the praiſe, That did your worthy noble Highneſs raiſe, To do for him ſo great, ſo good a work, (As great work as conquering the Turk:) The L •… d preſerve You from the hands of thoſe, That to his Kingdom are the greateſt Foes; He bleſs and guide you ſtill to do ſuch things, As may Record you 'mong the beſt of Kings. I have heard this when I was a boy, above Fifty years ago Some have foretold of a Ninth Henry, which Should do great things for England, poor and rich, And for the true Religion very much. And that he ſhould e'er Ninety two appear, And put the brats of Babylon in fear; That at his Fame they would be very ſad, And fly in haſte; which would make good men glad. I may with Reaſon (and good reaſon to) Conclude it can be no Man elſe but you; Sith the event hath anſwer'd the prediction, Attended alſo with Heavens Benediction: The God of wonders worketh wonders ſtill, And with thoſe wonders all the World doth fill. Mira ſunt Opera Dei. He looks down from his high and lofty Throne, And laughs at ſuch, as cry, The day's our own. By Babes and Children, often he befools Great Dons and Doctors of the learned Schools. He toſſeth Kings and Kingdoms to and fro, And maugre all their might can lay them low. Some he lifts up, and ſome throws down the Hill; The Reaſons are abſconded in his will. Stat pro ratione voluntas. He doth aſtoniſh mighty Kings and States, And caſteth at his feet the prime Magnates. He taketh crafty Counſellors in their Own Nets; and trampleth Judges in the mire. Plotters, and ſuch as bloody miſchief hatch, He doth them in their own devices catch; He makes them fall into the pit they made For others, becauſe Murder is their trade. Inciderunt in foveam, quam fecerunt. He can diſcover all their ſubtil tricks, And quite befool them in their politicks. He breaks the power of ſuch as Tyrannize; And brings to nought the wiſdom of the Wiſe. He makes the guilty flee, when none purſue; And in his time, will pay them all their due. He breaks and ſcatters Armies when he pleaſe, And cruſheth Kings and Counſellors with eaſe. Their Chancellors he can infatuate, And cauſe them to miſtake the Rules of State; Yea, make them in ſtone-doublets ſee their Fate. Their cloſe Cabals he quickly can uncover, And all their curſt contrivances diſcover; Their deeds of darkneſs he can bring to light, And turn their Day into a laſting Night. Theſe matters to Your Highneſs are no news, And which are owned by the very Jews;) But they are too too ſerious and ſublime, For the debauched Bullies of the time; The celſitude of any Theam is gall, To ſuch as are at Flora's wanton call. But my Muſe ſcorns to humour ſuch, as of Aethereal ſtrains can make a jeer and ſcoff; Or tread the Mazes where ſuch Satyrs range, As ca • • heir honour for diſhonour change; Or pleaſe ſuch curious, quaint, ſly, wanton Wits, As can be hot, cold, bad and good by fits. One thing (Great Sir) I cannot ſuperſede, (Of which, in Hiſtory, all Men may read) Which ignorant or envious people have Labour'd to hide, (for ſuch love to deprave;) And that is, (ſpite of malice, ſpleen and gall) Here to record what ſhould be known to all; Viz. That the ſeven Provinces are owing to Your moſt renowned Anceſtors, and You, For that high Grandeur which they now poſſeſs, And other benefits, even to exceſs; Whoſe noble actions fill the Trump't of Fame, While Nero's fume and fret to hear the ſame: To rank You with the Worthies of this Age, Will envy put into a furious rage. But where the Truth is ſaid, (and nothing more) There's the leſs need to fear that chafed boar. A reſtleſs paſſion's full of jealouſies Envy is restleſs. Of Fears and Cares; it ſeems all ears and eyes; 'Tis always liſtning for one tale or other, To undervalue ev'n his only Brother. But noble Souls, ſlight what depravers ſay, So virtue, while it ſuffers, wins the day. Virtus dum patitur vincit. Your Highneſs in few Weeks hath done ſuch things As have aſtoniſh'd all European Kings. Who could of ſuch Cataſtrophe's Divine, When Philadelphia did with ſorrow pine, And Sion trampled underfoot by Swine? O what ſtupendious changes have we ſeen Of late? have ſuch in England ever been? God hath made you the happy inſtrument To introduce this healing Parliament. By your wiſe conduct we have Halcion days, Since you have Crown'd the Proteſtants with Bays; Viz. Great Victories; and without blood-ſhed too: This ſhews us what almightineſs can do: Some have the Laurel won by blood and ſtrage, But you in peace have climb'd the Britiſh Stage. The Sun of Providence here ſhall not ſet, Till it do that, which done it hath not yet. The Wheel within the Wheel ſtill goeth round, Ezek. 1.16. Turks, Falſe Protestants. Atheiſts, Popes and Papiſts to confound: Mean time (illuſtrious Prince) be pleaſed to Accept this Mite which I preſent to You. Of Your good Nature, much I have been told, Which did encourage me to make ſo bold As to adventure on the Dedication Of this ſmall book (though with ſome For fear of offending. Heſitation) To your renowned ſelf; wherein you may Read your own ſelf, (as I may truly ſay) For 'tis a noble ſubject, fit for none But Martial Spirits, and for them alone; Whereof your kind acceptance (Sir) will be A favour, and encouragement to me. May Heaven protect and always on You ſmile, And make you ev'n a Moſes to this Iſle; As it hath already hath begun to do, Who • onours God, God will him honour too. May all your Foes before you fall and fly, And Romiſh rags be bury'd totally. May God direct and guide you Night and day, For which (no doubt) good Proteſtants ſhall pray: And ſo ſhall I my ſelf, among the reſt, In which and all things elſe, I'll do my beſt To ſerve and honour Your Majeſty according to my power Tho. Plunket. April the 10th. 1689.

AN Advertiſement TO THE READER.

I Think it neceſſary in this place to give the World a ſhort Account of ſome things relating to my ſelf, to avoid ſurmiſes and ſiniſter Conſtructions, having now (and not till now) found a fit opportunity after my Forty five years Obſcurity, to ſatisfie Enquirers by giving them the reaſons of my ſo long and voluntary Exile, wherein I ſhall be as brief as poſſible.

The Name and Family of the Plunkets are not Iriſh Originally, but deſcended from the Romans, but have been in Ireland almoſt a thouſand years. My Father was of the Houſe of Dunſaney in Eaſt-Meath, and brought up in the Romiſh Religion until towards the end of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, when about the age of fourteen years, he came off from Popery, and became a zealous Proteſtant, and ſo continued till death; and becauſe he was the firſt of our Name that turn'd Proteſtant, he was therefore extreamly hated by many great Papiſts, and all their Clergy, ſo that they waited an opportunity to do him ſome miſchief one way or other; and at laſt they found one, for a little before the Rebellion in 1641, he fell ſick, and in that his ſickneſs a Popiſh Phyſician poiſon'd him; fearing (as being a man of a great ſpirit) he might (as he would have done) by his repute and intereſt in the Country, obſtruct their deſigns thereabouts. And the ſaid Phyſitian confeſs'd upon his Death-bed that he poiſon'd him for no other cauſe but his being a Proteſtant; and that he was put upon it by others. And at the beginning of the Rebellion the Papiſts Plunder'd and burnt our Houſe, whereby nine Orphans of us were expos'd to great hardſhips and miſeries, as well as many thouſands more. My Grandfather had an Eſtate left him by the Lord Dunſaney, whoſe ſecond Son he was; but betwixt him and my Father, partly by Gaming, but moſtly by engaging for others, all the Eſtate was gone. As ſoon as I heard (being then at Dublin) what bloody work the Papiſts made in the Country, by murthering the Proteſtants, I reſolved to oppoſe and fight againſt them to the utmoſt of my power, and preſently Liſted my ſelf in Sir Charles Coot's Regiment, then ſixteen years of Age, and continued in the Wars until the Ceſſation made with the Rebels by the King's Order; whereupon about 8000. that fought ſucceſsfully againſt the Rebels, were ſent for by the King to fight for him in England, after which they never had ſucceſs, but were always worſted.

After my Father's death, I found I was not only very much ſlighted and neglected by my Proteſtant Kindred, but hated and threatned by my Popiſh Kindred, for fighting againſt them, &c. as I was by other young Rebels; therefore to be no longer vext and griev'd with the unkindneſs of the one, and to avoid the danger of the other (whoſe malice I had but too much cauſe to fear) I reſolved upon a voluntary Baniſhment, for at leaſt twenty years (if I lived ſo long) and away came I with the Army (in Colonel Gibſon's Regiment) in November 1643. Which Army at the Siege of Nantwich, were routed by Fairfax the January following, where Colonel Monk (ſince Duke of Albemarle) with many others were taken, and ſent up to the Parliament. And while I was in thoſe parts, a Report being ſpread abroad (which was too true) that the King had many thouſands of Papiſts in his Armies, and that in one of them were 6000. This as it very much offended me, ſo it begat ſome thoughts in me of going to the Parliaments ſide, being alſo informed that they allow'd no Papiſts in their Army (which was true). But while I was muſing what to do, ſome other Regiments came out of Ireland for the King, among which were many of my former Threatners, this rais'd in me a firm reſolution, to Liſt my ſelf in the Parliaments Army, which I did ſoon after; and to eſcape the bloody intentions of thoſe Threatners above ſaid, and other ſuch in time to come, as alſo to perplex my moſt unkind Kindred with a twenty or thirty years ſilence, in which time I vow'd they ſhould neither ſee me, nor hear from me, I changed my own name, and went by the name of Clark, and have hitherto, and was in many Fights and Skirmiſhes in the North of England, and at the great Battel on Marſton-Moor in July 1644. And when Sir T. Fairfax aforeſaid, was made General of that Victorious Army call'd the New Model 1645. I Liſted my ſelf in his own Regiment of Foot, wherein I continued fifteen years, during which time divers Officers, becauſe they knew not who I was, concluded me to be of ſome baſe obſcure, beggarly Parentage, for which I have been ſcorned and traduced by them, and others all along; and when I ſaw what great Changes and Alterations were in hand in the beginning of the Year 1660. in reference to things and perſons, tending to a total ſubverſion of that Intereſt and Cauſe, which I had ſo zealouſly owned, and engaged in from firſt to laſt, I could not in judgment and conſcience recede from them, or any my former principles, by complying either to keep or get a place (as many Officers did) whereby I ſhould have beſpattered my Reputation (more dear to me than my life) and incurr'd that (to me) odious name of a Time-ſerver; whereupon I threw up my Commiſſion, and broke my Sword (loſing all my Arreers, and much Money lent my Company) and ſo retired from all publick matters ever ſince. For it ſhall never be ſaid, That a Plunket was falſe or guilty of any baſe unworthy treacherous Action for me; from which I have (by the Grace of God) kept my ſelf clear at all times, eſpecially theſe 29. years laſt paſt, wherein I have ſuffered many hard things for my integrity, being forced through the malice of Neighbours, Mayors, Informers, &c. to change my Dwellings fifteen times in twenty years. And as I loſt all in Ireland for being a Proteſtant, ſo I loſt all again in England, for being a Diſſenter. But I am ſtill ſemper idem, and reſolve to be whileſt I live, come what will of it. And though many hundreds (dead and alive) know what I was, and am, yet no man or woman knew who I was, till of late years.

THE PROLOGUE. OF Warlike Deeds my Muſe affects to write; For Comedy's I love not to Endite; Nor mimmick Charms, or Madrigals to pleaſe, Such as in Flora's Arms can ſleep with eaſe: They being Subjects fitter for the Pen Of ſome fine Gallant, or hot Citizen; A Merry Andrew, Miſs, or Ganymede: But my quil ſcorns ſuch pimping Paths to tread. A Marſhal Mind delights to Treat of Kings, Noble Adventures, Wars, and ſuch like things. My ſelf, upon Bellona's purple Stage, An Actor was at Sixteen years of Age. (A year almoſt ere Edge hill Fight begun, Where many vap'ring Sparks firſt learnt to run.) Moſt of the Warlike Projects of thoſe days I noted well; alſo the ſeveral ways▪ And modes of Fighting ſtill in mind I bear, When Thouſands, by one Thouſand routed were. In many bloody Battels I have been, Where horror was in all its Colours ſeen; Being almoſt Twenty Years together in The School of Mars, (but not in a whole skin.) 'Tis true, your Theoreticks may do well, But 'tis Experience bears away the Bell. Some brag at Taverns (and they not a few) Of what they never ſaw, nor never knew. What impudence is this! Others, that were I'th' Wars, but Three, Two, nay, or but One year, Or in a Fight, or Two, Oh, how they'll chat, As if they did great things, but God knows what! Others again (for which they have been blam'd,) Whereof I have been divers times aſham'd, Will baſely jear, and trample upon thoſe They overcome in Fight, though valiant foes. Fy, on ſuch dirty Spirits; but I doubt They're of that Gang that firſt began the Rout; And thoſe are Cowards: And, as bad as they, Or worſe; are ſuch, as will their Truſt betray. Oh! did I ſerve the Turk, I'd rather dy A thouſand Deaths, than through black Treachery Betray my truſt, let it be great or ſmall, For Treachery is worſe than Devil and all. The Traitor too, of all the World is hated; Yea, ev'n by thoſe, him to it animated. Beſides, he will be never truſted more By any; no, they'll kick him out of Door. But, leaving theſe; my ſelf I ſhall apply, Though briefly, and but ſuperficially, To give a little taſte of what I have Obſerv'd in ſome Commanders, wiſe and brave, In the late bloody Wars; but naming none, Including all of them, as 'twere in one; Yet one of them tranſcending all the reſt, I chiefly aim at; being of all confeſt To be the greateſt Captain of his time, And did up to the highth of honour climb; However, I in general deſcribe A good Commander of the Martial Tribe, Be he who he will; nor of him very much, For (as I ſaid) I will but at him touch; For every Warlike Project to expreſs, Would be a Task too great for Hercules. Time, ſtrange Occurrents, new Neceſſities, &c. Will things produce, now latent from the wiſe. It ſeems a crime (ſtill) to live ſoberly: Alſo to write, or ſpeak Religiouſly. Many have thought that none good Subjects were, But ſuch as drink and whore, and curſe and ſwear; That all, but ſuch, are Fools and Cowards too; That none, but ſuch, brave things could ever do! I wonder where ſuch brave things have been done! For in the Wars I never could ſee none Perform'd by ſwearing drunken Sots: No, no, For ſuch a Kingdom always overthrow. Ten ſober Men have charg'd five Tens of theſe, And broke their armed Ranks and Files with eaſe; And chas'd them many Miles out of the Field, Making thoſe ſwearers (whiningly) to yield, And cry for Quarter in a Panick fear, Leſt Yea, and Nay, ſhould them in pieces tear, Who, but i'th' Morning, brag'd what they would do, In Routing, Killing, Taking, Hanging too; Yet after all theſe valiant words, they ran At the firſt Charge, both in the Reer and Van. Pray then, what can be done by ſottiſh Fools? When was the day got by ſuch wooden Tools? Thoſe Princes ſeldom win great Victories, Whoſe Captains live in baſe Debaucheries: Yea, they are often moſt abus'd by thoſe In whom they do moſt confidence repoſe. —Venit ad me pro amico blandus inimicus. Seneca. But—Qui verum dicit, nihil timere debet. If 88 rouz'd horror from his Den, When Warriors were thought ſomething more than Men, What if like dread ſhould England now ſurprize, And bloody Papiſts ſhould againſt us riſe? (For ſuch a Plague, there's cauſe enough to fear; Nay, don't we all expect it every year?) Then, good Commanders would be priz'd indeed, For they are precious in a time of need. But, I mean ſuch, as in the Martial Art, Have skill acquired by the Practick Part, Or long experience in the art of War; And many bloody Battels (near and far) Where Terrours; Terrours did in cluſters meet, And where in earneſt, Cannons, Cannons greet. 'Tis ſuch, as win deſerved Reputation; Yea, 'mong their enemies high eſtimation. Some have I known to do ſuch things, as have Made ev'n their Foes confeſs, 'twas very brave! Yea, with the Titans, dar'd to be at odds, As if they'd been deſcended from the Gods: 'Tis ſuch, (I ſay,) not Novices, that know, How to amuſe, and match a crafty Foe. But my deſign is to deſcribe but One, And in him, ſhew, what hath and might be done. Ducis in conſilio poſita eſtvirtus militum.

THE CHARACTER OF A Good Commander. A Valiant, Wiſe Commander is a prize Hard to be found amongſt the vulgar ſize. He bears a Generous, Vertuous, Noble Mind, In whom (in all conditions) you ſhall find All the parts of a Gentleman; for he In Generoſity, Civility, Juſtice, Humanity, Humility, And Courteſy, ev'n to his Enemy; Alſo in many other worthy deeds, Moſt Men and Gallants of the time exceeds; Therefore the Muſes do Record his Name, And with his Vertues fill the Trump't of Fame. He's one of a great Spirit, courage high, Stands at a pinch, when others faint and fly. He ſaith not to his Souldiers, go, but, come; And 'mongſt the Armed Squadrons maketh room. He's the Atlas of a Commonwealth, for He Bears Heav'n up with his Shoulders conſtantly; That is, with Temp'ral Power, he defends Religion, Chriſt's Kingdom, and his Friends. He knows that Vertue doth conſiſt in Action; But ſides not with the giddy-headed Faction. When Wars are done, and bloody Battels ceaſe, His wiſdom is the Rule and Guide of Peace; 'Specially if he hath at his command A ſtore of Arms, to arm a needful band. For, Arma pacis fulera. He knows the way to Honour, lies through danger, To which his Mind and Body is no ſtranger. Without him ne'er expect a Victory, But at the foot of enemies to ly. He's Valiant upon all Attempts whatever, Prudent, Conſtant, Faithful; no Deceiver. He will not for a little hurt with-draw; As ſome, when but a little ſcratch they ſaw. He will not break his Sword againſt a Tree, (Yet ſwear it was againſt an enemy) As Major C— did; nor piſtol his Hat, As Captain Prater, and Lieutenant Chat: Nor run his Breeches, nor his Buff-coat through, As Captain B. and Monſieur W. Nor coin excuſes in a time of War, As hath that Blandiloquious Colonel R. Nor counterfeit Morboſity, when well, As that loquacious Coward, Captain L. Nor creep into a Ditch, as Captain A. Nor from the Battel hitch, as Major Ba— There's many ſuch, whoſe Valour lies in words, Deſerve to wear (not Ir'n, but) wooden Swords. Nor is he one that's Valiant at a ſpurt; No, no, he's far from being ſuch a flurt. As many Sparks that this hour will be ſtout, But the next, very bravely face about; For they cannot endure a while to ſtand; Nor above all, to Combat hand to hand. But our Commander you ſhall ever find, Of a brave, ſteady, fixed conſtant mind; Yet if he ſees he ſhall be over-power'd, With ten to one, rather than be devour'd, He will (as he muſt needs) ſound a Retreat, As Scipio, Hannibal, Pompey the Great, And other Valiant Worthies oft have done, In the ſame caſe, or all been undone. And more ſometimes is done by policy, Than force it ſelf, againſt an Enemy. But there's no power, policy, nor skill, Can once withſtand the Lord of Hoſts his will. Our Hero, to whom I return again, Is one, who did his Country never ſtain: He ne'er was guilty of debauched Crimes; Nor will he change Religion with the Times, As many now; yea, and ſome great ones too, For many Magnates any thing will do, To win the favour of the riſing Sun: And when he ſets, they know which way to run: To th' Dev'l, or Tiburn, ſome may go perchance, Others may trot to Newgate, Rome, or France; For knaves have many Subterfuges, where No honeſt Man durſt ever yet appear. But this brave Soul, whoſe Fame I now record, Is always fixt, and faithful to his Word. Let times be what they will, he firmly ſtands, And ready to obey all juſt Commands. He Herds not with the Beaſts of Prey; no, no, His Soul is more Seraphical than ſo. He's no Time-ſerver, no, he's not ſo baſe, As to comply meerly to get a Place. He will not change his Note, nor turn his Coat; No, not although he is left not worth a Groat. While Temporizers turn to ſave their Bacon, Which for Nathanaels too too long were taken: For another time hath them diſcover'd all; Yet ſtill are proud and confident withal. Our General is careful that his Men Are not debaucht; for he will now and then, Walk up and down incognito, by Night, Among their Tents, and ſometimes in the Light, To hear, and ſee their ſeveral humours; which, They hearing, doth from Oathes reſtrain them much: A Vice, which Souldiers are ſo wedded to, As if the Div'l had taught them ſo to do. Nay, and ſome Captains are as bad, or worſe, Who cannot ſpeak, but they muſt Swear and Curſe, At every trifling, petty Provocation, Whereby they haſt'n their own condemnation. And ſo, like Officers, like Souldiers too; A ſwearing, curſing, rude debauched crew: And ſuch our General cann't endure, Of which he'll rid his Army to be ſure. For towards ſuch, and all Offenders, he Doth carry it with great ſeverity: Knowing if he paſs by ſome hateful Crime, 'Twould blaſt his Army, and himſelf in time. Therefore ſtrict Diſcipline he doth obſerve, And ſpareth none that puniſhment deſerve: Whereby good Order he doth always keep, That he might with a quiet Conſcience ſleep. But ſome for writing thus, will call me Whigg, &c. And I, their Railing value not a Fig. He likes not multitudes in Armies; no, Too many will themſelves overthrow. Not above Thirty Thouſand he will have For one Field Army. Numbers ſeldom ſave. Great Multitudes, heaps of confuſion are, No Order keep, but always out of ſquare; So rout themſelves. When on the other hand, A ſmall ſmart Army under good Command, Well Diſciplin'd, well Officer'd to boot, Hath worſted mighty Armies, Horſe and Foot; Of which you'll find enough in Hiſtory; And which my ſelf, for Truth, can teſtify In the late Wars, at many a bloody Fight, In the Three Nations, by Day and Night. Therefore to fear a huge untutor'd Hoſt, (Like that of which Darius made his boaſt,) Is unto Cowardice too near a kin, And ſuch, a Victory do ſeldom win. But our brave Hero, whom I now deſcribe, Is none of that exanimated Tribe. He knows, that in great Numbers there may be But few good Souldiers; not ſcarce One in Three, But be they few or many, good or bad; Yea, as brave Men as ever Lewis had, Yet he has ſuch skill, methods, wiles, and ways, Unknown to France, even in theſe skilful days: To baffle, or put ſome new trick upon them, He'll ſeem to fly, and yet turn ſhort upon them; And ſuddenly ruſh on their ſtrongeſt Wing, Which be'ng unlookt for, will Confuſion bring; Which commonly ends in deſtruction. For, The Engliſh ſerv'd the Scots ſo at Dunbar, At Marſton-moor, Preſton, and Worſter too: Where, though we won, yet 'twas with much ado. For, to ſpeak truth, the Scots did pretty well; But Cromwell 'twas that bore away the Bell, From them, and others, Engliſh, Iriſh, all, Be who they will, did there before him fall. Whoſe fierce and furious ways of fighting, I (Although long ſince) yet keep in Memory. But hold! I muſt return unto the Man, Of whom I write, and tell you what I can. He's ſtill projecting how to worſt his Foes, Whom now and then he leadeth by the Noſe Into ſome of his Traps; whence, while they ſtrive To get away, he taketh them alive. He'll cauſe ſome to be bidden to a Feaſt, Then ſeize on them, half earneſt, half in jeſt: And this he doth to gain Intelligence, Keeping them with a friendly negligence. He'll find away to burn ſome Houſes where They quarter, while himſelf is poſted near; And in the great confuſion it will make, He preſently will his advantage take. I need not tell you what a panick fright His Foes are in, who ſoon are put to flight; As needs they muſt, being round about beſet, And taken in a ſtrange new-faſhion'd Net. To get ſome ſtrong hold of his enemy He will deviſe a trick, (but ſecretly.) His friends are to appoint a great Horſe-Race, On ſuch a day, near to the intended place; Which doubleſs will draw many Souldiers out, And divers of their Officers, no doubt: Who, while their Minds are fixt upon the ſport, His Troops ruſh in betwixt them and their Fort; By which Device they're taken in the Field And ſo the place forthwith is forc'd to yield: Thus I could tell you where, and how 'twas done, In Sixteen Hundred, Forty three, and one. Fairfax, his Regiment, in Forty eight, (In which the ſecond War was at the height,) In York-ſhire, on a Moor, was near ſurpriz'd, (A ſtratagem, the day before deviz'd) By full Three Hundred Horſe, well mounted all, Which congreſs they would needs an Horſe-race call: Moſt of our Souldiers (dreaming of no Plot) Amongſt the Horſe-men ſcatteringly trot Without their Arms; which lay in Rank and File Five Hundred Yards from whence they were: Mean while, Three friendly Horſe-men, running a full ſpeed Came to our Major, bidding him take heed, For certainly thoſe Troops had an intent, Forthwith to fall upon our Regiment, Now ſcatter'd, and to ſeize our Colours too: Therefore, conſider quickly what to do, Said they to White, (which was our Majors Name) A daring, brave, bold Spirit 'sever came Into a Field. Our Drums a larum beat; Arm, Arm, we cry; our men (all in a ſweat) In order plac'd themſelves immediately; Whereat, moſt of the Horſe began to fly; The reſt amazed ſtood a while, at laſt, They alſo ſeveral ways did flee as faſt.) Their Hearts did fail them, (as themſelves confeſs'd) Or they had that brave Regiment diſtreſs'd; While they were ſcattered upon the Moor Without their Arms, (as you were told before) Some of thoſe Horſe to Langdale fled a pace, In Cumberland; and told him what a Race They had been at. This Langdale was a brave Commander; ſolid, valiant, wiſe, and grave; No hot-ſpur, no, but wary in each thing, And but a few ſuch Heroes had the King: Not to be match'd by any other ſide, Except old Oliver; as had been try'd. If Langdale had not ſtrove againſt the ſtream, (The ſtream of Providence, and things ſupream) He had done more than Rupert, and the reſt: He, Hopton, Aſtly, were adjudg'd the beſt, For prudent conduct, in thoſe bluſt'ring days, On the King's ſide; yet could not win the Bays. By Hunting Matches too (on purpoſe made) Some have been circumvented, and betrayd, At Drinking-matches, Weddings, Bowlings; nay, At Church, (and alſo Troopers making Hay) Many have been ſurprized un-aware. Young Captains, learn by this to have a care; Such as you have of many been the Loſs, And oft returned home by weeping Croſs. To theſe, and all ſuch projects of this kind, Our Hero is no ſtranger, you may find: But is a ſtranger, and always hath been, To what in many Gallants he hath ſeen; With whom, and ſuch, he cares not to converſe; Yet ſeldom their miſdoings will reherſe. His Thoughts on vertuous deeds are daily bent, His time is not in Courting Ladies ſpent. No, but is vigilant, and circumſpect, That he no opportunity neglect, T'anoy his Enemy; whom he doth watch, That he might him at ſome advantage catch. He's careful all diſaſters to prevent: In fore-caſting moſt of his time is ſpent: Experience taught him dangers to foreſee, In every corner of the Camp he'll be. He's ſtill at work, when others are aſleep, A watchful eye on every hand doth keep; And in the Field, He will be laſt, and firſt; He'll die, before he will betray his truſt. High Enterprizes He will undertake, His Life doth very often lie at ſtake. He knows that Valour is the mean, between Temerity, Fear, Fury, Gall, and Spleen: And as He ſcorns to flinch, or ſhun his foe; So, He'll not raſhly run himſelf into Unneceſſary dangers, that He may (which ought in every Captain to bear ſway) To God, King, Country, be more ſerviceable, Which to be, Raſhneſs might him quite diſable. His Souldiers of Him ſtand ſo much in awe, That every word he ſpeaks to them's Law; Yea, (which is rare) they love, and fear him too; Without which Captains little good can do. He'll do more with a frown from his ſtern brows, Than many other Chieftains with their blows. He brings not all his Men at once to fight, Without conſtraint: But ſome keeps out of ſight For a Reſerve; and when the Battle's ended, He's careful (leſt the reſt ſhould be offended) Not to praiſe any Man more than another; Winks at ſmall faults, and greater (ſometimes) ſmother; Yet, bears in mind, or notes it with his Pen, Still to preferr the moſt deſerving Men. He hates rapacity, (ſo do not ſome, Which ſlaves, a Captains place did ne'er become) Covetouſneſs He knows incurreth hate, And would his Souldiers love to him abate; But He gives every Man his right, and due, Which to his Honour greatly doth accrue; His Groom, nor he that Weds his Chambermaid, &c. No Captain, nor Lieutenant ſhall be made: Which hath been much in faſhion, and is ſtill; But to ſuch dirty Deeds he hath no will. He's not greedy after traſh and pelf; He cannot act ſo much beneath himſelf: No, He's more noble ſpirited than ſo, As they can witneſs, that his Vertues know. And as the Romans fear'd the Policies, Tricks, Stratagems, and other Myſteries Of Hannibal, more than his Army; though, They once gave them a diſmal overthrow; So is our Hero's Conduct, dreaded more Than all his Forces; for he hath in ſtore What non-experience cannot apprehend; (And yet, to know great matters, will pretend.) If he perceives th'encamped Enemy, Scout, and keep watch, but ſomewhat careleſly; He'll with all ſpeed march towards them that Night; Keeping his Army cloſe, and out of ſight; Then (with a Guard) his Drums and Trumpets he Will ſend to th'other ſide of th'enemy: And there to ſound and beat alarums, (which, Th'encamped Foe will ſtartle very much;) Alſo their Guards ſhall at ſome diſtance fire, As oft as well they can; and ſo retire. This makes the Foe bend all his thoughts that way, So he go's onward to begin the Fray: Thinking the adverſe Army all is there; When they, juſt then, are falling on the Reer: Where muſt be ſlaughter and much miſchief done; And peradventure a great Vict'ry won: Which to our Hero's Honour doth redound, For few ſuch Good Commanders can be found. Falſe News, he knows, are dangerous; alſo Counterfeit Letters work an overthrow: And when the Foe's miſrepreſented too, &c. But in ſuch caſes he knows what to do. Nay, perhaps too, ſome Traitor may be hir'd (Or ſome curſt Villain, like a friend attir'd) To poiſon, ſtab, or piſtol him by Night; (In which he can more ſafely take his flight;) Yet the all-ſeeing providence prevents, (With care and guard) ſuch curſed Inſtruments (As oft it hath) by a diſcovery Of their intended deviliſh Treachery. But hark, the Trumpet ſounds, I muſt be gone, To ſee what by our Hero will be done. He hath ſome Stratagems in hand, I ſee, And I can partly tell you what they be. He'll ſcatter many Caltraps in the way, Or powder, cover'd with Straw, or Hay: The one will make their Horſes halt, but th'other Will them amaze, confound, diſperſe, and ſmother; Then he falls on, and wins the Field no doubt. The Prince of Orange, by this trick, did rout The Spaniſh Army, then commanded by Proud Spinola; who threatned vauntingly, That he (before his Wife did ſhift her) would England Invade; which every where was told. And, perhaps, he had done as he intended, Had not the Prince of Orange him prevented. (For, Spain, was the aſcendant in thoſe days, And clouded France with its Meridian Rays; Making her Monſieurs ſtoop, and hang the Head; Yea, and her Lilies under foot did tread: But France, ſince that, of Spain has got the ſtart; And like a bloody Nero plays her part. Nay, and the Duke de Alva, ſwore he would Surpriſe and Conquer England, if he could, (That's well put in) becauſe it helpt the Dutch. But Orange, in this too, reſtrain'd him much, As he himſelf, and th'Engliſh too confeſt. The preſent Prince of Orange, God hath bleſt And proſper'd, to ſave England from th' Invaſion, Of the black Popiſh-part of the French Nation, Which are for killing, burning, devaſtation, &c. And ſhall we prove, to God, and him, ungrateful? A Vice, even to Barbarians ſo hateful. Shall we forget this late deliverance, Which, here, again, the Goſpel doth advance? Shall we ſlight what affects the very Jews? Shall we, ſtill, ſtill more Miracles abuſe, As we have done? (would God it were not true,) Which evil, I, and many others rue: Then, the next blow may with a vengeance come, And ſettle here in England, France, and Rome. O vile ingratitude! you, you, and you, Magnates, prime Magiſtrates, Prieſts, Jeſuits too, And Myriads more, in this have oft tranſgreſt, But I return from whence I have digreſt. Our Hero with ſmall Forces being in ſight Of th'Enemy, but yet is loth to Fight; Becauſe moſt of his Souldiers he finds Diſcouraged, and troubled in their minds, At the vaſt Army of the Enemy, Which makes them quite diſpair of Victory. Beſides, they ſee themſelves out-wing'd, almoſt Five Furlongs (more or leſs) by th'other Hoſt, Which daunts them very much; ſo, that they cry, 'Twas dangerous either to fight, or fly. This may fall out ſometimes through negligence Of Scouts, (&c.) ſometimes through falſe intelligence Or treachery; ſometimes through overſight, Or th'envy of ſome great ones, that they might Diſgrace him if he ſhould chance to be taken; Or run for't, being of his Men forſaken. But for all this, our Hero, though entrapt By treachery, (to which ſome are ſo apt) Yet ſpite of envy, and his potent Foes, He'll come off with applauſe, and without blows. (For when force will not do, then policy Muſt come in place, againſt an enemy.) Two or three ways he can deviſe, to get Out of this treacherous deviſed Net: He'll frame a Letter, as if from a friend Of the adverſe General; which to him he'll ſend By one fit for the purpoſe, (and with ſpeed) Wherein he finds he's charg'd with ſome foul deed; And that another is appointed to Succeed him: That moſt of his Captains do That Night intend for to betray him; or, Deſert him quite with all their Souldiers; for He had diſtaſted them, (&c.) While he doth muſe On this ſad ſudden overwhelming News, He ſends ſome unto him as Run-aways, (But truſty to himſelf at all Eſſays) Which tell him that the adverſe Army are With Thouſands re-inforc'd, and that they were Reſolv'd to fall upon his Camp that Night, Which added much unto his former fright; And thus, be'ng unreſolv'd what ſhift to make In that diſtraction, or what courſe to take; Our Hero makes a very fair Retreat; Which all his enemies doth vex and fret. Beſides this, divers other ways there are, Whereby men may get out of ſuch a ſnare: Neceſſity will teach them what to do, And ſet their Wits upon the Tenters too. He nothing fears, but what all good men fear, And that's diſgrace. He will not lye, nor ſwear, 'Cauſe God commands the contrary; whom He Deſires to Worſhip in ſincerity. The greater Honour unto him is due, Becauſe a Souldier and a Chriſtian too. He's a meer ſtranger to black Perjury, His noble Heart can do no injury. He'd Racks, and Torments undergo; Yea, mortally be wounded by the Foe, Than a falſe Loon, or Coward to be found; The one would but his Body tear and wound; But th'other would his Soul excruciate, And all his Reputation terminate; For, blemiſhes in Honour cutteth deep, And makes Renown in dark oblivion ſleep. When he prepares to ſight his Enemy, He marcheth towards him as chearfully As to a Banquet; and ſcarce ſpeaks a word When he comes nigh, but claws it with his Sword, &c. Yet he fights warily, and with diſcretion, Till he and's Mermidons make an impreſſion Into the Ranks and Files of th'enemy, Who then muſt either run for it, or die. He truſts not in the number of his Men, But in his God, then he'll fight two to ten. His enemies perchance may worſt him, but Can never conquer him, for he'll be cut In pieces firſt; his great Heart cannot yield, Although his Foes were Maſter of the Field; For, in the midſt of all adverſity, His manly Patience gains a Victory. He thinks it hight of folly, to expoſe Himſelf, and's Souldiers (when at handy blows) To needleſs dangers; no way honourable For him, nor unto others profitable. He well obſerves the Ground where he muſt fight, And ſometime fortifies his Left and Right, For great advantage may accrew thereby, Even to the routing of his Enemy. Hill, Wind, and Sun, he'll ſtrive to have behind, Or what he can of them; 'bove all, the Wind, Which driveth all the ſmoak upon the Foe, And tendeth much unto their overthrow. If he be followed by his enemies, Hoping that Night his Quarters to ſurprize; He'll dig ſome Trenches where they needs muſt paſs, And cover them with Hurdles, ſtrew'd with Graſs; Puts Powder in them, and in Ambuſh lies; And then, as ſoon as ever he eſpies Them fall into the Pits, he fires his train Of Powder, then he falls on them amain; Many being killed, the reſt are forc'd to fly, So, by this trick, he gains a Victory. Alſo to ſcatter Money on the way, Will charm their Minds unto a ſcrambling ſtay; As did the Ponticks, when in haſte they fled The Conqu'ring Romans, by Lucullus led; For while the Romans gather'd up the Gold, The Ponticks all eſcaped, young and old. But now, moſt Men had rather (as I think) Part with their Lives, than their beloved chinck. Againſt a crafty numerous potent Foe, That carries all before him, high and low; When Stratagems and Policy do fail, Enforcing Force, by Force, he muſt aſſail; For there's no other ſhift in ſuch a caſe. Or elſe he muſt be forced to give place; And which to do would cut him to the Heart, And ſtick within his Liver like a Dart: Therefore, he neither can, nor will be gone, Till firſt he ſomething hath upon them done. For knowing that a ſtrenuous oppoſition, Backt with a ſteady haughty reſolution, With daring, braving Camiſado's, have Made Hectors for a time, fighting to wave; And knowing well his diſpoſition, and His skill and courage, they are at a ſtand, Muſing what ſhould be done, to fight or no; If not, they quietly muſt let him go. Or perhaps ſome ſmart skirmiſh there may be, So part on equal terms, both they and he: Which unto neither ſide is no diſgrace, Sith neither was enforced to give place. But when an Army is ſurrounded by A greater force, there is no remedy, But they muſt either fight it out, or fly: Either of which, to do, is hazardous; Yea, deſperate, and very dangerous: Which falleth out (ſometimes) for want of care In the prime Leader. To avoid that ſnare, (A deadly ſnare indeed, as it hath prov'd To divers Armies, that would fain have mov'd From whence they were drawn up but one half Mile, But could not, for their Enemies, the while) Fell on their Front and Flanks moſt furiouſly; So all were killed and taken preſently, Except a few that made a ſhift to fly. Yet in this caſe, a way they might have found, (Before the enemy enclos'd them round) From being kill'd and taken totally Which is, at the firſt ſight of the Enemy, If you ſee that you muſt be forc'd to fight, And by no means you can keep out of ſight, Divide your Forces in two equal parts, Look chearfully, and comfort up their hearts; Let all of them at double diſtance ſtand, Then double all their Ranks; then out of hand Let them ſhout, and advance couragiouſly, Which will, I'm ſure, amuſe the Enemy; Yea, damp their courage too: And who can tell, But ſomething they may do. If they do well, The other half may ſecond them; if not, Then to be ſure the firſt will go to pot: Which if you do forſee, then haſte away The other half, (leſt they ſhould be a prey;) If you ſee you are followed by the Foe, Fell Trees, or elſe ſome Wagons overthrow Where they muſt paſs; or elſe ſome Houſes Fire, &c. By which you may more quietly retire: So march apace all Night, and reſt by day, Hath in this caſe been found the ſafeſt way. There's many other Wiles and Tricks, whereby You may eſcape a Potent Enemy; Which, ſome know better (I ſuppoſe) than I. And though half of your Army now is loſt, And doubtleſs ſomething to the others coſt) Yet th'other half is ſav'd by this device; Better loſe half, than all, is good advice. A deſp'rate Diſeaſe (you know) muſt have A deſp'rate cure, to try if that will ſave. But our wiſe General, would never let His Enemies ſo ſlily him beſet; For he'll have many eyes, and Spies abroad, And many nimble Scouts upon the Road. Nor will he wholly truſt to them: for he Himſelf will buſie in ſuch matters be; Knowing it is a blot to any chief, To have his Foe ſteal on him like a Thief. For ſome, becauſe ſurpriz'd, have been turn'd out, Though otherwiſe well qualified, and ſtout. Cromwell chid Lambert ſoundly, becauſe he Carre's craft and policy did not fore-ſee, He was to fall on Carre, but Carre fell on Upon his Quarters, firſt, at Hamilton. Th'Engliſh had no great harm, but came off well, For Gibbey Carre they forthwith did repel. Another time I thought he would have kill'd Lieutenant General Whaley in the field, 'Cauſe the Scotch Army gave him the go-by, (And in the dark) for him he charg'd to ſpy And watch their motion; but, for all this ſlur, (Which for a while, amongſt us made ſome ſtir,) Both theſe were good Commanders, ſtout and wiſe, Which was confeſt by friends and enemies. Fortuna nunquam perpetua eſt bona. A thing may happen in an hour, which may Not happen in an Age; and though to day Be yours, yet may the next anothers be; There's nothing certain, but uncertainty. Rich Men are counted wiſe, and wiſe Men fools, if poor; But time turns upſide down; yea, rich Men out the door. Cum fortuna manet, vultum ſervatis amici; Cum cecidit, turpi vertitis or a fuga. Our Hero's not Infallible; 'tis true, Some trick there may be put upon him too; Suppoſe he finds the Foe hath crept too near him, (And if he does, he knows not how to fear him;) And that he's like to fall into ſome danger; Which very thought, inflames him ſo with anger, That in a deſp'rate rage he'll charge his Foes, And courage arm'd with wrath, who can oppoſe? He laughs, when other Chieftains are confounded, And ſhews no fear, when by the Foe ſurrounded; No, but cries, have at all, Caeſar, or none, If I muſt die, I will not die alone. (The ſad wiſe Valour is the braveſt man, He Conquers oft, that bravely thinks he can.) Then's Front and Rear half Files ſtand back to back, Impulſed by fell fury; bringing wrack On ev'ry ſide, to ſuch as dare them meet, Whilſt Drums and Cannons in dire Thunder greet; And then they give a Turk-amazing ſhout, So they muſt either give or take a rout; But he that never knew what 'twas to ſhun His enemies, much leſs from them to run, Cannot (though overpower'd yet) to them yield, So, he'll a little longer keep the Field; Then with an over-topping courage, and Some ſtratagem, whereby the oe's trepan'd, He extricates himſelf and all his Mates, From preſent ruine, whom he animates With a ſhort Speech, (his noble mind to eaſe) And (perhaps) with ſuch arguments as theſe. "What! fellow Souldiers are we all a mort? "How Woman-like do we our ſelves deport! "Where is our quondam courage? what although "Our numerous Foes do yet upon us grow? "I tell you, a brave reſolution may "Not only ſtagger them, but win the Day. "Heard ye not of that Victory was won, "By Miltiades, near to Marathon? "How with Ten thouſand Greeks he put to flight "An Hundred thouſand Perſians, Men of might; "And how brave Edward, called the Black Prince, "Kill'd, took, and routed Sixty thouſand French "At Poictiers, only with Eight thouſand Foot; "Took many Nobles, and their King to boot! "Brave Henry with a handful did advance "His Standard through the trembling heart of France. "Shall ſuch a little number win ſuch Fame? "And ſhall we nothing do! come, come, for ſhame "Rouze up your Spirits then, brave Souldiers all, "Let us with double courage on them fall. "Though they are five to one of us, what then? "Shall we not therefore quit our ſelves like Men? "I can't call that a noble Victory, "That's gained from an equal enemy. "Souldiers to Perils are accuſtomed; "Yea, by continual dangers to be led. "Pray Sirs, mind what I ſay then; if you ſtand, "Ye can but die like a renowned band, "But if ye run, y'are ſure to die; therefore, "If ye be Men, come follow me once more. This having ſaid, he falleth on again, Attended by his new-revived Train; And ten to one but he gets ground apace, And may, perhaps, his Foe put to the chace. If ſo, be ſure all was performed by His Courage, noble Speech, and Policy; Which greatly doth his Fame and Honour raiſe, Whilſt envy pines, that would him fain diſpraiſe. Optimus ille dux, qui novit vincere & victoria uri. Though by this means they wan the Victory, Yet his Humility, and Modeſty Is ſuch, that nothing can offend him more, Than to hear people put it to his ſcore. His very Enemies reſpect him too, 'Cauſe ſuch a gallant, courteous, noble Foe. By which he draws ſome of them to his ſide, Which in his ſervice faithfully abide. To the afflicted he a Brother proves, And fear from daunted Spirits he removes; His hand to help the helpleſs he will lend, To good and vertuous Men a fixed friend: In Counſel grave, deliberate, and wiſe, In action heedful, to his word preciſe. The obſtinate, rough-hewn untutor'd crew, Have taſted firſt or laſt what he can do. For his great ſpirit, and undaunted Heart, Can brook no threatnings, if they be too tart. He's vers'd in policy, and warlike ſtrife, As well as how to lead a vertuous Life. Bellona's Banners in the purple field, Affright him not, nor make his ſpirit yield. His Travels both in Body, and in Mind, Can't very eaſily a fellow find. He's well acquainted with all Warlike feats, As with the Drums diverſity of beats. He bears about him honourable Scars, Which he received (nobly) in the Wars; Not in thoſe private and ignoble quarrels, (Which cannot claim ſo much as faded Laurels) Much uſed by ſome Gallants of the time, Which think themſelves, of all the reſt, the prime; And through whoſe Veins ſuch hot diſtempers run; As never yet were known ſince time begun. Taverns are haunted with theſe fiery ſpirits, Who think, to make all ſly, is for their credits. Theſe vap'ring Hectors, when the Wine is in, Can take from Hercules his Lions Skin: Yea, by a ſtorm of Words, and Oathes to boot, One of them can lay Typhon at his foot; Nay, at a pitched Monomachy quell, Di • e Polyphemus, and the Dog of Hell. If their skill, courage, ſtrength, and worth be ſuch, I wonder why they did not beat the Dutch!

The Glance. A Little higher let my genius ſoar, And pierce the breaſt of greatneſs warily; Titles of Honour by ſome wights are wore, Which unto good have no proclivity. Whoſe ſequels are black infamy and ſhame, Which unto many Ages ſhall indure; Corroding, and extinguiſhing their Name, Which never can be capable of cure. They that would not into ſuch evils run, Nor turn their glory to a waning State; Let them, and theirs, the ſame occaſions ſhun, Which courted others into ſcorn and hate. And bravely in all vertuous ways perſiſt, Which will bewray the greatneſs of their mind; Yea, Fame to make them greater will aſſiſt, And from the Heavens ſhall Protection find. Who lives in Vertue, ſhall with Honour die, And be Recorded to poſterity.

Quis honorem, quis gloriam, quis laudem, quis ullum decus tam unquam expetit, quàm ignominiam, infamiam, contumelias, dedecus fugiat?

Cicero. Now to my matter I return again, And give you what doth yet behind remain; I have digreſt more than I did intend, And unto ſuch to whom I am no friend. But for our Hero I'll write all I can, (At which black envy will look pale and wan.) I pretermit his bringing up, and Birth; My aim is only to diſplay his worth. None ſhould be choſe a General for his Riches; No, though he were the Husband of a Dutches; But for his great Experience, Gravity, His Wiſdom, Valour, and Fidelity. Our Hero hath all theſe, (beſides his love To that Religion which is from above;) He knows which way his Foe to circumvent, And how an Ambuſcado to prevent; And if his adverſary from him fly, He will not follow them too haſtily, 'Cauſe that's the way to make them deſperate, And turn again, as 'twere in 'ſpite of fate. For deſperation will make Cowards fight, And put their Hot-ſpurr'd followers to ſlight. Many by ſad experience do know, Too cloſe purſuits wrought their own overthrow; Whereof I could give many inſtances, But our Commander loves no ſuch exceſs; For if the adverſe Army will be gone From's Territories, he will help them on, By leaving them an open way, whereby, They may with eaſe and ſafety from him fly: Nay, more, if in their ſlight they ſeem but cold, He'll quickly make for them a Bridge of Gold. The wary Valour is the beſt of all, For hot-ſpurs ſhall into confuſion fall. Hoſti fugienti pons aureus faciendus. He will be here, and there, and ev'ry where, Filling his Enemies with care and fear: Looſe Wings on either hand he ſendeth out, And nimble Lads upon the private ſcout. When Phoebus ſets, if he be Five Leagues from them, Yet by the Morning he'll be in among them; And lets them hardly take a full Nights ſleep, He ſo torments them, or plays at Bo-peep; Putting them into horrible confuſion: And yet deſireth not their bloods effuſion; No, no, if he ſees his Souldiers are For ſlaughter, he'll reſtrain them; and take care Both for his well, and wounded enemy, That he receive no farther injury. He ſeeks to know the mode, and diſpoſition; True temper, inclination, and condition Of him that is the adverſe General, And of ſome others of the principal. He hath a buſie brain, a ſteady foot, A watchful eye, an heart moſt reſolute. To's Souldiers he's a Father, for he will, Provide what's neceſſary for them ſtill. His Diſcipline is ſo ſevere and ſtrict, That heavy puniſhments he will inflict On ſuch as do the Country ſpoil and wrong, Which is his conſtant practice all along; For Souldiers, where good Order bears no ſway, Will to their Foes ſoon make themſelves a prey. He ſcorns to plunder either friend or Foe, As many other dirty Captains do; No, but will treat his Captive Enemy With all Humanity and Courteſy, According to their Rank and Quality. And for the ſick and wounded taketh care; Yea, leaves himſelf, to furniſh them, but bare. His Muſter-Rolls with Faggots are not pil'd: He will not injure Man, Woman, nor Child. He's none of thoſe that ramble in the dark, Nor of that Crew that viſit Whetſtone's-Park, &c. He can't be juſtly charg'd with any Vice; To which none (eaſily) can him entice. He loves to exerciſe his Souldiers oft, Of whom they learn the Military craft. To whom he ſhews familiarity, And will diſcourſe with them facetiouſly; But yet, retains convenient gravity. He ſtrikes them not for every fault, as ſome Proud fools, whoſe places nothing them become. Such are made Officers before they Souldiers were, But our Commander was a Souldier Before he was an Officer; therefore, Of theſe new Milk-ſops worth a hundred ſcore. Such have I known, (and ſome are yet alive) That knew not whether they ſhould lead, or drive Their Souldiers, when they have been Captains made, They were ſo ſimple! yet, a vap'ring blade Was each of them, which in a Tavern could Do many wonders! yea, with Juno ſcold! But our Commander ſcorns ſuch Catamites, As can do nought, but in their drunken fits. For he'll be firſt and laſt in danger; while Thoſe young fops leap o'er every Gate and Stile, And panting, cry, God bleſs us from a Gun! Starting at their own Shadows; yea, would run Into a Mouſe-hole, if they could, and there, Be ready to beſh— themſelves for fear Any ſhould with a Cuſhion ſhoot them through The Noſe! you ſee then what theſe Sparks can do! Others, whoſe Oaths thicker than Bullets fly, Yet they in bloodleſs Battles love to die: They are for fine rich Silver Swords, not for Steel Swords, 'cauſe earneſt Fighting they abhorr. Many ſuch valiant boaſters did I hear (Who at a Feaſt would huff and domineer) To brag, that for the King they'd ſpend their blood; Yet when they ſhould, have ſneak'd into a Wood, Or other place, in a moſt deadly fright; And when the Trumpets ſound, keep out of ſight. Nay, do but tell them of an Enemy, They'll have the ſhaking Ague preſently; And if at Midnight you but fire a Gun, They'll ſtare as if they had a mind to run; Yea, look ſo ſimply and pitifully, As if condemned to the tripple Tree, And, peradventure, A •… ize their Breeches, Or creep behind ſome Wall, thick Hedge, or Ditches: But when all danger's paſt, peep out, and ſay, Ho! ho! brave boys, now we have got the day. (I knew a Captain did ſo at Dunbar, Whoſe Tongue was ſtouter than his hands by far) And theſe, through their Tongues volubility, Shall get all the preferment ſtill, from they That bore the brunt and danger; who've been glad If they kept but thoſe places that they had; Yea, Cowards have been Courted, Graced, Knighted, And worthy Perſons, overlook'd, and ſlighted! 'Cauſe not ſo valiant of their words as hands, So ſtood as Cyphers, or old Cancell'd Bonds. Here I will you a pretty ſtory tell, Of one of theſe whom I knew very well, Who was a Captain, and a bragger too. One Night he needs would viſit his per-du; For in a Field of Wheat he then had three; So in all haſte to one of them goes he; Saying, in a bravado, unto him, With a contracted brow, and aſpect grim, "Souldier, be ſure what I command you, do, "Or for a Coward I will puniſh you. "If comes upon you but one Enemy, "You muſt not flinch, but fight him manfully; "If two aſſail you, you muſt do the ſame; "If three, you may retreat from whence you came. The other two hearing him thus to chatter, Stood up an end, to ſee what was the matter; Whereat their Captain gave a fearful ſtart, And could not chooſe but let a thundring F— Thinking them to be many Enemies. So, in a pannick fear away he flies, As if a thouſand Foes were at his heels, Throwing away his Sword in the ſame Fields, Alſo his Cane, Gloves, Head-piece, Piſtol too, So ſcap'd his Foe (as he thought) much ado: Yea, ſuch a lerry did poſſeſs his breech, That he was forc'd to eaſe him in a Ditch. Then to his Guard he runs, quite out of breath, And looks ſo like the Effigies of Death, That all his Souldiers arm'd themſelves apace, And ſo ſtood gazing on his rueful face; Muſing what Devil or Witch ſhould ſo tranſform him! At length, they ask'd, if any thing did harm him? Harm me (quoth he) ſure, if you had been where I was, 'twould make your hearts to quake with fear. But the next day the truth of all came out, Whereat his Souldiers at him jeer and flout; Yea, with ſuch ſcornful terms they did him brand, That preſently he quitted his Command, And went to London, where he ſtudied The Law; and ſo a Lawyers life he led. Many for their preferment, never were Beholden to their Valour, (I dare ſwear;) But to their flattery, diſſimulation, Great friends, or to their ſly inſinuation. Pimps, pocky Pages, have been rais'd on high, And Men of great experience put by. But ſtay my Muſe, why ſpend we ſo much time, About ſuch ſlaves as don't deſerve a Rhime? Come, to our noble Hero lets return, And trace him, till we bring him to his Urn. But hold! Quid Monſtrum id? what Elf is that Croſſing the way, like an unlucky Wat? How jealous, pale, lean, angry, hollow-ey'd, It looks? yea, looks a ſquint on every ſide: It ſeems to pine away with fear and care, Leſt others ſhould with it in ſomething ſhare. How ominous and frightfully it ſhows? What terrors hang upon its cloudy brows? One may gueſs ſhrewdly at his inner part, And in his ſpeculation read his heart, It looks as if ſome ill it did deviſe. How ghaſtly doth it roul about his eyes? The ſymptom of a troubled brain and breaſt; Or, as if with ſome fury 'twere poſſeſt. How like a Malus Genius doth it look? Juſt ſuch another as old R— C—k, That lov'd no Man or Woman but himſelf; This Spectrum, ſure, is ſuch another Elf. Timon Miſantropos, (though churl enough) I think, was better than this Furifuff; Milder than this moroſe, ſowre, ſurly Huff. It often ſeems to mutter, or to look Nine ways at once, within, or without book. Sphinx it reſembles (as the Jeſuits do) Being like a Dog, a Fox, a Dragon too; That's ſurly, crafty, cruel, full of hate. So that this Monſter it doth perſonate. None but the Devil, or Envy, can look thus! Whoſe ſight would ev'n aſtoniſh Cerberus: Therefore it muſt be Envy, certainly, Sith it frets at good Mens proſperity. Invidus alterius rebus macreſcit opimis. It grins his Teeth to ſee another riſe, Whom to his vengeance he could ſacrifice; He wears a Dagger always in his Heart, And like a Raviliack can act his part. He waiteth for their haulting ſecretly, Whom he ſuppoſeth in his way to ly. He will lay deadly ſnares and traps, for thoſe That are (or whom he fears will be) his Foes; For he hath Deſperado's near at hand, That will (for Gold) obey his curs'd command: Or if they fail, he hath a Doſe or Two, That undiſcerned, can the buſineſs do: For Envy is ſo witty in all evil, That it can turn a Man unto a Devil. For how propenſe are ſome to do ſuch things, As to themſelves, and friends, deſtruction brings? When Envy putteth on his Sunday's face, Then, then, beware of him, in any caſe: For if he courts ye with a ſmiling grin, Yet his black Heart is wounds and blood within. He can ſet Servants to deſtroy their Maſter, Or elſe betray them into ſome diſaſter: Yea, near Relations have been ſet on work, To do what would have terrified a Turk. Parents their Children dear have made away, When Popiſh Envy did in them bear ſway. So envious Joab, Amaſa did Murther, Ev'n while he cry'd, Art thou in health my Brother? Joſeph was envied of his Brethren; ſo Was David, by King Saul his mortal foe. O Sirs, who, who can before envy ſtand; 'Specially where it gets the upper hand? 'Tis reſtleſs till ſome miſchief it hath done, And will proceed, if once it hath begun. A Cataline to Chriſtian Liberty, A C • ius Marius to Tranquility; A Lucifer, and Hildebrand, to thoſe That with deviſed fancies cannot cloſe. A troubleſome Tertullus, unto all That are o'th' ſame Religion with Saint Paul. A bloody Bonner to the Sons of Sion; A Duke de Alva to the Belgick Lion. A ſly informer to impiety, Againſt the Props of true Divinity; And like the Prieſts and Phariſees, would fain Chriſt, in his Members, Crucify again: As it hath done among us many years; Which by ſome Thouſand Sufferers appears. Envy, on Worth and Vertue doth attend, And will its cenſures on the worthy ſpend: A Waſp enamour'd of protervity; A Cur engorged with aſperity. Some of ſuch cynick Diſpoſitions are, That other mens Tranſactions they will ſquare, According to the crooked line and rule Of their own humours, which muſt have no Thule Or limits. Yet themſelves can nothing do That's honourable, or that can accrew To others good; yet they will ſeem to know All things, tho' nothing they could ever ſhow, Except it be their venom'd teeth to bite, Or with their poyſon'd tongues to wound and ſmite The reputation of far better men, And every way much more deſerving than Themſelves; or any of their Generation; And who (perhaps) are burthens to the Nation; Yea, troubleſome unto their Neighbours too, Cauſe in all things they do not as they do. But our moſt noble Hero fears them not, Being got beyond the reach of their Tongue-ſhot, Whoſe time in Mars's and the Muſes Tent Not triflingly, but vertuouſly is ſpent. He can both ſay and do, and do much more Than ſay; yet, he will not himſelf adore. He was bred in the School of vertue, and The Pen, as well as Pike, he can command; So that he merits double Equipage. Sith he ſo bravely doth become the Stage: Therefore, I make no queſtion but he Will make his Exit with a Plaudite. Whoſe good Examples noble Souls do move To try if they can ſuch another prove; And purchaſe fame by valour, worth, and arms, Amidſt a thouſand hazzards, deaths, and harms; The way to honour through the Pikes doth ly, And who would win honour muſt not fear to die. This Hero's Tongue is the point of his Sword, He knows not what it is to break his word; His courage Conquers e'er the Field is fought. Which being done, more enemies hath ſought. He's Semper idem, take him when you will, The ſame below, as he is up the Hill. He is full of Hector's Magnanimity, And never's daunted with extremity. Fortitude's rooted in his noble mind. When others fall, him, ſtanding you ſhall find. There's nothing hard to be accompliſhed By him, becauſe by truth and reaſon led, And doth all things by good deliberation, Yet is he not affected to cunctation. He is a Fabius for Solidity, Not a Minutius for temerity. Misfortunes, trials, and adverſities, His faith and patience do exerciſe; Whereby himſelf he conquers, which is more Than all the Conqueſts that he made before. Dangers he feareth not: yea, doth deſpiſe What narrow ſouls account calamities. War's the Whetſtone of his Fortitude, And heat, the Spur, that makes him reſolute, Yet counts not that a noble victory, That's not accompany'd with Clemency. He knows that skill and courage wanting in Commanders, is to routing near a kin. Beſides, their Soldiers will contemn and ſlight them, Yea, to their very faces will neglect them, Which will redound unto their laſting ſhame, When blown about by the nimble wing of Fame. For to their own Pufillanimity They cannot but be conſcious, or might ſee Men laughing at them for the ſame; but they Can take it in good part, and nothing ſay. O ſtrange! that theſe ſhould have the face to take Upon them to be Captains, and miſtake Themſelves for better men: O impudence! And Brazen fac'd, prodigious confidence! Go, ye conceited Jacks, go Hen-peckt ſlaves, And in ſome dirty Dunghill dig your Graves. Fit but for Powder-Monkeys, or keep ſheep, Or Company with Scavengers to keep. What? when you ſhould go fight, then, you'll be ſick: Oh, take 'em Derrick, gripe 'em to the quick. Our Hero ſcorns you all, who'd rather die Than live, as you with ſhame and infamy▪ He knows not what 'tis to be ſo abjected, Or by his Veteranes ſo much rejected. No ſurely, no, but to them is as Spurrs, But ye are Stops, Remora's and Demurs. Unto a Kingdom there's no greater danger, (Which to the Prince himſelf is but a ſlander) Than to ſuch to commit their warlike bands, As are more nimbler of their tongues than Hands; Some that have known how Victories to gain, Yet knew not how their Conqueſts to retain. But our Commander can do both of theſe, And that with more applauſe, leſs loſs, and eaſe Than ſome that conquer Kingdoms in conceit. (Conceit without receipt, is but deceit). If he perceives his Enemy too ſtrong For him in Horſe, then will he pitch among Thick Hedges, Woods, &c. (he being moſtly Foot) And gall him; may be, win the field to boot. But if in Horſe the foe he doth ſurpaſs, Then he will try to make of him an Aſs, By ſeeking to decoy him to a Plain, And that he might his will therein obtain, He ſendeth ſuch amongſt the enemy That tell them this for truth and certainty, That moſt part of his Horſe went yeſterday, But privately, to ſeek for Oats and Hay. Or on ſome other Errand, and that now Or never was the time to make him bow. If th' Enemy believes this to be true, (As like enough he does) then will not you Imagine he'll upon our Hero fall, And if he do, he is undone withal; But if he do not, our Commander will Beat up his Quarters, which is ears will fill With ſudden crys, his eyes with gaſtly ſights, His Soldiers hearts with Pannick fears and frights, Which will confound, and make them run aſtray, And moſt of them to throw their Arms away. Suppoſe a Regiment, or two be broke, And ſeveral hundred Priſoners are took, This doubtleſs will ſo daunt the enemy, That he'll conclude the beſt way is to fly; Which if he do (as he muſt do) you know, It tendeth to a total overthrow. Whom our Commander follows at the heels, Through thick and thin, Hills, Vallies, Woods and Fields, Till all are routed, and the vict'ry won. (Oft have I known the very ſame thing done.) The foe, his men unable to revive, And's former reputation to retrive, Is forc'd to ſeek a peace immediately, Well knowing there's no other remedy. Should I inſiſt on all the ſlights, and wiles, Strange circumventions, ſtratagems and guiles, Craft, cunning tricks, deep reaches, policies, And unimaginable Myſteries, That have been, are, and might be us'd in Wars, By worthy Captains, and great Conquerors, 'Twould take much time, and paper many Quire: My Muſe, my Pen, my Genius overtire, And crack my Pericranium. Therefore Of Warlike feats I ſhall endite no more. All chief Commanders ſhould inherit theſe Bright Virtues, or to have a writ of Eaſe: Juſtice, Truth, Temperance, Prudence, Fidelity, Skill, Learning, Patience, Courage, Courteſie; All which in the word Conduct ſeem included; And who wants that from chief ſhould be excluded. Men's lives are far more worth than that they ſhould Be truſted with a Novice, young or old. And which to do, is (as all wiſemen know) The way unto a fatal overthrow. Yet this ſhould be obſerv'd, that victory Heav'n to the beſt ſide ſometimes doth deny; Succeſs, as ſuch, is no infallible token Of a good cauſe; nor when a foe is broken, Is it a ſure ſign of a bad cauſe? no, God's ſecrets are paſt finding out, you know. God hath, and can by poor weak means caſt down, And break in pieces men of high Renown. Yet a wiſe Conduct is more likely to Gain ground, than fools that know not what to do. For good Commanders hinder not the day, But non-experience often hath and may. As I could inſtance make of many places, Where ſuch contracted taunts, and great diſgraces; Yet who are ſo ſelf-confident as they? So ready to traduce what others ſay? So apt to find a fault where there is none? And all that Jack in Office might be known. But as the ſhadow on the ſubſtance waits, And Turtle Doves are follow'd by their Mates, So Fame and Honour juſtly waits upon This valiant worthy (tho' much envy'd) man. And on all other Worthies like himſelf, (But not on any ſtarched upſtart elf. Nor him whoſe heart and ſoul is in his pelf,) For vertue will ſhine forth, even in the dark, Whileſt envy to no end does at it bark. Honour gain'd honeſtly, and gallantly, Can never fade, nor vaniſh totally. As will the Glow-worm fluſhes of ſome ſort, That never can deſerve a good report. And others that creep ſneakingly into Favour, for which they any thing will do. Nay ſome that have but ſometimes turn'd a Spit, And here receiv'd a knock, and there a bit, (But complaiſential in their words) alſo On every baſe and pimping Errand go, Hoping in time, 'twould ſomething introduce; And ſo it hath indeed, for my Lord Louſe, And Madam Sly, have found him a long time Too faithful unto what they count no crime. And therefore ſtudy how to gratifie him; For nothing now, they can, nor dare deny him. At laſt they find the favour him to grace, With a Lieutenant, or a Captains place: Whereof the Coxcomb is become ſo proud, That he will joſtle 'mongſt the noble crowd; And Elbow at the Table in ſuch ſtate, And ſaucily to all his betters prate: Nay, and perhaps at laſt be made a Knight, And then, Sir Aſſinego's at the height. But whoſoever ſhall this fellow mind, In few years ſhall not know where him to find; For all is gone, and ſpent, and he forgot, Whoſe memory and name ſhall die and rot. And the like fate on others doth attend, Who think their day will never have an end, Or that their Sun will never ſet. But their Vain hopes ſhall be rewarded with deſpair. Yea, and like the ſnuff of a Candle go out, As if they were but of the Rabble Rout. But vertuous ſouls have a more noble breath, And greatly are bemoaned at their death. For ſuch as Honour win by noble deeds, Shall bury thouſands of thoſe ſtinking weeds. Whoſe Progeny ſhall ſtill uphold their name, And be recorded in the Book of Fame. What can the vertues of their Anceſtry Avail ſuch as from vertue ſeek to fly? And every way from them degenerate, As many now, but they are out of date. As worth and merit juſt rewards do crave. So great Anceſtors ſhould good Iſſues have, The thing poſſeſt is not the thing it ſeems, Tho' otherwiſe each Ignoramus deems. For tho' men by their Anceſtors be great, Yet if they from their vertues quite retreat, What are they good for? being the diſgrace Of their name, family, and all the race; What tho' from Anceſtors we have our names; Yet from our vertues do ariſe our Fames. Birth without worth is but a Painted Poſt, Wealth without vertue, can of nothing boaſt. The baſe Brats of ignoble Anceſtry, To ſave themſelves, will quit all honeſty. As the more men moil in the dirt, the more They are defil'd. So, the more ſome men pore Into (and ſeek to underſtand) their baſe Anceſtors, the more ſhame flies in their face. The longer any men delay the ſhow Of vertue, then, you may both judge, and know. They are of baſe beginnings; for you'll find Such (covertly) to bear a ſordid mind. The leaven of their lin'age doth remain Amongſt them many Ages, to their ſtain, Which is perceived by the wiſer ſort, And others that thereof do make report, Like Root, like Tree, like Tree-Branches too, And ſo like fruit; (viz.) a proud and dirty Crew. For, can a Swine bring forth a gen'rous Lion? Or the baſe bramble Polyanthemion? Or Cannibals beget true Sons of Sion? Or can a Crab-Tree bear a noble Pippin? Or the Princely Eagle hatch a Dunghill Chichen? No, no, for where there's noble Anceſtry, There (moſtly) will be a like Progeny: And of this ſort, our Hero is, no doubt, Or he could not for Vertue be ſo ſtout: The end of all whoſe Actions, Honour are, (Though Honour to aſſume, is not his care; As many others do moſt ſneakingly.) I mean, he ſeeks not Honour, but only Seeks to deſerve, though envy can't abide To hear of it, but labours all to hide. Titles he knows (which many gain by art) Are but the Seals and Badges of deſert, And the rewards of Vertue in this World; Which oft upon unworthy Men are hurl'd. Experience hath taught me to affirm (Which many knowing Perſons will confirm) That Honour upon baſe Mechanicks caſt, Hath ruin'd thoſe entruſted them, at laſt. Be'ng nat'rally propenſe to innovation, Diviſion, diſſention, alteration; Wilful, deceitful, proud in Word and Mind, Unſtable, and unconſtant as the Wind: Here could I gall them with a yerking Rhime, But I forbear them till another time. Mendico aſperius nihil eſt cum ſurgit ad altum. I ſay, to make Men of a ſordid race Commanders, or them with high Titles grace, Is one way to turn all things upſide down, And with dire diſcord fill each Shire and Town. Sith then it's ſo, that Men of baſe degree, Or Raſcal breed, plac'd in Authority, Have upon States and Kingdoms miſchief brought, And nothing but their advancement ſought; Therefore, were I to raiſe a Regiment, (Though to that height my thoughts were never bent) I would, as near as poſſible I could, Commiſſion none but Gentlemen of old Or ancient Stocks to chooſe, 'cauſe not ſo proud Nor inſolent as are the latter brood; (Who 'cauſe they've jumped into great Eſtates, They think none good enough to be their Mates.) Yet of that ſort, I mean not every ſpark That gives a Livery: Nor ſuch as ſhark About the Court, or Inns of Court; nor they That are made poor through baſe debauchery. Nor any ſcandalous Sir; or witty flaſh, That in his word and actions is too raſh. Nor he that hath the name of a Deceiver; Sir Gregory Nonſenſe, or Sir Good-be-never: Sir Topſey Turvey, that never kept his Word, Nor Mr. Maggot-brain that draws his Sword At every petty affront; nor ſuch as they As wrong and cheat poor Souldiers of their pay; Nor any ſupercilian in fine Clothes; Nor ſuch as rend the Heavens with Helliſh Oathes. Or any of that humour old or new; For few are good of that debauched Crew: No, no, for they may prove as bad as t'other; Viz. For you to day, to morrow for another. But him I call a perfect Gentleman, Whoſe Vertues grace his good Extraction. Or (in a word) 'tis Birth and Worth conjoin'd Makes a true Gentleman; the reſt are Coin'd. With ſuch as theſe an Army ſhould be led, 'Specially if i'th' true Religion bred. This good Commander which I now deſcribe, Is one of that moſt honourable Tribe. He graceth his Employment. (For 'tis not The place that makes Men honourable, but 'Tis Men that make the place ſo; yet I vow, 'Tis ſomething hard to find ſuch Perſons now,) To the diſgrace, black infamy, and ſhame, Of ſuch that impudently take the name Of Gentlemen; ſith their baſe deeds atteſt, They are as far from ſuch, as Eaſt from Weſt. Then mend your manners, live more vertuouſly, Baniſh all baſeneſs and obſcenity. Many more Reaſons have I to dehort From putting any of the vulgar ſort, Proud Monſieur Th'other-day, or any ſuch Into Command, let them be Poor or Rich. Except them, as on trial have been found Aſſiduous, Steady, Truſty, True, and Sound. Woful experience makes me thus to write; But of this matter I'll no more Endite. This true deſcription and character, Or property, of this brave Man of War, And moſt accompliſht Gentleman, whoſe worth Even his very Enemies ſets forth; Methinks ſhould raiſe a vertuous emulation In every generous Spirit in this Nation, To imitate him, and of him to learn Such things as would them very much adorn. But Gentlemen, and others, are of late, Grown ſo debauched, looſe, degenerate, And ſo bewitched to a vicious brood, That few of them will ever come to good. Nay, they count him an Aſs, and very Fool, That loves (or leads his life in) Vertues School: Therefore to court them to it is but vain: For with all Vice their Souls are dy'd in grain. But now, I think, it's time to make an end, And bid Farewell, to this my noble friend; Only, let me tell you, when Death is nigh, That he hath nothing elſe to do but die: For Death and he ſo well are reconcil'd, That if he chance to meet him in the Field, He bids him welcom, be it cut or ſhot, (If Heaven ſhall pleaſe ſuch meaſure to allot;) When like a Cedar he falls to the ground, And like a Roman Caeſar dies renown'd. Whoſe Worth, and Vertues him immortalize, And lifts his Commendations to the Skies; And in the Book of Honour writes his Name, Which, 'ſpite of envy, fills the Trump't of Fame; Whoſe Mirmydons, with great ſolemnity, Carry him to the Grave where he muſt ly, Which is the bed of Honour, and the beſt, Repoſitory wherein he muſt reſt, Until his mortal Body riſe again, Be immortal made, and ſo remain: Who needs no carved Tombſtone, for oſtent; For his renown's a living Monument. Vivit post funera Virtus.

A LITTLE TOUCH Of the Renowned ARTILLERY, (Or rather MILITARY) Company of London.

BUT now, methinks, I hear ſome queſtion, why, I Nothing ſaid of the ARTILLERY (Nor the Train'd-Bands) of London, ſith they are For exerciſing Arms, without compare, (At leaſt are ſo reputed;) therefore, they, Of England are the Univerſity, And nurſery for War. But truly, Sirs, Our heats, and fewds, and perſecuting ſtirs, And other things diſ-jointed, ſo, my Wits, That what I writ before, was all by fits. Beſides, I thought they might offended be, Should they but find a Venial fault in me. Moreover, many ly upon the catch, And ſlily for their Neighbours halting watch. Therefore I'll ſuperſede what might be writ, My Muſe be'ng turn'd old Cato's Proſelite. However I preſume (or think) I may Without offending them, now briefly ſay A few words of, and to them; not that I Pretend to any skill and maſtery In exerciſing, or in handling Arms: (Th' ignorance of which attracteth Harms) Yet to the skilful they are pleaſing Charms. Although my Genius carries me oft-times To things that may [in me] be counted crimes; That is, to manage many Companies, Conjoin'd, or parted, to fight Enemies. (By long experience taught) yet, for all this, The beſt Commander in the World may miſs What he would have, and that is, Victory, Which to no Mortal is entail'd, ſay I; No, 'tis the Lord of Hoſts that giveth ſtill, The day to whom he pleaſe, and when he will. Artillery-men, in many things excel, And Train'd-Band Officers, do very well. In the Theorick part of War, they are Proficients, in which, no pains they ſpare; Or, ſhall I, Theoretick-practick, write it, For both of theſe, amongſt them, ſeem united.) Eſpecially in their ſeveral firings, when All things are practiſ'd, except killing Men. Give them but Ball, and they can do ſo too Unto their enemies, (I'll warrant you.) In handling Arms, thus much I can diſcern; Viz. The Grecian Gods might ſomewhat of them learn. King Priamus, with all his Warlike Sons, Would (were they here) admire theſe Mirmydons: And wiſh they had been with them, to anoy The ſturdy Greeks, when they beſieged Troy. The Spartan Sparks, in armour gilt with Gold, Pace with theſe Sons of Thunder could not hold. Nor with their Counter-march, be able to Ran-counter againſt what theſe Men can do. The Pyrrhick Dance, the Belgick Cavalry Could not out-vy this brave Artillery. 'Specially upon a General Day, When they appear in Arms, and brave Array. When divers ſorts of firings may be ſeen, And things that nev'r before in uſe have been: Only they ſeem to want the Spaniſh Gate, 'Cauſe it would make them to march more in State. Alſo the Turks erected countenance, Which Terrour ſtrikes in Foes, when they advance, This to obſerve, as often as they meet, And march about, 'ſpecially in the ſtreet. However, none can take offence at me, For writing what I formerly did ſee. But ſome object, that many things are done In exerciſing, which Men ought to ſhun, Becauſe ſo needleſs, uſeleſs, dangerous, Diſtracting too, being ſo numerous, Therefore in Wars, they never can be us'd. Hold, hold, Sir! But who ever Gold refus'd, When it came freely, though his Purſe be full? From many Diſhes you may pick and cull A Dinner, yet not burſt your belly, Sir, Except you lay it on with ſwitch and ſpur. Store is no ſore, you know, for 'twill not crack Your Pericranium, nor yet your back, Except you carry all at once: Therefore Throw this lazy Objection out the door, Becauſe, methinks, it ſmells of prejudice And malice, to that noble exerciſe. For knowledge is no burthen I am ſure, But ignorance and envy can endure Nothing that's gallant, brave, or honourable, Tho' to the publick ne'er ſo profitable. Juſt like the Dog that in the Manger lay, That would himſelf eat neither Oats or Hay, Nor ſuffer them that would: What ſlaves are theſe, Whoſe humours none but fools would ſeek to pleaſe? (I've for the ſame, &c. been hated too, by thoſe That to all noble things were ſecret foes; All in Commiſſion too: However I Have them out-liv'd, and all their enmity). Artillery-men learn War in peace, you know, Therefore the fitter in the Wars to go. The Roman Majeſty and Magnitude, The Perſian Bravery and altitude, Would not diſdain to make a ſtand, and view The Martial motions of this Warlike Crew. And Barzapharnes, that proud Parthian Prince, They quickly could of arrogance convince, Who thought, 'cauſe he could handle the Dart and Bow, That all the Gods him could not overthrow. But one God was too hard for him, and all His Army, for he cruſht them great and ſmall. Raw men, alas, will nothing ſignifie Againſt a formidable enemy; Experienc'd in the practick part of Wars For many years, and us'd to Wounds and Scars. No, they muſt firſt be preſent at ſome fights, Where blood, death, horrour, and ſuch gaſtly ſights Are to be ſeen, and then indeed, they may Prove valiant men, and help to win the day. Such as from their youth, have been Soldiers bred, (And Soldiers are by many dangers led) Muſt needs be ſtouter, and know ſomething more, Than ſuch as never heard the Cannons roar. Yet, ſtrange it is, to hear ſome Novices, In what high ſtrains they will themſelves expreſs; For they can rout them which they never ſaw; Yea, reſcue Daniel from the Lions paw. That they could make a ſhift to drink ſmall Beer Above a week, and feed on Country-chear. Yea, and at night ſleep in a Loft of Hay! 'Tis ſuch as theſe which made their moan, that they Were forc'd to eat Py-cruſt inſtead of bread, So hard were they put to't! ſo ill they ſped (As they thought) and ſuch ſerpents now there be Which hate and envy any worth they ſee In others, while they nothing do that's brave; But with ſuch Carpers no Commerce I have. My Genius ſcorns to keep the common road, Where railings and depravings are the mode. I ſhun extreams, I hate what is obſcene, My Muſe affects to deſcant on the mean. I crave no Heliconian Hippocren, No, nor the Scriblings of Apollo's Pen. But thus much, O ye Sons of Mars, I may Without offence (I hope) unto you ſay, Viz. Where Vertue raiſeth men to Honour, there, God will confirm the Dignity. But where They mount aloft by flattery, or Gold, Their Glow-worm Magnitude long cannot hold, Yet certainly ſuch perſons get the ſtart Of more deſerving men, (for the moſt part) It hath been ſo, and is like to be ſo, That Blanditude Deſert ſhall overthrow, If it in competition with him ſtand, For, by ſtrange arts, and projects (underhand) By ways that never have been heard before, By right or wrong, 'twill have its will. Therefore, Deſert, go whiſtle, Valour ſtand aſide, Vertue in ſome dark Cell thy ſelf go hide: For Fools and Pantomimmicks bear the Bell, Becauſe that Shibboleth ye cannot ſpell. Nor fawn, and creep, as they and others can, To all ſorts, whether Knave or honeſt man. Theſe Proteus-like, turn into any ſhape; And for advantage they will be your Ape. They will be for you here, againſt you there, Now for the front, to morrow for the reer. Nay, for the Devil and Pope too, if they will, Provided they do help them up the Hill, Being double minded, double-tongu'd. Alſo, Fine double dealing Trinkets they can ſhow. They are no ſtrangers unto ſordid things, They love to ſend and give malicious flings; They inwardly hate men of noble minds; Nay, him that but to honeſty enclines. Leaders they taunt, (and many times by name) 'Specially ſuch as are of any fame In Peace and War. Nay, and the Red-coats too This was Writ Anno 1683. They cannot brook, tho' ne'er ſo ſtout and true: But, Oh ye ſenſeleſs Animals, take heed For ye that Soldiers ſcorn, may Soldiers need: For tho' Bi-fronted Janus Temple's ſhut, And the Sword ſheath'd that erſt was wont to cut Down Horſe and man, making ſuch Maſſacres Of Armed Ranks, beſides deep wounds and Scars. Yet perhaps ſuch a time ere long may come, When the loud ſtrokes of your (yet) ſilent Drum May fright you with unlooked for alarms, And force you to betake you to your arms; And ſummon you into the Purple field, There to fight, run away, or baſely yield. Then ſuch Salvagians as ſcorn Soldiers now, Would Soldiers complement; yea, to them bow. As did the Citizens of Rome to all Their valiant Regiments, when Hannibal Approacht their Gates. So the Greek Emperor Did even adore that worthy Conqueror Great Tamberlain; that freed him from the ſtroke Of Bajazet, and his enſlaving yoke. Yea, to his Soldiers down himſelf he bow'd, Stiling them his deliverers, and vow'd To love, and honour them. Likewiſe the States Of Holland, with their chiefeſt Optimates, Courted their Soldiers, th' Engliſh 'ſpecially; Or Spain had ſwallow'd them undoubtedly. Great Kings and Princes have with Hat in hand, Beſeech'd their Soldiers but a while to ſtand, When ready to give back; and 'tis well known The ſame (oft) in our late War hath been done By both the Kings, Prince Rupert (and ſome more) At Naſeby; Newbery, at Marſton-Moor, And Worceſter too. But it now appears How Soldiers have been ſlighted of late years, By moſt ungrateful perſons, for whoſe ſake Their lives and limbs did often lie at ſtake; But ſince they can ſcarce one of them afford A draught of Beer, nay, hardly a good word, Altho the chiefeſt Bleſſings they retain By Soldiers (under God) did they not gain? O! who would ſuch a ſordid people ſerve, As can let ſuch as venture for them, ſtarve? And which is worſe than death, huft at, and jeer'd By Slaves, that never in a fight appear'd For neither ſide, nor King, nor Parliament; Such Swine were always againſt Soldiers bent: Yea, Soldiers hate meerly as ſuch! Don't they Th' Artillery-Company ſometimes decry? As if they'd have none learn to exerciſe Or know how to encounter enemies! (But what they mean by this, is clear to me) And beſides theſe, another ſort there be That privately traduce (ſet on by Hell) Such as in skill and courage them excel: Yet when in danger, ſpur them on to go With others to engage againſt the foe. While they and all ſuch Hedg-Hogs as they are Would hide themſelves, or with the fearful Hare Run ſtoutly at firſt ſight of th' enemy, Or when the Bullets but begin to fly. Then what are they that daren't ſo much as ſhow Themſelves in arms; nay, to a flying foe? Yet, in a Tavern with good Wine and Cheer, O, how they'll bounce and brag, and domineer, And valiantly drink healths, and threaten all That hear them not, that durſt them Cowards call. Nay, dare the Vintners boys to fight them; ſo, 'mong Fools and Fidlers, for ſtout men they go. They can to others an alarm beat, But to themſelves a merciful retreat. Fall on, to others, they can ſtoutly cry; While they intend courageouſly to fly. Divers ſuch have I known, and often ſeen In the late Wars, where I have preſent been. Qui cupit pacem, paret bellum. Who wiſh for peace, will yet in wars appea • , But ſome in peace and war, are ſtill in fear. Tho' all are not born Soldiers, yet, I ſay, Moſt young men ſhould learn ſomething, that they may Be able to bear Arms in time of need, And in the ground their Teachers to ſucceed; Which would (in time) fit them to go into A marching Army, ſome exploit to do, By which they would almoſt immortal ſeem, And time from baſe debauchery redeem; As did the Youth of Rome, in ancient days, Which Crown'd their Temples with Triumphal Bays, For by their skill and courage, they acquir'd Renown, and were by all the world admir'd. Some ſpare hours in the School of Mars they ſpent Each week; and muſter'd in Bellona's Tent, So that their manner ſeem'd a war indeed, In which they weekly did their ſervants breed, And all young Gentlemen; by which you know They did great States, and Kingdoms overthrow. But—Mars, in London's caſt behind the door; Not Mars, but Venus (now) young men adore; O thou bewitching and debauching Devil, Thou introducer of all ſorts of evil, Thou ſoul-deſtroying, all-devouring vice, That to the Devil ſo many doth entice; That doſt effeminate and pockifie Thoſe Creatures called men, both low and high, Whoſe health and wealth, and all, doſt overthrow, Yea, and at laſt into a laſting woe: Had I but power to my will, I would Torment thee, till thy whoriſh heart grew cold. Yea, throw thee to the Devil from whence thou came, And out of Britain blot thy curſed name; And all thy Favourites in England, tame, And put them all (by Law) to open ſhame, And in thy ſtead Mars and Minerva place, And ranſom vertue from a ſordid race. But wiſhing can do none of theſe (old whore) Therefore at preſent I ſhall ſay no more. Ye Sons of Mars, now I return again To you, (whom none, I hope, can juſtly ſtain) Sith I have eas'd my mind in chiding thoſe That to all Martial men are mortal foes. And, Martialites not their foes. among which, your ſelves I muſt include In ſpite of the malicious multitude. To you (I ſay) directly, now I write, And make you ſmile by what I ſhall endite. Which ſhall be inoffenſive every way, Therefore be pleas'd to read me out, I pray. 'Tis intermixt with mirth and ſeriouſneſs, And both as harmleſs as I could expreſs. I know ye can't be taught to exerciſe Sith divers things ſome of you can deviſe. However, after a new faſhion, I Will exerciſe you, if ye pleaſe to try; Through the five Vowels I ſhall briefly run In ſuch a way as never yet was done. Silence, attention, (and obedience too) But for this once, I do requeſt of you.

1. A. DISTANCES. 1. YOur cloſeſt order if you thought it fit, Inch-order, might be call'd, but I ſubmit. 2 Cloſe order in your Pockets keep, be ſure, For 'twill them of a deep Conſumption cure. 3. Cloſe order in your Speech cannot be blam'd For opening too wide, hath many ſham'd. 4. Order your ſelf, affairs, and family, By reaſon, and you'll ſtand when others fly. 5 Orders may not be orderly, but ſure, Orderly Orders will diſorders cure. 6. Order your wits, draw them in rank and file, When you ſee crafty Knaves upon you ſmile. 7. An open order needful is, ſometime But a foul mouth to open is a crime. 8. An open order in Houſe-keeping hath Broke many, while good order kept the path. 9. A double diſtance ever let there be Between your ſouls, and every ill you ſee. 10. At double diſtance (Sirs) ſtand from a Knave, And from a fawning hollow hearted Slave. 11. At double double diſtance always keep From Culleys, or they towards you will creep. 12. At the ſame diſtance keep (if you be wiſe) From thoſe to Honeſty are enemies.

2. E. FACINGS. 1 FAce to the Right, and keep the right way ſtill; Face ſtill about from any thing that's ill. 2 Face inward, and examine well your hearts, Try, if like Chriſtians ye have play'd your parts. 3 Face where you will, 'tis two to one, but ye A Knave before an honeſt Man may ſee. 4 Face an oppoſition; but, to whom? To France, to Papiſts, and the Man of Rome. 5 Face not a ſhrew, when ſhe begins to ſcold, For if you do, her Tongue will never hold. 6 Face to the Right and Left, the Front and Rear, When of diſguiſed Knaves ye ſtand in fear. 7 Face in good earneſt, them ye cannot ſhun, For a good Face hath oft made braggers run. 8 Face not thy Captain with a brazen face, When he doth juſtly give thy Coat a Lace. 9 Face from ſuch Liquors as inflame the blood, Yet Eleemoſinary Wine is good. 10 Face not a Brothel-Houſe, but turn your back, Leaſt Soul, and Purſe, and Body go to wrack. 11 Face from your Wives, when they give urging Speeches, Laugh at their folly, but hold faſt the Breeches. 12 Face, and outface the Devil, and all his crew, In any thing that's honeſt, juſt, and true.

3. I. DOƲBLINGS. 1 DOuble your diligence, and watch, for fear The World, the Fleſh, and Devil, ſhould you enſnare. 2 Double your Guards, and Centinels ſometimes, Or you'll be guilty thought of other crimes. 3 Double Argentum in your Pockets take, Though to your Father you a journey make. 4 Double-tongu'd Hypocrites are double dealers, And near a kin to Cheats, and private Stealers. 5 Double your confidence when money fails, For to look ſneakingly nothing avails. 6 Double your courage when you ſee your Foes Begin upon all hands you to encloſe. 7 Double your patience in adverſity, And 'twill at laſt crown you with Victory. 8 Double your reſolutions againſt Vice, And ſtop your ears, when any you entice. 9 Double the number of your friends, but yet Look to your ſelf; but do not them forget. 10 Double your Prayers in a time of trouble, For fear your trouble ſhould be more than double. 11 Double the fore-front of your Soul, when you Are tempted any evil thing to do. 12 Double your hopes, when nothing elſe is left, For hope hath Rocks of deſperation cleft.

4. O. Counter-Marchings. Id eſt, Contrary-Marchings. 1 TO Countermarch before an enemy, Is one way to the loſs of Victory. 2 To Countermarch your thoughts, puts them into Confuſion, by which ſomething you may do. 3 As Countermarch gaining ground is the beſt, So gaining ground of Vice brings Souls to reſt. 4 Counterfeit Counter-marches againſt Vice, Makes vertue fade, and zeal as cold as Ice. 5 Counter-march from the Counter, if in debt, Leſt Catchpols you into their clutches get. 6 Counter-march evil actions what you can, Let Reaſon and Religion lead the van. 7 Countermarch well your Conſciences, and try What Counter-ſcuffles there do latent ly. 8 Encounter Counter-marchers, and they'll ſoon Run Counter-Croſs into confuſion. 9 Ran-counter to the counter-part, and you Perchance ſome un-expected thing may do. 10 To countermine a Knave that means to cheat, Is honeſtly his projects to defeat. 11 March Counter to the Counter, if you be Plagu'd with that Devil whoſe name begins with D. 12 March Counter to the counter-mand of thoſe Would hinder you from chaſing of your Foes, Or you in juſt and lawful things oppoſe.

5. U. WHEELINGS. 1 WHeel off from evil Company, alſo From feigned friends, as from a deadly foe. 2 Wheel all your ſinful thoughts into a Ring, And let them know you'll over them be King. 3 Wheel Front, and Flank, and Reer, and what you will; Yet what's all this, if you be down the Hill? 4 Wheel off in earneſt from thy ſneaking tricks, O Jack—and from thy coſtly Meretrix. 5 Wheel from the Center to circumference Yet what's that, where's a ſeared conſcience? 6 Wheel round your ſelf, take an impartial view, And you may find what yet you never knew. 7 Wheel off? no, no, till you have paid your ſhot, Leſt you be paid off with the Pewter-Pot. 8 Wheel off from Setting-Dogs, or they'll beſet, And by degrees draw you into their Net. 9 Wheel off from jealouſy, ſtop ears and eyes, Put up the Horn in peace, if thou be wiſe. 10 Wheel from the Tavern when you have enough, Leſt you ſhould meet Pemelians counter-buff, 11 Wheel, and Re-wheel, but wheel not over faſt, For Wheelers Wheel, did wheel him off at laſt. 12 Wheel round the Wheel of Fortune, and you'll find All Men and things unconſtant as the Wind. He's only happy that makes God his friend, And neither needs to borrow, nor to lend.

This (Gentlemen) is all I have to ſay Of exerciſing in this ſilent way. The Military mode I leave to you, For I've forgot what ſometimes I could do: Not having for theſe Five and Twenty years, Exercis'd either Pikes nor Muſqueteers, For time hath indiſpoſed me thereunto; Yet a well-wiſher to all ſuch as do. What I have writ, I hope, will not offend Your minds, which thing my thoughts did ne'er intend. So wiſhing you all Health and Happineſs, And that God would you and your City bleſs.

Paulo Majora Canamus. GReat Armies wanting Order, (as you know) Will diſſipate themſelves without a foe. A ſcattering March, when the Enemy is nigh, Hath ſuch mad Marches brought to miſery, As in the Wars I've ſeen four ſeveral times; Therefore ſuch Marchings are no Venial crimes. Of marching Armies in the Senior days, The ſeveral Nations had their ſeveral ways. Iſrael from Egypt marched five a breaſt, Turks, Perſians, and the people of the Eaſt, Marched and fought by heaps and crowds, in which Confuſion they always ſuffer'd much. The Macedons ſtill march'd in great Phalanges, And kept that order ſeveral Paraſanges, Before they would break either Rank or File; Yet at their manner Caeſar us'd to ſmile. 'Twould be too ted'ous to write any more Of Marches, which I ſupercede therefore. The modern mode of marching certainly, Is far more eaſier for the Souldiery, And alſo more delightful to the eye: In which, who can out-vye the martial Tribe Of London, or their skill in arms deſcribe? The Kingdom is beholden to their care. For every Week they teach; therefore they are The School of Mars, where all the rudiments Of War is taught by old Proficients, For which, this (too too ſcant) Elogium, I Compos'd, to praiſe them to poſterity; Becauſe the preſent Age too little prize them, Though none but envious Ideots deſpiſe them. If ſomething were not learnt of War in Peace, Conduct and fame would ſoon amongſt us ceaſe. Yea, and be over-run of foreign Nations, At leaſt in danger daily of Invaſions. How often Peace hath been obtain'd by wars? How often Wars have ended tedious Jars? How many depredations have been ſeen Where Martial Diſcipline hath wanting been? Danes, Saxons, Normans, England oft invaded, Whereby the Land was very much degraded. But had they been well exercis'd in Arms, They had not felt ſuch, nor ſo many harms. But ſince this famous Company reviv'd, They have moſt of that honour well retriv'd, Which had been loſt in former time by thoſe That were out-matcht by exerciſed foes. But now let French invade us if they dare, (So we but true amongſt our ſelves are) For England never better was provided Of Martialiſts (tho' envy ſeeks to hide it) Than now it is, and hath for many years, As by their brave admired skill appears. Is it not from our Military brood That England ſo renowned is abroad? How many brave Commanders known have I, Which have been Members of this Company, That ſerved both the King and Parliament, In the late Wars? how many of them went Beyond Sea? where much honour they acquir'd, Being for their skill and courage much admir'd. Which high renown they never could have gain'd, Had they not in this Company been train'd, Whoſe enemies have wiſht them wholly cruſht, And all their fame in dark oblivion huſht. Becauſe ſo prais'd in Paris, Venice, Rome, &c. And the remoter parts of Chriſtendom; But they as ſoon may lift Olympus up, And drink Apollo's Pitcher at a ſup, As to exterminate or nullifie This moſt admired Martial Company, Whoſe fame the Muſes ſounded have by droves Among the Martialiſts, and Lawrel groves. Have they not been extolled by our Kings, For the variety of noble things By them oſtended? Foreign Princes too, Have much admir'd at what they ſaw them do. Our Duke in them ſuch Bravery did ſee, That he deſir'd their General to be; And whom he treated as the beſt of men; Yea, with them din'd in perſon, now and then, Altho' they were no friends to his Religion, (As he knew well) but far from his opinion. The Prince of Denmark too, could not refrain From Blazoning this Military Train, When (with the Duke) he led them to their Ground, And ſtill their Commendation forth doth ſound. Shall Kings and Princes, and prime Optimates, Gentlemen, Travellers, Scholars and Magnates, Praiſe and admire this Martial Company, And ſhall a Raſcal ſort of people cry And baul againſt them, for they know not what? Which of the Furies makes them ſo to chat? Surely 'tis Monſieur Envy, and no other, Which to the Devil, is both a friend and Brother. Firſt may the Tropicks meet together, and The curled Main be turned into Land, Firſt may the Welkin from Diana fly, And bright Aurora's bluſhes quit the sky; Alſo grim Mavors ſtill run retrograde, And Jupiter be turn'd into a ſhade; Before a noble generous ſpirit can Creep to a ſlave that is both Devil and man, Whoſe ſole delight is daily to beſpatter Brave ſouls, yet to their faces fawn and flatter: For as one wave another doth impell Unto the ſhore, and o'er the bank to ſwell, Impuls'd by Cynthia, who rules with eaſe, The flux and reflux of the rowling Seas, Which doth not only rage and overflow, But bears down all before it; even ſo Thoſe thick-skin'd-fellows, and thoſe brawny hinds (Whoſe groſſer Bodies, carry groſſer minds) Are always barking (like a Teſty Cur) At little faults; nay they will make a ſtir For nothing; and ſo confident and bold, That Beſs of Billingſgate, they can out-ſcold. Pray ſlight them, ſith to Envy they were born, Paſs by them with an honourable ſcorn. Contra verboſos noli contendere verbis, Sermo datur cunctis, animi ſapientia paucis. Strive not in words, againſt a prating Crew, Tho' all have words, yet wiſdom have but few. Some have more words than wiſdom, (more's the pity) For words diſturb, but wiſdom ſtills the City. Some have more Gold than wit, more wit than Grace; And ſome will ne'er be good, they are ſo baſe. Cum rectè vivas, ne curas verba malorum.

VALETE.

THE MAGNANIMITY and GALLANTRY OF THAT ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE THE Elector of Brandenburg, Diſcovered in His Noble LETTER (HEREUNTO ANNEXED) TO SEVERAL MINISTERS of STATE, Declaring his firm Reſolution to Defend the Proteſtant Religion; for which an Encomium (diſplaying his Great Worth) is here Compoſed and Publiſhed.

By THO. PLƲNKET.

Emore praeſtat per virtutem, quam per dedecus vivere. Cic. Better with Honour die, (as many have), Than live diſgracefully, or be a Slave.

London, Printed for W. Marſhal at the Bible in Newgate-Street, 1689.

TO His MAJESTY. May it pleaſe your moſt Excellent Majeſty, THE Subject of the ſubſequent diſcourſe, (For which I ſhall incurr the Jeſuits Curſe) And that brave Duke (chiefly concerned) too, Illuſtrious Prince, no Strangers are to you. I could not (when his Letter I had read) Forbear (though ſomething late) his Fame to ſpread. Whoſe zeal for true Religion here I have Diſplay'd too meanly, for a Prince ſo brave. However, for His ſake I do requeſt Your Highneſs Patronage (which is the beſt) Of this Encomium, written by the hand Of him that ever reſts at your Command.

AN APOLOGY.

THe Reader may with reaſon demand, why this was not Printed ſooner? the anſwer is, becauſe honeſt Printers (for I would not truſt others) durſt not meddle with it in thoſe perillous days, for fear of preſent Trouble, or the future diſpleaſure of a great Man at Court; beſides, I thought beſt deferring it a while, to give people time enough to diſcourſe the Letter it ſelf; which, being by this time almoſt forgotten, I therefore publiſh it now, on purpoſe to revive the memory of the Letter among us (herewith Re-printed) but eſpecially the honour of that noble Hero the Author of it, though lately expired. However, His moſt excellent Son and Succeſſor, the preſent Elector, being of the ſame Name with His renowned Father, and Inheritor as well of His noble Vertues, as of his ample territories and other grandities, I thought therefore that it might be of as good uſe, and as much to the purpoſe now as formerly. My deſign being chiefly to record and keep in memory amongſt us, the honour and worth of that illuſtrious, ancient and potent Family, for their great zeal, love to, and care of the Proteſtant Religion, a taſte whereof you have in the aforeſaid Letter, to the laſting Fame and Glory of Brandenbourg.

A LETTER FROM THE Duke of Brandenbourg, To ſeveral Miniſters of STATE; SHEWING His Firm RESOLUTION to Defend the Proteſtant Religion. Gentlemen,

I Shall be aware both how and with whom I engage; for through the Conduct of all the Affairs of the Confederates, ſince the Riſe of the War in the year 1672, their ſeveral Projects have been no ſooner formed but betrayed; for, the Jeſuits being the Aſcendant, both laid a Monarchical Deſign, and a total Subverſion of the Proteſtant Religion, all over Europe, influencing moſt Princes Councils, by a powerful Operation of Money, both from Rome and France, which is plentifully beſtowed, and was gratefully received; and though the Jeſuits ſeem to carry on ſeveral Intereſts, being the guidance of many Princes, yet craftily center their Deſigns in the moſt Potent.

And I too ſenſibly know, that when I commanded the Imperial Forces, my Deſtruction was levell'd at, by the Jeſuitical Cabal, by thoſe I Aſſiſted, which cauſed me timely to withdraw.

Now therefore amidſt theſe Diſadvantages, can I promiſe any better Succeſs? I have many Motives to induce my belief, that the ſame Deſign is vigorouſly carrying on, though in a ſeeming Peace; nothing therefore can be of Efficacy to Protect us, till we new model our Affairs, and by a ſtrict, ſincere Re-union, and fixt Reſolution to go through the Work, and to make an utter Diſmiſſion of all the Jeſuits, who lie lurking in our Boſoms only to confound us.

But, I fear ſome are ſo infatuated by them, as not to purſue my Advice till Deſolation and Miſery overtake them: And for my part I will ſtrictly obſerve it my ſelf, and for ever defie their peſtilent Notions, and ſtand upon my Guard, and aſſume the glory, though I be forſaken by all, and chuſe rather to die with the Sword in my Hand, in Defence of my Country and Proteſtant Religion, than ſurvive under the Tyranny of France and Malignancy of Rome; for I am ſure in what place ſoever it dilates it ſelf, a Deluge of Miſery will be brought along with it, both by Oppreſſion and Idolatry.

A Touch at Waverers, Inſtead of a PREFACE. SOME turn and change, and alter with the Wind, Being ſcarce five days together of one mind; Weather-cock-like, ſtand as the Wind doth blow, And what to make of them 'tis hard to know: Now, cry Hoſanna, but e'er Weeks are paſt, They madly roar out, Crucifie, as faſt. Here half a Proteſtant, here half a Papiſt: Here bluſter like Machavilian Statiſt: This week ſtand up for God, the next for Baal: Now ſweet, e'er long as bitter's any Gall: Now lukewarm, cold to morrow, next day hot; As if i'th' airy Trigon they were got. What Frenzy hath poſſeſt the minds of men? For ſtedfaſt you ſhall not find five in ten: What Conſternations are we like to ſee, When wiſe men cannot with themſelves agree? Nor men with men, tho of the ſame Religion, Becauſe ſo wedded to a ſelf-opinion. Jack-Adams with Jack-Adams doth contend, 'Cauſe Jack to Adams will not condeſcend, So Jack and Adams, one another rend. Such Maggot-pates ſhould trade in Hellebore, Leſt Compos mentis they ſhould be no more. Say, and unſay, and change with every time, Play faſt and looſe: Sirs, is not this a Crime? Jeer Atlas, laugh Democritus, for why? Men give themſelves, their former ſelves the lye. Tempora mutantur, & nos mutamur in illis. Stability and ſtedfaſtneſs are loſt, And Honeſty from poſt to pillar toſt. The Scull and Pericranium are fallen out, The Brain with Windmill fancies whirles about; The mouth rebels againſt the mind; the Will Is ſubdivided between good and ill, The Gall affronts the Liver. And the Spleen Shoots poyſon'd Arrows at the Heart unſeen. Mundus magnus homo, Homo parvus mundus. The Microcoſm is out of order; and So is the Macrocoſm by Sea and Land, The Center againſt Nature ſeems to ſwim: Yet men ſee nothing; ſtill their eyes are dim. Only the Papiſt ſteady is in all His Plots and Projects Diabolical. Then ſleep in your ſecurity, till He With horror rouze you from your Lethargy. Multa laudantur in Principio, ſed qui adfinem perſeverat beatus eſt.

AN ENCOMIUM On the Worthy Duke of Brandenbourg, FOR His Noble and Seaſonable LETTER, giving his Reſolution to Defend the Proteſtant Religion.

The Introduction. WHo ſees not Vertue out of faſhion grow, And floods of Vice in every corner flow? Who's ſuch a fool, as cannot hear or ſee Right Reaſon ranked with ſtolidity; And brave Heroick Spirits commonly Clouded moſt ſlily with malignity? Whoſe ſallow Jawbones ſink and fall each day, And through corroding hatred pine away; Darting revenge from a contracted brow, Which at the vertuous covertly they throw; And feed ſo long on envy 'till it brings Them in a deep Conſumption. Yet, ſome things They once approv'd off, now each of them hates, As if ſome frenzy did poſſeſs their pates. To ſee the objects of their malice thrive Is Death: yea, 'tis a death they are alive. Nay, they care not (though to their own confuſion) If Anti-Rome might make a hot concluſion. And with conſpiring Catiline over-whelm Such Patriots as wiſely ſteer the Helm. Fools mount and fall; yea, fall and never riſe; But ſuch extreams are ſhunned by the wiſe, Who firmly ſtand, although they ſtand on high, Becauſe their Pole ſtar is pure verity. Deſert, and not Ambition, is the ſtep, By which they riſe, but Aſſentators leap Ʋpon the Stage, by what they are; but none Of that ſtamp ever permanent were known. 'Tis noble deeds in dangers imminent, That render noble Patriots eminent. Many have by wiſe management of things, Mounted from low degree on Eagles Wings: True noble minds (as unto all is known) Live in ſuch virtues as acquire renown; Which ſome ſo envy, and ſome emulate, As if thy bounds would fain preſcribe to Fate, Envy and Emulation are half Brothers. The firſt ſting kills, and noble actions ſmothers: The ſecond doth excite Men to ſuch things As have amazed mighty States and Kings: Yet, wherein ſuch hath place no true Religion, Their emulation will be found ambition; Which, if not check'd in time, proves ſuch a Beaſt As will on Sheep, as well as Foxes, feast. Could but the Lily now ſupplant the Roſe, And of the Belgick Lion yet diſpoſe; And ſuch a Goſs-hawk prove, as ſhould amate The Auſterian Eagle, and Tridentine State; And raviſh all thoſe Regions between the Pyrenean Mountains, and Cantabrian Sea, Taming the Celtiberians; and from thence Graſp all into Morvedre in Valence. Nay, more, the Alpes turn into Royal Forts, And stretch his Line to the Sicilian Ports, And all, even to the Banks of Nilus catch; Yea, Alexander in his Conquests match: Yet if th'Ignatian Tribe he did not cruſh, His greatneſs would not ſignify a ruſh: For they will have a hand in every thing, So Lewis; would be but almost a King. Nay, many Popes of them have stood in fear, Such Lurdons are they! yea, ſuch ſway they bear, That the Conſistory ſometimes dare not But chooſe him Pope, whom they pleaſe to allot. Strange Fate, that ſuch a ſaucy upstart Tribe, Should Rule the World, and Laws to it preſcribe.

AN ENCOMIUM On the Worthy Duke of Brandenbourg. BUT Brandenbourg, as you may plainly ſee, Scorns once their ſlave, or hobby-Horſe to be. Bright ſtar of Honour! Glory of thy Nation! Teutonick Champion; worth, in exaltation! The Lamp, the Morning-Sun, of Germany, The beſt of Dukes for Truth and Piety; A Worthy, Valiant, Wiſe, great Prince Elector; And of all Proteſtants a good Protector. We, in Great Britain, juſtly do admire Thoſe ſacred flames which ſet thy Soul on Fire, When ſome contriv'd to ruine, or amate thee. And no leſs do we wonder at thee For thy true Zeal, great Spirit, and brave mind, Which we in thy thrice welcome Letter find: Thou didſt afright the Rampant Jeſuits, when Such Thunderbolts flew from thy awful Pen; Their Bulls, nor Fulminations (as we ſee) Can terrify, nor yet diſcourage thee: No, though againſt thee, with them ſhould advance The force and power of ambitious Fr •… Whoſe lofty King, though he is mighty, yet He's not Almighty; no, for bounds are ſet To his deſigns, by one far greater then Himſelf; even he which Scripture ſtiles Amen. He can un-king thy King, O France, with eaſe, And bring him to his foot-ſtool when he pleaſe. The Pope, if magnipotent, yet he is Not omnipotent; (Jeſuits grant ye this) Nor are his Ruffians (who thirſt blood to drink) Immortal, or invincible, I think. He truſts in Men, and maketh fleſh his Arm, Therefore accurſt. He cannot check nor charm Ens infinitum! no, 'tis paſt his skill, We know he wanteth power to his will. The Kings of France, Spain, Poland, Portugal, &c. Are his grand Vaſſals, He commands them all: But Brandenbourg is more Magnanimous, Being ſprung from a moſt noble ancient Houſe; Whom, and ſome others, God will raiſe on high, •… do great things for him before they die; Mean time, great Soul, be watchful, have a care, Leſt for thee ſhould be laid ſome deadly ſnare. The bloody Jeſuits, backt with all but Heaven, Have many Chriſtians of their Lives bereaven. Read o'er the Saracens and Turkiſh Acts, The Mamalukes, and Scythian Cataracts; You'll find thoſe Butchers have more miſchief done Than all of them; and it is two to one, But that at length, their too much medling may Provoke ſome Popiſh Potentates to pay Some with the Rope, and baniſh all the reſt; For where they Rule, there things cannot be bleſt; Then imitate bold Brandenbourg, for he Hath openly Caſhier'd them, you may ſee. Louis, while there's a Jeſuit or Pope, From danger to live free, thou canſt not hope, Ma Foy, Thou canſt not ſafely wear a Crown, 'Till to the Devil thoſe Blood-hounds thou haſt thrown. Thou art not ſure; nay, thou canſt not be ſure They will not hurt thee; how canſt thou endure Such Rogues as Murther'd Henry thy Grandfather? Though he beſtow'd upon them many a favour. Therefore, there's no obliging them, O King! No, though thou pleaſure them in every thing. What danger of them divers Kings are in? To Murder them, or thee, they count no ſin. Serve them as our Eighth Henry did, for He, Thou knoweſt, threw out the Popes Supremacy; And all his Monks, Nuns, Friars, Jeſuits too, By which, a mighty Prince indeed he grew Who was before a ſlave: Take my advi •… Do as he did, and more, if thou be wiſe. But there's no hopes thou'lt ever come to good, Becauſe thou art ſo much for ſhedding blood; Thouſands of Saints thou haſt Dragoon'd to Death, And Myriads more robb'd of their precious breath; Therefore as high and great as thou art now, Both thou, and thine, ſhall to misfortune bow. But noble Brandenbourg, Thou, Thou art He That ſcorn'ſt to Jeſuits ſuch a ſlave to be. Thoſe Hydra's are ſpawn'd in the See of Rome, Storms needs muſt riſe where her Sea-monſters come; For all Diviſions theſe Hundred years, And errors among Proteſtants, appears To be the Spectrums of their plotting brains; Which they have ſpread with no ſmall coſt and pains: For almoſt in each Troop and Company, And each Religious Society, They had ſome to pervert and undermine, Eſpecially in the year Fifty nine; So, that where e'er they come, they miſchief make: Yea, Men of ſoundeſt Principles they ſhake, Setting the Son againſt the Father; nay, The Wife againſt the Husband, that they may Thereby work their own ends. Yea, on each King And Nation, they heap trouble; yea, they bring 'Monſt them, as 'twere a Spiritual Peſt and Pox, And all the evils of Pandora's Box. Then who would not help Brandenbourg? come, come, And drive theſe Monſters out of Chriſtendom. Indeed [true] Jeſuits are Chriſtians; but, Rome's Jeſuits ſeek Chriſtians Throats to cut, Becauſe themſelves are none; for if they were, •… gs would not of them ſtand ſo much in fear; Nor London felt ſo ſad a conflagration; Nor Wars ſo feared in each Chriſtian Nation. The cenſures of the Sorbonne faculty, Of their damn'd errors, and impiety, Shew what they are. O WILLIAM, give the word, And let thoſe Gockatrices feel thy Sword; Do thou appear to many a defence, For of thy Name that is the very ſence; And with the bloody Frenchmen make ſuch work, As glorious Scanderberg did with the Turk: Or as renowned Ziſca, who did rout Great Sigiſmundus, that before did flout And jear at him. Here, why ſhould I omit, Thy Anceſtors, who with their Swords did ſlit The Noſe of that great Whore of Babylon, By whom, and others, ſhe was half undone; For ever ſince her Priſtine Glory Could not aſſume. O that brave Soul, by thee She might be quite undone, conjoin'd with thoſe That dare her hoſt'ring Nimrods now oppoſe. While mercy is in Heaven, and a good cauſe On Earth; who think Rome, and her bloody Laws Cannot be cruſh'd, ne'er rightly did believe In God, but pin their Faith on anothers ſleeve: But this our Hero, better things doth know, As his brave Letter manfully doth ſhow; Which ought to be reſerv'd in golden Pages, To be tranſmitted unto after Ages; That they may read the Magnanimity Of that brave Prince; and keep in memory How early, and how zealouſly he did Appear even in the Front, and bravely bid Defiance to the Foes of Jeſus Chriſt, Viz. The plotting Jeſuits, and their High-Prieſt; Whilſt others ſeem'd to play at leaſt in ſight. Curſe ye ſuch Merez, as ſhall fear to fight, When Siſera is ready to invade Judea, which he threatens ſhall be made The ſcorn, the laughing-ſtock of all the World, And Sion be into confuſion hurl'd. Come Valiant Brandenbourg, thou, and thy Son, Muſt help to cruſh the Brats of Babylon; And other Worthies of this Nation too, Are born (I'm confident) great things to do. Ten thouſand with Gods help have wonders done, Five have I known make Thirty thouſand run; And kill Four thouſand of them on the place, And take Ten thouſand more upon the chaſe; After both ſides appealed ſolemnly To God: And that he would grant victory To them that had the juſteſt cauſe; and ſo It did fall out accordingly; although The routed ſtill were obſtinate. (But God Would not be mock'd, for they have felt his Rod Since that; and more are like to feel.) Pray then Deſpair not, for the Papiſts are but Men, Not Gods, nor Angels, Saints, nor Chriſtians good, Becauſe they thirſt to ſhed true Chriſtian blood: Killing is Murther, and no Murther; but, I'm ſure 'tis Murder good Mens Throats to cut. Papiſts, by their Religion, are bound All Proteſtants to torture, kill, and wound. Surely their Principles were hatcht in Hell, Sith all their Combinations of it ſmell. Doth not this gallant Prince, of whom I write, To noble Reſolutions us excite? In which, I hope, we of the Britiſh Nation, Will think him worthy of our imitation. I ſay, ſhould we not follow his example, Rather than Papiſts ſhould upon us trample, And murder us, our Wives and Children too; Which, I am ſure, they would not ſpare to do, If they had power. A brave reſolution Will much contribute towards their confuſion. Better die manfully with ſword in hand, And fight as long as ever we can ſtand, Than be hang'd up like dogs. Our Wives and Daughters Firſt raviſhed, then kill'd. With horrid ſlaughters Of Proteſtants, in Fields, Streets, Lanes, and Houſes, Theſe things if well conſidered, ſoon would rouze us. But be ſure let the Papiſts firſt begin: For us to do ſo, were no venial ſin. The very ſight of a great Army will Some terrifie; yea, them with horrour fill; Yet many a multitude have very few Good Soldiers in it, either old or new. It is ſuch, not an huge throng, that win the field: But God alone the victory doth yield. Who with the beſt, though feweſt, taketh part, Unleſs their ſin make him a while depart. They that fear numbers, Leaders ſpecially, Much more wil fear to fight them; no, they'l fly. Which will daunt and diſcourage all the reſt; 'Twere better be without ſuch, (I proteſt) A few good Soldiers well conducted, will Do more than thrice as many without skill. Hot-ſpurs againſt a wary enemy, Will do no good, but haſten miſery. When he that keeps the mean will ſafely ride; If he can't ſtemm, yet he will croſs the tide. Brave Brandenbourg, to none is ſecond in The feats of War and Warlike Diſcipline. Elſe he had not been pitcht upon to lead Th' Imperial Army, as you plainly read In his ſtout Letter: where he tells you that His own deſtruction was levell'd at, By Jeſuited Cabals: and how they had Infatuated divers; to which add Their bribing Princes Councils; friend and foe, The whole Proteſtant cauſe to overthrow: Which miſchief, as the worſt of miſeries, He will prevent as much as in him lies. Hold on, Brave Prince, in what thou haſt begun, And Heaven protect thee 'till thy race is run, I know not how ſome will theſe lines reſent, 'Bove all ſuch as to Rome, now ſtand half bent. Nay, others of a better frame are prone To blame all writings which are not their own. For ſelf-opinion hath made them wiſe, So that the fineſt wits they will deſpiſe. But I am none of them, therefore I need Not fear ſuch as on envy love to feed; Who (like the Aſs in Trappings) terrifie Such Mules as can, (but dare not) verſifie Fearing the ſtrokes of their deep drolleries Or to be known for the Popes enemies. If this be all, my Muſe ſhall ſtill endite: Nor ſhall my Pen for this fear truth to write. No, I am born for nobler ends than to Comply and equivocate, as many do. Tranſcendant Brandenbourg! I come again To blaze thy worth, which envy cannot ſtain. Rome, thou haſt ſtartled much already by Thy Letter full of Magnanimity. O the Vindictive rage and malice that Now lies in wait! you know what ſhe'd be at; Viz. Deſtruction, Devaſtation, quenchleſs flames, Blood, rapin, ruin, are her end and aims. Malice [in her] hath found its proper neſt. Envy's enthroned in her bloody breaſt. Would ever any generous ſpirit be A Papiſt if he knew what others ſee? Great Soul! thou underſtandeſt from thy youth, What are their Tenents, and how far from truth. Stand to thy Letter, and God will ſtand by thee, 'Tis he alone that gives the victory. Why frowns not Mars and Minos upon thoſe That would have Earth and Hell at their diſpoſe? But the tremenduos Tetragrammaton Will not, not always be a looker on. The mighty [He] in power does ſurmount: Yea, they ſhall know [He] is Lord Paramount. Can he them favour that would him dethrone? Will he not from his foes defend his own? Is not his Glory now as much concern'd, As when Pharaoh him, and his people ſcorn'd? He can the Romiſh Pharaoh overwhelm In his own ſee; or thruſt him from the Helm. Yea, force him, and his Jeſuits to drink Deep draughts of vengeance blacker than mine Ink. And trample haughty Lewis under foot, And all ſuch bloody Potentates to boot. I doubt not but thouſands alive ſhall ſee Such things as ſhall amaze and trouble thee O France! and thy adherers great and ſmall, Though now moſt confident to carry all. But—Judgment muſt at Zion firſt begin, She muſt expect to ſuffer for her ſin. What ſtorms and Tempeſts do the Jeſuits raiſe? What fears do even mighty men ſurprize? What dire (ataſtrophe's impending are? What ſtupefactive things we daily hear? What ſtrange diſcoveries of Plots are made? Yet Divine Aſtraea ſtill runs retrograde. The Earth's fill'd with fraud and violence, Impulſed by the Jeſuits influence. Yet ſome will credit nothing till they are Convinc'd by feeling arguments. Beware I ſay, beware leſt Eighty eight proves not Like Forty two, or three, when went to pot So many Thouſands, almoſt in an hour. And do not ſome at preſent on us lowre? Pray what aſſurance have you that the Papiſts (Join'd with falſe Proteſtants, and ranting Atheiſts,) Will not in their intended courſe proceed, And which by bloody France is now decreed? Sleep on, in your ſecurity, ſleep on, And ſee what will come of it at long run; Sleep on till midnight horrors do awake you, And unexpected evils overtake you. As 'twas in Ireland (which ſtill makes me groan) In that Blood-ſtreaming year of Forty one, When I did ſee and hear ſuch things as would Amaze, and make the ſtouteſt heart grow cold. But, Brandenbourg, thy Letter hath abated Much of our fears; and Chriſtians animated. Say, ſay, brave Duke, arm, arm, thou ſon of Thunder, And ſcatter theſe fell Termagants in ſunder: Thoſe Birds of prey would fain pick out the eyes Of ſuch as will not offer ſacrifice To their grand Idol; and themſelves adore, As the prime Champions of the Romiſh Whore. To frown them out of thy Dominions, Or baniſh them by Proclamations; Won't do: but hang them up, and then, may be They will not for a ſeaſon trouble thee; But they're ſo brazen-brow'd, ſo impudent, So ſly, bold, malipert, (yet complaiſant) So cunning, crafty, ſubtil, that they will Fool and deceive men of the greateſt skill, That are not well acquainted with their Jokes, Equivocations, ſhifts, Ironick-ſtrokes. For they will ſwear that they are no ſuch men: But Perjury with Jeſuits is no ſin: So, that 'tis very hard to find them out, But Gold can do it, be they ne'er ſo ſtout. What dirty dung-hill ſpirits ſome men have, Who creep to Papiſts, and their favours crave Before hand: how officious are they for them? How ready to beſtow all kindneſs on them? Sheltring and feaſting them at Taverns, and Lend them what money they pleaſe to demand. By what ignoble Policies they do Comply with them; yea, fee their Friars to, Hoping t'oblige them, but—they may as ſoon Evacuate tame Iſis with a ſpoon: For only Polyphemus courteſie They can expect, and that is, laſt to die. What ſervile, ſneaking, abject Tykes are theſe, That every Raſcal Papiſt ſeek to pleaſe? Nay, what if ſome of them ſhould be Magnates! Go, go, ye creeping Capons, 'mong your Mates, Queans, Cowards, Courtezans, Hen-huſwives, go, Wear Aprons, Hood, Coifs, Petticoats alſo. Go, Knit and ſpin; brave ſpirits ſcorn you all, As the Tag-rag, and dirt of Adam's fall. For ye that wink and fawn on Papiſts now, Will, if they bluſter, baſely to them bow. Moſt noble Prince, I bid thee new farewel, Wiſhing thou maiſt Gods enemies repel: A mirrour ſtand to Chriſtian Magiſtrates, A terror ſtand to Popiſh Potentates, A horrour ſtand to Romiſh treacheries, A Souldier ſtand, ſo as to win the prize; A Pillar ſtand for the cauſe Proteſtant, A Father ſtand for the Church militant; Yea, let thy brave Succeſſors ever ſtand For truth, as thou haſt done with ſword in hand. Too careful of thy ſelf thou can •… not be, For all the Jeſuits ſtill threaten thee, (As they do each reformed State and Prince) May Heaven thee proſper in thine own defence And the Proteſtant Cauſe, the which thou haſt Declared to ſtand by unto the laſt. May all the Boreal Princes, Kings and States, And other pious Proteſtant Magnates, Take the ſame noble reſolution, Viz. Turn Actors, and not idle lookers on. Neutrality in ſuch a caſe and time, Will be judg'd an unpardonable crime; Yea, 'tis a ſneaking, dirty diſpoſition; Beſides, 'twill raiſe in men a juſt ſuſpicion, That ſuch are rotten, falſe, or cowardly, Which will beſpatter their poſterity With ſhame and infamy. Nay, Papiſts too, Will look upon them as a treach'rous crew, So that by both ſides they muſt meeds expect To ſuffer, becauſe both they did neglect. Rouze then, prepare with Cannibals to War, And follow Brandenbourg, that Northern Star. Rem gere praeclare, atque uliis praeſtare memento.

PLAIN DEALING WITH Treacherous Dealers. ANNO 1683.

TEll me what mortal can himſelf reſtrain From uttering what unto him is pain? Who would not write being inwardly oppreſt If writing will exonerate his breaſt? Who can but brand the madneſs of the time, And eaſe his mind even in Sarcaſtick Rhime? Are all the yerking Muſes fallen aſleep? I wonder how they now can ſilence keep, When treachery and perjury deſtroy, More Hero's than fell at the Siege of Troy. Then give me leave once more to rattle thoſe That to a Kingdom are the greateſt foes. And though I do fall ſhort of other Pens, Yet have I honeſt, good, and noble ends. Therefore, Reformed Reader, I deſire Thy kind acceptance, which ſhall be my hire. Quare fremuerunt Gentes? Why do the Papiſts rage ſo cruelly? And brutiſh people truſt in vanity? VVhy do they lay ſuch ſtreſs on humane wit, Sith Heaven upon it doth in Judgment ſit? What folly is it to combine with Hell Againſt Jehovah, and Emanuel? Whoever got by ſuch vile practices? Or proſpered in the ways of wickedneſs? VVhat Monſters? what dire Hydra's hath this age Brought forth to fill the Earth with blood and ſtrage? Have all the Furies forc'd a way through Hell, To fright the world, and all that in it dwell? Being conjur'd up by Rome, ſtill, ſtill, at work; Reſolving to ſurpaſs the Devil and Turk, In malice, miſchief, murders, Maſſacres, New Tragedies, and Crimſon Characters. Whoſe Laws like Draco's are not writ with Ink, But Blood; more blood therefore ſhe longs to drink: Wherewith ſhe never yet was ſated: no, Nor will until ſhe faint, and ſpeechleſs grow. Chriſt took his Church out of the world; but, Sirs, The world is the Pope's Holy Church; who ſtirs Them up againſt poor Sion every way, To perſecute, enthral, vex, burn and ſlay. There's few but Rogues and Whores will take thy part, O Rome, and ſuch as rotten are in heart; 'Pray take them all, for ſpare them well can we; Leave us the Wheat, and take the Tares to thee: A good riddance truly, for three or four True Hearts, are of ſuch Rake-hells worth a ſcore. O reſtleſs Bawd! thou ſitteſt now as Queen, Venting upon the Saints thy Gall and Spleen; By how much thou thy ſelf haſt magnify'd, By ſo much ſhall this Woe be multiply'd. We ſee thy Agents can falſe Servants hire, Their Maſters Houſes to conſume with fire; Nay, Maſters too, they can [ſo] work upon, All to promote a conflagration, By firing their own Houſes, O ye Swine, Fell Fiends, Miſcreants, thus to combine With Hell, their innocent Neighbours (without cauſe) To ruine and expoſe them to the Paws Of Tygres, Bears, and Bandogs; who could think That Engliſh-men ſuch poiſon down would drink? Nay, others, 'ſtead of helping at a fire, Rob poor diſtracted people, ſo retire! Theſe are, or ſuch as ſoon would Papiſts be; From which Religion, Lord, deliver me: For well I know 'tis founded upon blood; Therefore, a Papiſt never can be good. The Pope they honour more than Chriſt; yea, more Old Shooes, Boots, Cloaks, and Bread Gods they adore, And other Relicks, once belonging to Some ſilly Dotard, which they never knew. This, and much more, the Jeſuits, and all Their Clergy do impoſe on great and ſmall; Whoſe Pupils poiſon, and contaminate Each City, County, Kingdom, People, State. Who kills a Chriſtian, Heaven (ſay they) ſhall merit Who Murder moſt, high place in Heaven inherit: Theſe are but taſtes of thoſe damn'd drugs, with which The Romanists ſo many fools bewitch: And 'tis but fruitleſs with them to diſpute; For when by ſacred writ they are ſtruck mute, Backt with ſtrong arguments aſſiduouſly; And that while Conſcience in their faces fly, And ſecret wiſpers racking every part Of their convinc'd, and ſelf-condemned Heart, That ſwell through ſpite and ſhame, as in their faces May be diſcern'd, as marks of their diſgraces: Yet, for all this, in words they will not yield, Though Conſcience tells them they have loſt the field; But deſp'rately oppoſe themſelves ſtill Againſt the Truth, through anger and ſelf-will; Forcing their ſtopped Mouths to rave and rend, In railing Rhetorick, with which they'll end. If Papiſts Truth and Reaſon would obey, To real good they ſoon might find the way: Till then, no doubt, Heaven will upon them frown, And by its ſtroak be ſhamefully caſt down. Then 'twill be vain for Turn-coats to retrive, What erſt they might have had; (nor can they ſtrive Againſt the ſtream) wherein their ſentiments Are all prejudg'd; and in ſuch exigents, Who fix their hopes upon contingencies, Cannot be judged to be very wiſe: But they'll not retroſpect to any thing Of Truth, when meekly urg'd, but huff and ding; Yea, ſo faſtidiouſly aſpect on thoſe Which their flagitious practices oppoſe; And whoſe vindictive Souls (perboil'd in hate) Damn ſuch as own not the Trans-Alpin State; Under whoſe Umbrages, they think they're bleſt, And the bi-fronted Eagle builds her Neſt, While the poor Phoenix knows not where to reſt; Be'ng daily threatned by the Birds of prey, Viz. The Romiſh Kites, and Vultures; alſo they That lurk in London, ſpawning plots a-pace, And yet abjure them with a brazen face. Look back ye blood-hounds to bleſt Edward's time, When Truth our Horizon began to climb; And tell me what advantage have ye got By all your plottings? Truly, not a jot. Nay, ye have loſt whole Kingdoms, chiefly by Maſſacring, and inhumane cruelty. Sweden, Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, and Great part of Germany, France, Switzerland; Hungaria, Tranſilvania, Belgia too, And many more have all forſaken you: Beſides, vaſt Ruſſia never own'd the Pope, Nor the Greek Church: Nor never will, I hope, Becauſe your Tenents are ſo black and bloody, And ye your ſelves nothing but miſchief ſtudy: Your whole Religion, I may well compare To th'Strangury, becauſe ſo like they are; Viz. Froth on the top, blood at the bottom, and Sometimes a tearing, burning, torturing ſand: More blood, cries Rome, becauſe (Sirs) the word [More] Is th'Anagram of Rome; where ſits the Whore; In Latin Amor, is her Anagram, Becauſe ſhe loves the Sons of Ge-hen-nam. The Anagram of Sion, [Sino] is, Permitting Men the Son of God to kiſs; To ſuffer patiently, and give them leave To Love, Fear, Worſhip God, and to him cleave: But Jeſu'ts threaten ſuch, though ne'er ſo good, And to ſend French Dragoons to let us blood; Boaſting, that now they have us in a Net, And that our Goſpel Sun-ſhine now muſt ſet; That they'll invade us with a Foreign crew: Which many fear, indeed, will prove too true. Let them come if they dare, we fear them not, For home-bred Brats, for all they are ſo hot; For ſtill I hope, though ſtill they are ſo high, Their Cat-like Cauſe, that luſty Puſs is nigh To hanging; notwithſtanding that ſhe is So Catarumpant now: And more than this, John the Divine hath read her deſtiny; Which many others worthies teſtify. Beſides, I know, (and by experience) Her Hectors (through an evil Conſcience) To be but cowardly; eſpecially If but impugned ſomewhat ſtrenuouſly: For (credit me) true valour they have none; And loth to fight, except they're Two to One. Their deſp'rateneſs is far from fortitude, For their chief Captains have amazed ſtood, Yea, utterly confounded, (as I've ſeen) When but a little they have worſted been; Fear not their threatning brags, nor yet their Swords, Being not ſo valiant in their Hearts as Words. Whoſe Manhood lies in ſtabbing armleſs people, In Murthering the naked, weak, and feeble; In plotting any miſchief, great or ſmall; And Proteſtants by any means enthrall: Their mighty brags (now a-la-mode de France) Are but the copies of their countenance, Not of their courage; for they dare not ſtand Scarce half an hour, and fight us hand to hand: Hold out but the firſt ſhock, and you ſhall ſee The ſtouteſt of them all begin to flee; Whom they can't, or dare not harm openly, They'll do it ſneakingly, and covertly; Or get in with their Servant-Maid, or Man, Nurſe, Midwife, Surgeon, or Phyſician, Apothecary; or ſome one or other, As Siſter, Couſin, Uncle, Friend, or Brother, For Gold, to poiſon them; but if theſe fail, Then with their Tongues and Libels them aſſail: Yea, in a reſtleſs rage, they will deviſe How to beſpatter them with horrid lies; Hiring falſe witneſſes at any rate; To plague, deſtroy, or make them out of date: Nay peradventure, fall to conjuring, Thereby, if poſſible, ſome hurt to being On them, or theirs. Who half their tricks can tell? For all their Plots are laid as deep as Hell. But 'tis a comfort, God is ſtill on high, Who truſt in him ſhall find ſecurity. He laughs at all their Machinations, and Will break their arm with his All-conquering hand. But e'er that time, I fear, (for ſin) he will Permit them many Proteſtants to kill, &c. If ſo, no doubt, they'll rave, and rage amain, Where they can but the leaſt advantage gain, Being baſely cruel where they overcome, Thereto, impulſed by the Man of Rome. There's little of a noble enemy In them, except ſome few Nobility. Here me (ye that with malice are ſo drunk, Whoſe valour lies in fighting for a Punck.) He that is cruel is a Coward too. This Maxim (I am ſure) belongs to you. Oft have I known, and found it to be ſo, In Engliſh, Iriſh, French, (&c.) in friend and foe. On equal terms, 'tis rare that ye do fight. Though your high words, faint hearts, and fools afright. I've help'd to cudgel you in many places, When thouſands of you durſt not ſhew your faces, To one poor Regiment! well, well, but now, All (as you think) muſt to your Idol bow. But if the Lord of Hoſts be on our ſide, We ſhall not fear you, nor your ſwelling tide. 'Tis poſſible (if we muſt come to blows) That ye may have the better of your foes, The Proteſtants at firſt (whoſe help and hope Is in the Lord, not in the Lordly Pope, In whom ye truſt, on whom ye do rely And your own merits for the victory.) But yet at laſt look for a ſmarting blow, A total, fatal, final overthrow. At firſt, I ſay, Victors ye may become; Or divers times ye may us overcome In Praetio, not in Bello, I am ſure: If God ſhall pleaſe us of our ſins to cure. Ye ſhall ſtrike firſt, (if needs ye muſt do ſo) But we'll take leave to ſtrike the ſecond blow. The Laws of Nature teach us to defend Our ſelves, and ſo we will; let who will ſend You 'gainſt us; or connive at what ye do. How e'er, I wiſh, it may not fall out true: Yet for my part I ſcorn to fear you; no, For I have oft been at your overthrow, By reaſon that your cauſe is not of God, VVhoſe Cauſe and Truth ye under foot have trod. Frangit, & attollit vires in milite cauſa, Quae niſi juſta ſubeſt, exciuit arma pudor. It is the cauſe that Soldiers animate, VVhich if not juſt, ſhame will their force abate. Therefore let Chriſt that party put to ſhame, Which at his praiſe and glory leaſt do •… im. Let them be routed, and re-routed too, VVhich have the worſt cauſe, either we or you.

The PAƲSE.

I Cannot but admire at the folly of Papiſts, in wiſhing that the Proteſtants would riſe, and begin firſt. Nay, they have curſt us, for being ſo patient under ſo many and ſtill reiterated provocations; as if they were ſure to win the day.

VVho but a madman would wake a ſleeping Lion? which if but once rouzed, would not be eaſily conjur'd down, or be ſo ſoon courted to a parley, as people imagin; therefore ye Papiſts do not provoke and dare us too much, leſt ye ſtir up the old man in earneſt; nay the meek, the juſt and peaceable man, that is ſo averſe from war, to ſcatter you once more, that ſo much delight in war and bloodſhed, Pſal. 68.30.

The Jeſuits new notions have infus'd; By which the Univerſe they have abus'd. Bewitching and enſnaring Sophiſtry, They do exalt above Divinity. And Ariſtotle's Ethicks (it ſhould ſeem) More than the Decalogue, they do eſteem. Do they not ſtudy Plato, more than Paul? Nay, Machiavil the vileſt wretch of all, As much as Auguſtine? and Tom Aquine, More than Calvinus, or John the Divine? Thomiſts and Scotiſts, do they not preferr Before Evangeliſts that could not err? And their Maſs-book exalt above the Scriptures, Though but an heap of Heterogeneous mixtures. Quos Deus vult perdere, iis permittit ludere cum Sacris Scripturis. Jeering and mocking at Gods Sacred word, Which of the Sacred Spirit is the Sword. Pray tell me then, who would a Papiſt be But ſuch as mean to quit Chriſtianity?

To the Luke-warm Proteſtants. REvenging vengeance, ſoon will draw his ſword, And with bold ſinners will be at a word. Some ſtorm or other muſt be near at hand, To ſweep away the ſullage of the Land. Heaven is provok'd, then mortals look for ſtrokes To fell not only ſhrubs, but ſtately Oaks. O luke-warm Proteſtant, this points at thee, And ſuch as hypocrites and wantons be, Whoſe avarice, ſelf-love, and ſurqued •… y I fear, with blood, their ſtreets will rubriſie. Indifferency, at ſuch a time as this, A treacherous dirty diſpoſition is, And far beneath a man of any worth, High, low, rich, poor, of mean or noble birth. Think ye that the Immortal Powers will Indulge a Laodicean temper ſtill? What! think ye God will be a friend to thoſe, That friendly ſpeak of his nefarious foes? Let's know your hearts, ye double minded, and Inform us truly for whom will ye ſtand? For Chriſt or Anti-chriſt? leave mincing, come, Be either cold or hot; are ye for Rome? Then ſay ſo plainly: No! ye will not yet, Till firſt you ſee who uppermoſt ſhall get. And if you did, ye would but 'quivocate, A knack which many Tykes have learnt of late. For amphibologie, deep diſſimulation, Perfideous practices, black perjuration, Proteuſian pranks, unthought of myſteries, Unheard of falſehoods, Hell-born treacheries. Who ruin ſuch brave ſouls as cannot bow To Romiſh Rabſheka's, are nothing now. But that which moſt of all amazeth me, Is, that good Church-men, theſe ſeem moſt to be; Who (as they've ſaid) would rather Papiſts turn, Than Presbyterians, whom they hate and ſcorn. Which I believe; for, who let fly ſuch darts, Already muſt be Papiſts in their hearts. Whoſe memory and names ſhall die, and rot. Yea, look to feel the fury of that plot, Still fear'd ſo much. Yea, cauſe they have to fear Leſt God thereby ſhould them in pieces tear, And ſuch as they; but this will be but ſport To ſuch as care not for a good report. There's alſo many Summer-Chriſtians, who Love not cold Winters-blaſts ſhould on them blow. They'll not endure the ſtorms of perſecution, No, leaſe and plenty is their reſolution! And rather Chriſt forſake, than their Eſtates. And change Religion, and Religious mates. They will be ſtill, as is ther company, And in all what they ſay, with them comply! Though ne'er ſo falſe, or fear they ſhould them anger. Therefore to ſuch, I nean to be a ſtranger. Can they that now ſpeak ſo ambiguouſly, For the true Proteſtan Religion die? Pray what of ſuch dumb Aſſes can be made, That are afraid to call a Spade, a Spade? For they are neither fiſh nor fleſh; what then? Owls, Apes, and widgeons, or faint hearted men. O thou that canſt a Janus perſonate, Thinking to ſave thy life, and thy eſtate; Read but a paper lately ſet out by Hibernicus, where ſee the vanity Of truſting in vain hope, or reſting on Sly tricks, ſhifts and diſſimulation. For God will not be mock'd by any; no, Not by the greateſt Prince on Earth. If ſo, Look to it, Sirs, for when you think to find Favour from Papiſts, God can change their mind, Making them take your Lives, Eſtates, and all. And other luke-warm ſlaves, by them to fall. Could men each others hearts but underſtand, They'd part and live aſunder out of hand. Where's that great ſtranger Honeſty, doſt know? An undivided heart, who now can ſhow? Conſcience!—what's that? pray where is't to be found? For Conſcience now (once tender) feels no wound! But ſwallows Head, Heels, Boots and Spurs, and al • , And cares not though at laſt it turns to gall. Some Conſciences (of late) are grown ſo large, That Coach and Horſes, and a Weſtern Barge Can turn, and tack about in them with eaſe. And ſwallow Camels with it if they pleaſe. Thouſands make ſhipwrack of their reputation; VVhoſe ſordid ſoils ſwim in diſſimulation, That mortal eneny to Reformation. How many wretch's miſchief ſtill deviſe, Being to all honeſty ſworn enemies. And ſtrangely bent • pon all wickedneſs; Yea, in their Villanie themſelves they bleſs. Vice marcheth boldly even in rank and file; And ruſheth like the Cataracts of Nile. Nay, like e'er long to grow ſo formidable, That Hercules to curb it ſhan't be able. Men ſeem to rant it with authority, Swimming in Oceans of iniquity. For do they not ruſh thorow thick and thin, As if they were on purpoſe born to ſin? Nay, they will needs be damn'd, they will, to Hell, Come what will of it, be it ill or well. Dam 'em! what do they care for Hell or Grave, So they Pleaſure here on Earth may have. The other Laſs, and t'other Glaſs of Sack, Come, all is well enough, here's to thee, Jack. (Saith one to's Comrade) and thus they ſpend Their Lives, which they like Reprobates do end. Repute defac'd, or once with baſeneſs ſtain'd, Will hardly, very hardly, be regain'd. Mens Vertues and their Vices over bide; Time nor the Grave ſhall any of them hide; But many ſo debauch'd and brutiſh are, That to be infamous they nothing care. Some now are made Offenders for a word, Becauſe with Ranters they can not accord; Which Vermin now begin to ſwarm apace, Urging their betters with a brazen face: 'Tis to be feared, that imperious Rabble, May in a ſhort time grow very formidable. He that departeth from iniquity, Is ſure to make himſelf a prey, thereby, To ſuch as favour Popery; or thoſe That do for Wine and Wenches pawn their Clothes. Who cannot Shibboleth pronounce aright, Will be in danger of ſome Popiſh Knight, Knight of the Poſt, I mean, or ſome tale-wright. Who can be ſafe, though ne'er ſo innocent, While Rogues are upon blood and miſchief bent? If, Perjury were well at Tiburn ba •… d, Good Men would not be half ſo much amated; How ſtupid, Sirs, how blinded muſt they be, That ſee not God, in ought, but what they ſee? Proximate objects are conſpicuous, Not things remote, unto the vicious. They mind what's ſeen by the corporeal eye, Not things unſeen, which only faith can ſpy. Tremendous Tribulations nothing are, With them that are immerg'd in Helliſh care. All the veracity of ſacred writ, The Majeſty of him that penned it; Nor thoſe black Scenes that mount the Britiſh Stage, Move not the Monſters of this wretched Age: Whoſe care and ſtudy is to be unjuſt; Whoſe Glory is in their ſhame, whoſe Law is Luſt. Cupidity backt with ſaturity, Is the true complex of ſenſuality. What Rhetorick can court ſuch Swine to good? What Logick can convince a perjured brood? What Arguments hot Humors once can cool, Or from old Cuſtoms wean a doating fool? What Words, what thundring Lectures, Verſe, and Proſe, Can bring old Formaliſts with truth to cloſe? What thwacking Rhimes, what Satyrs can dehort Young Ranters from their Luſts, and baſe deport? What charming Eloquence can Courtiers win, To him that's ready to remit their ſin? What Golden-mouth'd Chryſostom can allure Men to that bliſs, which ever ſhall endure? What Paul or Peter, what Boanerges can Reach Meritorians to the Son of Man? What Angel ſome Profeſſors can convince Of ſpiritual pride, ſelf-love ſelf-excellence? What Saints, or Sons of Thunder, can perſwade Fools into Romiſh Errors not to wade? What Solon can convince ſome blockheads, that There ever was of late a Popiſh Plot? What a ſtrange Prophanatick Age is this, When Truth is ſcorn'd, and falſhood courted is? Where's a true dealer to be found, canſt tell? Pray what's his Name? Ho, where, where doth he dwell? What Preſs, or Pulpit, can ſome ſordid fools Bring to confeſs an error? 'tis ſuch Tools The Jeſuits make uſe of at a pinch, Knowing they'l die like Dogs, rather than flinch From their Aſſertions, be they ne'er ſo wrong, And of ſuch, now in London, there's a throng, Which haunt Clubs, Coffee-houſes, Taverns, and With great Mens Servants, oft go hand in hand, To Proſelyte, or learn from them ſuch News As may their Lords (if Proteſtants) abuſe; Be-ly, traduce, (&c.) that they might odious make them, Whilſt Gotamites for honeſt Men miſtake them; I mean thoſe Semi-Jeſuits, thoſe tools, By whom the Jeſu'ts make ſo many fools. Thus, many are half Jeſuits, although They know it not; yet I can prove them ſo; For they the very Leaven in them have Of thoſe grand Phariſees (men to deprave;) Their jokes, and wheedles, quirks, reſerves and ſhifts, Stile, arguments, craft, impudence, and drifts, Who 'gin t'appear of late on open Stage; Moſt of them under Thirty years of Age: Spritely quick witted Blades ſome of them are; Therefore the fitter others to enſnare, Debauch, empoiſon, as indeed they do, Th'effects whereof, I fear, you'll find too true. For next to no Religion, they will chooſe The worſt Religion, and the beſt refuſe; For Popery indulgeth any ſin, That any wretch is pleaſed to live in, So he but own the Church of Rome; alſo Make his Confeſſion to the Prieſt, and go To Maſs ſometimes, then all is very well; But all this will not keep them out of Hell. Nay, there are ſhe Jeſuits, or Jeſuiteſſes, As Nurſes, Midwives, Chamber-maids, Laundreſſes; Sly Teachers, Cook-maids, Madam-Viſitors, Dreſſers, and Goſſiping Inquiſitors, &c. Pretending zealous Proteſtants to be, Whom at the Church you very often ſee; Whoſe Work is to debauch the Family, Or taint them with the peſt of Papiſtry: He carries lies and tales from place to place, Tending their Lords and Ladies to diſgrace, &c. And others that are ſteady Proteſtants, Have from thoſe Mimmicks many quips and taunts; Which, notwithſtanding, patiently they bear; Yet th'other, for all that, cannot forbear; For which they've yearly enſions: Thus you ſee, How rife the Romiſh Locuſts 'mongſt us be? Who are between half Proteſtants, half Papiſts; Or ſemi-Romanists, and ſemi-Atheiſts. Popery's a Plague, which all Men ought to ſhun, And from it, ev'n as from a Serpent run; For it will turn a Saint into a Devil, A Man into a Monſter full of evil: Alſo transform a Lamb into a Lion, The meekeſt Man into a Wolf; and Sion Into the Grave, if God did not befriend her, And from the Romiſh Tygre ſtill 〈◊〉 her. A Maſs of errors is the Popiſh Maſs; Then who would own it but a very Aſs?

A CAƲTION. I Would have none with Jeſuits diſpute, But ſuch as know that they can them refute; For weak diſputants they will ſoon confound, By which the true Religion looſeth ground: For thoſe young blades, I mentioned above, Good Counſel may (perhaps) ſome of them move; And where Advice and Counſel take no place, There, to be ſure, all goes to wrack apace: But ſuch as ſtudy words, more than fit matter, They give not Counſel; no, they do but chatter. In Council, Time, and Place, ſhould be obſerv'd The Party's humour too; or all is marr'd. Timing of things, that is, to ſpeak in ſeaſon, Will make a Brute give ear to truth and reaſon. Firſt, ſtrive to plow their Hearts, (that fallow ground, And weed from thence whatever is unſound, Before you ſow the Seeds of admonition, (Or they will reſt ſtill in the ſame condition.) Then he that hath a penetrating ſtrain, May pierce the ear, not only, but the brain; Whence it may drop, perchance, into the heart, But God, in this, muſt act the chiefeſt part. But ſome (though ignorant) think they are wiſe, So ſcorn that Men ſhould think they need advice; Theſe ſeem the greateſt fools of all to me Becauſe they over-rate themſelves; but he That takes a wiſe mans counſel (as ſome do) I reckon him the wiſer of the two. I wiſh I could write what I would, of ſuch As for a little Siſter care not much. Deformers, not Reformers, ſtill excite Informers, Non-conformers, to indite. Truth and Plain-dealing under-foot are laid, And Proteſtants by Proteſtants betray'd. Such as ſhould Preach up Love and Unity, Rather excite to ſtrife and enmity: Nay, Protestants, e'en of the Britiſh Church Can now leave one another in the lurch. Ephraim againſt Manaſſes draws his Sword, Yet both againſt poor Judah, can accord. Old friends now take each other by the Throat; Neighbours pick holes in one anothers coat. Some called Proteſtants, (but alias Athieſts,) Nowly upon the catch as well as Papiſts. Falſe Jury-men, Perjurors, Perjurators, Have at the Court, found potent animators. Yea, Juries have been packt on purpoſe to Clear Nocents, and poor Innocents undo. Jury-men have been bribed to betray An honeſt cauſe, and have what in them lay. Might beats down-right, (for right or wrong it would) So that poor people have been bought and ſold. Yea, worthy Patriots too, (and that of late) Have been deſtroy'd to ſerve a turn of State. Yea, ſome have privately been made away, Becauſe they would not change a yea, to nay. Divine Aſtraea up to Heaven is fled, For here on Earth no Juſtice can be had. Vindex! where art thou? why ſo long a ſleep? Behold, how wolves devour the ſilly ſheep. Papiſts, and ſemi-Papiſts, have agreed Like Cannibals, on Proteſtants to feed. For have they not reſolv'd our blood to ſpill, And all that would not ſide with them, to kill? And Rubrifie the Streets in every Town? So make us truckle to the Tripple Crown. Then pluck the Roſe up by the roots (at laſt) And plant the Lilly in its •… ead, and blaſt The Thiſtle (if they can), alſo new-ſtring The Harp again. (Good muſick for a King) And now they wait for the appointed time, (When all their Irons are heated firſt) to climb The Brittiſh Stage; and rule the Nation too, Which they already have begun to do. God knows what next they will be at mean ſeaſon, To ſpeak againſt their height, is counted Treaſon. Who can impending wo's avert, but he That ſaid to Sion, I will ſuccour thee. The Heliotrope turns always with the Sun, And ſo continues till the race is run. The Jeſuits ſhew no ſuch friendlineſs, To Jeſus Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs. Their Sun (or Cynoſura) is the Pope, They follow him, though in the dark he grope. Choſe to walk by Owl-light, that they might Not ſee the beamings forth of Goſpel-light. The Sun to Plaints more welcome is, than he That made the Sun to men, is here we ſee! Thus they of Vegetives might learn ſome good, Were they not of the Antichriſtian brood. The Heliochryſe (when Sol doth culminate The Horizon, his glory to dilate.) His Golden Leaves expandeth out of love To Phoebus, while he walks the Rounds above. But Jeſuits when the Son of God doth riſe With healing mercies, yet! they him deſpiſe. But the Popes bloody Mandates they embrace. Yet Jacob's Star and his Commands debaſe. Sure they muſt be the proſelytes of Hell, Sith all in works of darkneſs they excell. Thus from the Truth they wilfully do range, Which with the Church of Rome is nothing ſtrange.

ERRATA.

PAg. 7. l. 31. wants the word rather. p. 17. l. 25, for fluſhes r. flaſhes. p. 17. l. 35. for louſe r. looſe. p. 19. l. 18. for when r. then. p. 19. l. 30. add the word, to, before be. p. 29. l. 16. for Emore r. Remori. p. 38. l. 10. for thy r. they. p. 38. l. 6. for into r. unto. p. 39. l. 20. wants the word alſo. p. 41. l. 20. wants the word ſhe. p. 41. l. 9. for this r. thy. p. 43. l. 10. for Say, ſay, r. Sa, ſa. p. 46. l. 7. for this r. thy.

THE EPILOGUE. THE World's a Lottery, which do comprehend A thouſand Blanks, for one true-hearted Friend. An open enemy is better far Than a diſſembling Friend (in Peace or War), Diſſemblers are the Devils Embaſſadors, And hollow-hearted Knaves, his Chancellors. Where's nothing but external Sanctity, There's neither faith nor truth, nor honeſty. Some holy men in ſhew may prove in time, But hollow-hearted Tyks (a double crime! Diſſimulata ſanctitas, eſt duplex iniquitas. Diſſemblers can avert to any ſhape, For ſmall advantage they will be your Ape. They'l change the day to night, the night to day. Yea, turn and wind, and change, e'en when they pray! Their Tongue and heart do ſeldom go together. Nor Fiſh, nor Fleſh, nor good Red-herring neither. Sure but a few would gladly be acquainted With one, that's [only] with Religion painted. But here's enough to warn the wiſer ſort, 'Tis folly (fools) from danger to dehort. Quis me impune laceſſit? FINIS.

THE GENERAL EXERCISE Ordered by his HIGHNESS the Prince of Orange, To be punctually obſerved of all the INFANTRY in Service of the STATES GENERAL OF THE Vnited Provinces. BEING A moſt Worthy COMPENDIƲM, very uſeful for all Perſons concerned in that Noble EXERCISE of ARMS.

2 Sam. 22.40.

For thou hast girded me with ſtrength to Battel; them that roſe up against me, haſt thou ſubdued under me.

LONDON, Printed for William Marſhall at the Bible in Newgate-Street, 1689.

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 THE GENERAL EXERCISE Ordered by his HIGHNESS the Prince of Orange, To be punctually obſerved of all the Infantry in Service of the States General of the United Provinces.

General Obſervations.

I. IT muſt be underſtood that before the Exerciſe begin, the Officers at the firſt Advertiſement by tuck of Drum advancing their Pikes, ſhall turn about to the right; and upon the ſecond, march through the Battalion, ranging themſelves in the Rear in the ſame order they were upon the Front; the Sergeants, who were poſted behind the Battalion, ſeparating themſelves to the right and left, ſhall take their Places upon the Flanks till the Exerciſe be done, and the Officers ſhall have taken their former Poſt upon the Front at the forementioned Advertiſement by tuck of Drum, at which time the ſaid Sergeants ſhall alſo return to the Rear as before.

II. The Drummers ſhall ſtay upon the Wings of the Battalion during the Exerciſe, excepting thoſe that are in the Center before the Pikes, who in the time that the Officers march through to the Rear, ſhall range themſelves behind the Major, to be always ready either for giving Advertiſements, or in caſe the Battalion might be exerciſed by tuck of Drum.

III. No man ſhall offer to ſtir or make the leaſt motion till the Word of Command be fully pronounced, and then to perform what ſhall be commanded with a graceful readineſs, and quick motion all at the ſame time.

IV. The Souldier having his Musket ſhoulder'd, muſt ſtand ſtraight up on his Limbs, hold up his Head, and look always to the commanding Officer, making no Motion, but ſuch as ſhall be ordered, which muſt be obſerved as a general Rule in all Commands.

V. The Souldiers muſt keep their Feet a ſmall pace diſtant from each other, their Heels ſtraight in a line, and their Toes turned outwardly, holding their Muskets with their left hand upon their left Shoulder, the Thumb in the hollow above the Butt, holding the Iron which covers the Drawer cloſe to the Shoulder, that the Muzzel of the Musket behind may ſtand ſomewhat high, turning the Lock a little outward, ſo that the Butt may come to the Buttons, or middle of the Breaſt, and the Muskets over all be the more equally carried.

VI. The Match muſt be holden in the left hand, one end betwixt the firſt and ſecond finger, and the other betwixt the two laſt, both the ends a fingers length without the back of the hand, ſo that the reſt thereof may hang betwixt the hand and the Butt of the Musket; and becauſe in exerciſing the Match is to be laid down no more, it muſt never be kindled without expreſs Order,

VII. With a ſhoulder'd Musket the left Elbow ought to be turned a little outwards from the Body, but without conſtraint of the Arm, and the right Arm hanging looſe downwards along the Body with the Palm of the hand turned to the Thigh.

The Manual of the Muskets. 1. JOyn your right hand to your Muskets. 2. Poiſe your Muskets. 3. Joyn your left hand to your Muskets. 4. Take your Matches. 5. Blow your Matches. 6. Cock your Matches. 7. Try your Matches. 8. Guard your Pans. 9. Blow your Matches. 10. Open your Pans in preſenting. 11. Give Fire. 12. Recover your Arms. 13. Return your Matches. 14. Blow your Pans. 15. Handle your Primers. 16. Prime. 17. Shut your Pans. 18 Blow off your looſe Corns. 19. Caſt about to charge. 20. Handle your Chargers. 21. Open them with your Teeth. 22. Charge with Powder. 23. Charge with Bullet. 24. Wadd from your Hats. 25. Draw forth your Scowrers. 26. Hold them up. 27. Shorten them to your Breaſts. 28. Put them in the Barrels. 29. Ram down your Shot. 30 Withdraw your Scowrers. 31. Hold them up. 32. Shorten them to your Breaſts. 33. Put them up in their places. 34. Joyn your right hand to your Muskets. 35. Poiſe your Muskets. 36. Shoulder your Muskets. 37. Reſt your Muskets. 38. Order your Muskets. 39. Lay down your Muskets. 40. Take up your Muskets. 41. Reſt your Muskets. 42. Club your Muskets. 43. Reſt your Muskets. 44. Shoulder your Muskets.

Take heed to make ready by three Words of Command.

1. Make ready. 2. Preſent. 3. Give Fire.

Here follows the Manual of a Grenadier, beginning from a ſhoulder'd Fire-lock. 1. JOyn your right hand to your Fire-locks. 2. Poiſe your Fire-locks. 3. Joyn your left hand to your Fire-locks. 4. Bend your Fire-locks. 5. Preſent. 6. Give Fire. 7. Recover your Arms. 8. Handle your Slings. 9. Sling your Fire-locks upon your Shoulders. 10. Take your Matches. 11. Take your Grenades. 12. Open the Grenade Fuſe. 13. Guard the Grenade Fuſe with your Thumbs. 14. Blow your Matches. 15. Fire and deliver your Grenades. 16. Return your Matches. 17. Handle your Slings. 18. Poyſe your Fire-locks 19. Caſt about your Fire-locks to left ſide. 20. Draw your Daggers. 21. Screw your Daggers in the Muzzle of your Fire-locks. 22. Reſt your Daggers. 23. Charge your Daggers the butt to the right knee. 24. Stand up again, and reſt your Daggers. 25. Caſt about your Daggers to the left ſide. 26. Withdraw your Daggers. 27. Put up your Daggers. 28. Half-bend your Fire-locks. 29. Blow your Pans. 30. Handle your Primers. 31. Prime. 32. Shut your Pans. 33. Caſt about to charge. 34. Handle your Cartridges. 35. Open your Cartridges. 36. Charge your Cartridges. 37. Draw forth your Scowrers. 38. Hold them up. 39. Shorten them to your Breaſts. 40. Put them in the Barrels 41. Ram down your Shot. 42. Withdraw your Scowrers. 43. Hold them up. 44. Shorten them to your Breaſts. 45. Put them up in their places. 46. Joyn your right hand to your Fire-locks. 47. Poiſe your Fire-locks. 48. Shoulder your Fire-locks. 49. Reſt your Fire locks. 50. Order your Fire-locks. 51. Lay down your Fire-locks. 52. Take up your Fire-locks. 53. Reſt your Fire-locks. 54. Club your Fire-locks. 55. Reſt your Fire-locks. 56. Shoulder your Fire-locks.

Take heed you be ready to give fire by three Words of Command.

57 1. Make ready. 2. Preſent. 3. Give Fire.

Take heed ye be ready to fire your Grenades by three Words of Command.

58 1. Make ready. 2. Blow your Match. 3. Fire, and deliver your Grenades.

Take heed ye be ready to uſe your Daggers by three Words of Command.

59 1. Make ready. 2. Charge your Daggers, the Butt againſt the right Knee. 3. Reſt your Daggers.

Take heed to make your Fire-locks ready again.

60 Make ready your Fire-locks.

Here follows the Manual of the Pike, beginning from the Advance.

THE Poſture of a Pike-man with his Pike advanced, muſt be the ſame as the Musketiers with a ſhoulder'd Musket, viz. that he ſtand ſtraight upon his Limbs, holding up his Head, looking briskly, wirh his Eye always turned towards the Commanding Officer, and making no other motions than the Commands do bear, that he keep his Feet a ſmall pace diſtant from each other, his Heels in a ſtraight Line, his Toes turn'd outwardly, and holding the Butt end of the Pike in his right hand, ſtretched downwards along his Body to the full length, ſo that the back of his hand be turn'd ſo much outwardly, as his Arm in ſuch poſture can ſuffer without conſtraint, and the Pike be kept cloſe as well to his ſhoulder as the outſide of his Thigh, that it may ſtand ſtraight upwards, without inclining to either hand, which Poſture muſt be always obſerved with an advanced Pike.

1. Charge to the Front. 2. As you were. 3. Charge to the right. 4. To the left, as you were. 5. Charge to the left. 6. To the right, as you were. 7. To the right about charge. 8. To the left, as you were. 9. To the left about charge. 10. To the right, as you were. 11. Shoulder your Pikes. 12. Charge to the Front. 13. Shoulder as you were. 14. Charge to the right. 15. To the left, as you were. 16. Charge to the left. 17. To the right, as you were 18. To the right about charge. 19. To the left, as you were. 20. To the left about charge. 21. To the right, as you were. 22. Port your Pikes. 23. Charge to the Front. 24. Trail your Pikes the Spear behind. 25. Charge, as you were. 26. Puſh your Pikes. 27. Trail your Pikes the Spear before. 28. Preſent your Spears. 29. Charge to the Front. 30. Advance your Pikes. 31. Order your Pikes. 32. Lay down your Pikes. 33. Take up your Pikes. 34. Plant your Pikes. 35. Order your Pikes. 36. Advance your Pikes.

Here follow the Evolutions.

General Words of Command. 1. Take heed.

AT the pronouncing of this Word, there muſt be great Silence obſerved throughout the whole Battalion, the Souldiers doing no motions neither with their Heads, Bodies, Hands or Feet; but ſuch as ſhall be ordered, and looking ſtedfaſtly to the commanding Officer, as hath been ſaid above concerning the Manual.

2. Carry well your Arms. 3. Dreſs your Ranks and your Files.

Evolutions with Muskets and Pikes together. 1. Preſent your Arms. 2. 1. To the right. 2. To the right. 3. To the right. 4. To the right. 3. To the right about. 4. To the left, as you were. 5. 1. To the left. 2. To the left. 3. To the left. 4. To the left. 6. To the left about. 7. To the right, as you were. 8. Poyſe your Muskets, and advance your Pikes. 9. Shoulder your Muskets.

Take heed to double your Ranks to the Front.

10. To the right, double our Ranks to the Front. 11. March.

HEre it muſt be obſerved, as alſo by all other Marches, that all the Souldiers of the ſame Rank make the firſt ſtep with the left foot, lifting all at the ſame time, to the end that marching ſoftly, looking continually to the ſides, more eſpecially to the right, they may keep the Rank ſtraight, and come upon their places all together, ſtepping, ſo that with four paces they may enter the Rank that is before them, having ſpecial care to carry their Arms well, hold up their Head, keep their Bodies in a ſtraight and unconſtrained poſture, and look briskly.

12. To the leſt, as you were. 13. March. 14. Halt. 15. To the left, double your Ranks to the Front. 16. March. 17. To the right, as you were. 18. March. 19. Halt.

Take heed to double your Ranks to the Rear.

20. To the right about, double your Ranks to the Rear. 21. March. 22. Halt. 23. As you were. 24. March. 25. To the left about, double your Ranks to the Rear. 26. March. 27. Halt. 28. As you were. 29. March.

Take heed by half Files to double your Ranks to the Front.

30. To the right, by half Files double your Ranks to the Front. 31. March. 32. To the left, as you were. 33. March. 34. Halt. 35. To the left by half Files, double your Ranks to the Front. 36. March. 37. To the right, as you were. 38. March. 39. Halt.

Take heed by half Files to double your Ranks to the Rear.

40. To the right about by half Files double your Ranks to the Rear. 41. March. 42. Halt. 43. As you were. 44. March. 45. To the left about by half Files double your Ranks to the Rear. 46. March. 47. Halt. 48. As you were. 49. Halt.

Take heed to double your Files.

50. To the right double your Files. 51. March. 52. Halt. 53. To the left, as you were. 54. March. 55. To the left, double your Files. 56. March. 57. Halt. 58. To the right. as you were. 59. March.

Take heed to double your Files by half Ranks.

60. By half Ranks to the right, double your Files. 61. March. 62. Halt. 63. To the left as you were. 64. March. 65. Halt. 66. By half Ranks to the left double your Files. 67. March. 68. Halt. 69. To the right, as you were. 70. March. 71. Halt.

Every Diviſion muſt double its Files in it ſelf, and the odd File muſt ſtand on its ground.

Take heed to contre-march by Files.

72. By Files to the right about, contre-march. 73. March. 74. By Files to the left about, contre-march. 75. March.

Take heed to contre-march by Ranks.

76. By Ranks to the right, contre-march. 77. March. 78. Halt. 79. By Ranks to the left, contre-march. 80. March. 81. Halt.

Take heed to cloſe your Files.

82. From the right and left, cloſe your Files to the Center. 83. March. 84. Halt.

Take heed to cloſe your Ranks.

85. Cloſe your Ranks to the Front. 86. March.

Take heed to wheel.

87. Wheel to the right. 88. March. 89. Halt. 90. Wheel to the right. 91. March. 92. Halt. 93. To the right about, wheel. 94. March. 95. Halt. 96. Wheel to the left. 97. March. 98. Halt. 99. Wheel to the left. 100. March. 101. Halt. 102. To the left about, wheel. 103. March. 104. Halt.

Take heed to put your Ranks and Files at their former diſtance.

105. Files to the right and left, take your former diſtances. 106. March. 107. Halt.

Take heed to put your Ranks at the former diſtance.

108. Ranks, as you were. 109. March. 110. Halt.

Take heed to lay down your Arms.

111. Reſt your Muskets. 112. Order your Arms. 113. Lay down your Arms.

Take heed to quit your Arms.

114. For Straw. 115. March. 116. To your Arms. 117. Put up your Swords. 118. Take up your Arms. 119. Reſt your Muskets. 120. Poyſe your Muskets, and advance your Pikes. 121. Shoulder your Muskets.

FINIS.