The Case is Altered.
OR, Dreadful news from Hell.
In a discourse between the Ghost of this grand Traytor and Tyrant Oliver Croomwel, and Sir reverence my Lady Joan his wife, at their late meeting neer the Scaffold on Tower-hill.
WITH His Epitaph written in hell, on all the grand Traytors, now in the Tower.
London Printed, for John Andrews at the white Lyon near Pie-Corner.
The Case is altered, OR, Dreadful news from Hell. In a discourse between the Ghost of that grand Tyrant and Traytor Oliver Cromwel, and Sir Reverence my Lady Joan his wife.
WAlking over Tower-hill near about the place where Sendercome was buried, I saw an apparition appear, Lord quoth I what is here!
Thy Lord, sweet heart, and Queen Joan, the Old Dragon late Lord Protector.
What Oliver my dear friend, In the name of the twelve grand jury Traytors, what comes thou here for.
Why truely I come about several accounts now, the first was to know what strange alterations have been here, since I departed my late reprobate vale of Tyranny; And another thing was to know what was become of my dear Imps, the two Princes Richard and Henry.
As for the two Princes I shall relate their fall, proceeding of their misfortune, by and by, but the product will prove as sad a story, as the fall of Jehew, or Balshazar, but pray tell me first what is the reason of this your solentary walking here.
Why truly part is in regard of decensions, which is always rising between the Devil and I, whereupon I do intend for to streak out and appoint a place where Hasterigs bones, Scot, and Vanes, shall be intered, for absolutely if they would dispatch and come away, with their advice and my own, we could usurp a power from the Devil, and live [Page 7] in a corner by our selves, without interruption.
Why cannot you deal with him now?
No, no, Bradshaw and I cannot, for all we have dealt with him so much as we have.
Well I shall tell them what you say, for I think I shall go to the Tower ere long.
Ah, but not to continue there, poor Joan, must ye?
Yes, truely, there I believe, or else in Bride-well.
Why? you were never accessary to any of my horrid Vilanies, were ye.
No thats true, but part of your venom lighted upon my tongue, and twas never wipt of yet, nor never will to my dying day.
Why what hast thou said to any of them all.
Nothing but true honest presumptious words. That your son King Richard the fourth, had most right to wear the Crown of these three Kingdomes.
Wear a Crown, wear a halter, I know he was never capable out.
Why did you think so, had not he a great many of your devilish parts in him.
No, no, nor develish braines neither, for if hee'd had, he might a run the destruction of City and Country, as well as I did, and a lived like a Tyrant, though he had dyd like a dog.
Aye truly Noll, had he but a took your course, we had all lived in a brave, sweet, diabolical condition; so long as we had three captivitated Kingdomes to rob and impoverish, whom you left him heir of, and General of all the Armies, though I must confesse he knew no more how to grovern them then did a dog.
Aye thou sayst true, Jug he had more mind to his Dogs and his Haucks, then he had to be a Tyrannical Protector, like me.
But indeed Noll he was led by the nose, like an ape in a string, by that Schismatick Judas fact Fleetwood, who run his own ruine by it, taking so much rope, that he hangd himself at last; and thus were we poor reprobates dasht out of countenance, scoft, scornd, and derided, and even stunck in the nostrils of all sober minded people, worse then your wretched corps, did at the inbalming.
O but how did I roar at the [Page 9] news, when I heard that righteousness should take place, it pierced my eares worse then an augor, that even Hell gates did tremble.
But how came the news thither so soon.
Why had not they evil spirits enough about them to carry it.
But what would you have done Noll, had you been there then at that time.
I would have paved my way to the house, with their sculs.
Alas poor dog of Epypt.
But who ruld the sword of vengeance then, when my Imps was discarded?
O the Rump came tumbling in like mad, and sat in the night times a great while.
Why did they sit in the night?
Because they were ashamed to sit in the day.
Who brought them into their former rebellion?
O twas Lambert running headlong as if he would break his neck.
Altogether had been no great [Page 11] matter, but did they continue long there.
No, no he presently turnd them out again, and began to set up for himself.
O brave Lambert the Devil play his part bravely in him, to be for um and gainst um too, but who rul'd the mischief after Lambert.
O a Committee of safety all-weathers.
Ha boyes, they were a safe Committe indeed.
No not so safe neither, for they were presently turned out agen.
Then it seems the Devil plaid his part, amongst my brethren bravely.
Aye truely Noll, and amongst your Children too as I my self.
But where was your den of sedition then all that while, the honest hypocrits were hatching vilanies.
O I was at home at my own joynture at the Cock-pit.
And why did you not continue their?
Truely so I would Noll, but the Secluded Members came in, and they told me twas none of my own, and turned me clearly out of doors at last, neither did they [Page 10] give me as much homage as they might have given to an ordinary Dutchess.
Alas poor Queen, but what did the Rump do when they went to Portsmouth?
O they stole up presently agen, and sate agen.
O fie talk no more, talk no more of this, for I think I hear my bones crackle in the old chest, to think I had not been amongst them in such a fine vilenous sport.
O Oliver you had a good turn out, that the Devil fetcht you away so soon as he did, before these sad dayes had come to pass.
Aye truly Jugg and if a had fetcht thee too, it had not been a hapeth of harme, then thou shouldst a been rid from this calamity, but prethee whether be all those reverence, discreet Rumpers gone, the Devils Compeitdors.
Alass most of them be tabled in the Tower, and each of them have a cupple of Musket-teares honorably to attend them at their Chamber doors, secuer enough Ile warrant ye.
Pray who are the capitals of them.
Why truly tis Arguile, Antrim. Hasslerig and Vane.
O brave politickcal worthy Traytors, all fitting to live in a Common-wealth, and able to destroy it in one half year.
Nay they did intend to do it in less then a month, for had they set the three Kingdoms together in another war, under pretence of Religion, their designes had been accomplisht.
And why were they not?
Because the devil brought out their designes so speedily.
The reason was because he could stay no longer without their company.
But who would you have now to Preach their Funeral Sermons.
O Person Peters my own Divine, that sent me headlong to the Devil, and can he not as well send them? yes faith Ile warrant ye.
Nay truely I verily believe that hees a comming along with them.
Not unlikely truely, for he doth deserve the place as well as the best of them.
But where will you appoint a place to bury their corps in.
One the middle of little Towerhill.
And why there, on Tower hill?
Because they shall not anoy any other good people in the Church-yard.
Pray will ye ordain the Epitapht which are most meet and suitable for such a brave, prophane, ireligious honorable society.
Yes that I will, for my conscience within me commands me to assist any of my reprobated sons of perdition, and they shall be these as followeth.