Some, to the Glory of the Lord,
Perjur'd themselves, and broke their Word:

And this the constant Rule and Practice 140 Of all our late Apostles Aets is.

Was not the Cause at first begun
With Perjury, and carried on?

I well remember, Food and Firing,
Some Years before I went a Squiring,
Were both so dear, to save the Life
Of my own self, my Child, and Wife :
I was constrain'd to make bold
With Landlord's Hedges, and his Fold.
God's Goodness more than my Desert
Did then, Sir, put into beart
To chuse this Tree, this blesed Tree,
To be in need my Sanctuary. (To hide his stolen Goods.)

my

one

John Taylor the Water Poet, sneers such wicked Wretches; in the following lines. (Superbiæ Flagellum, pag. 35.)

'Tis all one if a Thief, a Bawd, a Witch
Or a Bride-Taker, should grow damned Rich,
And with their Tralo got with their bellijlo Pranks;
The hypocritic Slaves will give God thanks :)
No, Let the Litter of such Hell-bound Whelps
Give Thanks to th’ Devil (Author of their Helps :)
To give God Thanks, it is almost all
To make bim Partner of Extortion.
Thus if Men get their Wealth by Means that's Evil,

Let them not give God Thanks, but thank the Devil. $. 141, 142. Was not the Cause at first begun,-With Perjurj; and carried on?] The Scots in 1639, were a little troubled, thač Episcopacy was not absolutely abjured in their former Oaths, which many thought binding to them. The Covenanters thinking to take away that Rub, that all Men might with the more brace their Covenant, declare Publickly to the World, (Large Declaration, pag. 347.) “ That the Swearer is neither obliged to the “ Meaning of the Prescriber of the Oath, nor his own meaning, “ but as the Authority fall afterwards interpret it.” (Foulis's History of wicked Plots. &c. p. 240. 2d. edit.) Since many Men (says the Writer of A Letter without Super fcription, intercepted in the way to London, printed 1643, p. 7. by way of sneer.) “ are “ troubled at the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, which they “ took fo long since, when they had no hope the Truth would

Was there an Oath the Godly took,

But in due Time and Place they broke? 145 Did we not bring our Oaths in first,

Before our Plate, to have them burst,
And cast in fitter Models, for
The present Use of Church and War?

Did not our Worthies of the House
150 Before they broke the Peace, break Vows ?

For having freed us, first from both
Th’ Allegiance, and Supremacy Oath :
Did they not next, compel the Nation,
To take, and break the Protestation ?

which our

" have been manifested thus clearly tơ them ; and upon “ Enemies seem to have such Advantage upon their Conscience : “ whether it be not fit, first by the Resolution of some godly Min

nisters, to absolve them, as has been profitably done in the Bufi“ ness of Brainceford, by those two Lamps of our Religion, the " Revl. Downing, and Marfall."

Ý. 143, 144. Was there an Oath the Godly took,— But in due time ard place they broke? JA Sneer upon many of the Sanctfy'd Members of the Assembly of Divines ; who had taken two several Oaths to maintain that Church Government, which the Covenant obliged them to extirpate : namely, when they took their Degrees in the University, and when they entered into Holy Orders : and some of them a Third time, when they became Members of Cathedral Churches. And 'tis Dr. Heylin's Remark, (History of the Presbyterians, book 3. pag. 451.) That it was no Wonder the Presby" terians should impose new Oaths, when they had broke all the

« Old.”

I took so many Oaths before,

That now without remorse ;
I take all Oaths, the State can make,

As merely Things of Course. (Mr. Butler's Tale of the Cobler, and Vicar of Bray. Remains p. 143.) These Gentlemen would not have boggled at the contradictory Oaths of Fidelity, the Governour of Menin takes to the Archduchess, the Emperour, and States General. (fee Memoirs of Baron Pollintz. vol. 2. pag. 314.)

Voi, I.

Bb

. 155

155 To swear, and after to recánt

The Solemn League and Covenant ?
To take th’ Engagement, and disclaim it,
Enforc'd by thofe, who first did frame it?

Did they not swear at first, to fight
160 For the King's Safety, and his Right?

And after march'd to find him out,
And charg'd him home with Horse and Foot :
But yet still had the Confidence

To swear, it was in his Defence ? 165 Did they not swear to live and die

With Esex, and straight laid him by ?

8.155, 156.) To fwear, and after to recant-The Solemn League and Covenant.] Sir R. L'Effrange (Moral to Fable 59. part 2.) mentions a Trimming Clergyman, in the Days of the Solemn League and Covenant ; who said, “ The Oath went against his Conscience, “ but yet if he did not swear, fome Varlet or other would swear “ and get into his Living.” I have heard of another, who declar ed to all his Friends, That he would not conform upon the Bartholmew Act, 1662, and yet did comply; and when taxed with his Declaration, brought himself off with this Salvo, I did in. deed declare that I would not comply, but afterwards heard that such a one, who was my Enemy, swore he would have my Living : upon this, God forgive me! I swore he should not ; and to save my Oath, I thought I was in Conscience bound to conform.

1. 157. To take th’ Engagement.) By the Engagement every Man was to swear, to be true and faithful to the Government establish'd, without a King, or House of Peers. (see Walker's History of Independency, part 3. pag. 12. Lord Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. 3. pag. 204. Echard's History of England, vol. 2. pag. 653.)

Jack Freeman's way of taking it, was by making it into a Supposttory, having served the Covenant so before. (Sir J. Birkenhead's Paul's Church-Yard, cent. 3. pag. 18.) which was as good a way, as Teague's taking the Covenant, by knocking down the Hawker who cry'd it about the Streets, and taking one for his Master, and an other for himself: (see Committee, or Faithful Irishman, act 2. {c. 2.)

. 165, 166. Did they not swear to live and die „With Effex, and traight laid him by ?] “Fuls the 12th, the pretended Two

Houses voted, That the Earl of Esex fhould be General of their

Anny, and that they would live and die with him.” (Memorable " Dentonces, 1642.) Mørcle the 24th 1645, the Lower Members

at

a

If that were all, for some have swore
As false as they, if th' did no more.

Did they not swear to maintain Law,
170 In which that swearing made a Flaw ?

For Protestant Religion vow,
That did that Vowing disallow?
For Privilege of Parliament,

In which that swearing made a Rent?
175 And since, of all the three not one

Is left in Being, 'tis well known.
Did they not swear in express Words,
To prop, and back the House of Lords ?

• at Westminster, vote the Clause for the Preservation of his Ma

jefty's Perfon, to be left out in Sir Thomas Fairfax's Commission; “ thus do the Rebels, ift, swear to live and die with their own Ge. * neral Elex, yet upon second thoughts, they disoblige themselves 66 from that Oath, and cashier himn of his Command. 2aly, Covenant is to preserve His Majesty's Person, and Authority, and yet after“ wards authorize Sir Thomas Fairfax, to kill him if he can," ( Memorable Occurrences in 1645. Hiftory of Independency, part 2. pag. 201.)

Now hardend in Revolt, you next proceed
By Paits to strengthen each rebellious Deed:
New Oaths, and Vows, and Covenants advance,

1
All contradi&ting your Allegianco:
Whofe facred Knot you plainly did untye,
When you with Esex favore to live and die.

(Elegy on King Charles.)
$. 167, 168. If that were all, for fome have faworé-- Ås false as
they, if th' did no more
pre.] No more than lay him by.

“ Of whom it was loudly said by many of his Friends, That he was poyson’d.", free Lord Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. 3. pag. 33.)

*.173. For Privilege of Parliament.] See the Privilege of the House of Commons truly stated, (Lord Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. 1. pag. 310, 311, 312. Bishop Bramhall's Works, pag. 571. Foulis's History of Wicked Plots, &c. book 1. chap. 6. pag. 38. Pryn's Parliamentary Writs, pasim.)

And after turn’d out the whole House-ful
180 Of Peers, as dang’rous, and unuseful ?

So Cromwel with deep Oaths, and Vows
Swore all the Commons out o'th' House,
Vow'd that the Red-Coats would disband,

Ay marry wou'd they, at their Command ;
185 And trolld them on, and swore, and swore,

Till th’ Army turn’d them out of Door :

8. 179. And after turn'd out the whole House-ful.] This they lio terally did, after they had cut off the King's Head : though some few of the Lords condescended to fit with the Rump, namely, the Earls of Pembroke, and Salisbury, and Lord Howard of Escrigg. Mr. Whitelock observes, (Memorials, 2d edit. pag. 396.) “ That, " the Earl of Pembroke was return'd Knight of the Shire for Berks, “ prima impreffionis." and (pag. 439.) “ That his Son fate in the • House after his Death." “ And for an Honour (says he, p. 426.)

to the Earls of Pembroke, and of Salisbury, and Lord Howard of

Escrigg, Members of the House of Commons, it was ordered, “ That they might fit in all Committees, of which they were, be“ forç the House was diffolved."

X. 181, 182, 183, 184. So Cromwell with deep Oaths and Vorus -Swore all the Commons out o'th' House,- Vow'd, that the Red Coats would dishand, -Ay marry wou'd they, at their Command.] (I marry-in the four first editions.) The truth of this is confirm'd by Mr. Walker, (History of Independency, part 1. pag. 31.) who mentions, “ Cromwell's Protestation in the House, with his Hand “ upon his Breaft, in the presence of Almighty God, before wbom be

stood, That he knew the Army would disband, and lay down their “Arms at their door : whenfoever they should command them.” See likewise a Tract, intitled, The Army brought to the Barr, 1647. pag. 8. Publick Library, Cambridge, xix. 9. 3. Preface to a Tract, intitled, Works of Darkness brought to Light, 1647. pag. 4. Pub. Libr. Cambr. xix. 9. 3. and a Tract, intitled, Hampton Court Conspiracy, 1647. pag. 4. Pub Libr. Cambridge. xix. 9. 3. And the Author of Works of Darkness brought to Light, pag. 5. makes the following Remark. “ This I fear will be a prevailing Temptation upon you “ to make you unwilling to disband: knowing, that you must then

return to your obscure Dwellings and Callings, to be Tinkers,

Tapiters, Taylers, Tankard-Bearers, Porters, Coblers, Bakers, “ and other such mean Trades, upon which you could not subfift 66 before these Wars."

*. 185, 186. And trolld them on, and favore and swore,—Till th' Army turn'd them out of Door.] Alluding to the Seclusion of the

greatest

a