Of fovereign power to make men wife; 555 560 565 570 As Ver. 573.] The rebellious clergy would in their prayers pretend to foretel things, to encourage people in their rebellion. I meet with the following inftance in the prayers of Mr. George Swathe, minister of Denham in Suffolk: "O my good Lord God, I praise thee "for difcovering the last week, in the day-time, a vi"fion, that there were two great armies about York, "one of the malignant party about the King, the other party Parliament and profeffors; and the bet"ter fide fhould have help from Heaven against the "worst; As death of great men, alterations, 575 Difeafes, battles, inundations : All this without th' eclipfe of th' fun, Like Knights o' th' Post, and falfely charge Upon themselves what others forge; As if they were confenting to 585 All mifchiefs in the world men do: Or, like the devil, did tempt and sway 'em 590 Examine "worft; about, or at which inftant of time, we heard "the foldiers at York had raifed up a fconce against Hull, intending to plant fifteen pieces against Hull; "against which fort Sir John Hotham, Keeper of "Hull, by a garrifon, difcharged four great ordnance, " and broke down their fconce, and killed divers Ca"valiers in it.-Lord, I praife thee for difcovering this "victory, at the inftant of time that it was done, to my wife, which did then presently confirm her droop"ing heart, which the last week had been dejected "three or four days, and no arguments could comfort "her against the dangerous times approaching; but "when he had prayed to be established in faith in thee, "then prefently thou didst, by this vifion, ftrongly poffefs her foul that thine and our enemies should be "overcome." Examine Venus, and the Moon, Who ftole a thimble or a spoon; 595 600 They'll find, i' th' phyfiognomies O' th' planets, all men's deftinies; Like him that took the doctor's bill, 605 Of Native's birth, tell what will come on't. What makes them cuckolds, poor or rich; What makes men great, what fools or knaves : But not what wife, for only' of those The ftars (they fay) cannot difpofe, 610 61.5 No more than can the aftrologians : There they fay right, and like true Trojans. 620 This Ralpho knew, and therefore took Thus was th' accomplish'd Squire endued With gifts and knowledge perilous shrewd : Never did trufty fquire with knight, 625 Or knight with fquire, e'er jump more right. Atchievements fo refolv'd and bold,. Thou that with ale, or viler liquors, Didst inspire Withers, Pryn, and Vickars, And cross-grain'd works of modern wits) 640 6455 6'50 With With vanity, opinion, want, In western clime there is a town, 655 660 665 To thofe that dwell therein well known, Therefore there needs no more be faid here, We unto them refer our reader; For brevity is very good, When w' are, or are not understood. 670 To this town people did repair On days of market or of fair, And Ver. 665.] Brentford, which is eight miles west from London, is here probably meant, as may be gathered from Part II. Cant. iii. Ver. 995, &c. where he tells the Knight what befel him there : And though you overcame the Bear, |