Clievelandi Vindiciæ, or, Clieveland's genuine poems, orations, epistles, &c. purged from the many false and spurious ones which had usurped his name, and from innumerable errours and corruptions in the true copies : to which are added many never printed before, with an account of the author's life.

A short Account of the Author's Life.

HE was born at Hinckley, a small Market Town in the County of Leicester, if we may esteem that small which glorieth in so great a Birth.

His Father was the Reverend and Learn∣ed Minister of the Place. Fortes creantur è fortibus. Being thus well descended for a vein of Learning he even lisped wit, like an English Bard, and was early ripe for the University, who was one.

To cherish so great hopes, the Lady Mar∣garet drew forth both her breasts. Christ's College in Cambridge gave him Admissi∣ōn, and St. Iohn's a Fellowship. There he lived about the space of nine years, the delight and ornament of that Society. What Service, as well as Reputation he did it, let his Orations and Epistles speak; to which the Library oweth much of its Learning, the Chappel much of its pious Decency, and the College much of its Renown.

The Rayes which he thus shed upon o∣thers, reflected upon himself. But that which alone may suffice for his honour is, that after the Oration which he addressed to that Incomparable Prince, of Blessed Memory, Charles the First, the King called for him, and (with great expressions of kindness) gave him his hand to kiss, and commanded a Copy to be sent after him to Huntington, whither he was hastening that Night.

Thus he shined with equal light and in∣fluence until the general Eclipse; of which no man had more Sagacious Prognosticks. When Oliver was in Election to be Burgess for the Town of Cambridge, as he engaged all his Friends and Interests to oppose it, so when it was passed, he said with much passionate. Zeal, That single Vote had ruin∣ed both Church and Kingdom. Such ha∣vock the good Prophet beheld in Hazael's face. Such fatal Events did he presage from his bloody beak. And no sooner did that Schrich Owl appear in the University but this Sun declined. Perceiving the O∣stracism that was intended, he became a Vo∣luntier in his Academick Exile, and would no longer breath the common Air with such Pests of Mankind.

From thence he betook himself to the

Camp of his Sovereign, and particularly to Oxford the Head-Quarter of it, as the most proper and proportionate Sphere for his Wit, Learning and Loyalty; and add∣ed no small Lustre to that with which that famous University shined before.

His next Stage was the Garrison of New∣ark, where he was Judge Advocate, until the Surrender: and, by an excellent tem∣perature of both, was a just and prudent Judge for the King, and a faithful Advo∣cate for the Countrey. There he drew up that gallant Return to the Summons of the Besiegers, which spake him, and the rest that were embarqued with him, resolute to sacrifice their Lives to their Loyalty, had not the King's Especial Command, when first he had surrendred himself into the hands of the Scots, made such stubborn Loyalty a Crime. And here again he was Vates in the whole import of the word, both Poet and Prophet: for, beside his passionate resentment of it in that excel∣lent Poem, The King's Disguise, upon some private Intelligence, three dayes before the King reached them, he foresaw the Pieces of Silver paying upon the Banks of Tweed, and that they were the price of his Sove∣reign's blood, and predicted the Tragical Events.

Thenceforth he followed the Fates of ••istressed Loyalty, for which, when he had been long imprisoned at Yarmouth, he ad∣dressed his Petition to Oliver; wherein he courteth his freedom with such insinuations as might neither do violence to his Consci∣ence, nor betray his Cause.

After many intermediate Stages (which contended as emulously for his aboad, as the seven Cities for Homer's Birth) Grays-Inn was his last: which when he had en∣nobled with some short residence also, an Intermitting Fever seized him, whereof he died. A Disease at that time Epidemical: and if it had taken him only away (so publick was the loss) it deserved to carry the name of a Common Mortality.

He was buried upon the first day of May (for which nothing but the 29. can attone) in the Parish Church of St. Michael Royal upon College Hill London, Anno 1658. To which being attended by many Persons of Learning and Loyalty, Mr. Edward Thurman performed the Office of Burial, and the Reverend and Learned Dr. Pear∣son (now Lord Bishop of Chester) Preached his Funeral Sermon, and made his Death Glorious.

And now there wanteth nothing but a Monument for him: and in this Book he

hath erected one to himself, which Envy may repine at, but cannot reach.