The maze: contrived, digested, and couched in these distinct subjects: representatives for these present times to admire: presidents for future ages to decline. 1. The traitors tryall. 2. The plaintiffs appeal. 3. The state-monkey, or, The disloyall favourite. 4. Pembrokes plea. 5. A cordiall for Britannicus, &c. 6. The old father lasher to the moderate. The senates ansvver to the Scotch chancelor. A funerall oration delivered at Darby-House. Animadversions upon the fourth section. Orderly marshall'd with these poems: 1. Castles catastrophes; or, Garrisons gaol-delivery. 2. Three state-tarriers coupled up with three tart satires.

THE PLAINTIFFE'S APPEALE. Argued Dialogue-wise Betwixt Master OSBORNE, and Master HUNTINGTON.

Regium est bona facere, & mala pati.

Osborne.

HOw goes the squares, Master Huntingdon?

Hunt.

All out of square, M. Osborne. I hold nothing more dangerous then to accuse a great man of Treason.

Osb.

'Tis no wonder; hast thou no fear of an approaching fury; in levelling thy shot at such a Conquering Leveller, as wins wheresoever he comes; and takes in wheresoever he Summons?

Hunt.

Who would ever have thought that he should come to such a formidable Greatnesse?

Osb.

Who ever knew him since these brackish times, and could think that this cunning Porpuise could fish worse in such trou∣bled waters? Trust me, Huntington, howsoever you stood con∣ceipted, that his braine symboliz'd with his barmy profession; I observ'd him ever, to have Sage in his pate: And that his Head-piece (as one observ'd) would make an excellent Pipkin to boile Monarchy: and his Breast-piece a rare Drippin-pan to baste Presbytery. He knew well how to walk in a shade to his

Foes: and in the Sun-shine to his Friends. * 1.1 Besides, didst not observe how he advanced none to Commands, but such in whom he had a commanding interest? nay, & to oblige them the more, were knit to him by allyance or blood. And these no Shallops neither. For they knew well how to build upon his materialls; and to act the designes of absolute Instruments by his influence.

Hunt.

All this had redounded more to mine honour, if way, as Justice requir'd it, and due Allegeance enjoyn'd it, might be given to my Charge: which was so punctuall in every particular, as it could admit no exception.

Osb.

Pray thee, Huntington, didst thou never read how the Capitol was ever shut, when Janus Temple was open? Art thou become so hood-winkt to the knowledge of these worst times, as not to observe, how Greatnesse is a subterfuge to Guiltinesse? How dangerous is it for Justice to plead her priviledge of Right, or enter into contest with a flesh'd Souldier with his Sword in his hand?

Hunt.

Souldiers who have their lives in their hands, should have grace in their hearts.

Osb.

True, they should so; but these Martiall times can shew us no such Presidents. Successe makes a Souldier swell above the bounds of Justice.

After Pharsalia's Field, so fatall to Pompey, so successefull to Caesar; it was too hard a task for Cicero with all his Eloquence; or cunning Coelius with his Compliance; or censorious Cato with all his gravity and composednesse, to work upon Caesars thoughts any thing lesse then a Monarchicall influence. Either a Caesar or none; and that Caesar a King; and that King no King but Caesar.

Thou art to know Huntington, for else thou knowest nothing, how these airy Spirits, who hatch their high-flowne projects in the Eagles nest, never use to observe friendship, or court any favour out what may suite with their Ambition. He, who was but late∣ly a Souldier of fortune, by his improvement from fat and nu∣merous plunders, is now conceipted that his condition holds in a Sphear above the reach of fortune.

Hunt.

But pray thee, Osborne, can these, who are for the pre∣sent, thus transported with this vading shadow of their preten∣ded

happinesse, grounded on pillage and rapine; and like a rotten Building supported only by the Bases of others ruine; can these, I say, be so miserably besotted with the opinion of their plundred greatnesse; as to imagine that this giddy-headed world will never come to her wits again?

Osb.

What else, Huntington? So long as these Pious Rookes, or Magisteriall Mag-pies, deigne to bestow no better style on their Soveraigne, then a chief publick Officer of this Kingdome: Dost not think they are confident enough of their Cause; and that their Party is grown too strong to entertaine a change?

Hunt.

We shall then, no doubt, have a dainty Waxen State on't, when every blind Moale may cast himself in his own Mold; and kick Discipline with his heeles.

Osb.

What may we expect lesse, when the Feet hold equipage with the Head! The divine Story sufficiently informes us; that when there was no King in Israel,* 1.2 every man did what he plea∣sed.

Hunt.

It will be a great pleasure for an honest minded man to live under such a Government!

Osb.

Honest men, Huntington! Those be rare Birds, and of a forraigne Airy. Were that wise Cynick now living, he would not bestow a farthing candle on his Dark-lanthorne, to spend it in the fruitlesse pursuit of that Inquest. No, no, Honesty now goes by Beards: He that can time it the best, deserves to enjoy his own, and his neighbours to boot. A rough-rigid Committee-man, who will not stick to impawne his Soul to improve the Publick, deserves the Grecian Tripod. This sage Decoy is superse∣ded for all his transgressions from above: doe not mistake me, I mean from above Hell at Westminster.

Hunt.

They have a brave joviall time on't.

Osb.

And so might we too, Huntington, had we been timely wise. What Mad-caps were we, to shoot our Shafts at the Moone? Could we in reason think, that our Gracious Senate would swinge their own Champions, Patrons, Associates, or Assassinates? Had we no Articles of Charge to preferre against State-malignants, but their own Assistants? We had surely, left our eyes at home with those Lamian witches, in running head∣long into such a precipice; as to make fetters for our own feet by our Loyall service.

Hunt.

For all this, I feare not but a time will come.

Osb.

Yes; To suspend us for endeavouring to impeach their Protectors of High Treason.

Hunt.

Suspend us! How doest thou mean, Osborne, by our Estates?

Osb.

No, Huntington, but by our Necks.

Hunt.

Sure they will not be so cruell.

Osb.

O, thou mistakes it! "Mercy to the Wicked, is cruelty to the Innocent. It were tyranny to shew indulgency, or least spe∣cificall impunity upon such as we two are, who have trenched so highly on their propriety.

I shall acquaint thee with a late passage of a virtuous sweetly demeaned Gentlewoman, daughter to Sir Peter Killigrave; who out of her pious zeal to His Sacred Majesty, with a deep sense of His unprincely usage during this His restraint; was plea∣sed to write in Sea-coal, in a place not farre distant from New∣port, onely these words, Hammon was hanged, and the Kings wrath was pacified. For which Sentence she stood in great danger to incurre a censure; had She not been saved by her Book, though by some held for Apocryphall Scripture. And being further pressed; that the Name used in Esther was Ammon; She wittily replied, that H was no Letter: So as by means of her wit so well authorized by Scripture, She came off clear from further censure.

Hunt.

I must confesse, there be more Hammons then Mor∣decayes in that Island. But it was well for the Gentlewoman she came off so faire: For it is no playing with Lyons at the mouth of the Cave.

Osb.

Yet observe but those wanton Cubs of their own Litter; and thou shalt see them without controul, sporting in others Inclosures far freer.

GRIFFITH, a Member of the House, ravish'd the Lady SHƲDLEY; and this was but a prank of youth; exempted from censure. MARTIN may play the frisking frolick Goat; and in the disguise of an Independent, though his jeering Doxes swear by all the indisposed haires of their Boults periwigge; that Hee's become an emasculated Dependent. So as, with a kick oth' breech they discard him; transmitting him

to the Committee of Examinats for an usefull Agent in a troubled State; but none for them. This leprous Lecher, I say, may attempt any Ladies honour: and returne piping-hot from his Neapolitan Stove, and his Common Whoores, to the House of Commons; with an obscene mouth, venting nought but Treason: and this beastly Buffoun must be hugg'd for a Witty Traytour.

Hunt.

And whence all this;* 1.3 but because the KING's Power is weakned: which makes Him more sleighted, lesse feared?

Osb.

'Tis true; yet there was a Precept which admitted no such restraint of Power: nor abate of feare. My Sonne,* 1.4 feare thou God and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change: for their calamity shall rise suddenly, &c.

Hunt.

True; But These, who by their licentious living, rioting and surfeiting, (and all for the good of the Publick) put the Evil day farre from them, never dreame of any such calamity to rise suddenly, and fall upon them. Alas, poore Soules! (for I must pitty them, though I perish by them) they laugh like the Foole when He goes to the Stocks. Impiety cannot promise to it selfe long impunity; Nulla Salus, iniquo bello. Their Principles are deep-ingrain'd in bloud: Their Lawes in Draco' Lines; all Ru∣bricks. That wise (but unfortunate) STRAFFORD, shew'd him∣self an excellent Monitor, and probably, a true Diviner of their future condition. He told them of his feares, when He tooke his leave of earth: "Parliaments grounded in bloud, could promise "no good Successe. We have found it; and They must finde it. For when divine judgement is deferr'd, it inferres more to come. The whole State is sick; and heart-sick: for, how can the Body be at ease, when the Head fares so ill? Now, this Sick State be∣ing sensible of her distemper, seeks about for a Physician: but un∣happy is that sick Patient that is indangered more by his Physician, then his Disease. The Patient is the State:* 1.5 and her Physician is the Senate. But small judgement (it seemes) had this Physician either of her water, or her pulse. For, her water is turn'd into bloud: and her pulse beats nothing but distemper. Members fight One with Another: and threaten Dissolution to the Whole.

Osb.

Their comfort is, their precipice cannot be steep: seeing the whole Island must be laid Levell.

Hunt.

Too certaine; These Civil Warres must leave such im∣pressive Scars to Posterity; that though this terme of Levelling sound cheerfully in the Eare of debauch'd Haxters, and profuse Rioters; who look for a day when Debts must pay themselves: and Trades-mens Books make publick Bonefires: yet be there many plump fed Lobsters both in City and Countrey, will hold it a strange Catastrophe; when the very Dregs of the Land must squeeze their Vessels: and their hopefull Heires, for whom they tooke such infatigable care; become Sharers at best with these Levelling Sharks.

Osb.

It will be, indeed, a strange World, my Masters! as that Corydon of Croydon said, When the Winfleet Oistresse must ride cheek by youle with the Lady Mayoresse in her Caroch: and with a gracious buxom bed, salute her Subjects as She yoggs a∣long, with, a God save you my good People.

Hunt.

Thou doest well, Osborne, in making a merriment of thy Misery.

Osb.

Doe well or ill, all's a matter. Warres grounded on Such Principles, could never fare better. He that holds himselfe safe, should he Sit at the Stearne, in a Disturbed State? Surely, He's as dangerously Distracted as any raving Soule that inhabits it. We were too well fed, to be no better taught. We injoy'd plenty; and our Surfeiting begot in us a Loathing: and our next descent, Scarcity. We desir'd infinitely to fight, though we knew not for what. Pretences and Shadows were faire inducements to ruine a Kingdome. "So sweet is War to those that know it not.

Three grave requisites are to be assisting of necessity to legiti∣mate a Warre: viz. Supreme Authority. A Sound Cause. A just Intention: For Commanding it, for Undertaking it, for Execu∣tion of it. But whether these just grounds were found in our Pa∣lace yard at Westminster, or no? that's a materiall Quaere.

They may fob a deluded State, with telling. All is for the Pub∣lick Good; meane time, Private Coffers be those vast Exchequers of the State.

The Jewish Corbona may not be compared to their Store-house. Meane time, our Commonty is meerly gull'd; They wonder

how so many Sequestred States, insupportable Loanes and Levies in times of Free Quarter, should be imployed: and the Army remaine unsatisfied.

Hunt.

No man that has his braines about him will wonder at it: Those State-Saints, in the times of their feares,* 1.6 discovered sufficiently where both their Hearts and Treasures lay. The Par∣liaments Golden Navy lanch'd forth in those daies for Holland, with other convenient Coasts; where their Wisdomes had set their Rest. Their Purveyors were sent before them; but since their panick feares vanished, they never to this houre overtooke them. Those, who were scarcely Savers at home, in the time of Peace; are now become Usurers abroad, in this time of Warre. Thus the English State becomes a Forraine Staple.

Osb.

Meane time, what will become of us that can neither thrive at home, nor abroad?

Hunt.

We may thanke our loyall Service for it.

Osb.

'Tis true; and thou art to be commended for't. I cannot compare thee more fitly, Huntington, then to One of those brave couragious Doggs that the Prince of Albany sent to Alexander the Great; who scorn'd to fasten on any Small or inferiour Beasts, as Fox, Badger, wild Goat, or Otter; but Lyons, Elephants, Pan∣thers and Tygres. None but brave victorious OLIVER, that Universall Leveller; who makes but an Harvest worke of mowing downe both Wales and Scotland: where in his military Progresse (for Warre is but His recreation) He was entertained with more Debonaire Salutes, and Courtly Congies by that Achitophel-ARGYLE, then ever He vouchsafed to bestow on his Soveraigne all his time; None, I say, but this Northerne Terrour, this Calida∣nian Conquerour, Welsh Warrier could serve thy turne to tugge with: while it was my unhappinesse to be snapt by a * 1.7 Wesel; a Soultry Souter; who alwaies had his ends: and liv'd by them. A rotten rebellious Runnegado, who left his Shoppe to salute the KING his Master with a Pistol Shot. A pilfring Night ranger, that had more Diseases then an Horse: A Fistula in his breech; an Imposthume in his breast; and an Apostacy in his heart.

Hunt.

Yea Osborne, but now Fistula dulce canit —.* 1.8 Gaffar WILD, that Child-Chopper of the Chequer, has from certaine parcels of partiall-guilt Nonsense, cur'd Him of all Disea∣ses, and made Him go streight.

Osb.

But never of the Kings Evill.

Hunt.

Thou meanst of the Evil he meant the King!

Osb.

What else?

Hunt.

Pish! Osborne, thou dash'd the very heart of thy Cause out in the beginning: for though thy Plea were justifiable, thy Foe despicable, nay in the presence of Loyalty detestable: though (I say) thy Cause were as worthy, as his Case nasty, yet thou dark∣nedst it so at the very first, as it could never promise better successe at the last.

Osb.

How! darkned it?

Hunt.

Yes, I'le tell thee how: The first grounds of that Charge, thou laidst against Him were so soiled, sullied, and pur∣fled with Saw-pit Sand, as when it came to be read, very few of either House could Discover the Character.

Osb.

Thou art pleasant, Huntington; But had that Saw-pit Peere liv'd in Severus's time, He would have choack'd him with his owne Dust, for labouring to gravell such an Act of High Treason.

Hunt.

True; but what Act can make Him a Traytour, that acts nothing against the KING but as a Publique Officer? His Prerogative-Royall extinct, Treason loseth her name.— But now Osborne, Since like two tame Fooles, we are catch'd both in one Net; let it be no Eye-sore to thee, that my Foe should be a Conquerour,* 1.9 thine a Cobler. It Skills not much whether my Fet∣ters be of Gold or Iron, so long as I remaine in Prison.

But I heare, Osborne, how thy private Interest having failed in thy De∣signe of freeing the KING, has lately forced thee (what will not the activest and clearest Spirits doe in cases of necessities) to make thy Addresses to the House.

Osb.

It were well argued by Those that Object these Addres∣ses against me, if they could find where that Interest lay. It is well knowne to the whole world, I was free and at liberty to go whither I would, before I gave notice to the Houses of this trea∣cherous Designe against His Majesty. Upon Discovery whereof (after such time as that White-liver'd Leveller had disburdened his Pocket of my Letter) most Men were of opinion that the Houses would hardly bestow any reward upon me for my Intel∣ligence, at least, it hath not hitherto appeared. So that no other

Addresse but the Publique Interest, wherein every loyall Subject is concerned, The Preservation of His Sacred Majesty, had influ∣ence upon Me, to draw me to This: and upon this ground, God (I hope) will still assist me against Hammond, whom I count a silly weake Man in all actions, except Villany and Treason: and that branded Assacin Rolph: and all their Complices.

Hunt.

Thou doest well in that, Osborne; resolution must ei∣ther make us Parliament-proof, or I know not what will become of us. Should we hang downe head like Bull-rushes, we should be presently accounted False-Accusers: Such as were ashamed of our Charge.

Osb.

Which for my part, I shall never be: Truth is, that Re∣verend Senate which pretends such Uprightnesse; may be asha∣med to enjoyne us a peremptory Day to pursue our Charge: and now being ready to justifie our Plea; thus to trifle time, and poast us off with fruitlesse Delaies: Which presupposeth Some (and those no Rookes of a Low Perch neither) to be accessary to the Bill.

Hunt.

Blame them not then if they make it their Labour, to flip their necks out oth' Collar.— Now I professe to thee, Osborne, (for I am so perswaded) that those Senate Zimri's who have been hatching their Crocodile-eggs visibly these eight yeares; but invisibly Some Decads of Time; meane by some nimble tricks of Legerdemaine to have those hatefull Traytours, whom we have justly accused and impeached, clearly acquitted; and our selves who stand in Defence of our Plea, personally indited.

Osb.

So, indeed, was that Wildmans Motion.

Hunt.

And were not this extreame justice, for us to be thrown into Prison, for our labouring by timely prevention, the preser∣vation of the KING's Person?

Osb.

Pish! What doest thou speak of Justice?

—Terras Astraearel quit.

Westminster-hall has shut gates of her long agoe. That Court of Wards Cushion, whose imbrodery profest it selfe an Attourney for the Widow and Fatherlesse, is worne to the botome. That Court cannot be more out of Request then the Cushion out of Date. Be∣sides, that Dieu & Mon Droit, which was sometimes held a pro∣per Posie for every Court of Justice, suffers with our Saints in all

our Cathedrall and Parochiall Church-windows: being a French Posie, and held Superstitious, because it smels of the Countrey of Queene Mary.

Hunt.

Whereto then shall we appeale! To the Court of Con∣science?

Osb.

In no case; That was put downe with the High Commis∣sion. Though in truth, it went out of the Court long before the Court went downe.—No; since we are shut from all Courts, let us flie into our selves: The Sanctuary of a Sincere Conscience; where we shall find a faithfull Advocate to plead our Inno∣cence.

Hunt.

Agreed.

"Let Foes and Furies rage, a loyall brest "May safely say, Come Soul, and take thy rest.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This was Ju∣gurths policy; which highly improv'd his Commands. Salust. Ma••rob. Plutarch. Montan.
• * 1.2

  Iudg. 17.10.
• * 1.3

  But if it be in the Armies power (as 'tis conceiv'd to be) to purge the Houses, as Hercules did those Augean Stables: the Parliament may thank themselves; Their power will be abridg'd, as well as the Kings.
• * 1.4

  Prov. 24.21, 22.
• * 1.5

  Infoeliciter ae∣grotat, cui plu•• est à Medico pe∣riculi quàm à Morb••.
• * 1.6

  Make inquiry at the Leopard, the Unicorne, the Victory, the Marygold, the Ensurer, the Soveraigne, (wherein they desire no great share:) And some of these will acquaint you better, where these Gebezzais have banked their treasure.
• * 1.7

  This stigma∣tiz'd Traytour was since made G••vern: of the Isle of Wight, where He pra∣ctises that blo••d: Designe against his So∣ve••rigne Lord and Master.
• * 1.8

  A Wild Barren braine for a Lord Chiefe Baron.
• * 1.9

  Parum refert an compedibus au∣reis an ferreis perstringar, mo∣dò detincar. Pausan. in Plut.