The arch-cheate, or the cheate of cheats

The Arch Cheate, OR The Cheate of Cheates: OR A notable Discoverie of some parts of the My∣stery of Iniquity, plainely shewing, that this is the Prelates War, mannaged under the Kings name, only to advance the Hierarchy, above the Temporality, Yet leave them, some ex∣ternalls, to deceive all sides and all sorts, a choise peece of Gullery trimely set out.

Writ at the beginning of these troubles, but occasionally confind till now.

THere is a Crew which * 1.1 crowes and crownes them∣selves with Rose-Buddes of bewtie, sweetnesse and delight (of with the Prelates and popishly affected, irreligious religious men are chiefe) who ayming at greatnesse and all kinde of licentiousnesse, &c. and withall to advance thereto nimbly also without toyle yea to Soveranize and King themselves and go∣verne kingdomes, doe breake through all lawes, De∣vine, Humane, Morall, Rationall, &c. to attaine thereto.

2. This to bring about, they finde lies in the interressing themselves into the favours and good opinions of Princes, under the pretence of amplifying their greatnesse and Prerogatives, &c. next by gaining all the powers into their hand as for the emptie titular titles, and some externalls, they leave them to the tem∣porall

* Laike Kings and Peeres to collour the businesse, that the Cheat may not * 1.2 be seene, &c.

3. Their owne names will not carry it, they wanting Law, Right, Title and opinion▪ &c.

4. Besides they must not appeare in the action, but lie close snugge, and close hid as doth in shewes the lurking spirit that guideth the oculer motions, which * 1.3 are onely seene to act all, and all to them is attributed, but cunning Hocus playes his prankes under boord.

5. With Princes then they tamper, who have law, right and title on their side, and opinion too, that foolish goddesse, and goddesse of fooles, their names they advance, magnifie, yea deifie, &c. but prostrate prerogative, &c.

6. It takes Herod-like with some too much with all to their falls.

7. More Princes fall in Court by Flatterrers charmes.

Then in the field by the Aversaries armes, &c.

8. On they goe and pinacle Princes with Prerogatives about God, but sure they will be to mount with them, as did the Devill with our Saviour: and then * 1.4 on, with condition of his dismounting, prostration and 3 worshipping beastly monsters, with seaven Heads and tenne Hornes, they will doe wonders, if not * 1.5 done before they come,—why, they will give him all the 4 Kingdomes of the Earth, and subdue the 5 Nations to him, with an Iron Rod, or rather than faile—6 with a flaile.

9. Great is the Temple of the goddesse Diana, but were it not for her silver * 1.6 Puppetts the godlesse gods and her Temple might goe fiddle—so might Pre∣rogatives, &c. * 1.7

10. These gracelesse youngsters, 7 gracious yet with Princes, and are see∣mingly * 1.8 very officious to accommodate them with Honour, Greatnesse, Maje∣stie, &c.

11. A Golden baite, but the forked hooke appeares not.

12. By this they attaine to be their Counsellors and next the betrust of pla∣ces of command and power which was the white they aymed at, as the onely way to King themselves, and depose Princes, oppose others.

13. These they bestow into hands of their owne faction, such as can flatter and abuse Princes out of their prerogatives, as well as themselves—Birds of a Feather,

14. Now who but these are the only men with 8 Kings I and Queens to, * 1.9 Oh they are wilie Mercuries and have curious blandishments to insinuate in••o and infatuate all sorts, and fatten themselves, &c.

15. Well Princes conceive the power in their owne hands, but P. O. for that, its the 9 Prelates prize, of which he must not know any thing till their ends bee * 1.10 compassed

16. As for him he may goe 10 sleep, sport, hunt, or tennis it, they will order matters well enough for his greatnesse, and renowne if ill enough bee well e∣nough, * 1.11 &c.

17. The Popish government under the cheating name of Religion they main∣ly ayme at, but mum not a word of either not intentions but pranct up preten∣tions

like gaudy Dianah must gadde abroad to bewitch the foolish Sechemites but Simeon and Levi brothers of iniquity drive on their designes like furious Jehu, to circumvent the credulous Sechemites, with universall Ruine. * 1.12

18. The Kings name still carries out all things, but he is kept ignorant of whatsoever is oftensive to his nature or disposition, or else they doe palliate it with pretexes qualifications, &c.

19. They * raile of all their adversaries, from accesse or prepare antidores against * 1.13 their poyson as against beliefe, infidelity and villefie with names to contemptable∣nesse.

20. But with the people, they magnifie an implicit faith believe as the Church believes the trumpe of Cheats, &c.

21. Mountaine promises are made, of Iustice libertie lawes, and Religion, but not a dust or graine made good, except jering as Children and Fooles for their easie cre∣dulity.

Its glory to betray any way disglory to be betrayed.

22. If Robbing, murchering, ravashing, yea all kind of injustice be justice than none more just more faithfull in performance, twise twelve to the dussen.

23 Quarrells are pict, pretences found, on purpose to rout out all oposers either Religious or Morralists.

24. It is easie to finde a staffe to beat a Dogge, with the quarrelsome.

Its as easie to finde a Dogge for a staffe.

25. Other pretences are found to raise Armes, any thing is just with the power∣full any thing seemes soe with the simple.

26. Some on hopes, promises, preferments rewards, offices, and others, a licenti∣ous * 1.14 libertine course of life others errors of judgment, Scruples of conscience, opini∣on pretences of one kind or other.

Most, a fooles paradice—here.

or a ports Elizium—hereafter.

28. What should I say it asketh an eternity to rectifie all these giddie braines.

29. If they be not Traitors, Rebells, Murtherers, Theeves, and punshable as such here, and damnable hereafter who are on the offensive side, and sight against Re∣ligion the liberty of the people, and priveledges of Parliament all established by law. The name of a King is so dazeling that it prostrates all behoulders—except—Bell whom Danill must prostrate.

30. Beautie in Heaven and Earth this grace doth win. * 1.15

It supplyes rigour, and it lessens sinne &c.

31. Souldiers are raised, why, Iohn for the King, so all, and who nor, they see none other, they spie not Hocus under the Board, nor that Ioabs hand is in all this they are light Angells but not Angells of light.

32. If monyes be wanting, then Nimrod like that mighty hunter plundring, rob∣bing whole Countries, Counties to mount their Babell battlements, paralell with those of Heaven, is lawfull and under the name of warring to perpetrat any villany is excellent villany—if any villany be ••xcellent.

33. That which even now was a hanging matter to doe, is now a hanging matter not to doe.

Thus a moment, can Invert, pervert circularly. * 1.16

34. Out goes Summons, Proclamations, Threats &c. to amate awe, &c. Trained, Bands comes in as if to the Goulden Septer—poore folkes, Hocus is to hard for you, its to the Crosiers staffe which like Muses rod hath champt up the Septer, and now begines with its cammocke nose to catch hold of them as did the bush of A∣blahams Ram, they are plundered, they fleed of their fleeces as of Horse, Armes * 1.17 money, and sent away like a pilde sheepe, or as a Dogge with his tailo clapt be∣twixt his leggs.

35. Horse, Armes, money, throng in as if to homage it to the burnished throne which so dazeleth and a stoninisheth all behoulders that they spie not lurking Hocus the Iudas who for thirty pence will fell his Master and all his Desciples—grinning like a Satier or as Mosse his Mare simpered when she eat thistles to see * 1.18 these s•• infatuated fooles purchase themselves halters, manacles, fetters at so deare a * 1.19 ••ate, and like Salom us fooles, goe to the Stocks for correction.

36. If the Throne conquer, yet Hocus is victor, who sliely conveyes away the throne and sets his tressells in the place nimbly over layning them wiith a wat∣chet covering imbrodered with goulden Floure deuces, and as nimbly claps a Mi∣ter the••eon instaed of a Crown all so dexterously handled as unespied of any but * 1.20 the wise * 1.21 Sophia, whose intentions discovers the cloven head of the Miter just like that of the Divels foote out she cries of the cheat, Oh you fooles how long will you continue in your follie but all in vaine as I doe heare, for fooles though brayed in Morters will not forsake their folly, nor will deafe Adders heare charme you ne∣ver so wisely.

37. Now they soveragnize it yet, the Kings name colours all still, I and now he beginnes to colour it also with anger and shame to se the gullery but * noe force patience, perforce, he is as fast as Mars and Venus in Vulcans weary net, the more hee spraules and kickes, the more he is intangled * at this, slie * Mercury laughs a maine but unespsed of any, but only the wise * Sophia who still carries out, but is not heard, Oh you fooles &c.

38. Yet ex••ernalls are allowed as gay as the Chamblet ribbonds, Hocus pulls out of his mouth, to delude the fillie Spectators.

39. So have I seene at Childrens festivalls the gaudie King and Queene follow∣ed by an awfull blacke Coat neither crowned nor Robed, yet well maced who cold at pleasure; though a pawne give Checke mate to both Rex et Regina inbeati.

41. Great matters are promised, hoped for as a•• * but who shall now force to performance, they are Atheists, yea worse, not Moralists, not any Bonds, Oathes, lies will hold any more then Samsons, Hairlaces fillets, or head-bands, &c. you challenge them of this and that, &c except ••ave exclaime what care they, they know you not, how now, away, avant your workers of Iniquity.

42. Helpe o King a railes not how can I saith he seeing that the Lord Prelat plea∣seth not to looke upon either of us.

43. Is not this fine that you have unkinged your King and enslaved yourselves and your posterities to the forked Miter, instead of the arched Crowne, and must now aske and wait for what was once your owne, but it may be never shall bee.

44. All are their Prisoners and Captives from the throne to the cottage, not Kings * 1.22 not Nobles, not Gentry; not any are free, but lie at their mercy for favours or frowns.

45. And now are the commons of England putting on Canvis Breeches and woodden shooes, and the Peeres are but so, ad placitum the Gentry, and are but Gentiles an•• aliants to the Common-weale o•• Israell there.

46. Former freedome and liberty—for like to foolish and prophane Esau, all sort and all degrees have sold their birth rightes for a Messe of Pottage (as red as the sloud of Martyrs.

47. Certaine 21 things called religious men, murther, steale, rape, oppresse, what not, by their temporall agents, who act all, like the apparent Pupitts, but while * 1.23 Mercurie still playes his prankes under-board, or slinkes behinde the Curtaine, like a snarling Curre.

48. Then lastly they jeere to see how finely with the Kings names have S••ale, shewes, promises, personall presence, pro••ests, threats, and flowrishes, messengers, * 1.24 &c. they have befooled all sorts, out of their Religion, Lawes Liberties, and estates each one holding what they have of them simply: nothing in fee-simple, and so simpletons all are.

49. Now Esau his rough hands gripe like a Griffen &c,

50. In the name of forraigne Princes ayd comes in, as if to Princes, their mu∣tuall names, colours, all but it is oft from faction to faction from Cheater to Chea∣ter, and the poore Princes are prund of all, O you Princes how long will you suffer your selves to be gulled of your Prerogatives, under pretence of maintaining Pre∣rogative, is it not time to give over these wilely beguiles?

51. Trust not I say, your lives, nor your Posterities in the hands of Traytors, Rebells, to whom if you comply not, they will send you packing—and not com∣ply, but desie, &c.

52. Suffer their King, so themselves to be overtopt by the Prelacie once more, and the government translated to the Hierarchy, shall their wiles, suggestions, and pretences so far delude as not to see, it its not pretences, but by-intentions w^ch they steere to, rowse up your spirit and quicken your understandings and vindicate your King and your selves, and your Country from their inslavements, and redeeme your selves from their jeers, serious insulations, down with them, and for other matters settle with Wisedome in its opportunity.

53. Call to minde the miseryes, the Irish, so this Nation have indured by their meanes.

54. Be as faithfull to your country, as the Scotts to theirs.

55. As the ten Tribes to one poore wronged Levit.

56. Are we not your Brethren, flesh of your flesh, bone of your bones.

57. And for Religious severity which oweth all sorts. If you dare trust a mortall such dispensations shall be found as shall content all sides without gaine saying, though nothing remove mean then your meane.

58. This cruell crew make riddance of, least it rid us all which God and you for bid.

59. I Protest the King and you are abused by their suggestions, their tenents so their practises are destructive to the prerogatives, yea safety of Princes, States, Law, then are they thus suffered? who should suffer.

60. What hurt doe the Protestants, or sects in Holland, France, &c. are they not faithfull every where some follies, humors opinions they Masse and hould that are troublesome but treacherous they are not, they stab not, nor poyson, betray, for∣sweare, burne fire not downe houses, Cities, whole Kingdomes, they delight not in blood and massacers, as the Papists doe, Oh murther them not by neglect, for neglect is murther, Robery, Rape &c.

61. I end as did the Levite to the ten Tribes, see, consider, Iudge and give sentence.

62. And doe as in the twentieth of Judges, the Tribes did all at their owne charge for our levite assembled, &c.

Read and faile not.

63. They delaid not, but met as one man, and accommodated to right, and re∣venge the injury done to the said one poore Levit, but oh our Levity, &c.

64. Forget not then, Oh all you whom it may concerne, as it doth all. who in a∣ny kinde can doe good, least not only a mother in Israell, but the mother of Israell, yea Israell herselfe be destroyed. which God and you forbid, and you will forbid if men you be, that is have the bowells of men, of mercy, and resolution of manhood in you.

Oh why doth not the Kingdome like an inundation, or deluge overwhelme these rascall crew of Egyptian Gipses.

Least they Cheat the King and State of the Kingdome, and we be a jeare to all Nations. Vale.

A short Summary of the premisses for plain Capacities,

ALL the Atheists, inhumanes, Traytors, Rebells, Rogues Theeves, Cheates, Cutpurses, Murderers, so all idle and lawlesse persons of the Kingdom are met together, and have got the King amongst them to colour, and credit their rogery, his person and name they seeme to magnifie to the people, the King, the King, the Lords anoynted, but Jeere, and scorne both him, and all Lords, just as did the De∣metrians Diana, who magnified her only to make themselves, and as did the Princes abuse, and overthrow Darius and made pretence of godding him, unmade him, and made colour of Prerogating him, precipitated him, &c. These now with the Kings, Person, Name, Scale, Warrants, Proclamations, Letters, Threats, Messengers, &c. ••••asse all sides, especially the simple, whose opinions, Idolatrize the name and per∣sons of Kings, and at this advantage the villanous adversary presumes, glories, in∣sults and jeeres. For what ever they have a mind to doe, they doe it, and the King must, or they will inforce his person, or name, or both to beare it out; Thus Towns, Cities, Forts, &c. are summond, so Horse, Armes, mony are taken up, as if for the Kings use, when it may be he knowes not of it, or knowing, cannot helpe it, injoy all they doe, not he, any thing, but in name, so with commands, Proclamations are

abroad & its not the King, but this faction is accommodated, scornfully, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they urge, what keep Forts, Towns, and what from your King, Soveraigne. Lo•••• Anoynted? cause they should be delivered to him, what not obey your King caus•• they would be obeyd, what fight against your King! the Lords Anoynted, caus•• they would command, rule, doe all things as they list, and have no resistance thus all are fooles, or knaves, or both, and take part with Traitors (as they say to ayde the King) but its to keepe him their prisoner. Forraigne Sta••es are thus gu••••, or would gull, for in thinking to ayde the King, they ayde Traytors against him, •••• politickly intend the King, and so support their owne faction against him, and the State, thus which simple to us, or Knaves, the loyall that fight for to rescue him, seene against, &c. so traiterous, and rebellious, and those true Traytors (cause lo∣cally on his side) seem to fight for him, and they doe so indeed, for its to hold him their prisoner, to colour, and credit their Rogery as afore, so they are seemingly loy∣all, who are most absolute desolute loyalists.

Now seeing its discovered, let fooles Knaves, and Malignants see to it, their pre∣tend not, no longer ••o abuse King and State, and fight, and speake against him, in seeming to speake. and fight for him, as did DEMETRIVS Humanis, and the Princes of Darius all birds of the same Fether, for neither their bauleing, nor sophisticall pretended prate can quit them of being Traitors and Rebells to King and State at large, or content, so also there are Hypocrites murtherers, theeves and Cheaters, &c. and who are so, are base, base then as they are, they must passe for, and fooles let them passe for who are so cheated.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In their ay••es and in∣••entions & are Athists also.
• * 1.2

  1. Thus they render them in contempt.
• * 1.3

  2. As in Pup∣pet playes or other motions under neath guides all. The Kings Name, Hand, Person, &c. dec••ave•• and conquers the Kingdome. IGNOTO.
• * 1.4

  3. Their pro∣phane Hierar∣chie.
• * 1.5

  4. The riches powers and honours of Kingdomes:
• * 1.6

  5. England. Scotland. Ireland.
• * 1.7

  6. Any way.
• * 1.8

  7. Ignorant of their Rogery.
• * 1.9

  8. Ignorant, •••• afore of their Rogery.
• * 1.10

  9. Or the Priests bit. 1 Sam. 2. 13, 14.
• * 1.11

  10. Out geer∣ers of Prince•• so all sorts.
• * 1.12

  The wicked Layty and Clergy of all sorts.
• * 1.13

  by threatnings so by keeping them at dis∣tance, as with a••ile••.
• * 1.14

  Nobles. Gen∣try, Commons all sorts com∣ply.
• * 1.15

  ••gnoto.
• * 1.16

  For them∣selves in the Kings name.
• * 1.17

  Iudas is no Iudas to this Judas.
• * 1.18

  of the wise.
• * 1.19

  He cannot helpe it He is their Prisoner Jeering Hocus
• * 1.20

  Glorious Titles &c.
• * 1.21

  Bribes are promised in the Kings name to be∣tray thus that Fort Castle, &c. and its all by these Trai∣tors for them∣selves, they rob to pay the bribe or paies it, and 10. times more out of the pla∣ces delivered up to them ❧ Virtue that is power is gon from me. For you shall he kept under like beasts by the sword and with implicit factions, Law, but will and that of batba∣rous villanes
• * 1.22

  The Govern∣ment of Spain and France is in the Hierar∣chie their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is, not the Kings.
• * 1.23

  As the Popish Prelates.
• * 1.24

  ••an ••. Nati∣ons put up this. I am of opini∣on whilst the K. is in such ••••cksters handling, no∣thing should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but refeld with scorne, as from these, &c Let not our Nobles and Gen••ry, nor the Scot also. Flatter they doe, using the Kings name O this our worthy Sub∣ject, &c. To raise, pre∣fer, conferre honour as they l••st, then jeere ••t the Gulles that the King doth all, and its themselves by him to purchase the Kingdome. O let respit be til convincement, which doth in∣••••••cement is just.