A true relation of some passages which passed at Madrid in the year 1623. by Prince Charles, being then in Spain prosecuting the match with the Lady Infanta.: As also, severall observations of eleven ominous presages, some of them hapning in the same hear whil'st the said Prince was in Spain, the rest of them hapned from that time untill his death. With a discovery of some of the wayes which the then Popish Bishops used to bring Poperie into this nation. / By a lover of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the wellfare of this nation.

A true Relation of some passages which passed at Madrid in Spain, in the year 1623. by Prince Charles, being then prosecuting the Match with the Lady Infanta. As also some Observations of several Ominus Presages, some of them hapning the same year, 1623. the rest of them hapning from that time until his death.

Reader,

I Do desire thee to consider with thy self if thou hast hard of, or seen any of these observations following; if yea, then whether thou didst make that use of them, as was expected from Gods hands thou shouldst have done; for certainly they were not done in a corner, but were sent from God as forerunners of his wrath against the late King, and all those Popishly inclined Prelats, and other his abetters, that did assist him in those Practises and Councels, for the bringing in of Popery into this Nati∣on, as it did plainly appear by the s•…•…encing of so many Godly and Orthodox Ministers, as then were put from their preaching and livings since his coming from Spain, at which time many young Divines at receiving their O∣rders for preaching, were forbidden to read certain mens works, as M. Perkins his works, Clarks Sermons and others, and were likewise limited what subject, they should preach on, as the Lords Prayer, the Belief, the Ten Commande∣ments, and the like, and the better to bring their practises to passe, they did cause all. Orthodox books that were out of print, and to be reprinted, (although the Authors of them were dead many years before) to be brought to the Bishops Chaplains to be reviewed by them, who were half,

if not altogether Popish, or at least Arminians, and they to expunge, or put in any Popish tenet, which they thought fit to put in, although those men which wrote those books were men of as sound judgment as any of those that did corrupt or abuse their works, and it is very likely that if the Bishops themseves were so much given to Popery they would entertain none to be their Chaplains but such as should be as themselves were, and by that means many good Ministers works were corrupted, and themselves counted Popish by all that should read their new revised works, which the Authors were no wayes guilty of. But you will say that many of the Bishops were free from Popery. It is very true, some of them were so, but those that were nearest to the King in his Councels were not, as Neal, Wren, Laud, and others were not; but mark I pray you, 30. years before the Angels of England did begin to fall, (which were the Bishops, as Mr. Brightman a famous Divine did call them; and one whom the then Bishops persecuted even to the forsaking of his Native Countrey) he the said Brightman did prophesie the downfall of them to begin in the year 1639. which fell out very neer the time, for in the year 1640. or very neer it, they were expelled the Parliament for their misde∣menors their, for many of them appeared then to be Popish.

And after the wars began, Bishop Wrens house being searched, there was found in it a new set of Massing plate, it was as neat a set of plate as the Pope hath any in his Chappel. And Doctor Peerce the then Bishop of Bath and Wells (as it was confidently spoken of, and likewise written, did send word to the then Bishop of Canterbury (Laud) and in his Letter to him, did thanke God that he had not left a Lectur in all his Diocesse, (a thing ve∣ry fit to thanke God for) But I pray take notice that all

these things were acted after the King came from Spain (by the Bishops), for the late King being in the year 1623. but Prince, was sent into Spain by King James, accompanied with George Duke of Buckingham, and Sit Francis Cotington, where after some treaty with the King of Spain concerning the Infanta, (whom he con∣ceived should have been his wife) the Divines of Spain opposing the match, did put many rubs in the way, but the chiefest of them was the unlawfulnesse of matching the daughter of Spain with an Heretick, and one that they could have no assurance of, that she should have the free exercise of her religion, for her self and her retinew with∣out good caution given for the same, and no other caution would be excepted on but the two Port Towns of Plimouth and Dartmouth, neither did they conceive it fit to have any further treary on the premises, untill ap∣probation thereof were first had and obtained from the Popes Holinesse.

And to that end the Prince writes his Lemer to his Holinesse, wherein he gives him the style of most Holy Father, and after Complements used sutable to the dig∣nity of his Holinesse, he makes known unto him the cause of his so suddain coming Spain, (which as he said) was to gain the Lady Infanta to be his wife, and with∣all related to his Holinesse what a dangerous conse∣quence it would be to the Catholiques of England, if the Divines of Spain should make any further scruple in opposing the match; and he did also professe upon the faith of a Christian Prince, that he would hazard his life and all his Kingdomes, for the propagating of the Roman-Catholick Religion, with other circumstances of the like nature.

His Holinesse answered his Highnesse Letter with the like Complemers, laying before him the Valour of his

noble Ancestors, who hazzarded their lives and all their fortunes, and all that was deer unto them in defending the Catholick saith, and did not only merit unto themselves eternall glory and happinesse in heaven, but gained unto themselves also, and to their posterity, everlasting same and renow here upon earth, and then ex∣citing him) as his Ancestors had done) to go forward in promoting the Catholick faith and so with is holinesse his benedict on he bequeathed his highnesse, to the protect on of the Almighty.

Yet the Divines were not satisfyed with his Highnesse so large promises to his Holinesse, but still opposed the match with might and main, so that the Prince was con∣strained to send another writing to the King of Spain, of one whole sheet of paper fully written and sent it by the hands of the Duke de Olavarce, intimating what a dishonour it would be both to his person and reputation, if he should not obtain the prize which he so much aimed at, and which he did esteem above all the treasures in the whole world, and that it would be a great hindrance to the Catholicks of England from attaining that which now they might obtain, if he might not have her which his soul so much desired; but he hoped that those so celebrious Divines would not put him to give such caution as was desired, and as they propounded, and could not be by him with honor granted, especially in regard his Father had granted the Catholicks of England the free exercise of their Religi∣on seven years before his coming into Spain, and with all exciting them to consider that neither his Father nor himself had broken their words in the least title of any the capitulations that had past between them, ad the Divines in not taking the word nor Oath of his Father nor of himself, for performance of what had been capitulated, would be a means to cause his

Fathers vassals every day to raise new scruples and ob∣structions, so that the Catholicks of England should not injoy that freedome of the exercise of their Religion which now they have, and that if he might injoy her whom his soul so much desired, it would be a means that none of his Fathers vassals should dare to stir.

And he doth also promise upon the faith of a Christi∣on Prince, that nothing in the world should make him break his word in the least jot or tittle of any that should be capittulated on, but would hazzard his life and all his Kingdomes, and all that was deer unto him, for the pro∣moting of the Roman Catholick Religion, for he would not be joyned to one in the affinity of marriage, whose Religion he should hate, which promise he did faith∣fully keep, to the ruin of himself, and all his Poste∣rity.

But the first foundation of his ruin, and all their Posterity, was laid by his Father King James; for in the matter of Sir Thomas Overbury his death, he did send for the Judges and gave them a strict charge to examine the matter throughly concerning the death of Sir Tho. Over∣bury, and did imprecate Gods curse upon them if they did not discover it to the full; and did upon his knees call for a curse from God, and desired that God would never pro∣sper him nor any of his Posterity, if he did spare any guilty person that had a hand in that poisonous murther: and the Judges having prosecuted the businesse so far, that they found Sommerset and his Lady to be the chief actors in this murther, for they found that Sommerset did write a friendly Letter to Sir Tho. Overbury, that he would use all the wayes and means to get his inlargement that pos∣sibly he could, and in that Letter he sent him a paper of Powder for him to take, as being the best thing that him∣self

took in his sicknesse, (Sir Thomas being then sick of Poyson sent him before) but this powder which was sent in this Letter was a poyson of a lingring nature, whereof (with some other poyson which Mris. Turner had sent him of the like nature) he died, and after it was sound out, there was justice done upon many of the actors, where of Weston was the first, then Sir Jarvis Elway, the then Lieutenant of the Tower, was the next that suffered, and after him, Mris. Turner was also hanged, besides others; and when it was punctually proved that Summer∣set and his Lady were sound to be the chief actors of this murther, and that he himself had sent the poyson aforesaid, the King contrary to the curse which he had formerly called from heaven upon himself and all his posterity, did pandon both him and her, after the Lord Coke had past sen∣tence of death upon them, and the Lord Coke was ever after in disgrace with the King, for passing this sentence against them, and for some other small marter which he crossed the Kings humour in; and so this noble Gentleman was poy soned, for no other cause but for opposing Summerset in the marriage of Essex his wife. But the Lord did shew a great example upon them both, but especially upon her, for she died a more •…•…thsome death then any woman ever died, but for civilities sake I will forbear the particulars thereof.

But let us now leave this, and speak no more of this curse, but let us look up to heaven upon him that sees all the actions that are done on earth, and that is the contriver of all marriages on earth both great and small, and you small see how he doth frustrate the designes of all those that have plotted the downfall of the Gospell of Jesus Christ, by bringing them to utter confusion in all their enter prises, and I pray observe with me, how in the very interim of this

treaty the Lord did look down from heaven upon them, and did send his thunders as messengers of his wrath to give them warning, that he would meet with them and confound all their devises.

And in the first place be pleased to take notice that on Thursday the 30. of June, 1623. whil'st the Prince was in Spain, it being but two dayes after the Letter was written to the Pope (for it was written the 28. day of June)

I. The Lord was pleased to send one great clap of Thunder, which stroke away the flag and flag-staffe from the main-top-mast-head of a Ship then riding at Black∣w••ll and bound for Spain with provision of fresh victuals to fetch the Prince home: as live Muttons, Capons, and other fowls fit sot such a voyage, Spain being barren of such provisions (so that they could not be furnished there) It was as fair a day as any hath been seen; it also split the main-top-mast, as own would have split an Osier twig, it threw one part on one side of the Ship, and the other part on the other side of the Ship, it raised the main-mast down to the deck, but did no other hurt to the Ship; it killed two men and one woman at Croydon in the Bishop of Canterburies Diocesse, in a field where they were making hay. But you may object, this was but an accident, for thunders have done many such things, the bodies being soorched, and their clothes not so much as once to smell of the fire. it is very true, such things have hapned many times and in many places, but look a little further and you shall see such other prodigious things that you will not say they were accidentall.

And now I beseech you consider with me whether these follow Presages be accidentall or no.

II. And see what happened on the very next Thursday being the 7. of our July, the Letter to the Pope being

written the 8. of their July at Madrid in Spain, it pleased, the Lord to send many great: claps of Thunder, with aboundance of rain, and withall so great a pillar of fire from heaven out of the South (which is the due course from Spain) that it reached from the heavens to the earth, not as a flash of lightnings gone in the very sight, but a very firme pillar of fire, which I believe did amase any that did behold it. It was my hap to be in the Parke neer Southwark, when it fell right before me, and so deterred me, that I prayed that the Lord was not angry with this Nation, for seeking to match with one whose Religion was not agreeable to the Gospell of Jesus Christ, but one of those claps of Thunder did strike away the Crown and Vane from the top of the Gatehouse of St. James whereon the clock stood; it melted a piece of the bell (which house was then the Princes house at that time) and he constantly kept his Court there, it also struck down a Gardner and his wife in a Garden neer the Neathouse neer Westminster, & brak through several house in the bowling-alley neer Westminster aforesaid, the man before mentioned was dead, but the woman revived and was well again, the body of the man was scorched, but his clothes had no hurt. It split wainscots, chaires, tables and stools in the houses aforesaid. It killed also another man at Croydon the same time. Surely these things cannot be accidentall, when both these thunders did aime, both at the head and Crown as we may see it did, for the flag is as the hat on the Kings head, for all Ships when they meet with any the King or States ships at Sea, they strike their topsails or the flag in obedience or homage to the Admirall; there is no man that not is wilfully blind but he may see that these two dayes Thunders were not accidentall, but from the hand of God.

There is one thing more which a Heathen or an Infidell will not say was accidentall, and that is this:

III. Old Thomas Earl of Arundell a great lover of Statues, had sent for the Kings Statue in marble out of Italy; it being come it was landed at a little garden house in Greenwitch which the Earl then had there; his Lord∣ship with others coming to view the Statue, did very much commend the workmanship of it, but while they were discoursing of it, their fell three drops of bloud on the face of it, no man knowing how it should come there; the Earl seeing the bloud was very much moved at it, they used all the means they could use to get away the bloud, but could not; this questionlesse was not done by accident, but as the Egyptian Sorcerers said to Pharaoh in the plague of the lice, This is the finger of God.

Yet one thing more there is remaining which I hope will give you full satisfaction that these Presages were sent by God.

IV. For in the same year 1623. while the Prince was in Spain (for then he was but Prince) promising to pro∣mote the Roman Catholick Religion, both to the Pope and likewise to the King of Spain, there was a Buckinghamshire man, a Taylor by trade, and as he said dwelt in Ailsbury, he was neer upon 40. years of age, and a very sober man, he could not contain himself at his work in his house, but must of force in the same year while the Prince was in Spain; making those promises to propagate the Romish Religion in England aforesaid, he did in all or most part of all the eminent streets in London, in that very year curse the Romish Religion; pronouncing wee to Rome, woe to the Pope, woe to all Papists; and God confound the Pope and all Papists, and all that did adhere to Popery, by what name or title so ever they were called,

whether Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Lords, Viscounts, or of what degree soever; he did constantly three or four dayes in the week all or most part of the time the Prince was in Spain, come to Whitehall-gate, King James being then at Whitehall for the most part, he did there make a prayer of three quarters of an houre long, it was as effectu∣all a prayer as any Divine in England could make, in that prayer he prayed that the Gospell of Jesus Christ might still continue and flourish in this Nation, and after praying for the Gospell, he again cried these woes as formerly, and when he had made his prayer at Whitehall-gate, with his hat under his arme all the time of his praying and journey (for so he called it his journey, as you shall see by and by) he then betook himself to march through the City, praying this prayer, and crying these woes and cursings against Popery as aforesaid. He began his journey at Whitehall-gate, and marched as far as there was any house in White-chappell, East-smithfield, Shoreditch, Islington, St. Giles in the fields, the Barrough of Southwark, and many other walkes, and in this manner he past through all or the most part of all the streets in London, and although he made the most part of his prayers at Whitehall-gate King James be∣ing then there, yet no man reproved him for it, or asked why he did so, til one day Sir Harry Spiller saw him crying these woes at the upper end of Holborn, did send him to the new Bridewell neer Clarken-well, where he remained three weeks (and then being charged as Peter and John were by the Jewish Rabbins that he should teach no more in that name, he was let go) but he regarding not their threats did cry these woes a long time after, at length he went to his house in Buccingamshire, thinking to cry these woes no more, but went to fall to work at his trade, yet when he was at his work he had not the power to finish it, but threw it aside and came up to London the second time

to crie these woes which he did a long time after.

I did once meet him neer Bishopsgate-street as he was coming back from crying these woes, where a man of his acquaintance met him, and asked him if he would drink a cup of beer, he said he would, for said he, I have done my journey, therefore it is evident he was sent of God to cry these woes against the Papists, as the Lord sent that man to Jerusalem many years before it was destroyed, and at last cryed, Woe, woe to himself, and immediately was struck dead by a clap of thunder. It is much about 32. years since this man did cry these woes in London; and who knowes but the Lord may very speeddy purge this Nation of all those blasphemous opinions which do now swarme in it, and of all those that do seek to uphold Popery or any other false opinions, which this Nation is now overrun with; and I beseech you to consider that this mans crying these woes just in the interim when the Prince was in Spain acting against the Gospell, it is necessary that we should take notice of it, and of other things of the like nature, and to the same purpose; for afoer be was King and had mar∣ried the Queen out of France, he did entertain Signier Con the Popes Nuncio, and one Price Superior of the Benedi∣ctine Monks, a very great Polititian and Statesman he was, wch two men were so great with Laud then Bishop of Can∣terburyh, that they had free accesse to him and Windebanck at all times; and they were so great with Laud (he being a Jesuiticall Monke) that he gave out that he should have the Cure of the Church in Cowen Garden. This Signier Con and this Price had so much power with Laud and Windebanck, that they did brave the pursevants which had Commissions for the apprehending of Priests and Jesuns, and did threatten them to cause their Commissions to be taken from them; and Windebanck himself did revile the

Pursevants, calling them Knaves, and threatning them, that if they did ever meddle with any more Priests and Jesuites, he would make him smart for it. I my self ha∣ving seised a great number of Popish books in English, Bishop Laud would send for them to the Registers Office, for the high Commission Court, and the same night would deliver them to the owners of them to be disperst through the Nation, so that it is evident that if the King were not Popishly inclined, yet the chief Bishops, and the chief officers about him, were absolutely Popish. I could name many more that were in great places about the King that were Papists, and known to be so, by many that grie∣ved to see it at that time. But let me speak a little more of this man, in all the time that he was crying these woes, he was never seen to beg or receive any thing by way of re∣lief of any man, yet he wanted nothing that ever I could heare of, he alwayes wore one sute of cloth whole and sound, and there is no question but the Lord did keep him while he was doing his work. But if there be any that do distrust the truth hereof, there be many thousands this day living in London, that did both hear him, and see him as well as my self, while he was doing his work.

V. After this one of the Crownes and Vanes of the tower was turned over the top of the spindle whereon it was placed, by a very small gale of winde, and so both Crown and Vane hung at the foot of the spindle three quarters of a year of more, at which time new ones were set up. The Crown and Vane did weigh 100 weight, at lest and was forelockt one to the top of the spindle with a forelock of iron; surely if a greater providence then this small gale of winde had not took it off the spindle, it might have re∣mained there untill this time, but the Lord had ordered it so to be, that some (though not all) might look upon it as

from the hand of God, for many thousands did see it and did take notice of it as from the hand of God at that time.

VI. There is one thing more to be looked on as from the all seeing eye of heaven, which fel out very strangely con∣cerning the late King. His hand and Scepter broke off from his Statue at the Exchange, and fell down to the ground, even at charge time, to the admiration of all the beholders, the Change being then full of Merchants and others at the same time, and the next day it was set up again, it was taken as a sad Presage by all that beheld it; yet I believe there be many that will make no account of these remark∣able passages, but will slight them as things not worthy to take notice of, but my simple thoughts do lead me to conceive that the falling down of the hand and Scepter, did presage the taking of the Government out of his hand, as is seen this day, and I could wish that all those that do so slight the former passages, to consider better and not to slight the next that follows, which is very remarkable.

VII. There was an ancient Gentlewoman which came from Bristoll a widdow, and had been the wife of one Mr. Cary a Woollen Drapper on the back of Bristoll, this woman had seen many strange apparitions of the late King at severall times, as his Crown all bloudy, himself in black, and his head off, with many other such visions she could not be quiet, untill she came to London to acquaint him∣self with those visions which she had seen of him, and af∣ter two years time spent in soliciting this Noble man, and that Noble man and others to bring her to the King, at length the Earl of Dorset (after much importunity) brought her to the King, where she told his Majesty all that she had seen of him, he gave her the hearing of it, but would give no credit to what she had said, but bid take her away she was a merry woman; then when she had told him all that

she had seen of him, she returned to Bristoll again thinking there to rest her sell in peace; she had not been there many dayes, but those Visions appeared to her as at the first, whereupon she could not contain herself but must of force come up to London the second time, to acquaint his Ma∣jesty with what she had seen of him since her last being with him at Whitehall, but before she could get to London his Majesty was gone to York, yet though she was in years and a weakly woman, and the journey long and tedious for such a one as her self to undertake, yet she must of necessity go after him to York, and was conveyed to York in a Coach by means of a Lady, which at the writing hereof is living neer London who can justifie the same if any should scruple the truth hereof, and being come to York she had admit∣tance to his presence, where she once again related to him all that she had seen of him since her last being with him at Whitehall, with much praying and beseeching him to consider what she had seen and said of him, but he would not harken to her, nor give credit to what she had said un∣to him, for certainly the Lord had hid these things from him, and would not let him understand them because he would destroy him; for to that purpose the Lord did har∣den the heart of Pharaob, that he should not believe the wonders which Moses the servant of the Lord wrought in his fight, to make his name known to all the world, for saith the Lord, Exod. 9.16. For this cause have happoin∣ted thee to shew my power in thee, and to declare my name in all the world; but the more plagues the Lord did send on Pharaob, the more his heart was hardned by them.

I could wish that all those into whose hands these sad Presages shall come, that they would consider with them∣selves that there was more then an ordinary hand in cau∣sing this Gentlewoman being so antient as she was to take

upon her two so great journeys as these were; first from Bristoll to London, then to Bristoll again, then to London, and so to York, and all upon her own charge; surely there must be more then an ordinary hand in it, which did guide this woman, she being so ancient as she was, and no kind of distemper at all in her, but in a very good temper both in mind and words, and in her behaviour very civill, as many people in London that did talke with her concerning these visions can witnesse.

☞ VIII. I have been credibly informed, that his Highnesse the Lord Protector that now is, being in a Gentlemans house at prayer in a room wherein the Kings Picture did hang, neer about the middest of prayer the Picture fell down to the ground, which was a sad presage to the King, and now seems to be a clear testimony of Gods purpose to reject him: but how hath the Lord Protector been preserved in so many great dangers as by Gods providence he hath gone through, in his own per∣son, since these troubles began, and that dainger which he escaped in the Coach was not the least, and questionlesse the Lord hath appointed him to be the man to Govern the Nation at this time, who can deny Gods permissive providence.

IX. His Majesty being one day at Causam neer Redding playing at Chesse, he playing with the white men, the head of the white King fell of, which was as ominous a presage as any of the rest.

X. When the Lord Fairfax was at St. Albons, and the generall Counsell of the Army drawing up the grand Remonstrance, in order to require justice against the King, the Sign of the Kings-head beneath the hill from the Crosse, that part of the board between the head and shoul∣ders, was broken out of the Sign, none knowing how it came to be so, so that the head and shoulders were separa∣ted

from each other. it seemed then to be an ominous thing to what did shortly befall him in pursuance of that Remonstrance then drawing up against him by the Army. Wherefore I would wish that althose malignant spirits that are so bitter against this Government, to consider that there is no power given unto men upon earth but by God; therefore let them sit still and see the Lords work done in truth and righteousinesse, for surely the Lord will owne him so far as he doth act for the Lord, and no underhand pra∣ctis shall prevail against him, mauger all the Devils in hell they shall not touch him to do him harme, for the Lord will be his Protector so long as he doth act for the Lord; but if he act not of, and for the Lord, then the Lord will bring all his actions to nought, and it will fall to the ground of it self, as once Gamaliel said to the Jewish Rab∣bins, refrain from these men and let them alone, for if this Counsell or this work be of men, it will come to nought, but if it be of God you cannot overthrow it, least happily ye be found fighters against God, Act. 5.28, 29. And as M. Saltmarsh said once in a Sermon before the Lord Fairfax, So long as you serve the Lord, he will be with you, but if you fall from the Lord, the Lord will fall from you. Therefore to those turbulent spirits I will use our Saviour Christs own words to Saul going to Damascus to persecute the people of God, It is hard for you to kick a∣gainst prickles. And I do now wish that you which are such enemies against this Government, to look up to God and lay aside your own particular interesse, and if there be any thing amisse in your hearts, cast it out, and leave all unto the Lord for himself to rectifie, for your plots and devises will surely come to nought.

XI. There is one thing more yet as remarkable as the rest, When the King was at the high Court of Justice on his Tryall, the head of his cane fell off, he stopping to

take it up himself, took it as an ominous Presage unto himself, and so indeed he might have done all the former Presages; the greatest part of them bending to the head; but as I said before, the Lord did hide them from him. And with my heart I wish that those ominbus presages, which the Lord did send as forerunners of his wrath against him in his so great fall and ruin, might deter all men of what condition soever to leave plotting and contriving any further tumults or sedicions tending to the shedding of any more innocent bloud in this Nation; but let them plot what they will against this Government, they will surely be destroyed in all their practises, as it is evidently seen in the two last plots, for when they thought them∣selves secure, & the childe of the Devill, as I may truly say, brought to the very birth, see then how the Lord did frustrate their actions, and with the least breath of his no∣strils brake them to pieces, and that in a moment, as he did all the enemies of that famous Queen Elizabeth all her life, as well before her coming to the Crown as after. First by Bishop Bonner and his crew, by setting her sister Queen Mary to take away her life, and for no other cause, but for professing the Gospell of Jesus Christ, had not the Lord discovered it (in his due time) to King Philip in a warrant which the Bishops had shuffled in amongst other warrants to be signed by him for her death, but the King reading the warrant refused to sign it, and threw it aside, but before they could bring their purposes to passe, Queen Mary died, and then their hopes were frustrate, for she was presently Crowned Queen, to the great terrour of all those that did plot her downfall, for her heart was up right unto the Lord, and the Lord kept her from all their plots and devises, for after she came to the Crown, what plots, and devises did they not practise to take her life away, by Pistols, Poysonings, Stabbings, and by many other hellish

practises, how many lowing buls of Bashan did the Pope send against her, discharging her Subjects of their alsegi∣ance unto her, animating her subjects to destroy her by any means whatsoever, as it was plainly seen in the treasons of those hellish Conspiratos, Lopus, Campion, Parry, Garnat, Banister, Summervild, Squire, and the rest of that Popish rable, and then by that never to be forgotten deliverance of that invincible Navy, as the Spaniards called that great Armado in 88. when they made themselves sure of all this Nation, and so to bring it to Idolatry, for they brought with them whips of wire, gagges, and many other instruments of cruelty to force this whole Land to Popery. But blessed be God the snare is broke and we are escaped, except our sins which are innumerable do make us fall into the snare, for surely our sins are even ripe unto the harvest, and there wants nothing but the Lords putting in his sickle to reap us, for surely the Lords patience is very much in waiting for our repentance, therefore let us not defer it any longer, least the Lord cast us off if we repent not all the sooner; but blessed and praised be the Lord for it, he brought that in∣vincible Armado to nought, for not one third part of them ever came home to Spain again, and for all their malice a∣gainst her, she died in a good old age full of dayes, riches and honour, for she left all her coffers full of riches and treasure, which she got from those that sought her life, by making wars against them, for the Lord did prosper all her undertakings, which she took in hand, for her heart was up∣right unto the Lord all her dayes (as the heart of Asa king of Juda was) and the Lord did keep her in store to settle the Gospell of Jesus Christ in this Nation and hath conti∣newed it here almost 100. yeers, praised be his holy name for it, and grant good Lord that it may continew in this Nation so long as the Sun and Moon endureth.

And now let me return unto the King in his project of

bringing in of Popery, he had the least cause of any in the world to have any alliance at all with Papists, much lesse to link himself in the affinity of marriage with them, for look but back upon the Powder-plot and you shall see his Fa∣ther, himself, and all their posterity, with all the Nobility and all the chief Gentry of this Nation, designed to be blown up into the aire, (the Lady Elizabeth his sister only excepted) for they had determined to marry her to some Catholick Gentleman, and so to have made her Queen, but God did laugh at them, and brought them to nought, bles∣sed and praised be his holy name for it.

But his Father and himself very well knew that all the considerable Papists in England did know of it, and were ingaged in it, and did contribute to it, and for him to make a firm league with them, the enemies of Jesus Christ was most abominable; but as the Lord said unto Ezekiel, Son of man turn thee, and thou shalt see greater abominations then these: so he yet added more to all the rest, in putting forth that hellish book of sports (as his Fa∣ther had formerly done) which book was put forth by the Counsell, and advise of the then Popish Bishops long after his coming from Spain, wherein he gives free liberty to the people to commit all licentiousnesse for prophaning the Lords day, by dancing, revelling, gaming, and all that the Devill could invent, to the great dishonor of God and his Sabaths, but it was contrived of set purpose to silence all conscientious Ministers that did seruple the reading of it, as many of them did) and were put from their preaching for not reading the same, and also to draw the hearts of the rude multitude to himself, if there should be occasion offered by any that should oppose the rise of Popery, which the multitude is apt to do, as the multitude of Asia did against Paul, but knew no cause for what they did,

the whole City being in an uproar, but knew not for what; so this book was put forth to cause the rude multitude to rise in defence of the profain liberty which was given them by authority if there should be occasion as I said before, it was one of the greatest Mr. Pieces that ever the Devill did put on foot in this Nation (to draw the people to himself) that ever was hatcht in hell, far greater then the Powder plot, for that had destroyed, but the bodies of a few b••t this would have destroyed the souls of many thousands, if it had continued longer; It was worse then Balaams coun∣sell for the Midianitish women to draw the children of Israel to commit folly and Idolatry, but he had his reward, for he was slain shortly after by the Israelites, and so will all the enemies of Jesus Christ perish in all their wicked practises, if they desist not in the pursuance of them.

Here are pregnant examples enough to make men leave their wicked practises, if they will take notice of them, which God of his mercy give all those hearts to do, that shall read these Ominous Presages, and the Lord give all men hearts to understand what it is to strive against God. And my hearts desire is, that the Lord would stir up the hearts of those that are in authority, to put in execution that Additionall Act for the better keeping of the Lords day, which is so much neglected, and the Sabbath abused in the fields and Alehouses where the people do muster, at play as if it were the week day, yea even in the time of di∣vine prayer, to the great dishonour of God, and disgrace to this City, and that it may be carefully lookt into and a∣mended, he prayeth who is a lover of the Gospell of Jesus Christ, and the peace and welfare of this Nation.

THE END.