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The Petition, and Narrative of Geo. Wither Esq; concerning his many grie∣vances and long sufferings; with a Preceding Addresse made to the Honourable Members of Parliament in their single Capacities, to in∣cline them to a speedy consideration of his Case in Parliament.
Hodie Nobis, Cras Vobis.
WE are not few that suffer; and that may
To morrow, be your Case, that's our to day
(As now the Cards are shuffl'd, Cut, and lay'd,
And, as the Game shall well, or ill be plaid.)
Give Loosers leave to speak, and, me for one,
Who make at this time my Addresse alone,
Without your doors, within which, I, as yet
Can, for my Prayers, no admittance get.
Of seven times ten, to spend years ten and seven
In asking for mine own, I have been driven,
And no result obtained, but, instead
Of Fish, a Scorpion, and hard Stones for Bread,
Which fill'd me full of thoughts, that getting vent
Orecharge the Papers, which I would present.
Yet, muse not, if my Narrative it strain
To an unusual length, and shall speak plain:
Wide wounds, must have large Plasters; When a wrong
Lasts many years, Bills of Complaint, are long,
And, sharp words, may from him, be born withall,
Whose Drink and Food are Vineger and Gall.
I, have but one Life, and that's almost spent;
Let me not wait a time equivalent
To three mens lives, or till the Cure I crave
Comes, Physick-like, to him that's in his grave.
Nor let, by you, my Reason, at this time
Despised be, although you sleight my Rime;
For, who ere sleights a suffrer in his sorrow,
Mine, or a worse, may be his Case to morrow,
Or, ere the storms, now threatn'd, are past thorow.
I use not to make friends; for I suppose
In Parliament, men have nor friends nor foes,
But as the Case deserves; at least, I know
That if it be not thus, it should be so;
And, wish he may with shame requited be,
Who wilfully wrongs others, though for me.
All, which within your doors, Ile ask of you
Is no more, then I freely would allow
Ev'n to my greatest foe, and be afraid
Of what might follow, if it were delaid.
All my Requests, without your doors have been
But that some one of you would carry in
My sad Petitions; which I did in vain
Intreat for, whilest four Parliaments did raign;
For, evermore, the Commonwealths Affairs,
Or, private mens more acceptable pray'rs
Kept my Petitions out, though I attended
From their first sittings, till five Sessions ended.
Though, many seem'd me, and my Cause to own
With good respect, and few men are more known.
Some still, pretended to be pre-ingag'd
To others: some, against me were inrag'd
For personal respects: some did professe
They fear'd their own Inacceptablenesse
Might wrong my Cause: some, never were at leasure
To do for any honest man, a pleasure.
Some, very often, promis'd fair, and much;
But, their, or my ill hap, was ever such
That, some crosse intervening accident,
My hopes, and their performance did prevent:
And, one (as if I had been of a Nation
Without your Pale) said, he knew no Relation
'Twixt him and me, obliging him unto
That favour I requested him to do:
Which answer, I, the lesse was pleas'd withal,
Because, he is a Major General;
And, one of those, who (being raised, by
Pretending to the Common-liberty,)
Seem'd bound to have performed what I sought
In Courtesie, or Conscience, as I thought.
But, I, such sleightings very often smother,
And make good use of them, one time, or other.
This favour, I, yet want: This to obtain
By an Expedient, (once tride, not in vain)
I, once more now assay: For, though I hear
My Foes, do both my Rimes and Reasons jeer,
(And, that they are but laugh'd at, make their boast)
They have not gain'd their ends, nor are mine lost.
By these Outbreathings, I, refresh my heart;
They please my friends; sad musings, they divert;
They will commemorate my honest Cause
When all their grinning teeth, rot from their jaws:
And, I, at them, who my deriders be
Laugh, with as much scorn as they laugh at me,
Because, I know, their hearts, in secret, fear
Th' Events of that, whereat their Tongues do jeer;
And, that, at length, Time will a means provide,
Both to befool their wits, and shame their pride
By things which they contemn. I'll therefore try
How, Charmes of my despised Poetry
Will work on you; with hope, that they shall finde
Such acceptation, in the generous minde
Of some Heroick persons, that I may
Acquire, what I have fail'd of to this day,
By having my Oppressions, and Afflictions
(Which are without Hyperbolies, or Fictions
To you declar'd) there, speedily now read
Where, they shall justly be determined.
For, now the time is come, in which I, either
Must be repair'd, or ruin'd altogether,
If he, from whom, Repairs I, oft have got
(When I was nigh destroy'd) repaire me not.
Grant me, but that, which you would ask to have,
Were my Case, your; And I, no more will crave.
Your servant, Geo. Wither.