English Puritan & Reformed

Verses to the Kings Majesty

George Wither (1588-1667) · 2,236 words · 10 min

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The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

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This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

VERSES Intended to the King's Majesty, BY Major GEORGE WITHER, Whilst he was Prisoner in NEWGATE: Which being found Written with his own Hand, among his loose Papers, since his Commitment close Prisoner to the TOWER, Are now Published, as pertinent both to his MAJESTY, and to Him.

LONDON, Printed in the year, 1662.

VERSES intended to the KINGS MAJESTY, by Maj. Geo. Wither, when he was Prisoner in Newgate; and found among other loose Papers, written with his own hand.

        SIR, though I neither of your
        
         Grace
        
        despair,
       
        Nor lack sufficient
        
         Faith,
        
        to make a
        
         Prayr
        
        In
        
         Court:
        
        yet, wanting
        
         means
        
        to prosecute,
       
        I will trouble you at this time, with no
        
         Suit;
        
        But, treat of somewhat, that no more will cost,
       
        Save
        
         Labor,
        
        which I many times have lost,
       
        And, thereby, not been made a jot the worse,
       
        Either in
        
         mind,
        
        in
        
         body,
        
        or in
        
         purse.
        
        When
        
         Rebels
        
        did King
        
         David's
        
        flight constrain,
       
        And, GOD was pleased to bring him home again,
       
        They, who to
        
         drive him out,
        
        had forwardst been,
       
        Made hast to join with those who
        
         brought him in.
        
        And, he, with GOD, in
        
         Mercy
        
        so comply'd,
       
        That, not
        
         one man
        
        for that
        
         Rebellion
        
        died,
       
        In following
        
         Absalom,
        
        who had contrived
       
        The
        
         Treason,
        
        and well-meaning men deceived.
       
        A traitrous
        
         Child's life,
        
        that Rebellion cost;
       
        But, by our
        
         War,
        
        a
        
         Fathers life
        
        was lost:
       
        And therefore, though some
        
         bloodshed
        
        that produced,
       
        In
        
         human Reason
        
        you may be excused,
       
        Whom natural Affection moved to shed
       
        The blood of some, by whom your
        
         Father
        
        bled;
       
        Since you more
        
         Mercy
        
        freely have bestowed
       
        Than
        
         David's,
        
        or your
        
         Foll'wers
        
        would have shown.
       
        Which much augments your
        
         Honor:
        
        For, no
        
         Jem
        
        So beautifies a
        
         Royal Diadem,
        
        As
        
         Mercy,
        
        when it is enameled
       
        With
        
         Justice,
        
        and with
        
         Prudence
        
        riveted.
       
        I had presumed a
        
         personal Address
        
        Long since; but, difficult is an
        
         Access
        
        For such as I appear, who hazard blame,
       
        And disrespect enough, where I now am;
       
        Because, what
        
         Conscience
        
        chargeth me withal,
       
        Is by some judged to be
        
         criminal.
        
        In that regard, this
        
         Paper
        
        must make way
       
        For gaining an
        
         admittance,
        
        as it may;
       
        And will, I hope, presented be, by some
       
        Who shall have entrance, where I cannot come.
       
        I am despoiled so of everything,
       
        That nothing for a
        
         Present
        
        I can bring
       
        Except (of Grace) your
        
         Majesty
        
        shall please
       
        To daign acceptance to such
        
         Gifts
        
        as these;
       
        Which (though but mean, and in an homly dress)
       
        Will then illustrate your
        
         true Worthiness,
        
        As amply, as the can did Acceptation,
       
        Of what may seem of greater valuation.
       
        I cannot write
        
         strong Lines,
        
        with swelling words,
       
        Whose
        
         Elegancy
        
        scarcely room affords
       
        For
        
         sober sense;
        
        nor muster up their
        
         Names,
        
        Whom
        
         History,
        
        and whom
        
         Tradition
        
        fames
       
        For brav'st
        
         Atchievements,
        
        since time first begun,
       
        And then say, you have all of them outgone;
       
        As if my
        
         foolish words,
        
        might add unto
       
        Your
        
         Honor,
        
        more than your own
        
         Deeds
        
        can do.
       
        Or, as if any
        
         Wiseman
        
        would give creed
       
        To what they in a flatring
        
         Poem
        
        read.
       
        It is not in the power of any other
       
        By
        
         Pen
        
        or
        
         Tongue
        
        to clear up, or to smother
       
        Your
        
         true Deserts;
        
        For, in your
        
         self
        
        that lies,
       
        Which either them beclouds, or dignifies.
       
        No other
        
         Thoughts
        
        I entertain of You,
       
        But such as I may
        
         think,
        
        and you
        
         allow:
        
        Yet, to extol your
        
         Worth
        
        I shall not dare,
       
        Till I know truly what your
        
         Virtues
        
        are.
       
        For, though to
        
         Flatrers
        
        all
        
         Kings
        
        seem to be
       
        Of like desert, they seem not so to me.
       
        I will serve you faithfully in what I may,
       
        And, as my
        
         King,
        
        love, honor and obey.
       
        I would conceal, not publish your
        
         defects,
        
        If
        
         I
        
        know any; and give due respects
       
        To all your
        
         Merits;
        
        but,
        
         I
        
        will not own
       
        One
        
         Line
        
        that praises them, till they are known:
       
        For, till
        
         I
        
        know,
        
         I
        
        give but what is due,
       
         I
        
        am a
        
         Lyar,
        
        though
        
         my words be true;
        
        Since equally,
        
         both good and evil things,
        
        Are famed of the best of
        
         men,
        
        and
        
         Kings.

        A
        
         Stranger
        
        likewise, you have been long time
       
        To most of your own Subjects in this
        
         Clime,
        
        And,
        
         I
        
        was never where
        
         I
        
        did behold
       
        Your face, since you were two or three years old:
       
        What Good soever therefore
        
         I
        
        aver
       
        Of you,
        
         I
        
        shall but seem a
        
         Flatterer;
        
        Yea, you yourself would think so, should
        
         I
        
        add
       
        Those
        
         Virtues,
        
        which you know you never had;
       
        And,
        
         Praise,
        
        which is ascribed to any one
       
        In that
        
         mode,
        
        is a little less than
        
         none.
        
        But, little Credit also hath a
        
         Poet,
        
        To celebrate your
        
         Worth,
        
        when he shall know it,
       
        Or counterpoize, or silence
        
         Contradictions,
        
        Since most esteem his Writings to be
        
         Fictions;
        
        And you will be more honored, than in them,
       
        By these
        
         blunt Lines,
        
        if they have your esteem.
       
         I
        
        therefore, so shall study to increase
       
        Your Honor, that
        
         I
        
        may not make it less;
       
        And whatsoever
        
         I
        
        can
        
         say
        
        or
        
         do,
        
        (Although you give a
        
         Countermand
        
        thereto)
       
        I will
        
         say,
        
        and
        
         do it;
        
        when
        
         I
        
        shall be sure
       
        Your
        
         Life,
        
        or
        
         Peace,
        
        or
        
         Honor
        
        'twill secure:
       
        And, if this be a
        
         fault, I
        
        do intend
       
        To be thus faulty, till my life shall end.

         I
        
        know, most
        
         Royal Sir,
        
        who 'tis that says,
       
         To please great men, deserves not meanest praise:
        
         I
        
        see how 'tis approved, and what they gain
       
        Who can that thriving
        
         Faculty
        
        attain.
       
        Yet,
        
         I
        
        shall wave their
        
         Art,
        
        and will assay
       
        To do you
        
         honor
        
        in another way,
       
        By giving you occasion to express
       
        Your
        
         Justice, Mercy,
        
        and your
        
         Prudentness;
        
        So that yourself may make the world to see
       
        Your
        
         Virtues
        
        more, than words can say they be.
       
        To that end, much might in my
        
         case
        
        be shown;
       
        But, rather for
        
         your sake,
        
        than for
        
         mine own
        
        Is this
        
         Address;
        
        Yea, rather to prevent
       
        What may be
        
         your harm,
        
        than
        
         my detriment.
        
        To tell our
        
         Wants,
        
        or
        
         Grievances,
        
        to Kings,
       
        Sometime, less remedy, than
        
         Silence
        
        brings.
       
        I will therefore wave that too; that no
        
         self-end
        
        May frustrate what
        
         I
        
        chiefly do intend.
       
        Some, questionless, before
        
         your Restoration
        
        Contributed for your
        
         Accommodation
        
        In
        
         true sincerity;
        
        and some, no doubt,
       
        Thereby to work their own
        
         Salvation
        
        out;
       
        And many a one, perhaps, like
        
         Ziba
        
        sped,
       
        Who merited no better than he did.
       
        Some other would have done as much as they,
       
        But, neither had the
        
         means,
        
        nor knew the
        
         way;
        
        And many, who against You then combined,
       
        Are now, so truly of another mind,
       
        That, you in them are safe: for,
        
         Love
        
        in such
       
        Will
        
         much abound,
        
        who were
        
         forgiven much.
        
        I, who obeyed late
        
         preceding Powers
        
        Compulsively; now, willingly to yours
       
        Profess
        
         Allegiance;
        
        and, as true as those
       
        Will be, who of their
        
         Truth
        
        make fairest shows.
       
        For, when I saw
        
         GOD
        
        on your side appear,
       
        I was reclaim'd by
        
         Conscience,
        
        not by
        
         Fear;
        
        Yea, I
        
         foresaw,
        
        and likewise did
        
         foretell
        
        (To them who were in power) what since befell;
       
        Attending passively, what I expected,
       
        By
        
         Providence divine
        
        would be effected:
       
        And my professed
        
         Loyalty
        
        to you
       
        Is not alone unquestionably true,
       
        But also, may appear to be more free
       
        From
        
         self-ends,
        
        than their
        
         Loyalty
        
        can be
       
        In whom you most confide: For, they from
        
         Bands
        
        Exempted are; have
        
         Honors, Goods
        
        and
        
         Lands,
        
         Pensions
        
        or
        
         Offices,
        
        wherein you do
       
        Protect them; and, they have your
        
         Favor
        
        too.
       
        But, all these wholly are to me destroyed,
       
        And I by your
        
         Protection
        
        have enjoyed
       
        Nought, save a
        
         dying-life,
        
        a
        
         living-grave,
        
        Or that, whereof so small esteem
        
         I
        
        have,
       
        That, if my
        
         Work
        
        were done, and GOD would say
       
         Amen, I
        
        would resign my
        
         Life
        
        this day.
       
        Yet, so far am
        
         I
        
        from repining at
       
        My
        
         Portion,
        
        or my seeming sad estate,
       
        That, in this
        
         Posture I
        
        will serve as long,
       
        As to endure it GOD shall make me strong;
       
        Not doubting, but when all things come to proof,
       
        My
        
         Suffrings
        
        will be much to my behoof:
       
        Mean time, lest otherwise, my good intent
       
        To you, some
        
         causualty
        
        may prevent,
       
         I
        
        will, so far forth as my
        
         Chain
        
        will stretch,
       
        (And mine now shortened arm and hand will reach)
       
        Exhibit such
        
         Expedients,
        
        as from
        
         Time,
        
        And other Herbs, I have sucked within your
        
         Clime;
        
        And, wanting better Gifts, will offer you
       
        This little Cluster of those
        
         Grapes,
        
        which grew
       
        Upon my
        
         withered Vine:
        
        For, though they are
       
        But sour, your
        
         Kingdom
        
        yields none wholsomer,
       
        If you shall seasonably press out the Juice,
       
        And then assume it without prejudice.
       
        This
        
         Time
        
        is
        
         critical;
        
        The
        
         ways
        
        be ruff,
       
        And many of those
        
         Chariot-wheels
        
        fly off,
       
        By which your
        
         Marches
        
        expedited seemed,
       
        And lost Advantages must be redeemed,
       
        Lest when you think that they are come to hand,
       
        Your main
        
         Expectances
        
        be at a stand,
       
        Or, put so far back, that you may survive
       
        Your hopes, and your own happiness outlive.
       
         I
        
        wish it otherwise; and know it may
       
        Be as
        
         I
        
        wish, if you the means assay,
       
        Not giving ear to those, who will withstand
       
        Your
        
         Good,
        
        & that which GOD hath now in hand.
       
        I have discharged my
        
         Conscience;
        
        and so shall,
       
        Whatever for so doing doth befall,
       
        In hope that will not wholly be dispis'd,
       
        Which now shall be in faithfulness advised.
       
        To those men do not over-much adhere,
       
        Who think all
        
         Wisdom
        
        lies within their sphere;
       
        For,
        
         Honors, Riches,
        
        and
        
         self-Interest
        
        Have made
        
         wise-men
        
        as brutish as a Beast.
       
        Heed otherwhile, what
        
         Common Fame
        
        doth say,
       
        Aswel as what your
        
         Courtiers
        
        whisper may;
       
        Lest you be ignorant of many things,
       
        Whose cognizance is pertinent to
        
         Kings.
        
        Make no man your chief
        
         Confident,
        
        but he
       
        That's both
        
         discreet,
        
        and
        
         honest
        
        known to be;
       
        Lest he deceives your trust, and in the close
       
        Destroyes your
        
         old Friends,
        
        or begets
        
         new Foes.
        
        Let
        
         Justice
        
        be your
        
         Scepter,
        
        let your
        
         Crown
        
        Be
        
         Mercy;
        
        and, if you would keep your
        
         own,
        
        Give that to
        
         others,
        
        which to them belongs,
       
        And free the
        
         Poor
        
        and
        
         Fatherless
        
        from wrongs:
       
        Especially, your main Endeavors bend
       
        To make and keep your
        
         Sovereign Lord
        
        your friend.
       
        And if you would be settled on your
        
         Throne,
        
        Take care that His usurped be by none.
       
        Enjoy your
        
         Conscience,
        
        whatsoever it be;
       
        So other men may have their
        
         Conscience
        
        free;
       
        And, hang me for a Traitor, if thereby
       
        You then enjoy not more
        
         Security,
        
        Than what your
        
         Strength
        
        by
        
         Sea
        
        and
        
         Land
        
        now gives,
       
        And all that
        
         human Policy
        
        contrives.
       
        Let
        
         Truth
        
        and
        
         Error
        
        fight it out together,
       
        Whilst
        
         Civil Peace
        
        disturbed is by neither;
       
        Which may be so provided for, that none
       
        Shall justly be displeased with what is done;
       
        Nor you hereafter be (for evermore)
       
        Disturbed, as you have been heretofore.
       
        If You neglect this, and
        
         I
        
        disobey,
       
        Twill be with much grief, and no other way,
       
        But only
        
         passively,
        
        and whatsoever
       
         I
        
        suffer, will your
        
         Welfare
        
        still endeavor.
       
        To be of this mind, thousands are believed,
       
        Who are not into favor yet received:
       
        And whilst they are excluded (though in
        
         peace
        
        They live)
        
         suspicions
        
        daily will increase;
       
        And from their
        
         Malice,
        
        who nor
        
         GOD,
        
        nor
        
         King,
        
        Much care for, some
        
         ill consequence
        
        may spring,
       
        By which You may have trouble, and they blame,
       
        Who shall be no way guilty of the same.
       
        Your taking timely
        
         Opportunities
        
        Now offered (and, of what before You lies)
       
        May render You a blessed
        
         Instrument,
        
        In making passage to that
        
         Government
        
        Which
        
         Tyrants
        
        fear; more glorious make Your
        
         Throne
        
        Than ever any
        
         King
        
        yet sat upon:
       
        And make Your
        
         Name
        
        a terror to all those
       
        Who to that
        
         Kingdom
        
        shall continue Foes.
       
        Herein I have spoke according to my creed,
       
        Wishing my
        
         just hopes
        
        may thereon succeed;
       
        And that upon Your heart it may work more,
       
        Than what I have spoke to others heretofore.
       
        But GOD's
        
         time
        
        is at hand; within his power
       
        Are all men's ways; yea, both your hearts & our;
       
        And
        
         I
        
        will patiently submit unto
       
        What either He or You shall please to do,
       
        Not asking (whatsoever
        
         I
        
        seem to want)
       
        Ought more, than you spontaneously shall grant:
       
        For, what
        
         I
        
        may expect, if you deny,
       
        So far as need shall be, GOD will supply.

These words, when I was young, my Motto were,

(Thus English'd) I nor have, nor want, nor care:

So are they now I 'm old; yea, somewhat more

Essentially than ever heretofore;

And thereof I will not abate one Letter,

Till GOD and You dirrect me to a better.

The Liberty I covet to enjoy,

Is that which no man living can destroy.

The Wealth I aim at, is nor less, nor more,

But to be well contented, Rich or poor:

And, if I had a mind my Wits to strain,

That I to earthly Honors might attain,

I should to no such common heights aspire,

As now are objects of most men's desire;

Or, to a style of so mean consequence,

As is an Earl, a Marquess, Duke or Prince;

Or, to be called your Cousin: For, no less

Would satisfy my large Ambitiousness,

But so much worth, at least, as did commend

His Loyalty, whom David called his Friend,

And wit enough to make a parallel

Of every Traitor, with Achithophel:

Or, show to you, the diffrence 'twixt the Faiths

Of all your Ziba's, and Mephibosheth’s.

For, then you should in very short time see,

That no man more deserves esteemed to be

Your Majesty's loyal Subject Than, Geo. Wither.

Newgate, Mar. 22. 1662.

FINIS.