Meditations
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A60296.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
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.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
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
Sir Arthur Hasilrig's MEDITATIONS. OR, The Devil looking over Durham.
W Here am I? what shall I be?—where shall I meet my good fellows?—By the figure of 5—at the Devil—will they meet me? What, all Traitors! nobody resenting these Grand Privileges of Our Parliament, so infringed and violated by the consent of the whole Nation? Wherefore did I purchase such a vast Estate of Deans and Chapters Lands? Why have I merited a great name in the ruin of three Kingdoms, if it must be in the power of anybody to question it? Did not I bid defiance to old Oliver, whom I knew as much concerned in this lamentable Account as myself, because I knew there was no sheathing of the Sword?
Well, what I want in wisdom and courage, I will supply in Perjury and impudence, but yet that will not serve the turn; is there no remaining ill qualities which the Kingdoms have not talled of? Had Sir Henry Vene again, for all our former dissensions, and the irremediable distractions among Atheistical Logger-heads, I would introduce any Gallimaufry of Government, but I would disappoint the longing and just Expectation of a Settlement.
Do you hear me! I am quarrelled at for several things, viz. Why should the Bishopric of Durham be conferred on a Man-slayer? Beloved, I ran away from the Devizes with all the celerity and speed imaginable, which Sir William Waller will bear witness to; if I killed any man, it was in Effigie, or when I lately stabbed a Picture at Wimbleton; I am heartily sorry I can do that poor Girle no more favor: Oh I could with! But however, I will marry my Son and Heir to Frances Rich, because I am sure of a strong party upon old Cromwell 's score, and now Lambert and they are all one; and by the assurance of all these Interests, shall not I be Sir Arthur?
As for the increase of my Temporal estate, I refer you to Mr. Collingwoods case, whom I ruined in despite of Olivers Nose, upon the consciousness of his Arbitrary Usurpation; There was Verdict upon Verdict against me, but that signifies nothing against a R—P Resolve. I hope I have so disabled him, that I shall never hear more of that injustice.
I must now begin to exercise a virtue (which a moderate Fortune could not teach me) called Patience; would I were again in Portsmouth. I did not near Mr. Burgess speak a word or it there, no nor at the House: my Honesty and his Divinity are alike compensable; He must not be longer an Eaton -College-Fellow, nor I any longer of the Council of State, and can you blame me to be angry at this disaster?
Who will take the pains to innumerate my Virtues? though I cannot assure him now the thanks of the House, be shall have a Royalists Estate, gratis, upon the sale of Sir George Booth's Lands, What shall I say? Would any man have believed such a thing as divine Justice, that has lived 18 years uncontrollable and unquestionable to the Laws? Must I that pulled down the Gates of the City of London, commanded their Walls to be broken down, that several breaches might be made, and put that violence upon them, which no English Prince in his utmost fury ever offered the City, forgo that kind of Omnipotency? I will rather run after Lambert and own the Commitee of Safety, and three or four times abjure the Covenant.
I am so vexed, that in short, if cannot be revenged on you all, I will be suddenly revenged on myself.
Arthur Hasilrig.