The Debauched Cavalier
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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.
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
The Debauched CAVALLEER: Or the English MIDIANITE.
Wherein are compared by way of Parallel, the Carriage, or rather Miscarriage of the Cavalleeres, in the present Reign of our King Charles, with the Midianites of old.
Setting forth their Diabolical, and Hyperdiabolicall Blaspemies, Execrations, Rebellions, Cruelties, Rapes, and Robberies.
Psal. 83.9.10.
Penned by G. L. and C. L. for public good.
LONDON, Printed by L. N. for HENRY OVERTON, in Popes-head Alley. MDCXLII.
The debauched CAVALLEER, or the English MIDIANITE.
Christian Reader,
B E pleased to consider, that the intent of this ensuing Discourse, is wholly to render a viprous brood of prodigious Incendiares both of Church, and State, more odious in the eyes of all the Kings most loyal, and religious Subjects throughout this Kingdom, that they may hereby be excited to contribute, both their Prayers, Substance, and all the Interest they have with God, and man, against these debauched Cavaliers either for their sequestration from the presence of our King, or for their total extirpation out of this Realm of England.
In which Discourse, shall be dispatched these two particulars.
1. Concerning the name of Cavalleers.
2. Concerning the degeneration of these wretches from the name of Cavallier, by several characters (a) running parrallel with the Midianites, and who did set themselves against the Israel of God, and the God of Israel.
1. Concerning the name of Cavallier.
There is a rule in the Civil-law, none ought to be condemned before his name be known. Since therefore we come to condemn the damnable practices of those men who bear this name, we shall endeavor to make it known unto the world.
The word Cavallier used amongst us here in England, is derived from the Italian word Cavallero, which signifies an Horse-rider, as that word is derived from Cavallo, which signifies an horse, whence the Italians have this usual speech amongst them, monte Cavallo, Mount, or Get upon your Horse.
There is another word like unto it in sound, and used amongst us here in England, and that is Chivalier, being derived from the french word Chevalier, which signifies an horseman, as that word is derived from Cheval, an horse, whence the Frenchmen have this usual speech amongst them, Mounte Cheval, up and ride, and whence also our english Noblemen in their tilting have the notion of Chivalrie amongst them.
We are not ignorant, that some Ancients deduce the name of Cavallier from the latin word, Gaballus, which signifies a great horses; as if the name Cavallier, were as much as Caballier, V, and B, being letters which are symbollicall, and so being trans-elemented, they easily sally forth, and run one into the other. And the Greeks Becman doth observe, derive it from the Greek compound 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , from the weighty and burdensome saddles, which are cast upon the backs of great Horses.
However, though not utterly disallowing these two last derivations, because they are ingenuous, we shall accurre unto the former, both the French, and the Italian satisfaction, and so much the rather, because our Cavaliers here in England, are either French, or Italian, at least in the affection, yet notwithstanding we shall especially agree to the Italian original, as the most proper head radix, and fountain.
The name itself, we confess, is honorable, and is equivalent with our Miles, Armiger, Armigerans, vel Equus auratus, which is a Knight, a Soldier, or a golden horseman. But these unworthy miscreants have made the very name a reproach, as the Antichristian Prelates, the name of Bishop, which in Saint Paul's time was worthy of double honor, but by reason of their tyrannical usurpation, is (as old father Latimer expresseth it) worthy of a more than a double, (even) a Treble reproach.
Thus according to the Physicians, Corruptio optimi, fit pessima, the best thing being corrupted proves the worst: and a good name being abused, is now become most odious.
And therefore now, since the name of Cavallier is known what it is, we now descend to show in the second particular how it is for the present abased, and abused by these sons of Belial, who have degenerated from the honorable reputation of the term of Cavallier, as shall appear in these ensuing Charactars, paralleled with the Midianite.
The Characters of them are gathered out of the Books of Numbers, and Judges.
1. The first Character of the Midianites.
They were full of rage, and blasphemy, when the Altar of Baal was thrown down, Judge. 6.28, 29, 30, 33.
So are the Cavalleers, what makes them rage, but that the Priests, and Altars of Baal; are throwing down amongst us? and what makes their blasphemies break forth, but their rage? according to the speech of the Prophet Isaiah c. 8. v. 21. They shall fret themselves, and curse their God.
Now to give a list of their raging blasphemies, our joints tremble, our hands shake, and our pens do quiver; yet how ever, to render them more odious to all the world, we could do no less, then depaint them out in their own labors, and publish to the world some of those blasphemous execrations, which upon certain information we have gatherered and inserted here as follows,
These five particulars were reported by a Godly Gentleman who went with a message to the King, who declared that he heard all these himself, which Mr: Norton a Minister now about the Army received from his mouth, and sent up in a letter to Mr: George Walker a Reverend Pastor of a Church in Watlingstreete here in London which Letter by him was delivered to the Parliament, that the worthies also might read those horrid Epistolarie Execrations.
This was avowed in a Pulpit, by that reverend Preacher of God's word Mr: Simpson who came lately from Holland.
And thus by their Notorious Blasphemies, they do some notable despite, and wrong even to the Spirit of Grace, the Holy Ghost Heb. ch. 10 v. 29.
Wherefore we lift up our hearts to Heaven in the words of the Psalmist, Remember this O Lord, that the Enemies have reproached thee; and that this foolish people have blasphemed thy Name, read Psalm. 74.18. Thus we leave them to God to whom Vengeance belongs, that he may execute on them the Judgment written, And thus we have done with the first charracter.
2. The second Character of the Midianites.
They were men of Cruelty and Oppression, Judge. 6.2.4. because of the Midianites, The children of Israel made them Dens which are in the Mountaynes, and Caves, and strong holds, and they Encamped against them and destroyed the Increase of the Earth and left no Sustenance for Israel neither Sheep nor Oxen. &c. and thus the Holy Ghost proceeds to emblazon, and set forth their opressing Cruelties.
Now let the world judge whether * the Cavaliers of our time do not fully answer the oppressions of those Midianites spoken of in the world; and many parts of this Kingdom can by sad experience give testimony hereunto. How many of the Kings faithful and loyal Subjects have been forced to leave their dwellings? and (as the Israelites when pursued by the Midianites ) to run to the denns and caves of the earth? Those who were able to relieve and feed others, how are they now forced to beg their own bread? and those who had fair houses to dwell in, good beds to lie on, how are they constrained to lie in the open fields? (lest he should be exposed to their rage and robberies) who have nothing but a Stone for their Pillow, the Bank for a Bolster, the Earth for their Bed, the Grass for their Rugg, the Trees for their Curtaines, the Hedges for their Vailance, and are like to have (if not seasonably supplied) the Winter Snow for their Sheet, the Sky for their Canopy, and the chirping Birds of the morning to be their Alarm, to awake them. To bring up the Parallel close: as Midian did destroy the increase of the Earth, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither Sheep, nor Oxen, nor other beasts; so have these cruel Cavaliers destroyed the fruits of the Earth in many parts of this Kingdom, spoiled Corn in the ground, burned much up when gathered into the Barn, or standing in the Reeke; and as for taking away their substance, they have by violence broken into houses, taken away all household stuff, and provision left nothing but naked walls, insomuch that men had not bread for their Wives, and Children. And as for taking away the beasts (as the Midianites did from Israel ) to make that true, they have driven men's Deere out of their Parkes, men's Sheep out of their Folds, men's Oxen out of their Ploughes, and Horses from their Harrowes, constraining men to part with their horses, to further them in their unwarrantable Designes. And thus we have also done with the second Character.
The third Character of the Midianites.
They were rambling Renagadoes; now here now there, one while at Gaza, Judge. 6.4. another while by Ophrah, Judge. 6.11. another time at Baals Alter and the Grove, Judge. 6.28.29. another time in the Vally of Jezreel. Judge. 6.33. another time at Bethshittah towards Zererath, another time at the border of Abel-Meholuh unto Tabath, Judge. 7.22. and another while at the Rock of Oreb, and the Wine-press of Zeeb. v. 25. one while in Karkor, Judge. 8.10. and another while at Tabor, Judge. 8.8. and still to surprise Israel.
Thus do our Cavaliers rove from one place to another. First, from London to York, from York to Hull, then to Beverley, then to York again; thence to Warwick, thence to Banbury, then to Warwick again, thence to Coventry, thence to Nottingam, thence to Worcester, thence to Shrewsbury, and the Lord knows how soon they may come again to London.
And thus we have done also with the third Character.
The fourth Character of the Midianites.
* They were a crafty and a subtle Generation to beguile Israel and ensnare them with their wiles, seeking to get Israel at an advantage Numb. 25.18.
So are our Cavaliers it seems, the Serpentine brood, a subtle Generation: witness the feigned Letters they send, the false Alarms they sound, the sudden surprises they make, to take us at an advantage by Policy; for never had they yet the power to stand before the face of our Army.
The fifth Character of the Midianites.
They were unclean both by bodily and spiritual uncleanness. Numb. 25.6.18.
We put spiritual and bodily uncleanness together, because one seldom goes without the other. As for bodily uncleanness, we will not accuse them how many they abused; you may take that ex concessio, for they said themselves (as hath been intimated in the fourth Particular of their Blasphemies) that they would Whore, Drink, and be Damned, wherefore if they do not whore, at least they lie, both which Sins God will judge; yet we cannot but give you the Report of the Country, of two Cavaliers who ravished one Maid while another stood by and held the Horses: of 7. more, who abused another, before she could be released from them; besides the many Rapes and Chamber-Adulteries, which we leave to the All-seeing Eyes and Revenging Hand of Justice, and as for Spiritual Uncleanness, which is Idolatry, that cannot be free from their Campe, having so many Papists and profane ones in their unhallowed and Pseudo-Catholic Army.
6 The Sixt Character of the Midianites.
They were frequent in plotting Combinations with the Children of the East, the Amalekites and others to discomfit Israel. Judge. 6.33. Judge. 7.12. Judge. 6.3.
So do these Cavaliers combine with the Praelaticall party, who are the children of the East, and with Papists who are these Amalekites, with persons accused of treason, with divers Delinquents, and Incendiaries both to Church and State; To give you a view of their Plots and Combinations, look back to their Indeavours of Surprising the six Worthies of Parliament, their Plots to enter the Town of Hull, their late desperate Plot to blow up our L. General in Worcester. Yet to all these Plots we may say as to the Conspirators of old. Associate yourselves together, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces &c. Es. c. 8. v. 9.10.
They were subdued, Judge. 8.28. Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no mo • e, & the Country was then in quietness.
More is the pity that the Cavaliers do not run parallel with them in this Character; yet they are not subdued, and yet is not our Land in quietness. But do unto them O Lord as unto the Midianites, as to Sisera and Jabin at the brook of Kison which perished at Endo •• they became as dung for the earth: make their Nobles like O •• b and Zeeb, &c.
Christian Reader, thou hast presented to thy view by these Characters that which might make thine ears tingle, thy heart tremble, thy joints shatter, and blood to startle in thy face, that the Name of the living God should be thus blasphemed by mortal men. Oh! stand amazed, and wonder, that an holy God should suffer such hellish Blasphemies to go so long unpunished, that they (being but worms under his feet) he should not trample them to powder, and make them lasting Monuments of everlasting vengeance. God lets them live so long to make your rising more visible, and their fall more dismal: wait but a while and you shall see what slaughters your God will make; he is whetting his glittering Sword, lifting up himself on high, his hand taking hold on justice; their blow is coming, their doom approaching, their judement near, their sin ripe, the sickle of God's wrath will soon cut them down, they shall wither like the grass, be scattered like chafte before the wind, and consumed like stubble before the everlasting burnings. Oh • think no time too long, no labor too great, no cost too much, in so good a cause, against so bad enemies: they are the greatest enemies to Christ that ever this land bred; they have lifted up swords against him, drank healths to the confusion of him, they defile his Name, abhor his Worship, throw out his Ordinances, oppose his Gospel, malign his people, and would lay all his honor in the dust; yea they would infringe your liberties, ensnare your consciences, pull Laws up to throw you down; they expect to be happy by your misery, and rich by your poverty; these idle Vagrants would fain live by the labor of your hands and the sweat of your brows: Oh! how can you hold your hands from these men of violence and blood, lest that curse come upon you of this Land which was denounced by the Prophet Jeremiah, c. 48. v. 10. Cused be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently: and cursed be he that keepeth back (in this case especially) his sword from blood. Wherefore turn your plate into money, your Coach-horses into War-horses, your Ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears, and make ready for the Battle. Let us tell you, you have that mark to shoot at, at which God is aiming to have his arrows stick in their sides, and be drunk in their blood. O ye Inhabitants of England, in whose eyes Christ and the Gospel, your Laws and Liberties are Precious; go on and prosper, up and be going, up and be doing, and up and be fighting, and the Lord be with you. If you will not, take heed lest ye be found fighters against God, fellonious to yourselves, rebellious to Nature, treacherous to your Country, injurious to posterity, and infamous to eternity. Wherefore to conclude, as Moses spake unto the people, in Numb. 31.3. saying. Arm some of yourselves unto War, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord of Midian; and so do you also against the Debauched Cavaliers, or the English Midianites.