The Poets Recantation
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A28666.0001.001
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
THE POETS RECANTATION, having suffered in the Pillory. the 2. of April 1642.
With a penitent submission of all things, that have been written against the King and State.
In an humble Petitionary description, obsequiously commended to the Honorable and High Court of PARLIAMENT.
JOHN BOND.
London Printed for T. A. and Joseph Wren. 1642.
THE Poets Recantation, having suffered on the Pillorie.
THe inumerable multitude of Pamphlets, which have been surreptitiously inserted above this twelve months and half to the ignominious scandal of the State, did not only exasperate his Majesty's just indignation against them, but also highly incensed his Parliament against the same. Who to give plenary satisfaction as well to the whole kingdom in general, as also to his Majesty in particular, intended to inflict an exemplary punishment on the Authors thereof. And it being my hard fortune, or rather misfortune to be found culpable in one peculiar Letter; (though thousand more scandalous Libils, and more invective against the State have been published, whereof I am innocent) yet I was exposed publico dedecore, to the public shame of the world; as the sole contriver of them all. I confess impartially, I acknowledge the sublimity of my crime, and error, without which there is no man living: for according to the grave, and prudent (I had almost said oraculous) sentence of Cato, Neme sine crimine vivit. It was not withstanding no voluntary Act of criminal offense in me, but rather an astimulation, and inducement of impendent, and urgent necessity, et ingens telum necessitas est. Moreover I speak before God, and the whole world, I was suggested to write the same by a calumnious instigator. In all which, my cogitations in the compositing thereof may perspicuously be conceived to be innocent though it is not innocence that I must plead now so much as penitence.
Thus Perillus invented and made a brazen Bull, which was the sole cause of his own destruction, thus Daedalus having framed an irremiable Laborynth, was first exposed thither himself. So that which was extracted out of mine own brain, (as Minerva was from Ioves, though she was more divinely guided, and inspired) was the prime cause of my misery, whereupon I am involved in that Condoleable Laborynth of durance, that unless I be reduced by the Ariadnaean thread of Compassisonate mercy, and Commiseration Actum est de me et de fortunis meis, would I had been Pythagoras his Scholar, for then et labiorum ostia stricto silentii obdideram pessulo, et simul effrenatam Calami licentiam cohibuissem, et tum in catenatis hisce miseriarum voraginibus nunquam illapsus essem. But sero sapium Phryges, we are wise, when 'tis too late: and had I maturely Considered, and presupposed the subsequent casualities, which were incident, I might have prevented that danger wherein I am now involved. But I wonder with a repercussive amazement, that the Muses, and Graces did not descend their auxiliary assistance unto me, whom I will invocate respectively, to know really whither or no they have divorced themselves asonte Pegasaeo from the pegasean fountain.
Since I perceive that the Muses have all forsaken me henceforth I will never dip my pen in Helicon to embroyder my words with Poetical elocutions: I will rather soake my Quill in Acharon, that all things (whatsoever I have written either dependent, having any reference, or against the state) may be obliterated with oblivion. But it is very stupendous, that those things, which naturally descend from any man, should oppress him with misery. Thus a Viper Produceth young, and she is macerated and sometimes killed by those, which she did once bare in her own womb. Thus Cassiodora was betrayed by the Crying of her own Child: And thus I was both introduced into this deplorable estate by the crying of my own Poetic babe, promulgated by the street-cantors, and also wrapped up in this indigence by the same. The Capitolium was delivered, and secured from conspirative machinations by the irregular, and tumultuous noise of Geese, that frequented there: but in a mere antipathy and Contradictory Mytholagie I was betrayed by a Goose quill, so that both fortune, time, and example did all conspire against me. First fortune was mine enemy, that I should be induced to do that by the palpable, and Parasiticall incitements of others, which now is like to subvert both me and my fortunes also. Secondly time was malevolent, in regard it was done in the period of things, when they were all questionable, and amongst the the rest, that this espetially should reflect on mine own detriment. Thirdly example conspired against me, for in respect such a multitude of Libels being published, whereof there were many Authors, that my fate espetially should be so disastrous to suffer exemplarily for all. And now I do most submissively recant in all humility, and what I have offended in I am heartily sory, and penitent for the same. Yet I was never invective either against the state or distressed Delinquents: only I confess sometimes I was conversant in innocent things: and I hope the apprehensive eye of the world will not mis-interpretate what I have don. And I do with all obsequious devotion implore forgiveness and absolution of the whole world, for what I am reputed culpable in, and peccant: but more espetially I most humbly supplicate the propitious reflection of the high Court of Parliaments mercy, and Commiseration, promising hereafter before God, and their Honors an absolute Reformation in my pen hereafter.