Vox & lacrimæ anglorum, or, The true English-men's complaints to their representatives in Parliament humbly tendred to their serious consideration at their next sitting, February the 6th, 1667/8. Wither, George, 1588-1667. 1668 Approx. 29 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A66795 Wing W3208A ESTC R12298 12931526 ocm 12931526 95684 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A66795) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 95684) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 993:35 or 2183:13) Vox & lacrimæ anglorum, or, The true English-men's complaints to their representatives in Parliament humbly tendred to their serious consideration at their next sitting, February the 6th, 1667/8. Wither, George, 1588-1667. 16 p. s.n.], [London : Printed in the year 1668. Reproductions of original in Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Attributed to George Wither. cf. NUC pre-1956. Item at reel 993:35 incorrectly identified as Wing W3208. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Great Britain -- History -- Restoration, 1660-1688 -- Poetry. 2005-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-08 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-09 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2005-09 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Vox & Lacrimae Anglorum : OR , The True English — mens COMPLAINTS , To their Representatives in PARLIAMENT . Humbly tendred to their serious Consideration at their next sitting , February the 6th . 1667-68 . By reason of the Multitude of Oppressions , they make the oppressed to cry . They cry out , by reason of the Arm of the Mighty . Job 35. 9. And in every Province whithersoever the Kings Commandment , and his Decree came , there was great Mourning , and Fasting , and Weeping and Wayling . Esth . 4. 3. Printed in the Year 1668. To the Parliament . THese Lines had kiss'd your Hands October last , But were suspended till the time was past ; Because we hop'd you were about to do That which this just Complaint incites you to ; It is our duty , to put you in mind Of that great Work which yet doth lag behind : Our Grief and Woes do force us loud to cry , And call on you for speedy Remedy ; Which was the moving Cause of these our Tears , That you may know our Sufferings and our Fears . And Providence now having led the way To give it birth ; peruse it well we pray . And do not take it for an old Wives story , But know the Nations Griefs lie here before ye : Though in short hints , yet here , as in a Map , With ease you 'l see the cause of our Mishap . There 's not a free-born English Protestant , But sets both hand and heart to this Complaint . Vox & Lacrimae Anglorum . REnowned Partiots , open your Eyes , And lend an ear to th' Justice of our cries ; As you are English men ( our blood and bones ) Know 't is your duty to regard our Groans ; On you , next God , our confidence relies , You are the Bulwarks of our Liberties . Within your Walls was voted-in our King , For joy whereof our shouts made England sing , And to make him a great and glo●ious Prince , Both you and we have been at great expence . Full Five and twenty hundred thousand pound , ( By you enacted ) since hath been paid down , Our Customs to a vast Revenew come ; Our Fishing-money , no inferiour sum . That old Ale-spoiling trade of the Excise , Doth yearly to a mass of money rise ; Besides the Additional of Royal Aid , And Chimney-money , which is yearly paid . Oft have our heads by Polls been sadly shorn , With money from poor Servants Wages torn . Our Dunkirk yeelded many a thousand pound , ( T is easier far to sell than gain a Town . ) With forc'd Benevolence , and other things , Enough t' enrich a dozen Danish Kings , Million on million on the Nations back , Yet we and all our Freedoms go to wrack . We hop'd when first these heavy Taxes rose , Some should be us'd to scare away our foes , Or beat them , till ( like Gibeonites ) they bring Their Grandees ready haltred to our King ; Or make them buckle , and their points untruss ; As they did when the Motto , God with Vs. But Oh! instead of this , our cruel Fate Hath made us like a Widow , desolate . Our Houses sadly burnt about our ears , Our Wives & Children sensless made with fears ; Our Warlike Ships , in which our safety lay , Unto our daring foes are made a prey . Our Forts and Castles , which should guard our Land , Just like old Nunneries and Abbies stand . And long before our Inland-Towns demur'd , That Sea and Land alike might be secur'd . Our Magazines , which did abound with store , Like us ( sad English-men ) are very poor . Our Trade is lost , our Merchants are undone , Yeomen and Farmers , all to Ruine run . Those that our fatal Battels fought , neglected ; And swearing , damme , cowardly Rogues protected . Our gallant Seamen ( once the world did dread ) For want of Pay , are metamorphosed : Whilst their sad Widows & poor Orphans weep . Whose dear Relations perisht in the deep ; And to augment and aggravate their grief , At the Pay-office find but cold relief ; Many a month are forc'd to wait and stay , To seek the price of blood , dead Husbands pay . The sober People , who our Trade advanced , Throughout our Nation quite discountenanced . It grieves our hearts that we should live to see True Virtue pnnished , and Vice go free . Thousands there be that could not hurt a worm , Imprisoned were , ' cause they cannot conform . Others exil'd , and from Relations sent , We know not why , but being innocent . Whilst Romes black Locusts menace us with storms Like Egypts Frogs , about the Kingdom swarms . Our penal Laws are never executed Against those Vermin , which our Land polluted , Only to blind and hoodwink us ( alas ) An Edict passes to prohibir Mass , With such a latitude , as most men say , It 's like its Sire , the Oath Et caetera . But prais'd be God for Peace , that 's very clear ; But on what terms th' Event will make appear ; We dread lest it should be more to our cost , Than when Amboyna Spicery was lost . They treat with Rod in hand , our Buttocks bare ; Judge what the issues of such Treaties are . Thus sick , ye Worthies , sick our Nation lies , And none but God can cure her maladies . Those that should chear her in your interval , Like dull Quack-salvers , make her spirits fail : Turn she her wither'd face to whom she will , All that she gets is but a purging Pill . If any of her Children for her cry , Her cruel Empricks use Phlebotomy . That wholsom Physick which should cleanse her blood , They do detain , inflaming what is good . This for a long time hath bad humours bred , Which sends up filthy vapours to the head . All wise men judge , if these extreams endure ; 'T will period in a mad-brain'd Calenture . Then , O ye Worthies , now for Heavens sake , Some pitty on your gasping Country take . Call to account those Leeches of the State , Who from their trust deeply prevaricate ; Who have of English Coin exhausted more , Than would ten Cuer-de-Lions home restore . Who like perfideous and deceitful Elves , Ruine the Nation to enrich themselves , More ready were our Counsels to disclose , Then to protect us from our Belgian foes . The Fleet divided , shews such treachery , That Pagans , Turks and Infidels decry . The States Purse cannot but be indigent , When so much money over-Sea is sent . No wonder Dutchmen cry , Thanks Clarendine , We are so roundly paid with English Coin. If Georges mouth be stopt , think they that we Have all our eyes bor'd out , and cannot see . Our foes of Engiish Coin have greater store Since Wars began , than ere they had before . Quaint stratagem , for Rulers busied be To tye a raw Hide to an Orange Tree ; With resolution , ' cause he 's of that blood , To lift his head above the Mogan hood . Then both the Kiep-skins would be well bestow'd , One honour'd here , t'other as much abroad . These and such Projects have procur'd a War , Where mortals worry'd were like Dog and Bear. Then Money works the wonder , that is sure , The price of Dunkirk here may much procure . Dunkirk was sold , but why , we do not know , Unless t' erect a new Seraglio , Or be a Receptacle unto those , Were once intended our invading foes . Then let that treacherous Abject Lump of Pride , With all his joynt-Confederates beside , Be brought to Justice , tryed by our Laws , And so receive the merits of their Cause . Who justly now are made the peoples hate . That would not do them Justice in the Gate . ● We pray your Honours choose out a Committee To find the Instruments that burnt our City ; Can one poor sensless Frenchmans life repair The losse of Britains great Imperial Chair ? Many there were in that vile fact detected , And those that should them punish , them protected . When Nero did the like on famous Rome , Were all her Senators and People dumb ? Must we be silent , when incompast round With black-mouth'd Dogs , that would us all confound ? Most hellish Plot ! 't was Guido Faux in grain , Hatch'd by the Jesuites in France and Spain . For which your Honours wisely did remember To keep another fifth day of November . When these Delinquents up and down the Nation You sifted for , then came your Prorogation . Mean while , though London in her ashes lies , Yet out of her shall such a Phaenix rise , Shall be a scourge and terrour unto those , Who for this hundred years have been her foes . Perfideous Papists ! shall your treachery , Think ye , reduce US to Idolatry ? Blood-thirsty Monsters ! we know better things ; Not all the pride of your dark-lanthorn Kings , Nor all your Counsels of Achitophel , Shall make us run your ready road to Hell ; Blind Blockheads , we abhor your rotten Whore ; None but the God of Jacob we adore . We beg your Honours to redeem our Trade , Which in your Intervals is much decay'd ; Regaining that , we hope such fruit 't will yeeld , We on our Ruins chearfully may build . We pray repeal that Law unnatural , That men in question for their Conscience call : 'T is cruelty , for you to force men to The thing , that they had rather die than do , This is mans All , 't is Christ's Prerogative , Therefore against it 't is in vain to strive . Distribute Justice with an equal hand Unto the Peer , as Peasant of the Land ; Many true Commoners murder'd of late , Yet Justice strikes not the Assassinate . Why should the just Cause of the Clyent be Utterly lost , wanting a double Fee ? Why partial Judges on the Benches sit , And Juries overaw'd , which is not fit ? Why some corrupted , others wanting wit , And why a Parliament should suffer it ? Why great mens wills should be their only Law ; And why they do not call to mind Jack Straw ? Why they do let their Reputation rot , And why Carnarvan Edward is forgot ? Why Bloodworth would not let that dreadful Fire Extinguisht be , as good men did desire ? And why Lifeguard-men at each Gate were set , Hindring the people thence their goods to get ? Why were our Houses levell'd with the ground , That fairly stood about the Tower round ? When many thousand Families were left Without a house , then we must be berest Of habitations too with all the rest , And share with those that greatly were distrest . Why should our Mother-Queen exhaust our store , Enriching France , and making England poor Spending our Treasure in a forreign Land , Which doth not with our Nations Intrest stand ? Therefore in time stay th' bleeding of this vein , Lest it our Nations vital spirits drain . Why England now , as in the dayes of yore , Must have an Intercessor , Madam Shore ? Why upon her is spent more in a day , Than would a deal of publick charge defray ? Why second Rosamond is made away ? And that remains a Riddle to this day . Why Papists put in places of great trust , And Protestants lay by their Arms to rust ? Why Courtiers rant with Goods of other mens , And with Protections cheat the Citizens ? Why drunken Justices are tolerated , And why the Gospel's almost abrogated ? Why Clergy-men do domineer so high , That should be patterns of humility ? Why they do Steeple upon Steeple set , As if they meant that way to Heav'n to get ? Who nothing have to prove themselves devout , Save only this , that Cromwel turn'd them out . Why Tippits , Copes , Lawnsleeves & such like geer Consume above three millions by the year ? Why Bell and Dragon Drones , like Boar in sty , Eat more than all the painful Ministry ? Which is one cause the Nation is so poor , And when the King will find their Privy Door ? When Daniel shews th' impression of their feet , And gives direction , then hee 'l come to see 't . Why Englands grand Religion now should be A Stalking-Horse to blind Idolatry ? Why many thousauds now bow down before it , That in their Consciences do much abhor it ? Why Treachery is us'd by Comp●ication , Fraud and Deceit the All-a-moad in fashion ? Why ranting Cowards in Bust-coats are put , And why they Robbers turn , to fill their gut ? Why Fools in Corporations do command , Who know nor Justice , nor the Law o' th Land ? Why he who brought our necks into this Yoke , Dreads not the thoughts of Feltons fatal stroke ? Sure they 'r bewitch'd who think us English men Have no more courage left us than a Hen. And why that interest is become the least , In the year Sixty greater than the rest ? We know no reason , but do all consent , These are the fruits of an Ill-Government . Some think our Judgments do run parallel With Davids in the dayes of Israel . The difference is , he was a Man of God ; But ours have been his sore afflicting Rod ; To which we turn our naked backs , and say , Lord , during thy pleasure , Vive le Roy. We pray restore our faithful Ministers , Whom we do own as Christ's Ambassadors . Why are our Pulpits pestred with that Crew , That took up Orders since black Bartholmew ; Who Mysteries of Gospel know no more , Than that dumb Calf that Israel did adore . Too late for us to you to make our moan , When they have led us to destruction . Must all be enemies to King and State , That from the Church of England separate ? Must all the Meetings of the Innocent Be judg'd unlawful and to Prison sent ? 'T were better all such Edicts you made void , And grant the Liberty they once enjoy'd ; Confirming that unto them by a Law , Makes good the Royal Promise at Breda . Tread all Monopolies into the Earth , And make provision that no more get birth . In this a Prince's danger chiefly lies , That he is forc'd to see with others eyes : From hence our Troubles rose in Forty one , When that Domestick War at first begun . Relieve th' Oppressed , set all Prisoners free , Who for their Consciences in durance be . Poor Debtors who have not wherewith to pay , Break off their Shackles , let them go their way . And let suborned Witnesses appear No more against the Innocent to swear . Let no more Juries that are byassed , Selected be to do what they are bid ; Who to fulfill mens Lusts and Cruelty , Regard not though the Innocent do dye . Why should our just Laws as a Cobweb be , To catch small flies , and let the great go free ? This ●urns true judgment into wormwood gall , Doth for the Vengeance of th' Avenger call . Then ease those Burdens under which we groan , Give Liberty its Resurrection . Let painful Husbandry , the Child of Peace , Be now encouraged , since Warrs do cease : Let not the poor enslaved Plow-man crave Redress from you , and yet no succour have . 'T is too much like a base French stratagem , To make the People poor to govern them . More happy for a Prince , when Aid he craves , To hav 't from free-born men , than injur'd slaves . We are free-born , we yet are English-men , Let 's not like old men boast what we have been ; But make us happy by your gentle Rayes , And You shall be the tenour of our Praise ; And our posterities with joynt consent , Shall call you Englands healing Parliament ; But if you still will make our Bands the stronger , If Prisoners must remain in durance longer ; If wandring Stars must still by force detrude ( Under Eclipse ) those of first Magnitude ; If Prelates still must ov'r our Conscience ride , And Papists bonfires make on us beside . If he and they ( whose Avarice and Pride So long have rid our backs , and gall'd our side ) Have got so strong an intrest in the State , That their Commitment costs so long debate ; Until a way be made for his escape To forreign parts , there to negotiate : The edge of Justice surely's turn'd aside , To cut the poor ones flesh , and save the Hide . If you mens Lusts and Av'rice gratifie , And yet our empty Purse-strings will unty ; You are too free of what nev'r was your own , And know you only make us more to groan , ( Asse-like : ) and surely any mortal man , Will seek to ease his burden when he can . There 's not an English-man but well hath learn'd , Your Priviledges are alike concern'd With all our Liberties ; That he that doth Infringe the one , usurps upon them both . And shall it on your Door and Tombs be writ , This was that Parliament so long did sit , While Conscience , Liberty , our Purse and Trade ; , The Country , City , Ships , and All 's betray'd ? That made an Act for building on the Vrn , But no Inquest who did the City burn ; To feed a Palmer-worm , who threw away That publick stock that Seamen should defray . Since now you have an opportunity , Redeem your selves and us from Slavery : If not , ( the Wheel goes round ) there is no doubt , You 'l also share with those you have turn'd out . Vivat Lex Rex . POST-SCRIPT . IF ere you leave us in a lasting-Peace , 'T is by redressing all our Grievances . When Rulers stop their ears to th' Peoples cryes , Those are sad symptoms of Catastrophies . In Watch , or Clock , things made irregular , Though ne're so small , make all the work to jar . And in the Body Natural 't is sound , That if an Humour doth therein abound , That the Physician must extenuate , And make it with the rest co-operate . So , if in Bodies Politick there be , Not found 'twixt all Estates a harmony , They cease not till in tract of time they bring All to Confusion , Peasant , Lord and King. To make some great , and ruine all the rest , In this a Commonwealth cannot be blest . And doth it follow hence , great Sirs , that we Must be made Beggars to posteritie . Let Equity and Justice plead our Cause , And then refer us to our antient Laws . If Magna Charta must be wholly slighted , We must conclude our Rulers are benighted . But needs must we be poor , when it is known We 've had a second Pearce of Gaveston . Your Power is sovereign , else we durst not quote His poysonous name , without an Antidote . Perfideous Clarenden ! that potent Thief , His Prince's blemish , and the Peoples grief . Who once did scorn to plunder by retail , Who stretch'd the State 's purse till the strings did fail . He and his fellow Juglers found the knack To plow deep furrows on the Nations back . Like Glaziars , who incite the roaring Crew Windows to break , that they may make them new . So they pick Quarrels with our Neighbor Nations , Then baul at you to peel us with Taxations ; Which having got , stil more and more they crave , Ev'n like the Horsleech , or devouring Grave . For Avarice cannot be satisfi'd , No more than Belzebub and 's Brother Hide . That Machiavil we have not yet forgot , Who brew'd that wicked , hellish Northern Plot ; Where many Gentlemen had ruin'd been , If Providence had not stept in between . Who then amongst vour selves secure can be , If this be not check'd by Authoritie , He was one of that open-handed Tribe Whose Avarice ne're yet refus'd a Bribe . What suit of Law soev'r before him came , He that produc'd most Angels , won the Game ; Be 't right or wrong , or Plaintiff or Defendant , Should have the Cause , if Gold were at the end on 't . How did he send , without remorse or fear , Thousands brave English to that Grave , Tangier ? What usage had the Scots , thousands can tell , When the late Remonstrators did rebel . Whilst Irish Rebels quit their old O hone . Poor English Protestants take up that tone . Empson and Dudly's facts compar'd with his , Were but nights darkness unto Hells Abiss . The famous Spensers did in type pourtray What should be acted by this Beast of prey . Earth him , and you shall find within his Cell , Those mischiefs which no Age can parallel ; War , Fire and Blood , with vast expence of Treasure , Ruine of Englishmen , his chiefest pleasure . In fine , for Mischief he was what you will , The perfect Epitome of all ill . All good men hate his Name ; nay ( which is worse ) Three Nations doggs him with their heavy curse . As he regarded not the Widows tears ; So ye , just Heavens , multiply his fears . Let Cains most dreadful doom soon overtake him , And his companion Gout never forsake him . Let Heavens Vengeance light upon his pate , Till all our wrongs it doth retaliate ; Till he himself to Justice doth resign , Let all men call him , Cursed Clarendine . Dexterous Artist , he with little ease , Transplanted Dunkirk from beyond the Seas , And dropt it near that fatal spot of Land , Where for him now Tyburn doth weeping stand ; The ecchoing Ax out of the Tow'r doth call , To speed this Monster Epidemical . But he upon us having plaid his prank , Follows his Brethren , Finch and Windebank . Thus Hide by name , is Hide by practice too , Yet cannot hide from Heav'n , tho hid from You. And being gone , hath left his Imps behind , Whose only work is , all your Eyes to blind , Lest tracing him , you find their villany . Yet known to few but the All-seeing Eye . If any thing of common fame be true , He 's only gone our Mischiefs to renew ; And if his practice justifie our fears , Hee 'l sets again together by the ears . Ambition's of the nature of the Devil , Alwayes to brood , and hatch , and bring forth evill . If true that Maxime be , Kings cannot err ; With modesty we may from thence infer . Ill thrives that hapless Nation then that shows , A silent Prince , and Chancellor that crows Over his Equals , over all his Peers , Over Fanaticks , over Cavaliers ; He was so absolute , 't was hard to say Or he , or Charles , whether we must obey . Rose from a Gentleman , too near the Throne ; Sought not the Nations Intrest , but his own . You are our Bridle in such Tyrants jaws , That would destroy us , and subvert our Laws . Now hold the Beign , now keep the Ballance true , Find those Bandetro's that do lie purdue . If you , like Cato , for your Country stand , Three noble Nations are at your command , Whilst Justice , Truth & Right ousness do guide you Wee 'l be your Guard , whatever shal1 betide you . Disarm the Papists , and secure our Ports , Place Protestants iu Garrisons and Forts . Why should the French and Irish here bear sway , That Enemies to England are this day ? Let not our Magazines remain with those , That burnt our City , and abide our Foes ; Whose hellish , bloody principles are such , To butcher English-men they think nor much . What Safety , Peace , or Trade can we expect , When these protected are , and you neglect Us to secure against such Cut-throat Dogs , As swarm now in our Land , like Egypts Frogs . What means the flocking of the French so fast , Into our Bowels thus with Arms to hast ? And must our Horses , which of value be , Be unto France transported , as we see ? Are not our Forts and Castles , all betray'd . When all their Stores and Guns aside are laid , Out of the reach of such as would oppose Forreign Enemies and Domestick Foes ? Did the Dumb Child , when at his Father's throat He saw a Knife ? immediately cry out ? Can we be silent , when the Train is laid , And Fire-works prepared , as 't is said ? Look through the Vail , and yon will soon espy The Romish Councils close at work do lie , To undermine You , and Religion too : Look well about you , lest you do it rue . Now is the time to quit your selves like men , Now stand up for our Liberties , and then , The Lawrel Wreath and never-fading Bayes , Shall crown your heads , and we shall sing your praise . Is there no Balm in Gilead ? is there no Physician there ? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered ? FINIS .