adversaries. Thy word is a light unto my feet, and a lanthorn unto my steps.' Oh, let us take heed of hiding any malignant councells in depths, and darknesses, and disguises. God will bring them all forth; 'the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed.'

"The Review.

"Quest. In these last providences, whether is there more mercies or afflictions?

"More mercies.

"Resolution.

"I. The safe return of the trained bands and auxiliaries.

"II. The generall taking of the national covenant with great cheerfulnesse.

"III. The colours of the enemies discovered, with their wicked pourtraictures and mottoes. "IV. The testimonies of agreement in our grandest commanders.

"V. Captain Sydenham's and Glengham's faithfulnesse, in a just slaughter of divers of the earl of Craford's troops.

"VI. The discoveries and apprehendings of Doctor Featley, Master Motte, Master Hungerford, Master Mountague.

"The afflictions.

"I. Some excursions of Colonell Hastings in Liecestershire, in which some few are hurt and spoiled.

"II. Some 500, or few more, of ours slain

in the battle near Newbery, and some five or six citizens, men of some quality.

"The use.

"By this review of providence, we see God's dealing towards us in this late season. We see he hath appeared more in mercies then judge ments; we see he hath shewed himself a gracious God; and, let us observe, this season was the season of our great covenant, and stiring in with God. Let us then still labour by such godly endeavours to keep up our souls in such an holy temper, and let us apply our spirits into the like courses of walking with God, that he may walk with us in the week to come, in the like manner."

In this way did the Puritans secure partizans. Another method was pursued by the "Welsh Mercury," which appears in the form of puns and quibbles. A specimen succeeds: "Her da hear for certain, that the Scots are in a chearful readiness to advance forward for England; which her countrymen do like very well, and will join with her in footing of a northern jig, while harmonies money doth lead the morris-dance; which is better musick than all her Welsh harps.

When pay-day comes, the soldier drinks and sings:

There is no musick without silver strings.

"But her shall have much to do with Mr. Blue-cap, when her comes into England with her creat thousands of men; but her have a

plot

plot beyond her northern wit; for her have a project to press all her countrymen that are under ground, and do live in her mountains; which are a people called The Echoes. Her asked her, t'other day, if her stood for the King? and her answered, The King.' Then her asked, if her stood for the Parliament? and her replied, For the Parliament.' So that her be no delinquent that doth stand for the King and Parliament; and therefore her will come with an army of Echoes and voices, that shall cry, Vivez le Roy et le Parlement."-Welsh Mercury, Oct. 21, 1643.

Thus far we have moralizing and folly: the next article, in this list of the blessings of civil war, will be found much less pleasing; and is from the "Mercurius Aulicus," of December 17, 1643" Now as the Members do lord it at Westminster, so doth Master Venn in his castle at Windsor; where, if you chance to die, there is no Christian burial. For Colonel Shelley (who, for his loyalty to his majesty in the business of Chichester, hath been prisoner there above a twelvemonth) desired Venn to allow Christian burial to a gentleman that died there; to whom Venn returned this very answer, here inserted from the original, under Venn's own hand.

'SIR,

"You know I am not willing to deny you

any

any thing reasonable; but what you mean by Christian burial, I understand not. Sure I am, it is Christian burial to have Christians to accompany the corps to the earth; and not to have prayers said over the dead. I am sure this is papistical burial; and to have this done, I denied it to a captain's wife lately buried, and to all of our side; yea, and in the town also; for it is against the covenant we have taken, and therefore I must crave excuse. Only this I shall afford you that I do afford to ourselves-You shall have your request in this- that some of your officers shall carry him to the grave, if ye do it in the day-time.

JOHN VENN.'

"Is not this a champion for the Protestant religion, who hath the face to give it us under his hand, that Christian burial, according to the doctrine of the church of England, is expressly against their covenant? But Mistress Venn affirms it, and we are bound to believe her, who, good lady, professed to her husbandShe could not sleep or take any rest in any part of Windsor castle, but only in the queen's lodging.'"

It has been my endeavour to avoid saying much on the transactions of this period, when the whole nation forgot every claim of humanity and Society, and individuals endeavoured to do men of opposite sentiments every possible injury; but,

as

as I shall have occasion to notice Blood's attempt to seize the crown of England, it may be

proper to mention a prior outrage, related in the "Mercurius Aulicus," 1643.

"It was June 7 advertised, that upon Friday last Master Martin, and a rabble of his raking up, forced an entrance into the Abbie Church at Westminster; and, having made such spoyle upon the utensils and ornaments of the church as he chanced to meet with, brake open two doores which open into a private roome, where the Regalia (that is to say, his Majesties crownes and sceptres, and other ensigns of state) used antiently by the Kings of England at their Coronations, have beene accustomably kept. But because there was another dore which must first be opened before they could obtaine their entrance, Master Wheeler (whose wife is the king's laundresse) and Falconbridge (Sir Robert Pie's servant in the Treasury), who, living long in and about the Close of Westminster, had beene made acquainted with the secret, by drawing up a beam which made fast that doore (to come at which another doore or two were first broke open), gave him way to enter. But, as it happened, before the crown and other ornaments of the state was seized upon, the Earle of Holland, accompanied with some of the Members of the Lower House (having notice of it) came in upon them, and so perswaded with the rout, that for