Strange and wonderfull Prodictions:
Declared in a Message, (as from the LORD) to his Excellency Sir Thomas
Fairfax, and the Councell of his Army. By John Saltmarsh Preacher of the
Gospell, with his severall speeches, and the manner of his death.
To the Tune of, Bragandary round.
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THe Wonders of the Lord are past
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all Peoples finding out,
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Which you shall understand at last,
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to put you out of doubt:
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Master Saltmarsh did Prophesie,
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Told just the time himselfe should die,
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Oh wonder wonderfull wonder,
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The like hath not bin knowne.
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He Prophesies the Armies fall,
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except they do repent,
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He said that they should perish all,
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Gods wrath on them is bent,
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One Souldier shall destroy another,
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The brother shall rise against the brother,
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Oh wonder wonderfull wonder,
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The like hath not bin knowne.
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This Sa[l]tmarsh was a Minister,
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a man of blamlesse Life,
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That preached to the Army oft,
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and sought to end all strife,
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In m[i]dst of warre he preached peace,
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And daily pray'd our woes might cease,
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Lo[r]d open the Armies hearts,
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For to consider this.
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Like one was risen from the dead,
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he to the Army went,
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His eyes were sunck within his head,
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as though his [l]ife were spent,
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He told them he from God was sent,
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To move the Army to repent,
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Lord open the Armies hearts,
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For to consider this.
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He said he in a Trance had bin,
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and saw a Vision strange,
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That he was sent from God above,
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that he their minds might change,
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For leaving their first principall,
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God would send wrath upon them all
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Lord open the Armies hearts,
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For to consider this.
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He told Sir Thomas to his Face,
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things were not right among them
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That those that were the Saints of grace,
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they daily sought to wrong them,
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Keeping them in Prison still,
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Quite against the Almighties will,
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Lord open the Armies hearts
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For to consider this.
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THose that did stick unto them most,
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they most of all do slight,
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Though for a while they heare are crost,
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the LORD will them requite,
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These words he to the Generall said,
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Which made him and the rest dismai'd,
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Lord open the Armies hearts,
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For to consider this.
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He told Sir Thomas thus much too,
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hee'd honour him no more,
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But he and his should suffer woe,
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as he had said before:
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'Cause he had lost his former Love,
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And so unconstant now doth prove,
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Lord open the Armies hearts,
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For to consider this.
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They asked him if he thought best,
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the Army should disband,
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He bid them set their hearts at rest,
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God had more worke in hand.
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Some of the Army should remaine,
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Would do for conscience more then gaine,
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Lord open all their hearts,
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For to consider this.
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He wished some he well did love,
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to leave the Army then,
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And from the quarters soone remove
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from all such factious men,
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Least of their Plagues they do partake,
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His mind to them he thus did breake,
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Lord open all our hearts,
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For to consider this.
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He said the day of Doome was neare,
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and God his Saints would call,
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Christ in the Clouds will soone appeare,
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(quoth he) to judge you all:
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Let no men then my words condem,
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Lest suddaine vengence light on them,
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Lord open all our hearts,
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For to consider this.
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When he his charge delivered had,
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he went home to his Wife,
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And seemed to be very glad,
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that he must end his life:
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He had instructed every Friend,
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Soone after that his life did end.
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Oh wonder, wonder of wonders,
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The like hath not bin known.
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Now God so much our friend hath stood
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that our Parliament,
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Disbands the Army for our good,
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to give the Land content,
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This present Moneth the fifteenth day,
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With promise they shall have their pay,
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God give us thankfull hearts,
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Who still doth stand our friend.
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After this time no longer they,
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free-quarter are to have,
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'Twill be indeed a happy day,
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what more now can we crave,
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But that our King with full consent,
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Retune unto his Parliament,
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Lord open all their hearts,
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For to consider this.
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