VII. AFTER-BORN.

A LADY big with child was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, and in the dungeon 192was delivered of a son, who continued with her till a boy of some bigness. It happened that one time he heard his mother (for see neither of them could, as to discern in so dark a place) bemoan her condition.

Why, mother, (said the child,) do you complain, seeing you want nothing you can wish, having clothes, meat, and drink sufficient? Alas! child, (returned the mother,) I lack liberty, converse with Christians, the light of the sun, and many things more, which thou, being prison-born, neither art nor can be sensible of in thy condition.

The post-nati, understand thereby such striplings born in England since the death of monarchy therein, conceive this land, their mother, to be in a good estate. For one fruitful harvest followeth another, commodities are sold at reasonable rates, abundance of brave clothes are worn in the city, though not by such persons whose birth doth best become, but whose purses can best bestow them.

But their mother, England, doth justly bemoan the sad difference betwixt her present and former condition, when she enjoyed full and free trade without payment of taxes, save so small they seemed rather an acknowledgment of their allegiance than a burden to their estate; when she had the court of a king, the House of Lords, 193yea, and the Lord’s house, decently kept, constantly frequented, without falsehood in doctrine, or faction in discipline. God of his goodness restore unto us so much of these things as may consist with his glory and our good.