Numb. 3.
Mercurius Politicus.
Comprising the Summe of all Intelligence,
with the Affairs, and Designs now
on foot, in the three Nations of
England, Ireland, and Scotland.
In defence of the Common-wealth, and
for Information of the People.
--------- It à vertere Seria Ludo. {Hor. de
Ar. poet.
From Thursday, June 20. to Thursday, June 27. 1650.
SInce the mad Scabs have such an Itch after News,
Ile see they shall not want Mercury to cure
them, nor those Ring-worms of the Body Politick
which infect the Pulpit. It is not against
Presbyterie, the Church, Excommunication, &c.
that I exclaim, but against the abuse of all these by a sort of
lunatick Tithe-Dreamers, which have prostituted things of sacred
Cognisance to their own filthy Corruptions, and make
them serve as Covers to their ambitious ends and Insinuations.
Nor have I introduced any expressions of a Sacred Character,
in a jocular way, with intent to profane them (as some imagine)
but rather to shew how they are profaned by those
weekly Praters, to guild their Hypocriticall Orations, and promote,
a Faction. It was their Part which I Acted, not my own;
and therefore it could not be amiss to borrow a little of their