Classic Poem

Like Ships by th'same wind favourd, yet can stear
A severall Course; soe now the Cavallier
And the Bowle-Noddled-Crue pretend They fight
Both that Religion and the Lawes have right
For Liberty us doubtless thats their own
Wherby all Property and safety's gon
Then mark how They performe this: Lawes did wind
In favour heer to This, to That unkind
(According as interpreters) now, They
Draw them right out their factions to obey:
And for the Gospell, whilst They'd weed out one
Heresy They'l admitt Confusion
To mould the forme anew, not as't was writt
But as Each brain-sick Patist fancies it
Or Statist frend to Liberty: what's worce
They cheat the Vulger, whilst this severall course
They run: Who look to th'wind, enquier by sence
Not what is aymd at reall, but pretence.
And soe or Judg or wish: Our Gratious King
Good in Himself, but ther's an other thing
He is a Man, may not's affections cleay
To be seduc't? Had not an Adam Eve?
Discerting of His Counsailes Great and Wise
Through Feares and Jealouzies workes them t'surmise
Some dangerous consequence, some Plott to spin
Out all our owld woffe, bring new Customs in
To Church and State, and as ther some before
Had Bodies Could speak French, now teach't all ore
The Land, instruct both Kirk and Camp thus after
T'pray to the Lady but Challenge fro'the Daughter
Free quarter at the least. What wast do y'guess
Taught Him to leav them; Cause they left t'express
The Counslers parts, and with Commanding pride
Petitiond humbly not to be denide.
To teach Him to be prodigally bent
Making such partners in His government
As all posest with Cesars Gost and Theirs
Who in their Regencies admitt noe Peers
But like Dictators that perpetuall are
Sole moderators grow, of Peace and warr
A large prerogative: yet not too high
For Those assume infallebilety
In all They order, or Ordain, decree,
Voar, Pass, and Repass: Say 'tis Soveranty
When th'Soveran's away to guive consent
And not to be soe Costively up pent
In Ceremony, 'tis Abomination
To make Le Roy Le veut Rudder th'whol Nation
And noe Coast made but when the Pylotts heer it
Fro'th'Masters mouth Soy't faict comme ils desirent.
Printed, and Publisht to maintain, advance,
The Course what ere, and tiers of Ordinance
To weary all the Presses, batter down
That antique Superstition of the town
It's Loyalty; and bannish quite from hence
Forth with Ston Crosses, soft Obedience
Workes this effect on all: the Gentler read
But Henry Elsing and it's made Theyr Creed.
The Others Stupid, like a Cross of wood
Or ston, if Brown be thear conclude it good
They should be ruind: Neither making doubt
But that the new Kakt world will bring about
Some new promotians to restore to haight
The low condition of each suffring wight
And make Them all Free-States: which though they shun
In will (that might after Arminious run),
All arbitrary Power would defye
They seek t'have all things left at Liberty
Cause all were made for man: (To use it's true
Not to abuse) that savours of some new
State-Brain whose Empty pan like yours or mine
Never leavs unkling to reform, refine.
Cobble, or what you'll call it under-sett
Lay-Prop the Churches and States Architect
Till with a Sampsons strength they bear up all
Shake the foundation, soe cause that to fall
They soe profest to shore up; ruines are
Sent from those hands that should be Tutelar
Oft times to shew, that He who made all will
Have them rely on His, not their own skill
Wher sticks the Reformation? God began
With His Vicegerent and our sovraign
Moord all his Ship-mony, to lanch noe more
Because it seemd t'oppress the subject sore:
Layd low the High Commission, Broak the Arches
Soe He that will be wanton swimms, not marches
In lewdnes now and in that posture fears
Nor Chancler, Procter, nor their Paraters
Such as were scurgd out of the Temple once
Take now the freedom ther to vent 'thout bones
Or interuptian what somere they pleas
To aggravate the sore; add to th'disease
Less hope of Cuer, Corrode, and make the skarr
Than any galld-horse-back more odious farr
And rather than an article or soe
(Though not repeald) should rule, they'l each one goe
A severall way, not meeting 'less in this
To judg all Fasts and Feastings lawfull is
When s'ere th'Elect shall chuse, noe time or place
What so'ere they doe must turn it to disgrace
For they'r inspird, and Frantick heer with all
Take sisters up that Antechrist may fall
Leaving noe lewd Prophanenes one can speak on
Untride to Master Him at his own weapon.
How doe these ert from holy writ to raise
Divells 'gainst divells, lay trees 'thwart the wares
(Cross were prophane) for tender Contienc't folk
To stumble at; and all but to provoak
The Commons to aspire to this degree
To prize Rebellion above Loyalty
They know ther is noe question now to bring
To censure, but who are you fort the King
Or Parlement: as if a body' and head
Could severd be yet not the party dead
Indeed the Courts of Justice shut up shop
Now this exchange is open — Trees that drop
Soe on the shrubbs hinder the spring to rise
This writ's a supersedious to th'assise
And that the Table might more Counsail keep
All causes wont be wakt Ther now may sleep
And though all Patents Damd that did oppress
The People 'tis apparent They'r noe less
If not much more undone by such as be
Not Ope but Closs shut up in Committe
And all Affaires contracted 'thin that fist
Whose Throat had Swallowed the monopolist
That Art near dies; but though a starr may set
The influence may stil remain as great
Summon upon light information, send
To prison ther to lie world without end
Nor once Examined, why ist do y'think
The Proverb tels a T. thats stird will —
All This is nothing 'tis not through yet
Though Charles lay all down. They'd rise, His power guet
To make Him Glorious, Ships to rule the Sea
Strong Forts and Towns the Land, and heer's Their Plea
Those are the Kingdoms, and the King is set
But over them as Chevalier du guet
He was at first but trusted from and for
The Commonwealth as His Superior
And now They'l make him know it, and derive
All from the body representative
Themselvs They mean (In good time) when 'tis sayd
That needs must be a Monster hath noe head
Such Monsterous Reformers who can hope
T'see other change in than from Skarf to —
Sithence all the kingdome's taught by them to storm,
Plunder itself, Obey noe Law, nor Form
Of Government; but what their wisedom's reach
Contracted in the number now doth teach
Soe have I read in Kimistry from whence
They had it (questionless) the quintessence
Of anything extracted proves of main
Authorety: neer'st kin to soverain
If fower or five performe what more should doe
(Could doe noe more two Cyfers added to
I'st to be Blam'd? when 'tis in vaine t' conceive
Suffitiency needs any more receive
These make a house 'tis true, but all they act
If with one figures absence you substract
I fear the rest are Cyfers whose degree
Is to but fill up place; th'authorety
Of Somms being lodgd in th'other which Content
With Counsail and th'additionall supplement
To raise the numbers doth not though without it
Consent a Cyfer carries ought about it
Soe He that strikes a tally on this Skoar
May become rich in fancy else but poor
And yet These Gulls must not be thought to err
Whilst Publike Faith's made their Lord Treasurer
Yeil — all th'Exchequer Chamber wher they bring
The Bodkin, Thimble and the wedding-Ring
Now to be abrogated for a kind
Of Relike Papistry had left behind
All these the mincing Citty Dames present
As offerings to the Cause: from others went
Store of more massy Plate to fill the room
And shew the Empty sculls from whence they come
Then to the mint this goes wher coygnd and payd
To hier the Tradesmen from his Lawfull trade.
And Cause Him t'arme against his Lawfull Prince
The Guarland's won: noe reason can convince
These Animalls, of any less dessign
Than whilst their shops they ransack, spring this mine
Their Generails advance should be posest
Of th'King, the Cavaleers and all the rest
Oppose and are opposd: see how they'r wip't
Of all those hopes, Smoak thats tobacco-pip't
Vapours not sooner into nothing, than
They heer his Excellencies forces can
By noe means march unless a fresh supply
Of men and mony be sent instantly
But like a restif jade whose sides enurd
To whip and spurr proves senceless, nor is curd
Unless some other way, soe Dun i'th'mire
At Brick-Hill's fast-nor satisfies desire
Thus seing their substance all is coynd and spent
Expecting of the like from Parlement
For the Religion whilst noe stamp it bears
Noe wonder though't raise Jealouzies and Fears
And make them Dream of Daingers Fancy treason
Because they saw not right nor would heer reason
But the King in, and of Himself's soe good
He will by them, and all be understood
To have his thoughts bent forward, not reflect
On By-past faults either in state, or Sect
And that amendment may from all ensue
Intends wherin He faild to Rule anew.