Short Poems

To my sonn Bill upon his Entertainment at Cane-wood at the Christning of his Daughter Diana June the 14th 1661

The Various Canes from Severall parts are brought
Some for Eye, some for support are bought
But those of Cane-wood appertain to Bill
Were sugar-Canes whence Each mought suck his fill
Of such high Entertainment as did rayse
Content in All, and to the Doner prayse.

Upon the Death of Oliver Crumwell Lord Protector of the 3 nations who departed the 3d. of September-1658

The Rose and Thistle overcome
The Olive Plant took up the roome
Which Joynd with Lillies grew soe strong
The Harpe could play no other song
Til Pale-fac't Death steps in the way
Then Musike Stops and Plants decay.

Upon 29th of may Di[es] nat[ivitatis] Carol[i]

Born on the Twenty Ninth of may
May I but Live to see the Day
Of Thy Restorement to thyn owne
And May to me shall stil be Blown
Nor will I owne any other Die
Than Green and White for Livery.

Sapit qui sibi sa-pit

At Kinton fight I sawe a pit
Wher a Great Lord was hid in it
I askt the Reason: He replies
He's wisest that t'Himself is wise.

Upon Jack Prick at North[ampton]

Jack Prick marcht in Northamton Toun
In feeble Posture up and doun
Yet was not Drunk but could not stand
And when the matter I had skand
I found 'twas thus the stones of might
Were pulld doun should raise him upright.

To the Highly approved Statesman and best of Servants to his Masters two Incomperable Kings of Great Brittany this Age hath produced the Lord High Chancelor Sir Edward Hide now Earle of Clarington

Ned Hide, how can I hide thy Offerings
In Faith and Loyalty to two Such Kings
As Charles the first and Charles the second are
With whom the Christian world houlds no Compare
Only I'le count those Patriots most wise
Can Emulate such Gratefull Sacrefize.

Upon Candlemas day or the Purification — 1664

For a Child born the Custom was to bring
By th'Richer sort a Lambe for Offering
Two Turtle Doves the Poorer 'wont present
To ratefy the Voat of their Intent
Virgin why bringst thou with thee birds from nest
Is't not enough that Lambe lodgd in thy brest.

Text:l Labour not for the meat that Perisheth &c

Those Labour more for Plentious bords
And what this fraile short life affords
Than to attain at Spiritual foode
Which Everlasting Life makes good
But wash the moore which when they've don
Are stil but wher They first begun — at the signe of Labour in vaine.

In Effigiem Innocentij Decimi nunc Papae — 1652

Father why Innocent? when most men know
Thy rules at best are th'Churches overthrow
For whilst St Peters Keyes the Heavns unlock
Thine shut the passages unto Christs flock
Of owld the Tenths were held the Clergies due
Soe th'Divel a Clarke may take his Tithe of you.

Upon Lamb[er]ts repo[rted] to be Gen[eral] &c: s.x. before

'Twas not in vaine the Antients all
Usd Ramms to batter down a wall
Since now our modern warrs doe teach
The use of hornes to make a breach
And Cuckolds prove the only Thinges
To rayse Rebellion, put down Kinges.