University of Virginia Library

A Counsellor, renown'd by fame
For ruling Judgments that are lame,
Rose and address'd himself to Ralph,
The Guardian of his better half;
“The adverse Mob seem resolute,
‘Said he, to keep our Forces out;
‘No Law nor Reason can prevail
‘Against a Rustick with a Flail;
‘When Handy-blows come in the play,
‘Both Law and Reason must give way;
‘No Rhetorick, nor Logick term,
‘Can then secure our Bones from harm;
‘It is in vain to think that words
‘Can guard us for from these Stones and Swords;
‘So further, Sir, ere we proceed,
‘To chuse a Leader we have need.”
Ralph vouched all he said was true,
Desiring he would range the Crew:
Then he was chosen Gen'ral by luck,
Not for his Courage, but his Conduct;
Who, for his Qualities, may pass
Under the name of Hudibras:
Only, 'tis said, the fatal Sisters
Had twisted Courage to his Whiskers,
Whereas our Knight that day had shav'd,
Which was the cause he misbehav'd;
To Sampson you might him compare,
He lost his Vigour with his Hair.
When he was ranging the Kirk-force,
In Line of battle, Foot and Horse,
In Middle of the other Rout
Appear'd a Miller, stern and stout,
Who boldly, without asking leave,
Caught an old Bailie by the sleeve,
And, in a rage, began to swear,
“You Whig-fac'd Knave, you gain'd your gear,
‘And all you have on earth, among us,
‘What Devil tempts you now to wrong us?
‘But, since you have us thus provoked,
‘I wish I hang, if we were yoked,
‘But I shall neatly tan your Hide,
‘So long's my Lewder does abide.”
On which the Bailie thought it best,
Lest that his Doublet should be drest,
To fly from face of such a Rabble,
That did appear so formidable.
This put our Captain in some doubt,
To see the Enemy so stout,
And his own men so cowardly,
That Carles threats made them to fly,
Yet he embraced the command,
And to do feats he took in hand;
Of victory he made no doubt,
When all his forces be call'd out,
In line of battle to appear,
With all the Clergy in the Rear;
With Whigs and Salters in the centre,
Where none but hardy men durst venture,
And all the Tories in the Front.
Mean time a Midden he did mount,
His Courage then made him so witless,
In rage and fury to draw Cutlace.
This Cutlace was a peaceful thing,
As ever was in Numa's reign:
Long had it lurked in the Sheath,
And never witness'd wounds or death,
Nor thumping Handy-blows, nor Knocks,
Save once upon a Chamber-box,
Which did occasion mighty grudging,
In the poor Blade to leave its lodging;
It cost some pains to force it out,
To save its Master from the Rout;
Yet, after tugging and hard pulling,
A token that it was unwilling
To do much harm, it came abroad,
To serve its friends, the Men of God.
Some do affirm, this trusty Shabble
Was consecrate to fright the Rabble,
And that the Kirk devoutly had,
Wrote Faith's Defender on the Blade.