The works of Sr William Davenant ... Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed, and Those which he design'd for the Press: Now published Out of the Authors Originall Copies |
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The PLOTS.
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 | The works of Sr William Davenant |  |
The PLOTS.
1
Still, still a new Plot, or at least an old Trick;We English were wont to be simple and true;
But ev'ry Man now is a Florentine nick,
A little Pere-Joseph, or great Richeliew.
2
Babels proud Mistress, who in Rome still doth Rant,(To call her a Whore, were course and uncivil)
About fifty years finde, by Faux, her Gallant,
Did appear in a Plot as black as a Devil.
303
3
This Plot was, though cruel, yet very concise;And without slow degrees of melting the Crown,
Had dissolv'd both the King and Lords in a trice,
Which Calvins dull Cousens were long pulling down.
4
Some seventeen years since, in a Town beyond Tweed,(Which, like Faux his Lanthorne, with Plots became dark)
These John's of Geneva devoutly agreed,
To make a Lay-fire of a Spirituall Spark.
5
As Wolves love a Flock, these love a silly throng;Like Wolves too they howl, when they go to devour;
They fall on the weak, whilst they fawn on the strong;
And teach no subjection but only of pow'r.
6
O're Tweed their short Cassacks they brought in small Packs;And fearing the Learn'd, they thought of returning;
But disguis'd in no Cuffs, in Grease, and in Blacks,
Our Prelates did take them for Butchers in Mourning.
7
For to kill, kill, and kill, was all their kind Errant;(From good Shepheards to Sheep, incredible news)
But they from the Prophets did shew us a Warrant,
Two thousand years old, and consign'd to the Jews.
8
They took us for Jews by the foul marks of sin,And would be themselves as those Prophets esteem'd,
Whose miracles brought their Authority in;
Which else by the World, had but madness been deem'd.
9
They Miracles promis'd, but shew'd us not any;Unless this were one of a wonderful sort,
That with so little Wit they soon made so many,
Great Fools in the City, and Knaves in the Court.
10
With the credulous Sex they first did begin;Even from the mellow Mistress to the green Maiden;
Yet on Men they prevail'd not till they call'd in
The vehement Knippers, and hot Johns of Leyden.
11
From Lanes and dark Allys, obscurely this Throng,Like the Common-shore crept, which underground passes
But rose in a Torrent so high and so strong,
That Calvin's meek Sons fear'd the Banks of their Classes
12
They call'd them to cry down the Bishops and Deans,Not thinking poor Saints, that liv'd bare and preacht odly,
Without Gowns or Latin, could aim at the means,
Ordain'd to support the Sir-Polls of the Godly.
13
To still them the Classes prevail'd with the Peers(Barons true to the Throne, as Greece to great Sander)
That their Latine Companions, who seven Hundred years
Had sate in their House, should betake them to wander.
304
14
Yet could not the Leydens abate their fierce looks,Till shortly Cathedrals, some promis'd, should down;
The Nests, as they thought of Canonical Rooks;
Who sharkt on the People much more then the Crown.
15
Agen to allay them, they promist them leave,For freedom of conscience; which with them is no more,
Then to speak and maintain what e're they conceive:
As a Spiritual-Mine to blow up Lay-pow'r!
16
This Rabble of Rulers, or rather Rule-quellers,Sent out by the City, were calmly sent back;
Some up to their Garrets, some down to their Sellers,
Whilst in Westminster storms, Whitehal went to wrack.
17
Whitehal sold those storms which Westminster bought,As cheaply, Heaven knows, as Laplanders sell 'em;
But although quickly rayse'd, yet being high wrought,
Court Witches could no more then Laplanders quell'em
18
We fear'd not the Scots from the High-land, nor Low-land;Though some of their Leaders did craftily brave us,
With boasting long Service in Russe and in Poland,
And with their fierce breeding under Gustavus.
19
Not the Tales of their Combats, more strange then RomancesNor Sandy's screw'd Cannon did strike us with wonder;
Nor their Kettle-Drums sounding before their long Launces;
But Scottish-Court-whispers struck surer then Thunder.
20
A while for the Kirke, they were rude, loud, and hot,As are (under favour) our Course English Gentry,
But when this knack Spiritual grew a Lay-Plot,
They whisper'd like Lovers hid in a dark Entry.
21
Each Three drunken Comrades a Junto was grown;And talkt no more loud of Brisack, or Casall,
But whisper'd how England might strait be their own;
By a Covenant devout, as Cat'lin's Caball.
22
At the Court-Game, Revenge, which at Court never ends,Some English like Scots set deep at the Caster;
And to blow up a Foe who threw at some Friends,
Stak't boldly Three Kingdoms, beside a kind Master.
23
Now Plot upon Plot was design'd every houre,And Mine after Mine, was incessantly wrought;
To take in the Court, the decay'd Fort of Pow'r,
Which by Traytors within to Parly was brought.
24
A King seems to stand bare, as if never Crown'd,Who Treats with His Subjects when Enemies grown;
And when Subjects Treat Arm'd, if then they compound,
They, instead of His Foes, become more their own.
305
25
But now the Besiegers had Plots much assunder,The Peers at the Breach, bid the Commons first venture
For Freedom and Truth, that they for the plunder,
To pay publick Faith, might at last safely enter.
26
But the Commons to try if the Barons were bold,And durst quite destroy what they would but reform,
Said, by Treaty to take it, would shew their Zeal cold,
Therefore bade them assist to force it by storm.
27
This Storm was diverted by a pretty small plot;The publick designe was particular grown;
For a few of each house were met in a knot,
To slack the State interest and fasten their own.
| The works of Sr William Davenant | |