A nursery of novelties in Variety of Poetry Planted for the delightful leisures of Nobility and Ingenuity. Composed by Tho. Jordan |
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A Speech spoken to the General and Council, when he was
feasted at Fishmongers-Hall.
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 | A nursery of novelties in Variety of Poetry |  |
A Speech spoken to the General and Council, when he was feasted at Fishmongers-Hall.
After a Song of difference betwixt the Lawyer, the Souldier, the Citizen, and the Countrey-man: The Chorus being ended, Enter the Speaker habited properly for the Ghost of Massianello Fisherman of Naples.
Is your Peace just? what Rock stands it upon?
Conscience and Law make the best union;
If you gain Birth-rights here by Blood and Slaughter,
Though you sing now, you'l cry for ever after;
Trust my experience one that can unfold
The strangest truest tale that e're was told:
In my degree, few men shall overtake me,
I was as great as wickedness could make me:
This heart, this habit, and this tongue to boot
Commanded forty thousand Horse and Foot:
In three dayes time, my fortune grew so high
I could have match't my Fisher's family
With the best blood in Naples; right and wrong,
And life and death attended on my tongue;
Till by a quick verticity of fate,
I finde too soon what I repent too late;
And though a Rebel in a righteous cloathing,
My glow-worm-glories glimmer'd into nothing:
Thus fell that Fisherman that had no fellow,
I am the wandring shade of Massianello;
Who since I was in this perdition hurl'd,
Am come to preach this Doctrine to the world.
Conscience and Law make the best union;
If you gain Birth-rights here by Blood and Slaughter,
Though you sing now, you'l cry for ever after;
Trust my experience one that can unfold
The strangest truest tale that e're was told:
In my degree, few men shall overtake me,
I was as great as wickedness could make me:
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Commanded forty thousand Horse and Foot:
In three dayes time, my fortune grew so high
I could have match't my Fisher's family
With the best blood in Naples; right and wrong,
And life and death attended on my tongue;
Till by a quick verticity of fate,
I finde too soon what I repent too late;
And though a Rebel in a righteous cloathing,
My glow-worm-glories glimmer'd into nothing:
Thus fell that Fisherman that had no fellow,
I am the wandring shade of Massianello;
Who since I was in this perdition hurl'd,
Am come to preach this Doctrine to the world.
Rebels, though back't with power and seeming reason,
Time and success shall feel the fate of Treason.
Time and success shall feel the fate of Treason.
But stay! what Picture's this hangs in my sight?
'Tis noble Walworth the King-saving Knight,
That stab'd Jack-Straw; had Walworth liv'd within
These four Months, where had Jack the Cobler bin?
It was a bold brave deed, an act in season,
Whilst he was on the top-branch of his Treason;
But from that shadow dropping down my eye,
I see a substance of like Loyalty.
'Tis noble Walworth the King-saving Knight,
That stab'd Jack-Straw; had Walworth liv'd within
These four Months, where had Jack the Cobler bin?
It was a bold brave deed, an act in season,
Whilst he was on the top-branch of his Treason;
But from that shadow dropping down my eye,
I see a substance of like Loyalty.
If long renowned Walworth had the fate
To save a King, you have to save a State.
To save a King, you have to save a State.
And who knows what by consequence, the Knight
By that brave deed, gain'd every man his right;
And you by this, may give each Man his due,
Not onely Trusty hearts, but Traytors too:
He drew Blood, you did not, 'tis all one sence,
There's but a Straw's breadth in the difference:
He sav'd the Town from being burnt, and you
Have rescu'd it from Fire and Plunder too:
He was this Companie's good Benefactor,
And you have been their Liberties Protector;
For which I heard them say they would engage
Their States and Bloods, and Lives against all rage
That should oppose your just Design; and that
You are the welcom'st Guest ever came at
This Table: they say all they can exhibit,
Is not so much a Treatment as a Tribute.
They call you the first step to England's Peace,
The right fore-runner of our happiness.
By that brave deed, gain'd every man his right;
And you by this, may give each Man his due,
Not onely Trusty hearts, but Traytors too:
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There's but a Straw's breadth in the difference:
He sav'd the Town from being burnt, and you
Have rescu'd it from Fire and Plunder too:
He was this Companie's good Benefactor,
And you have been their Liberties Protector;
For which I heard them say they would engage
Their States and Bloods, and Lives against all rage
That should oppose your just Design; and that
You are the welcom'st Guest ever came at
This Table: they say all they can exhibit,
Is not so much a Treatment as a Tribute.
They call you the first step to England's Peace,
The right fore-runner of our happiness.
And joyn'd with these great Councellors, you are
Our best preservatives in Peace and War.
Our best preservatives in Peace and War.
You have a Loyal Heart, a lucky hand
Elected for the Cure of this sick Land;
Who (by Protectors and unjust Trustees)
Hath been enslav'd, and brought upon her knees:
We humbly pray this may be thought upon,
Before the Kingdoms Treasure be quite gone,
And hope you will (though envy look a squint)
When all is fit, put a Just STEWARD in't.
Elected for the Cure of this sick Land;
Who (by Protectors and unjust Trustees)
Hath been enslav'd, and brought upon her knees:
We humbly pray this may be thought upon,
Before the Kingdoms Treasure be quite gone,
And hope you will (though envy look a squint)
When all is fit, put a Just STEWARD in't.
Chorus of ten Voices.
Then may your Fame out-live all storyAnd prove a Monument of Glory,
Kings and Queens (as Tribute due)
On their knees shall pray for you,
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A Loyal Subject is the best of Men.
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