The Paradox on the Confinement of the Lords.
Let Cynicks bark, and the stern Stagyrite
At Epicures Precepts vent his spite;
Let Church-men Preach their Thred-bare Paradox,
Passive Obedience to their bleeding Flocks.
Let Stoicks boast of a contented mind,
The unknown pleasures of a Life confin'd;
That in Imprisonment the Soul is free,
Grant me (ye Gods) but Ease and Liberty.
That there is Pleasure in a dirty Road,
A tir'd Horse that sinks beneath his Load,
No money, and an old inveterate Pox;
This I'll believe without a Paradox.
But to affirm 'twas the Dispencing Power,
That did Decree the Prelates to the Tower;
And such Confinements for the Propagation
Of the true Doctrine of the Reformation.
That to remove the Candlesticks from sight
Is to enlarge the Gospel and the Light;
And the Seven Angels are in Tribulation.
To Guard the Church from Pagan Invocation.
To say this is the keeping of our VVord,
The only way we have to be secur'd;
Supporting of the English Church and Cause,
In all its Priviledges, Rights and Laws.
Pardon my Faith, for sooner I'll believe
The Subtile Serpent was deceiv'd by Eve;
Rome shall with Hereticks her promise keep,
And Ravenous VVolves Protect the straggling Sheep,
That P--- shall be mild and moderate,
Not out of meer regard to his Estate;
And for a Hopeful Heir Invoke the Saints,
Out of his tender love to Protestants.
That Father Petres Counsel shall prevail,
To quit their guiltless Lordships without Fail;
And Gildford beg i'th' name of the Young Prince,
Dispencing James may with their minds dispence.
I will believe D--- shall Fail His Grace,
And C--- shall with C--- change place;
And H--- when made a Cardinal,
Shall Write a Learn'd Apology for all.
That for Old Ely, Bristol, Bath and Wells,
The Jesuits would pawn their Beads and Bells;
For Lloyd and Peterborough to be Bail,
Good Rochester would lye himself in Goal.
That the Lord Chancellor shall quit the Purse,
For their respective Fines to Reimburse;
Or that the Judges should not all Conspire
To find them guilty of a Preminire.
That Pemberton shall at the Bench prevail,
And Allibone shall Plead to be their Bail;
Or H---, that lyes upon the Lurch;
Who left the Charter shall restore the Church.
That she, who lately lookt into her Choice,
The Witty Author of the Brace of Mice,
Shall baffle the Old Panther in her Race,
And Crown her Husband with the Lawrels Bays.
All this I freely could believe and more,
But that the Lords are Sail'd out of the Tower,
Out of Respect to be sent back again,
For breach of Laws they sworn are to maintain.
That they have guilt of Disobedience,
In this you must excuse my Diffidence,
Who plac'd upon the Monarchs Head the Crown,
Props of the Church, and Pillars of the Throne.
