 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
The quadruple QUERE, and the Occasion of it.
Your House receiving notice, twelve moneths since,
Of my long-suffrings, and known Indigence,
(Occasion'd by your service,) thought it fit,
To some selected Members, to commit
The finding an Employment, to supply
Subsistence, till, my great necessity
Might be removed, by discharging that,
Which is yet owing, to me, by the State:
And, having long, without success attended,
I now, at last, by them, am recommended
To serve as one of those Commissioners,
By whom, Supream Authority confers
Wine Licences. Wherein, since, there appears,
With me, nor few, nor mean Competitors;
And that the Place, hath been aspersed by
Some, lately, as a Grand-Monopoly.
I humbly make these Queries.
Of my long-suffrings, and known Indigence,
(Occasion'd by your service,) thought it fit,
To some selected Members, to commit
The finding an Employment, to supply
Subsistence, till, my great necessity
Might be removed, by discharging that,
Which is yet owing, to me, by the State:
And, having long, without success attended,
I now, at last, by them, am recommended
4
By whom, Supream Authority confers
Wine Licences. Wherein, since, there appears,
With me, nor few, nor mean Competitors;
And that the Place, hath been aspersed by
Some, lately, as a Grand-Monopoly.
I humbly make these Queries.
“First, Whether he, that hath suspected bin.
“To hate that Cause, which you ingage us in,
“Standing Competitor with him that's known
“To hazard for it, more then all his own;
“Can be prefer'd, without a wrong, to you,
“And an incroachment, on the others due?
“To hate that Cause, which you ingage us in,
“Standing Competitor with him that's known
“To hazard for it, more then all his own;
“Can be prefer'd, without a wrong, to you,
“And an incroachment, on the others due?
“Next, Whether, a Competitor defam'd
“For breach of Trust, (by whomsoever nam'd,)
“Ought rather, by your Votes, to be befriended,
“Then he, that to your House is recommended
“By your own Members? and, 'gainst whom, no man
“Exhibite, justly, an Impeachment can.
“For breach of Trust, (by whomsoever nam'd,)
“Ought rather, by your Votes, to be befriended,
“Then he, that to your House is recommended
“By your own Members? and, 'gainst whom, no man
“Exhibite, justly, an Impeachment can.
“Then, Whether, he your Grace deserveth best,
“Who hath for you, lost all his interest,
“In outward things? Or they, whose wealth is more
“Since these Distractions, then it was before?
“Who hath for you, lost all his interest,
“In outward things? Or they, whose wealth is more
“Since these Distractions, then it was before?
“And lastly, Whether ought may be compriz'd
“Among things, judg'd, to be Monopoliz'd,
“When all the profits, which from thence arise,
“Are brought into the publike Tresuries?
“And, whereof, neither one alone, nor few,
“But ev'ry man receives his proper due.
“Among things, judg'd, to be Monopoliz'd,
“When all the profits, which from thence arise,
“Are brought into the publike Tresuries?
“And, whereof, neither one alone, nor few,
“But ev'ry man receives his proper due.
Consider, I beseech you; but of these
Few Queries, and then do as you shall please:
For, though my hopes in these poor suits may fail,
Yet, in my noblest ayme, I shall prevail.
Yea, ere this Land hath rest, a day will be,
In which, there shall be some regard of me;
And, wherein, that, which is perus'd with Jeers,
Shall fill their scornful Readers full of Fears.
Few Queries, and then do as you shall please:
For, though my hopes in these poor suits may fail,
Yet, in my noblest ayme, I shall prevail.
Yea, ere this Land hath rest, a day will be,
In which, there shall be some regard of me;
And, wherein, that, which is perus'd with Jeers,
Shall fill their scornful Readers full of Fears.
Fiat Voluntas Dei.
G. Wither.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |