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Ex otio Negotium

Or, Martiall his epigrams Translated. With Sundry Poems and Fancies, By R. Fletcher
  

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A Lenten Letany.

Composed for a confiding Brother, for the benefit and edification of the faithful Ones.

[The first part.]

From villany dress'd in the doublet of zeal,
Fom three Kingdoms bak'd in one commonweale,
From a gleek of Lord Keepers of one poor Seal
libera nos, &c.

132

From a Chancery-writ, and a whip and a bell,
From a Justice of Peace that never could spell,
From Colonel P. and the Uicar of Hell
Libera nos, &c.
From Neat's feet without socks and three-penny Pyes,
From a new sprung light that will put out ones eyes,
From Goldsmiths Hall, the Devil and Excize
Libera nos, &c.
From two hours talk without one word of sense,
From liberty still in the future tense,
From a Parliament long-wasted conscience,
Libera nos, &c.
From a Coppid crown-Tenent prickd up by a Brother,
From damnable members and fits of the Mother,
From eares like Oysters that grin at each other,
Libera nos, &c.
From a Preacher in buff, and a quarter-staff steeple,
From th'unlimited soveraign power of the People,
From a Kingdom that crawls on its knees like a Creeple,
Libera nos, &c.

133

From a vinegar Priest on a Crab-tree stock,
From a foddering of prayer four hours by the Clock,
From a holy Sister with a pittiful Smock.
Libera nos, &c.
From a hunger-starv'd Sequestrators maw,
From Revelations and Visions that never man saw,
From Religion without either Gospel or Law,
Libera nos, &c.
From the Nick and Froth of a penny pothouse,
From the Fidle and Cross, and a great Scotch-Louse,
From Committees that chop up a man like a Mouse.
Libera nos, &c.
From broken shins and the bloud of a Martyr
From the titles of Lords and Knights of the Garter,
From the teeth of Mad-dogs and a Countrymans quarter.
Libera nos, &c.
From the Publique Faith and an egg & butter,
From the Irish purchases and all their clutter,
From Omega's nose when he fettles to sputter,
Libera nos, &c.

134

From the zeale of old Harry lock'd up with a Whore
From waiting with plaints at the Parliament dore,
From the death of a King without why or wherefore,
Libera nos, &c.
From the French disease and the Puritane fry,
From such as nere swear but devoutly can lye,
From cutting of capers full three story high,
Libera nos, &c.
From painted glass and Idolatrous cringes,
From a Presbyters Oath that turnes upon hinges,
From Westminster Jews with Levitical fringes,
Libera nos &c.
From all that is said, and a thousand times more,
From a Saint and his charity to the Poor,
From the plagues that are kept for a Rebel in store.
Libera nos, &c.

The second part.

That if it may please thee to assist
Our Agitators and heir list,
And Hemp them with a gentle twist.
Quæsumus te, &c.

135

That it may please thee to suppose
Our actions are as good as those
That gull the people through the nose,
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it my please thee here to enter
And fix the rumbling of our center,
For we live all at peradventure,
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee to unite
The flesh and bones unto the sprite,
Else faith and literature good night.
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee ô that wee
May each man know his Pedigree,
And save that plague of Heraldrie,
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee in each Shire,
Citties of refuge Lord to reare
That failing Brethren may know where,
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee to abhor us,
Or any such dear favour for us
That thus have wrought thy peoples sorrows,
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee to embrace
Our dayes of thanks and fasting face,
For robing of thy holy place.
Quæsumus te, &c.

136

That it may please thee to adjourn
The day of judgment, least we burn,
For lo it is not for our turn,
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee to admit
A close Commitee there to sit,
No devil to a humane wit,
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee to dispence
A litle for convenience,
Or let us play upon the sense,
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee to embalm
The Saints in Robin wisdom's Psalm,
And make them musical and calm.
Quæsumus te, &c.
That it may please thee since tis doubt
Satan cannot throw Satan out,
Unite us and the Highland rout.
quæsumus te, &c.