Poems on Affairs of State

From Villany dress'd in a Doublet of Zeal,
From three Kingdoms bak'd in one Commonweal,
From a Gleek of Lord Keepers of one poor Seal,
Libera nos Domine.

From a Chancery-Writ, and a Whip, and a Bell,
From a Justice of Peace that never could spell;
From Colonel P--- and the Vicar of Hell,
Libera nos, &c.

From Neats-feet without Socks, and three-penny Pyes,
From a new-sprung Light that will put out Mens Eyes;
From Goldsmiths-Hall, the Devil, and Excise,
Libera nos, &c.

From two hours Talk without one word of Sense;
From Liberty still in the future Tense;
From a Parliament's long-wasted Conscience,
Libera nos, &c.

From copped-crown Tenant pick'd up by a Brother;
From damnable Members, and Fits of the Mother;
From Ears like Oysters, that grin at each other,
Libera nos, &c.

From a Preacher in Buff, and a Quarterstaff Steeple;
From th'unlimited Sov'reign Pow'r of the People;
From a Kingdom that crawls on its Knees like a Cripple,
Libera nos, &c.

From a Vinegar-Priest on a Crab-tree Stock;
From a fodd'ring of Pray'rs four hours by the Clock;
From a holy Sister with a pitiful Smock,
Libera nos, &c.

From a hunger-starv'd Sequestrator's 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-pot House;
From the Fiddle and Cross, and a great Scots Louse;
From Committees that chop up a Man like a Mouse,
Libera nos, &c.

From broken Shins, and the Blood of a Martyr;
From the Titles of Lords, and Knights of the Garter;
From the Teeth of mad Dogs, and a Countryman's Quarter,
Libera nos, &c.

From the Publick Faith, and an Egg and Butter;
From the Irish Purchases, and all their clutter;
From Omega's Nose when he settles to sputter,
Libera nos, &c.

From the Zeal of old Harry lockt up with a Whore;
From waiting with Plaints at the Parliament-door;
From the death of a King without why or wherefore,
Libera nos, &c.

From the French Disease, and the Puritan Fry;
From such as ne'er swear, but devoutly can lye;
From cutting of Capers full three Stories high,
Libera nos, &c.

From painted Glass, and idolatrous Cringes;
From a Presbyter's Oath that turns 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 unto the Poor;
From the Plagues that are kept for a Rebel in store,
Libera nos, &c.

That it may please thee to assist
Our Agitators, and their List,
And hemp them with a gentle Twist,
Quæsumus te, &c.

That it may please thee to suppose,
Our Actions are as good as those
That gull the People thro the Nose,
Quæsumus te, &c.

That it may please thee here to enter,
And fix the rumbling of our Centre,
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, O that we
May each Man know his Pedegree,
And save that Plague of Heraldry,
Quæsumus te, &c.

That it may please thee, in each Shire,
Cities of Refuge, Lord, to rear,
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 Days of Thanks and Fasting Face,
For robbing of thy Holy Place,
Quæsumus te, &c.

That it may please thee to adjourn
The Day of Judgment, lest we burn;
For, lo! it is not for our turn,
Quæsumus te, &c.

That it may please thee to admit
A close Committee there to sit;
No Devil to a Human Wit,
Quæsumus te, &c.

That it may please thee to dispense
A little 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 there's doubt,
Satan cannot throw Satan out,
Unite us, and the Highland Rout,
Quæsumus te, &c.

University of Virginia Library

A Lenten Litany.