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Iter boreale

With large additions of several other poems: being an exact collection of all hitherto extant. Never before published together. The author R. Wild

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100

THE PORING DOCTOR,

OR The Gross mistake of a Reverend Son of the Church, in bowing at the name of Judas at St. Pauls, November 5. 1663.

The Papists, God wot,
made a notable Plot
Against the Church and the State;
Which some with good reason,
Call Gunpowder-Treason,
Discover'd ere 'twas too late.
Those who before,
Had weltred in gore
Of Protestant Martyrs slain,
Resolv'd with one breath,
Of Hell beneath,
To blow up all by a Train

101

The Bishops, good men,
Were in jeopardy then,
The Lords, the Commons, the King;
Religion, and Laws,
For the Catholick Cause
To be made a Burnt Offring.
Thus swell'd with dispight,
To raise darkness and night,
Heav'n caused the brood to miscarry;
That day big with Thunder,
Held forth Mercies wonder,
And therefore kept Anniversary.
You the present Lord Mayor,
And Brethren repair,
With the several Corporations,
To Pauls Church to pray,
And solemnize the Day
That so seasonably saved three Nations.
But good Doctor
When he came before ye
The Sacred Gospel to read,
At Judas his name,
(O horrible shame!)
He bowed his Reverend head.

102

Some say that his sight
(Poor man) is not right,
I wish that it be no worse;
But others think he,
To Judas bow'd th' knee,
For love he bears to the Purse.
His Worship made doubt,
Where the battel was fought,
When Michael did prevail;
But to me it is clear,
For an hundred a year
He'l bow to the Dragons Tail.
Twelve Spiritual Promotions,
A head full of Notions,
With stomach more sharp than a Sythe,
Some of Bishopsgate there,
Perhaps did appear,
Whose Cloaths were pawn'd for his Tythe.
These things set before,
And some small reasons more,
His slender wit had overthrown,
Nor can he tell how,
To read, cring or bow
By any one's Book but his own.

103

What then shall we say,
Can he Preach, can he Pray,
Or put to rebuke the Gainsayer,
Who in reading the Word,
Discerns not our Lord
From him that was his betrayer?
Sure this doting Fool,
Must once more to School
Before his return to the Altar,
Such another mistake,
May possibly make
His neck to deserve a Silk H---