University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
collapse sectionIII. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Sir Thomas Jenner's Speech to his Wife and Children.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand sectionIV. 


279

Sir Thomas Jenner's Speech to his Wife and Children.

Dear Wife let me have a Fire made,
I'll tell you such News will make you all glad,
The like for another is scarce to be had:
This it is to be learned and witty.
First, Butler, do you a Glass of Wine bring:
I'll tell you all the great Love of my King,
Which is a dainty curious fine thing.
This it is, &c.
A wise learned Serjeant at Law I was made,
And a dainty fine Coif was put on my Head,
Which is heavier by far than a Hundred of Lead.
This it is, &c.
But soon after this I was made the Recorder,
To keep the worshipful Rabble in order,
And wore a Red Gown with long Sleeves and Border.
This it is, &c.
What Justice I did, my dear Wife, you can tell;
Right or wrong I spar'd none, like the Devil in Hell,
But guilty or not, I sent all to Bridewel.
This it is, &c.
Unless it were those that greased my Fist,
To them I gave Licence to cheat whom they list,
For it was only those my Mittimus miss'd.
This it is, &c.
But then the King dy'd, which caus'd a Pother,
So I went to condole with the new King his Brother,
With Sorrow in one Hand, and Grief in the other.
This it is, &c.

281

For an ignorant Judg I was call'd by the King
To the Chequer Court, 'tis a wonderful thing,
Of which in short time the whole Nation did ring.
This it is, &c.
By Great James I was rais'd to the Common-Pleas Bench,
'Cause he saw I had exquisite Politick Sense,
Which his Wisdom perceiv'd in the Future Tense.
This it is, &c.
At Sarum five hundred Pounds I have gotten,
To save Malefactors from swinging in Cotton,
For which they were hang'd and are now almost rotten.
This it is, &c.
But now, my dear Love, comes the Cream of the Jest,
For the King would take off the Oaths and the Test,
Which I told all his People would be for the best.
This it is, &c.
He had my Opinion that 'twas in his power
To destroy all the Laws in less time than an hour,
For which I may chance to be sent to the Tower.
This it is, &c.
And now to Magdalen College I come,
Where we have turn'd out most, but kept in some,
That so a new College of Priests might have room.
This it is, &c.
And so by that means we left the Door ope,
To turn out the Bishops, and let in the Pope,
For which we have justly deserved a Rope.
This it is to be learned and witty.