Hudibras Redivivus or, a Burlesque poem on the times. The Second Edition. To which is added, An Apology, and some other Improvements throughout the Whole [by Edward Ward] |
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| VIII. | CANTO VIII. |
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 | Hudibras Redivivus |  |
3
CANTO VIII.
About that Season of the Year,
When Rebels, void of Shame and Fear,
Did at one sad infernal Blow,
Their Fury, Pride, and Malice show;
And when the Sons of Decolation,
To manifest their Approbation
Of all those Mis'ries and Disorders,
Those Treasons, Rapines, Spoils, and Murders,
By their vile Fathers done long since
Upon their Country, and their Prince;
Do meet together, and contract
The Guilt of e'ery wicked Act
Upon themselves, by giving Glory
To such a black and dismal Story,
And making Royal Blood and Slaughter,
The Subject of their scornful Laughter.
'Twas near that Time of January,
When Calves-head Miscreants grow merry,
To think how Rebels once could wound
The Church, and Monarchy confound,
Abuse the Laws, subvert the State,
And make themselves unjustly great,
That I by Bus'ness, was induc'd,
To drink where factious Zealots us'd,
Such whose rebellious Tongues could dare,
To justify that Civil War,
And all the Evils that arose
From those Domestick cruel Blows,
Whose dismal Truths no Man can learn
From Story, but with deep Concern,
Except th' Approvers of such Evils,
Whose Consciences are sear'd like Devils:
For Rebels glory in their Shame,
And praise what loyal Subjects blame;
Despise the Pow'r they can oppress,
And measure Justice by Success.
So Rogues, when fortunately base,
Support their Projects with a Grace,
As if their Crimes were Scandal free,
When flatter'd with Prosperity.
When Rebels, void of Shame and Fear,
Did at one sad infernal Blow,
Their Fury, Pride, and Malice show;
And when the Sons of Decolation,
To manifest their Approbation
Of all those Mis'ries and Disorders,
Those Treasons, Rapines, Spoils, and Murders,
By their vile Fathers done long since
Upon their Country, and their Prince;
4
The Guilt of e'ery wicked Act
Upon themselves, by giving Glory
To such a black and dismal Story,
And making Royal Blood and Slaughter,
The Subject of their scornful Laughter.
'Twas near that Time of January,
When Calves-head Miscreants grow merry,
To think how Rebels once could wound
The Church, and Monarchy confound,
Abuse the Laws, subvert the State,
And make themselves unjustly great,
That I by Bus'ness, was induc'd,
To drink where factious Zealots us'd,
Such whose rebellious Tongues could dare,
To justify that Civil War,
And all the Evils that arose
From those Domestick cruel Blows,
Whose dismal Truths no Man can learn
From Story, but with deep Concern,
5
Whose Consciences are sear'd like Devils:
For Rebels glory in their Shame,
And praise what loyal Subjects blame;
Despise the Pow'r they can oppress,
And measure Justice by Success.
So Rogues, when fortunately base,
Support their Projects with a Grace,
As if their Crimes were Scandal free,
When flatter'd with Prosperity.
Stepping one Night into this House,
Where tipling Saints strong Ale carouse,
And aged Sots, with shaking Hands,
Liquor at once their Lips and Bands;
Whilst raving Hot-spurs, void of Reason,
Infect the smoaky Room with Treason:
Such Doctrine, that in Times of Yore,
Each Babler must have suffer'd for,
Tho' now 'tis made the common Cant
Of e'ery democratick Saint;
Who talks of Sov'reign Crowns and Scepters,
Of Rev'rend Bishops, Deans, and Chapters,
Not onl' as if they did not love 'em,
But that they gladly would remove 'em,
To set their worthless Selves above 'em:
For Saints, thro' their abounding Grace,
Have Right not only to displace
The Wicked and Prophane, but also
To pull down those they're please to call so,
Which are all such, that honour Merit
Above the Grumbling of the Spirit,
And scorn to see such Knaves and Fools
Make honest Men their Slaves and Tools;
Whose Fall, their Tribe must first devise,
Before themselves can hope to rise;
For Merit must be driven low,
E'er Ign'rance can to Power grow.
The Cap can never brave the Crown,
'Till Justice first is trampl'd down;
Nor Blockheads into Pulpits creep,
(Those Wolves that prey upon their Sheep)
'Till Learning's hush'd and lull'd a sleep.
I sat me down amidst a Crew
Of Old and Young, the Lord knows who!
Some puffing Sot-weed o'er their Glasses,
In one another's Parchment Faces,
Which were of tawny Colour dy'd,
Like Yarmouth Herrings, smoak'd and dry'd;
Shrivell'd with Envy, and with Age,
Like Witches on the Play-house Stage,
Such as their Daughters us'd to see
In some old dismal Tragedy;
Others sat pinn'd in little Boxes,
Driv'ling, as Sinners do in Fluxes,
Each raising, as he loll'd at Ease,
His Salivation by Degrees,
With sucking his Virginia Fuel,
And drinking Ale like Water-Gruel,
Which might, no Doubt on't, do as well,
For by its Colour, none could tell
Which was the best for fluxing Throats,
This brew'd of Malt, or that of Oats.
Where tipling Saints strong Ale carouse,
And aged Sots, with shaking Hands,
Liquor at once their Lips and Bands;
Whilst raving Hot-spurs, void of Reason,
Infect the smoaky Room with Treason:
Such Doctrine, that in Times of Yore,
Each Babler must have suffer'd for,
Tho' now 'tis made the common Cant
Of e'ery democratick Saint;
6
Of Rev'rend Bishops, Deans, and Chapters,
Not onl' as if they did not love 'em,
But that they gladly would remove 'em,
To set their worthless Selves above 'em:
For Saints, thro' their abounding Grace,
Have Right not only to displace
The Wicked and Prophane, but also
To pull down those they're please to call so,
Which are all such, that honour Merit
Above the Grumbling of the Spirit,
And scorn to see such Knaves and Fools
Make honest Men their Slaves and Tools;
Whose Fall, their Tribe must first devise,
Before themselves can hope to rise;
For Merit must be driven low,
E'er Ign'rance can to Power grow.
The Cap can never brave the Crown,
'Till Justice first is trampl'd down;
7
(Those Wolves that prey upon their Sheep)
'Till Learning's hush'd and lull'd a sleep.
I sat me down amidst a Crew
Of Old and Young, the Lord knows who!
Some puffing Sot-weed o'er their Glasses,
In one another's Parchment Faces,
Which were of tawny Colour dy'd,
Like Yarmouth Herrings, smoak'd and dry'd;
Shrivell'd with Envy, and with Age,
Like Witches on the Play-house Stage,
Such as their Daughters us'd to see
In some old dismal Tragedy;
Others sat pinn'd in little Boxes,
Driv'ling, as Sinners do in Fluxes,
Each raising, as he loll'd at Ease,
His Salivation by Degrees,
With sucking his Virginia Fuel,
And drinking Ale like Water-Gruel,
8
For by its Colour, none could tell
Which was the best for fluxing Throats,
This brew'd of Malt, or that of Oats.
Others, more jolly, brisk and young,
A Calves-Head Hymn in Consort sung,
The frothy, rude, unpolish'd Strains
Of some dull jingling Rebel's Brains,
Who was of Rhimes enough a Master
To be a Calves-Head Poetaster;
For to that Club of Imps so hated,
Despis'd, condemn'd, abominated,
His Ballads all were dedicated,
And practis'd here by wicked Apes,
That mimmick Hell in Human Shapes,
Against that sad and bloody Time,
Not to be nam'd without a Crime,
That their vile Tongues might perfect be
At their accurs'd Solemnity,
In yelling with their croaking Throats,
Those Tragick Songs in joyful Notes,
That fill th' Infernal Shades with Wonder,
And make the Devils tremble under.
A Calves-Head Hymn in Consort sung,
The frothy, rude, unpolish'd Strains
Of some dull jingling Rebel's Brains,
Who was of Rhimes enough a Master
To be a Calves-Head Poetaster;
For to that Club of Imps so hated,
Despis'd, condemn'd, abominated,
His Ballads all were dedicated,
And practis'd here by wicked Apes,
That mimmick Hell in Human Shapes,
Against that sad and bloody Time,
Not to be nam'd without a Crime,
That their vile Tongues might perfect be
At their accurs'd Solemnity,
9
Those Tragick Songs in joyful Notes,
That fill th' Infernal Shades with Wonder,
And make the Devils tremble under.
Others there were, whose odious Tongues,
Mov'd by the Breath of poys'nous Lungs,
Pour'd out such Venom on the Dust
Of Kings, so merciful and just,
That none but Rebels, void of Shame,
Could injure their Immortal Fame,
And nip those Blossoms with their Lies,
That from their fragrant Ashes rise;
Whose Praises, and whose patient Wrongs,
Distilling from impartial Tongues,
Will fructify their injur'd Clay,
Restore their Vertues fresh and gay,
And make 'em flourish o'er their Urns,
'Till Mercy smiles, and Envy mourns,
And Malice ceases to degrade
The living Actions of the Dead.
Mov'd by the Breath of poys'nous Lungs,
Pour'd out such Venom on the Dust
Of Kings, so merciful and just,
That none but Rebels, void of Shame,
Could injure their Immortal Fame,
And nip those Blossoms with their Lies,
That from their fragrant Ashes rise;
Whose Praises, and whose patient Wrongs,
Distilling from impartial Tongues,
Will fructify their injur'd Clay,
Restore their Vertues fresh and gay,
And make 'em flourish o'er their Urns,
'Till Mercy smiles, and Envy mourns,
And Malice ceases to degrade
The living Actions of the Dead.
10
But when those happy Times will be,
Not even P---ge can foresee,
By all his vile Astrology;
Nor gifted Saint, of greater Merit,
Who boasts Pre-knowledge by the Spirit:
For he that is so weak and blind
To trust in either Knave, will find
One's Impudence, and t'other's Rules,
Are only Baits to fish for Fools.
But this I know is a Digression,
I attone therefore by Confession:
However, you shall quickly see
I'll reassume my Company.
But Poets, sure, when Whimsy dances,
May stray a while, to please their Fancies,
Without incurring the Aspersion
Of Vagrancy, or Theme Desertion,
Since trimming Saints, and Moderators,
Vary from Church for slender Matters,
And so return, upon Discretion,
As they themselves shall see Occasion.
Not even P---ge can foresee,
By all his vile Astrology;
Nor gifted Saint, of greater Merit,
Who boasts Pre-knowledge by the Spirit:
For he that is so weak and blind
To trust in either Knave, will find
One's Impudence, and t'other's Rules,
Are only Baits to fish for Fools.
But this I know is a Digression,
I attone therefore by Confession:
However, you shall quickly see
I'll reassume my Company.
But Poets, sure, when Whimsy dances,
May stray a while, to please their Fancies,
Without incurring the Aspersion
Of Vagrancy, or Theme Desertion,
Since trimming Saints, and Moderators,
Vary from Church for slender Matters,
11
As they themselves shall see Occasion.
Thus, Tinker like, I've made a Pother,
To mend one Hole, and make another.
To mend one Hole, and make another.
Seated as you before have heard,
List'ning and stroaking down my Beard,
Surrounded by Rebellious Sots,
Hugging their Glasses, Pipes, and Pots,
In Puritannick Bands and Dresses,
Full as ill-favour'd as their Faces,
Whose Wrinkles, Lines, and long-hair'd Moles,
Betray'd the Baseness of their Souls,
That Men, judicious, might discern
Morosness in their Looks, and learn,
By outward ugly Signs and Features,
The damn'd Perverseness of their Natures.
So he who peeps in Bull-Dog's Face,
Descended of Bear-Garden Race,
May, by his sullen Leers, compute
The ill Conditions of the Brute,
And in his surly Phiz, discover
Of what rough Game he is a Lover.
List'ning and stroaking down my Beard,
Surrounded by Rebellious Sots,
Hugging their Glasses, Pipes, and Pots,
In Puritannick Bands and Dresses,
Full as ill-favour'd as their Faces,
Whose Wrinkles, Lines, and long-hair'd Moles,
Betray'd the Baseness of their Souls,
That Men, judicious, might discern
Morosness in their Looks, and learn,
By outward ugly Signs and Features,
The damn'd Perverseness of their Natures.
So he who peeps in Bull-Dog's Face,
Descended of Bear-Garden Race,
May, by his sullen Leers, compute
The ill Conditions of the Brute,
12
Of what rough Game he is a Lover.
At last a swarthy dub-nos'd Fellow,
With Cheeks like rusty Bacon, yellow,
And Saucer-Eyes, not quite so small
As those we see at Leaden-Hall,
In Bullock's Head, at Butcher's Stall,
Began to stretch his envious Jaws
In favour of the good old Cause,
And speak profusely in the Praise
Of Nol and Bradshaw's blessed Days;
Commending, at a publick Table,
Each cruel sanguinary Rebel,
Who sat in that Infernal Court,
That made their suff'ring King their Sport,
Extolling all their barbarous Crimes
For Justice in those pious Times,
Stiling 'em Saints of Preservation,
Rais'd up to save a sinking Nation
From Pop'ry, Tyranny, and Slav'ry,
Church-Persecution, and Court-Knav'ry,
And all the wretched Plagues that fell on
This Kingdom from their own Rebellion;
Most vilely charging all the Guilt
Of Blood in those Disorders spilt,
Upon the Throne, altho' the Stain
Does on their cursed Tribe remain,
Like that which God once fix'd on Cain.
No Wonder, since they still, we see,
Retain their ancient Policy
In charging Plots themselves-invent,
On others that are innocent.
With Cheeks like rusty Bacon, yellow,
And Saucer-Eyes, not quite so small
As those we see at Leaden-Hall,
In Bullock's Head, at Butcher's Stall,
Began to stretch his envious Jaws
In favour of the good old Cause,
And speak profusely in the Praise
Of Nol and Bradshaw's blessed Days;
Commending, at a publick Table,
Each cruel sanguinary Rebel,
Who sat in that Infernal Court,
That made their suff'ring King their Sport,
Extolling all their barbarous Crimes
For Justice in those pious Times,
Stiling 'em Saints of Preservation,
Rais'd up to save a sinking Nation
13
Church-Persecution, and Court-Knav'ry,
And all the wretched Plagues that fell on
This Kingdom from their own Rebellion;
Most vilely charging all the Guilt
Of Blood in those Disorders spilt,
Upon the Throne, altho' the Stain
Does on their cursed Tribe remain,
Like that which God once fix'd on Cain.
No Wonder, since they still, we see,
Retain their ancient Policy
In charging Plots themselves-invent,
On others that are innocent.
Their present Mischiefs all are laid
Upon those Persons they invade.
They can't oppress, but must accuse
The injur'd Suff'rers they abuse,
Of Ills their Party only use.
By cheating thus, they win the Game,
And make the Looser bear the Blame.
So subtle Thieves, at Night pursu'd
By th' busy Snow-ball Multitude,
Mix with the Crowd, run on their Way,
And cry Stop Thief, as well as they.
Upon those Persons they invade.
They can't oppress, but must accuse
The injur'd Suff'rers they abuse,
Of Ills their Party only use.
By cheating thus, they win the Game,
And make the Looser bear the Blame.
14
By th' busy Snow-ball Multitude,
Mix with the Crowd, run on their Way,
And cry Stop Thief, as well as they.
After I'd sat a while in Pain,
To hear this Monster of a Man
Belch out his wicked vile Excursions,
And all his frantick base Aversions,
I could no longer sit in Silence,
To hear such Infamy and Vi'lence
Us'd to the Mem'ry of a King
So mild and just in e'ery Thing,
So consciencious, and so good,
That none but such a Vip'rous Brood,
That stung his Royal Breast to Death,
Could poys'n his Ashes with their Breath.
Therefore, tho' very well I knew
My self surrounded with a Crew
Of Imps and Furies, that could show
More Spite than those that dwell below,
Yet I resolv'd to let 'em see
A true, tho' short, Epitome
Of the base Usage they had given
To the bless'd Martyr now in Heaven,
Which they endeavour'd to disguise
And paliate with their odious Lies.
To hear this Monster of a Man
Belch out his wicked vile Excursions,
And all his frantick base Aversions,
I could no longer sit in Silence,
To hear such Infamy and Vi'lence
Us'd to the Mem'ry of a King
So mild and just in e'ery Thing,
So consciencious, and so good,
That none but such a Vip'rous Brood,
That stung his Royal Breast to Death,
Could poys'n his Ashes with their Breath.
Therefore, tho' very well I knew
My self surrounded with a Crew
Of Imps and Furies, that could show
More Spite than those that dwell below,
15
A true, tho' short, Epitome
Of the base Usage they had given
To the bless'd Martyr now in Heaven,
Which they endeavour'd to disguise
And paliate with their odious Lies.
Unwilling that their false Reproach
Should any list'ning Ear debauch;
Provok'd and vex'd, I thus began
With him, whose Tongue so long had ran.
Should any list'ning Ear debauch;
Provok'd and vex'd, I thus began
With him, whose Tongue so long had ran.
Sir, with much Patience have I heard
Your Malice wag your picked Beard,
Endeav'ring with your ill-bred Lips,
To injure, blacken, and eclipse
That vertuous King's Immortal Fame,
Whose Suff'rings magnify his Name,
And raise his Glory, and your Shame.
But now, to let you see what Errors
You've basely broach'd among your Hearers,
I'll prove the Mis'ries of those Time
All owing to your Party's Crimes;
Those Rebels, from whose Loyns, I doubt,
Your envious self was hammer'd out.
Your Malice wag your picked Beard,
Endeav'ring with your ill-bred Lips,
To injure, blacken, and eclipse
That vertuous King's Immortal Fame,
Whose Suff'rings magnify his Name,
And raise his Glory, and your Shame.
But now, to let you see what Errors
You've basely broach'd among your Hearers,
16
All owing to your Party's Crimes;
Those Rebels, from whose Loyns, I doubt,
Your envious self was hammer'd out.
Why, how now, crys the spiteful Saint,
What angry High-Church Disputant
Have we got here? Some Popish Priest!
Or snarling Jacobite at least!
What angry High-Church Disputant
Have we got here? Some Popish Priest!
Or snarling Jacobite at least!
Said I, No matter what I am
To any here, or whence I came:
The naked Truths I shall declare,
I'd have your Calves-head know, I dare
To publish here, or any where.
Hear him, crys some, the Lord forbid
That Truth should lye in Darkness hid.
What have we done, that we deny,
And dare not boldly justify.
No Villany, thought I, that can be,
But what you've Impudence to stand by;
For, Satan like, 'tis still your Nature
To back one Evil with a greater.
However, these, for fear of broken
Noddle, were Sentiments unspoken:
For what at Foot-ball we suppose
Are Odds, must be the same at Blows.
So looking round the glaring Brood,
I open'd, mildly as I cou'd,
My Charge against those pious Devils
That glory in the worst of Evils.
To any here, or whence I came:
The naked Truths I shall declare,
I'd have your Calves-head know, I dare
To publish here, or any where.
Hear him, crys some, the Lord forbid
That Truth should lye in Darkness hid.
What have we done, that we deny,
And dare not boldly justify.
No Villany, thought I, that can be,
But what you've Impudence to stand by;
17
To back one Evil with a greater.
However, these, for fear of broken
Noddle, were Sentiments unspoken:
For what at Foot-ball we suppose
Are Odds, must be the same at Blows.
So looking round the glaring Brood,
I open'd, mildly as I cou'd,
My Charge against those pious Devils
That glory in the worst of Evils.
Said I, When first those dismal Days
Began, which I have heard you praise,
And bold Mechanick Miscreants
Set up themselves for preaching Saints,
Who in dark Holes, in spite of Laws,
Gave Succour to your good old Cause,
And nurs'd the monst'rous cruel Beast,
'Till grown too big to be supprest;
Did you not then corrupt, or find
A H--- of C--- to your Mind,
Who did with brasen Fronts withstand
Their Prince in e'ery just Demand,
'Till they had drove him, by Delays,
To lawful, but uncommon Ways,
Of raising Money, to supply
His Government's Necessity?
For who, that bears supream Command,
Can give Protection to a Land,
If they that only Current stemn,
That must preserve both him and them?
But when they found the Throne had made
A present Shift, without their Aid,
Did they not clamour and abuse
The Means they'd forc'd the King to use,
And charge that Fault upon the Crown,
Which long Delays had made their own?
For if a Prince declares his Want
To those whose Duty 'tis to grant,
And they, thro' Obstinance, deny
The Sov'reign Pow'r a due Supply,
And he a needful Sum shall raise
By some impracticable Ways;
Those that obstruct the common Spring,
Abuse the People, not the King.
Began, which I have heard you praise,
And bold Mechanick Miscreants
Set up themselves for preaching Saints,
Who in dark Holes, in spite of Laws,
Gave Succour to your good old Cause,
And nurs'd the monst'rous cruel Beast,
'Till grown too big to be supprest;
Did you not then corrupt, or find
A H--- of C--- to your Mind,
18
Their Prince in e'ery just Demand,
'Till they had drove him, by Delays,
To lawful, but uncommon Ways,
Of raising Money, to supply
His Government's Necessity?
For who, that bears supream Command,
Can give Protection to a Land,
If they that only Current stemn,
That must preserve both him and them?
But when they found the Throne had made
A present Shift, without their Aid,
Did they not clamour and abuse
The Means they'd forc'd the King to use,
And charge that Fault upon the Crown,
Which long Delays had made their own?
For if a Prince declares his Want
To those whose Duty 'tis to grant,
And they, thro' Obstinance, deny
The Sov'reign Pow'r a due Supply,
19
By some impracticable Ways;
Those that obstruct the common Spring,
Abuse the People, not the King.
When by Refusals and Complaints,
The House, regardless of his Wants,
Had brought his Majesty to Streights,
And plagu'd him with their vile Debates;
Did they not dayly grow upon him,
In order to at last dethrone him?
And hire the Scots t' invade the Land
With thirty thousand Pounds in hand?
Which Sum (that all the World may see
Their Impudence and Villany)
They added to the King's Account,
As if Rebellion could amount
To meritorious Service done
The Kingdom, or the sinking Throne?
The Rabble may as well untile
A House against the Owner's Will,
Then make him answer their Demands,
For the vile Labour of their Hands.
The House, regardless of his Wants,
Had brought his Majesty to Streights,
And plagu'd him with their vile Debates;
Did they not dayly grow upon him,
In order to at last dethrone him?
And hire the Scots t' invade the Land
With thirty thousand Pounds in hand?
Which Sum (that all the World may see
Their Impudence and Villany)
They added to the King's Account,
As if Rebellion could amount
To meritorious Service done
The Kingdom, or the sinking Throne?
The Rabble may as well untile
A House against the Owner's Will,
20
For the vile Labour of their Hands.
Did they not next torment and teaz
The Throne with base Remonstrances,
False and rebellious, with intent
To scandalize the Government,
And make the People look awry
On the supream Authority?
For Calumny's the piercing Sting
That at a Distance wounds the King,
And is the only Tool in Play,
By which Rebellion cuts its way?
When by their base reproachful Arts,
(As false and trayt'rous as their Hearts)
And by their sawcy proud Petitions,
They'd fill'd the Nation with Suspicions,
Did they not then in Triumph bring
The Rabble, to insult their King
With Cries of Justice at his Gates,
(The common Cant of Reprobates)
When all their base inglorious Ends
Were first to sacrifice his Friends,
That they with Ease might sack the Throne,
And make the Regal Pow'r their own?
For Rebels can no King betray,
'Till first they snatch his Friends away;
But when that's done, altho' he may
Stand for a little Time at Bay,
Yet must he perish in the Close,
A Victim to his cruel Foes?
So the fat Buck, that rules the Herd,
And treads as if he nothing fear'd;
Yet, when he's singl'd from the rest,
And by the Hounds too hardly prest,
Dispairing of his Force or Speed,
He groans, and so submits to bleed.
The Throne with base Remonstrances,
False and rebellious, with intent
To scandalize the Government,
And make the People look awry
On the supream Authority?
For Calumny's the piercing Sting
That at a Distance wounds the King,
And is the only Tool in Play,
By which Rebellion cuts its way?
When by their base reproachful Arts,
(As false and trayt'rous as their Hearts)
And by their sawcy proud Petitions,
They'd fill'd the Nation with Suspicions,
Did they not then in Triumph bring
The Rabble, to insult their King
With Cries of Justice at his Gates,
(The common Cant of Reprobates)
21
Were first to sacrifice his Friends,
That they with Ease might sack the Throne,
And make the Regal Pow'r their own?
For Rebels can no King betray,
'Till first they snatch his Friends away;
But when that's done, altho' he may
Stand for a little Time at Bay,
Yet must he perish in the Close,
A Victim to his cruel Foes?
So the fat Buck, that rules the Herd,
And treads as if he nothing fear'd;
Yet, when he's singl'd from the rest,
And by the Hounds too hardly prest,
Dispairing of his Force or Speed,
He groans, and so submits to bleed.
When thus the Righteous Band of Saints
Had spread their Clamours and Complaints,
And by their canting Pulpiteers,
Had fill'd the Land with Doubts and Fears;
(For no Rebellion e'er could rise
So high, to give a King Surprize,
Without their Holy Exercise)
Then flush'd with Hopes of their Success,
They chas'd the King from Place to Place,
With Libels humbly call'd Petitions,
And Treasons stil'd their Propositions,
So smoothly penn'd, so well design'd,
So modestly express'd, so kind,
That they insisted on no more
Than all the Right of Sov'reign Pow'r;
Which, if his Majesty would grant,
O! then no Money should he want;
Meaning, that when they'd got his Head,
He no Supplies would need when dead;
For 'tis the old fanatick way,
When they've usurp'd the Sov'reign Sway,
To murder those they should obey.
And that you may more plainly see
The Drift of all their Treachery,
First bear, then judge ye as ye please,
By their Proposals, which were these:
Had spread their Clamours and Complaints,
And by their canting Pulpiteers,
Had fill'd the Land with Doubts and Fears;
22
So high, to give a King Surprize,
Without their Holy Exercise)
Then flush'd with Hopes of their Success,
They chas'd the King from Place to Place,
With Libels humbly call'd Petitions,
And Treasons stil'd their Propositions,
So smoothly penn'd, so well design'd,
So modestly express'd, so kind,
That they insisted on no more
Than all the Right of Sov'reign Pow'r;
Which, if his Majesty would grant,
O! then no Money should he want;
Meaning, that when they'd got his Head,
He no Supplies would need when dead;
For 'tis the old fanatick way,
When they've usurp'd the Sov'reign Sway,
To murder those they should obey.
And that you may more plainly see
The Drift of all their Treachery,
23
By their Proposals, which were these:
That what the Commons should insist on
Was Law, the King was not to question.
Was Law, the King was not to question.
That very Article alone
Sets Parliaments above the Throne,
And gives Rebellion Pow'r to play
The Devil with their Kings each Day.
Sets Parliaments above the Throne,
And gives Rebellion Pow'r to play
The Devil with their Kings each Day.
That Precedents (as useless Readings)
Should give no Bounds to their Proceedings.
Should give no Bounds to their Proceedings.
From hence a Man may clearly see
What cursed Tyrants they would be,
Who make their Wills, to Malice bent,
Their standing Rules of Government.
What cursed Tyrants they would be,
Who make their Wills, to Malice bent,
Their standing Rules of Government.
That for the publick Good, they might
Dispose of King or Subject's Right;
And that alone the Parliament,
Without the King, or his Assent,
Were Judges of the State o'th' Nation,
And e'ery Thing, that bore Relation
To th' People's Good or Preservation.
Dispose of King or Subject's Right;
And that alone the Parliament,
Without the King, or his Assent,
Were Judges of the State o'th' Nation,
And e'ery Thing, that bore Relation
To th' People's Good or Preservation.
24
Pray, is not this to plainly say,
That they have Pow'r to take away
The King's or any Subject's Right,
When e'er themselves shall think it fit?
For if they vote the Publick Good
Requires your Fortune, or your Blood,
What Man, that is of Lands possess'd,
Altho' he has no Law transgress'd,
Can vouch, at this unhappy Rate,
His Life's his own, or his Estate?
That they have Pow'r to take away
The King's or any Subject's Right,
When e'er themselves shall think it fit?
For if they vote the Publick Good
Requires your Fortune, or your Blood,
What Man, that is of Lands possess'd,
Altho' he has no Law transgress'd,
Can vouch, at this unhappy Rate,
His Life's his own, or his Estate?
That no good Member should, for Treason,
Or any other Crime, or Reason,
Be troubl'd, 'till the Parliament
Should judge the Fact, and give Consent,
(If they should see sufficient Cause)
He should be punish'd by the Laws.
Or any other Crime, or Reason,
Be troubl'd, 'till the Parliament
Should judge the Fact, and give Consent,
(If they should see sufficient Cause)
He should be punish'd by the Laws.
Traytors by this, are made secure
Against the Gripes of Sov'reign Pow'r,
That Rebels, with a bolder Grace,
Might spit in Monarch's Royal Face,
And spur on with more Heat and Passion,
Those ill Designs in Agitation.
Against the Gripes of Sov'reign Pow'r,
That Rebels, with a bolder Grace,
Might spit in Monarch's Royal Face,
25
Those ill Designs in Agitation.
That the whole Sov'reign Pow'r and Sway
Alone in both the Houses lay;
And that the King had no such Choice,
As a denying Vote or Voice.
Alone in both the Houses lay;
And that the King had no such Choice,
As a denying Vote or Voice.
This shews their Villany unpainted,
And tells us plainly what they wanted,
That Pow'r supream, and nothing less,
Would satisfy their Greediness;
For if the King must give Assent
To Laws that bear an ill Intent,
And cannot, when there's just Occasion,
Deny his Royal Approbation,
Such Majesty is but a Mouse,
Less than a Member of the House;
For he, without Restraint, can show
His Choice in voting Yea or No.
And tells us plainly what they wanted,
That Pow'r supream, and nothing less,
Would satisfy their Greediness;
For if the King must give Assent
To Laws that bear an ill Intent,
And cannot, when there's just Occasion,
Deny his Royal Approbation,
Such Majesty is but a Mouse,
Less than a Member of the House;
For he, without Restraint, can show
His Choice in voting Yea or No.
That levy'ng Forces in the Land
'Gainst the King's personal Command,
Tho' present in the House, when they
His Royal Pleasure disobey;
Yet 'tis not such a wicked Thing,
As raising Arms against the King,
But levy'ng War (a pretty Trick)
Against his Person Politick.
'Gainst the King's personal Command,
26
His Royal Pleasure disobey;
Yet 'tis not such a wicked Thing,
As raising Arms against the King,
But levy'ng War (a pretty Trick)
Against his Person Politick.
A quaint Device, contriv'd to cripple
The Understandings of the People,
And make 'em think, that they might fight
Against the Crown with all their Might,
Yet ne'er intend one evil Thing
Against the Person of the King;
As if to give their Sov'reign Chase,
And drive him from his Royal Place;
Making his Troubles but their Sport,
Was not to mean his Person Hurt.
Or as if Kings could loose their Right
Of Pow'r, and suffer nothing by't.
The Lord preserve us in our Wits
From such base Logical Deceits;
Which sure could never find a Place
In Men of either Sense or Grace.
The Understandings of the People,
And make 'em think, that they might fight
Against the Crown with all their Might,
Yet ne'er intend one evil Thing
Against the Person of the King;
As if to give their Sov'reign Chase,
And drive him from his Royal Place;
Making his Troubles but their Sport,
Was not to mean his Person Hurt.
Or as if Kings could loose their Right
Of Pow'r, and suffer nothing by't.
The Lord preserve us in our Wits
From such base Logical Deceits;
27
In Men of either Sense or Grace.
That no Man can commit a Treason
'Gainst the King's Life, for other Reason,
Than that he's trusted with the Throne,
And all Things that depend thereon;
Nor longer than he rules aright,
Not in the Lord's, but People's Sight;
For that the Parliament have still
The Power to judge, when e'er they will,
Whether he governs well or ill.
'Gainst the King's Life, for other Reason,
Than that he's trusted with the Throne,
And all Things that depend thereon;
Nor longer than he rules aright,
Not in the Lord's, but People's Sight;
For that the Parliament have still
The Power to judge, when e'er they will,
Whether he governs well or ill.
If, right or wrong, the House shall say
The King abus'd the Sov'reign Sway,
Then all his Subjects may dispense
At once with their Allegiance,
And buffet him, if they see Cause,
Without the Danger of the Laws;
Because the House has Pow'r to tell,
Whether the King rules ill or well.
If they say ill, then all are free
To pull down Popish Tyranny,
Tho' themselves acted in the State
The very Things they seem'd to hate;
And as their Fury made it plain,
Rul'd more like Devils, than like Men.
The King abus'd the Sov'reign Sway,
Then all his Subjects may dispense
At once with their Allegiance,
And buffet him, if they see Cause,
Without the Danger of the Laws;
Because the House has Pow'r to tell,
Whether the King rules ill or well.
28
To pull down Popish Tyranny,
Tho' themselves acted in the State
The very Things they seem'd to hate;
And as their Fury made it plain,
Rul'd more like Devils, than like Men.
That with the King they may such Measures
Use, as best suit their Wills and Pleasures:
And when themselves shall think it meet,
Dispose of him as they see fit.
Use, as best suit their Wills and Pleasures:
And when themselves shall think it meet,
Dispose of him as they see fit.
This last Proposal, tho' exprest
Concisely, sums up all the rest;
And plainly says, That when they will,
They may dispose of (that is, k---ll)
The King; which doubtless was their Sense,
As we may judge by th' Consequence.
Concisely, sums up all the rest;
And plainly says, That when they will,
They may dispose of (that is, k---ll)
The King; which doubtless was their Sense,
As we may judge by th' Consequence.
To be concluded in the next Part.
| Hudibras Redivivus | |