A nursery of novelties in Variety of Poetry :: :: University of Virginia Library

You of the Royalty, attend your Summons,
'Tis this day Order'd by the Lords and Commons
Assembled in that sacred place which we
Must look upon as England's destiny,
That all such dreadful men whose fame doth ring
For active Loyalty to God and King,
Laws and their native Liberties, shall be
Disarm'd and made a Swordless Cavalry;
For some such cause as formerly was given
When men were levy'd against Charles and Heaven,
At that time when the Publick Faith withstood
The Creed and Plate was melted into Blood,
When Subjects sought their Master to betray
At the old rate of thirty pence a day;
When Prentices against all Rules of Reason
Were early Free-men in the Trade of Treason,
When by the Factious Commons wise fore-casting,
Triænial was a word for Everlasting;
When the Mad Shires did with Petitions run,
Humbly desiring they may be undone;
Not dreaming that our English Inquisitions
Did onely sit to answer such Petitions;
When States-mens Trunks were fill'd up to the brim,
In Anno Primo Regni Johannis Pym:
With more such reasons which are yet unknown,
You are to lay your Bloody Bilbo's down,

And march disbladed, since the House of Lords
Have voted Honest men must wear no Swords.
And shall this daunt your Royal Spirits that
Have gain'd a Fame time cannot ruinate;
Your Enemies, though with a wrong pretence,
Have done you right, and put your Innocence
In the true garb, when did you ever see
Innocence figur'd with Artillery?
What need you Weapons since there is not one
Of worth enough to draw your Sword upon
That's not your Sovereigns Friend, and is't not pitty,
On the sinister spawn of a Committee,
To vent your valiant wrath, calm your high passion,
They dare as well do that deserves damnation
In such an Act that's pardon proof as see
You wear your Swords, it is their jealousie,
Of you, their King, nay even of their God,
When have you known Children delight the Rod?
So Cowards when their paler fears increase,
Take blows, and subtly bind men to the Peace:
What need you mutter that your Swords are gone,
Since you may see Justice her self hath none;
Your Valour is not question'd, 'tis for that
You are disarm'd, nor do they wonder at
Your swordless side, for all that justly owe
Allegiance to Valour, truly know,
A bladeless Cavalier can more afford,
Then he whose thigh is branded with a Sword;
Be not dismaid (and you in time shall see)
The Kings Cause hath an occult Quality;

Your Swords are needless, sing, be merry, and
Pray for the King, 'tis fit you understand,
Man's ineffectual aid is vain and light,
When He that made the hand intends to fight;
For you will finde when Rebels Race is run
They shall be conquer'd without Sword or Gun.