University of Virginia Library

The humble Address of your Majesty's Poet Laureat, and others your Catholick and Protestant dissenting Rhymers, with the rest of the Fraternity of Minor Poets, Inferiour Versifiers and Sonnetteers of Your Majesty's Ancient Corporation of Parnassus.

Humbly Sheweth,

Great Sir, your healing Declaration
Has cur'd a base distemper'd Nation;

---

19

The Godly hug it for the ease
It gives to squeamish Consciences;
And by the Mammonists, 'tis made
The grand encouragement of Trade;
But we must reckon it (in our sense)
A gracious Poetick Licence.
'Tis your peculiar excellency,
T'indulge Religion to a frensy;
And our Religion is our fancy:
For which, we judge 'twould be a crime,
Not to present our thanks in rhime;
We, with all Subjects of our mind,
To pay, like us, their dues in kind:
That jealous Protestants would greet
With Tests and Laws your Royal Feet;
That all would sacrifice in course
Their stubborn Consciences to yours;
That th'Academies wou'd oppose
On no pretence your Royal Cause,
But quit their Oaths and Founders Laws;
That Corporations yield their Charters,
And no more grudge your Souldiers Quarters;
That Borough Towns would chuse such Men,
As you shan't need send home again;
That all right Members take their stations,
Such as Sir Roger and Sir P---
That your new Friends stand every where,
Of which we recommend one pair,
Honest Will Pen and Harry Care.
Dissenters will with all their heart—a
Vote for a Gospel Magna Charta;
Your Judges too will over-awe
The poor dead letter of the Law;

---

20

Your High Commissioners, from whom
The obstinate receive their doom,
For trusty Catholicks make room.
Only one resty part o'th' Nation,
Wou'd bound your power of dispensation;
For which we'll bait the Rogues agen,
With second part of Hind and Pan:
We'll Rhime 'em into better manners,
And make them low'r their Paper-Banners;
Nor is this all that we will do,
No, Sir, we'll pray like Poets too.