University of Virginia Library

Of all esteem, they are now quite bereft,
And, in so sad a plight have thousands left,
Who trusted them with ev'ry thing they had,
That their own selves alone, they have not made
Thereby contemptible to Foes and Friends,
(Lost their estates, their safeties, and their ends)
And such confusions brought, that few or none
Are sure, they shall not thereby bee undone,
Or Damnified; but given cause likewise
To this, and times to come, so to despise
An English Parliament, that, if it get
No better credit than it hath, as yet,
It is in hazard to become a thing
As much abhorred, as the name of King
Was once in Rome; for their prevarications,
Their self-ends, falshoods, and dissimulations
With King and People so destructive were,
And both to Round-head and to Cavalier
(As then distinguished) that, if there be any,
Few names are left, whereof there be not many
Undone, at at least damnified, either
In credit or estate, or both together:
And, by those many thousands now undone,
That mischief, so, from man, to man, doth run,
That it infects three times as many more,
And may bring beggery to ev'ry door,
Besides, those quarrels which it may beget,
Whose sad effects lye unperceived yet.
Some, who had been most faithful to their side,
They much opprest whilst they were dignifi'd;
And, often when they did pretend a course
To cure their Grievances, they made them worse.
Then, what by such oppressed men from those
Can look't for be, whom they pursu'd as foes,
But to be kikt out of the world, or trod
Into the dirt? Except, our gracious GOD
Hath now brought home the King to be a friend
To all men who did honestly intend?
And who, though in some things they did amisse,
Sin'd not with malice, or with wilfulness?