 | The Sad Condition of a Distracted Kingdome |  |
“I'le strait about the Isle my progresse make
“And with me for my fit associates take
“Suspition, Anger, Hatred, Discontent,
“Murmure, dislike at present Government;
“Envy and Rancour, Feares and Iealousies,
“Open detractions, more close calumnies,
“Conspiracie, Rebellion alwayes quaking
“For feare to be surpriz'd: Treason still waking
“To doe a mischiefe. Griping penury
“Dogging at the heeles of prodigality.
“Ambitious hopes to raise what is decaid,
“And what Peace cannot purchase, by the blade.
“These I'le disperse through the whole Kingdome, and
“Make Sons against their Fathers, Brothers band
“Against their Brothers, when good Abell slain
“Fell down, I at the elbow stood of Cain.
“Such industries I have, I can set strife
“'Twixt freind and dearest freind; man and his wife.
“The Nobles, Commons, Gentrie, Il'e inflame
“With such dire furies, that the very name
“Of Peace shall be detested. Death and blood
“To Nobles, Gentry, and the multitude
“Shall be most deare: with violence they shall break
“Ope Ianus Temple, and the Drum shall speak
“In every Village warre, the Rurall swaine
“Shall leave his tillage, Shepheards leave the plaine:
“The Prentice shall forget what doe you lack?
“And joy to March with iron on his back,
“The Murrion on his head. And to advance,
“The common cause, with Gun, with sword, with launce;
“The Citizen weary of rest, lay down
“The Robe of Peace, his gracefull livery gown;
“Exchange security for doubtfull warres,
“And deem it honour to return with scarres
“From the unnaturall conflict; women shall,
“Animate their husbands by the sword to fall:
“Wives, VViddowes, Virgins, freely give their gold,
“And with their Iewels bloody strifes uphold.
“Though by the warre no other good they reap,
“Then to make VViddowes, VVives, and Virgins cheap,
“Men easily numbred; VViddowes shall be rife,
“And no great businesse then to get a wife.
“Midst these combustious turmoiles, the Glebe Land,
“Shall unmanured and untilled stand.
“The plough shall be neglected, and the corn
“By th' horse hoofe trampled, fade before full born
“'Tis fit for sickle. Graziers sell away
“Their beasts, lest kept they prove the souldiers pray,
“Then want and griping penury shall kill
“The wretches that survive, and Church-yards fill
“VVith starved corps; what warre and famine leave,
“Contagious pestilence shall of life bereave.
“So warre, plague, famine, in a league shall joyne
“To serve you, and performe what I designe.
“And with me for my fit associates take
“Suspition, Anger, Hatred, Discontent,
“Murmure, dislike at present Government;
“Envy and Rancour, Feares and Iealousies,
“Open detractions, more close calumnies,
“Conspiracie, Rebellion alwayes quaking
“For feare to be surpriz'd: Treason still waking
“To doe a mischiefe. Griping penury
“Dogging at the heeles of prodigality.
“Ambitious hopes to raise what is decaid,
“And what Peace cannot purchase, by the blade.
“These I'le disperse through the whole Kingdome, and
“Make Sons against their Fathers, Brothers band
“Against their Brothers, when good Abell slain
“Fell down, I at the elbow stood of Cain.
“Such industries I have, I can set strife
“'Twixt freind and dearest freind; man and his wife.
“The Nobles, Commons, Gentrie, Il'e inflame
“With such dire furies, that the very name
“Of Peace shall be detested. Death and blood
“To Nobles, Gentry, and the multitude
“Shall be most deare: with violence they shall break
“Ope Ianus Temple, and the Drum shall speak
14
“Shall leave his tillage, Shepheards leave the plaine:
“The Prentice shall forget what doe you lack?
“And joy to March with iron on his back,
“The Murrion on his head. And to advance,
“The common cause, with Gun, with sword, with launce;
“The Citizen weary of rest, lay down
“The Robe of Peace, his gracefull livery gown;
“Exchange security for doubtfull warres,
“And deem it honour to return with scarres
“From the unnaturall conflict; women shall,
“Animate their husbands by the sword to fall:
“Wives, VViddowes, Virgins, freely give their gold,
“And with their Iewels bloody strifes uphold.
“Though by the warre no other good they reap,
“Then to make VViddowes, VVives, and Virgins cheap,
“Men easily numbred; VViddowes shall be rife,
“And no great businesse then to get a wife.
“Midst these combustious turmoiles, the Glebe Land,
“Shall unmanured and untilled stand.
“The plough shall be neglected, and the corn
“By th' horse hoofe trampled, fade before full born
“'Tis fit for sickle. Graziers sell away
“Their beasts, lest kept they prove the souldiers pray,
“Then want and griping penury shall kill
“The wretches that survive, and Church-yards fill
“VVith starved corps; what warre and famine leave,
“Contagious pestilence shall of life bereave.
“So warre, plague, famine, in a league shall joyne
“To serve you, and performe what I designe.
| The Sad Condition of a Distracted Kingdome | |