The honest ghost :: :: University of Virginia Library

Marshall! an halt there! Pray you, Sir, make roome
For us poor Knights, who in the fag-end come.
Mad is my Muse, and now of late affrighted
Out of her wits for feare she should be Knighted.

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Knighted defend me, Lord, from such an honour,
I shall not git whole Cloaths to put upon her.

Nay, since with Knights there is so great a doo,
I for my Summons will make ready too.
“Come Masons, come, erect an Hospitall,
Sith wee must all be Knights whom Statutes call:
For England never had unto this houre
More Chevaliers for number, nor more poor.
Whence many of our Russetings deplore it,
That they'r not worth so much as they paid for it.
Yea, Almanacks, I feare, will beare record
In Rubrick Letters, next to th' yeare oth'Lord,
Which by Succeeding times will be recited,
“How long 'tis since ye Commonty was Knighted.
Yea, Justice vows, should she pay twenty five,
She cannot doe't with honesty and thrive;
“For some of her Bench-Whistlers States be such,
Their meanes & vailes will scarce raise halfe so much
Yea I could pick out One of these who might
Be made GRAND SOPHIE full as well as Knight:
“For Justice-sake this imposition wave,
Lest they be forc'd to pay more then they have.
But since my Pinke 'mongst others runns a shelfe,
And ev'ry one is nearest to himselfe,
I must debate my Cause before I go,
Judge whether I speake reason, friends, or no.
“May my State-lov'd MECÆNAS but give way
“To what the meanest of his Knights can say.
Now, my good Lord, your humble Suppliant comes
To know the cause why he should pay these Sums.

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‘Object. “Our Princes Coronation by a Statute,
“Inflicts these fines on those that were not at it:
“Provided they have fourty pounds by yeare
“Of free-hold Land, the Statute makes it cleare.

Answ. Tis true; but this reflecteth not on me,
For I was at that high solemnitie,
And I'ch best note my rurall Muse could sing,
Tendred my Poemes to my gratious King,

Object. “Yea but the Proclamation did forbid it,
“You were not well advis'd then, when you did it.

Answ. 'Slid, should I neither then be here nor there
But like a Ball hang hovering in the ayre?

Object. No; though the Coronation wil'd you come
“The Proclamation wish'd you stay at home,
“You should not have come up Sir;

Answ. No more did I,
For I, as fortune fell, was there allready;
Where my ambitious Muse did Knighthood crave,
But what I had I hold, no more I have.
Discusse my Lord, then each particular,
I shall be found in nought irregular.
“I came not up; I broke not th' Proclamation;
“The Statute's kept; I was at Coronation;
At which (I'le justify with heart and hand,)
I joy'd as much as any Knight ith' Land.
These duely weigh'd, your Honour Umpire be,
Whether I pay the King, or King pay me.
His regall rites receiv'd this Muse of mine,
And were this reason, think you, for my rime?
I sung, my Sov'reigne heard me, now wee say

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The Hearer, not the Singer, usd to pay.
I judge then what soe're to me is done,
Is by that figure Usteron, Proteron.
You for the King demand of me a fee,
When it is meant that He should pay it mee.
But lest this should by me too much be thought,
So I goe free, my Song shall go for nought.
But husht! no more; with this approv'd Position;
Your constant Servant closeth his Petition;
“More Knights, my Lord, your State has little need on,
“Let me be a poore Country Squire to breed on.
Now if these Reasons take no place, my Lord,
I must Obey if you but speake the word:
A Knights fee for your Honour I have heere;
“Knight and no Knight; the Purchase is too deere:
But I 'm resolv'd, my Reasons are so plaine,
Your squire may with his Coine go back againe.