The Captive-captain or, the restrain'd cavalier; Drawn to his full Bodie in these Characters ... Presented, and Acted to Life in a Suit of Durance; an Habit suiting best with the Place of his Residence [by Richard Brathwait] |
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| VIII. |
Upon the LATE PLOT.
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 | The Captive-captain |  |
155
Upon the LATE PLOT.
How
is it Zimries, that you thus do Plot;
And ne're content you with the Preys you've got?
Look to your Ravenous Claws expos'd to pillage,
On every Loyal State, Grange, Mansion, Village!
Could not your Harpyes-fury be content
With good Mens rapine, ruine, banishment,
Nor all the Miseries that Sea or Land
By th' Tyranny of your licentious hand
Could lay upon us, satisfie your thirst,
Nor move remorse for what you did at first;
But Breath fresh veins, and make the festring wound
Larger and deeper than your Agents found
In their Perfidious Practise; when no doubt
Their aime was to destroy both Branch and Root?
Yet, what was done against you for all this?
A fair Act of Oblivion Signed is
For your Indemnity: and by it rest
Safe, having richly feather'd your Nest
With Spoile of Royallists, who, well-affected;
Came short in Reaping th' Harvest they expected.
“Some Honours they might get, but, all the while
“Revenues wanted to support their Style:
And, as th' Weakest ever goes to th' Wall,
These had been fitter for an Hospital;
And there remain Immur'd, secure, at ease,
Than receive Honours when they want their Fees.
And ne're content you with the Preys you've got?
Look to your Ravenous Claws expos'd to pillage,
On every Loyal State, Grange, Mansion, Village!
Could not your Harpyes-fury be content
With good Mens rapine, ruine, banishment,
Nor all the Miseries that Sea or Land
By th' Tyranny of your licentious hand
Could lay upon us, satisfie your thirst,
Nor move remorse for what you did at first;
But Breath fresh veins, and make the festring wound
Larger and deeper than your Agents found
In their Perfidious Practise; when no doubt
Their aime was to destroy both Branch and Root?
Yet, what was done against you for all this?
A fair Act of Oblivion Signed is
156
Safe, having richly feather'd your Nest
With Spoile of Royallists, who, well-affected;
Came short in Reaping th' Harvest they expected.
“Some Honours they might get, but, all the while
“Revenues wanted to support their Style:
And, as th' Weakest ever goes to th' Wall,
These had been fitter for an Hospital;
And there remain Immur'd, secure, at ease,
Than receive Honours when they want their Fees.
Thrice-happy Knights of Windsor who have got
Both States and Styles for which you ventur'd not
Nor felt hard Duties, such as we have done,
Yet most of us blink-ey'd are look upon.
Maugre these storms, our thoughts be calm and still
As if we were rewarded to our Will.
So loyal and so faithfull try'd were we,
Wee'd fight for th' King in spite of poverty.
Our Resolution could not be compar'd
With theirs, who fought to purchase a reward,
And that unjustly gain'd: for your delights
Were to make us poor naked Adamites.
Prowess and Prudence chalked forth our way,
Scorning those Craving Spirits fought for Pay,
So long as they'd Revenues of their own,
Or self-supportance to rely upon:
They bearded danger, and for honour fought,
Accompting Life a Tribute that they ought.
Both States and Styles for which you ventur'd not
Nor felt hard Duties, such as we have done,
Yet most of us blink-ey'd are look upon.
Maugre these storms, our thoughts be calm and still
As if we were rewarded to our Will.
So loyal and so faithfull try'd were we,
Wee'd fight for th' King in spite of poverty.
Our Resolution could not be compar'd
With theirs, who fought to purchase a reward,
And that unjustly gain'd: for your delights
Were to make us poor naked Adamites.
Prowess and Prudence chalked forth our way,
Scorning those Craving Spirits fought for Pay,
So long as they'd Revenues of their own,
Or self-supportance to rely upon:
157
Accompting Life a Tribute that they ought.
This was right Gallantry; for it did bring,
Midst all Extremes, some comfort to our King:
For in his service having spent their Store,
They spent their blood, what could a Sov'raign more?
Midst all Extremes, some comfort to our King:
For in his service having spent their Store,
They spent their blood, what could a Sov'raign more?
How much have you abus'd his Clemency,
Who, having granted you Impunity
For your mischievous pillage, must be forc't
To have your new Conspiracies indor'st
In Sanguine Characters, so deep imbru'd
As they display your high ingratitude;
And, make you Prodigies in after times,
Blushing at you who blush'd not at your Crimes?
Who, having granted you Impunity
For your mischievous pillage, must be forc't
To have your new Conspiracies indor'st
In Sanguine Characters, so deep imbru'd
As they display your high ingratitude;
And, make you Prodigies in after times,
Blushing at you who blush'd not at your Crimes?
How often have I in my Pastures known
A Rogue Prance on a Horse that was mine own,
And, in a brave insulting frontless sort,
Yet, durst I not call him in question for't?
How often have I seen my Fatlings kill'd?
My Grounds and Medows by your Heifers till'd?
How often have I by mine own Door gone,
And seen my Pales and Houses trampled down:
The Owner quite estranged from his Nest,
As if he had therein no Interest?
A Rogue Prance on a Horse that was mine own,
And, in a brave insulting frontless sort,
Yet, durst I not call him in question for't?
How often have I seen my Fatlings kill'd?
My Grounds and Medows by your Heifers till'd?
How often have I by mine own Door gone,
And seen my Pales and Houses trampled down:
The Owner quite estranged from his Nest,
As if he had therein no Interest?
Rebells, what would you have?-I'd have you teacht,
As to us Cavaliers Hugh Peters Preacht.
Would you enjoy our Lands, our Stock, our Store,
Or what's most deare to us: what would you more?
Take it; nay, in your seazure you'r so speedy,
As like Bould Men yee'ave taken it already.
Let our Estates your Beggary advance,
Onely reserve us our Allegeance
Which you ne'r car'd for: our sole task was toyl,
Restraint, hard duties, you receiv'd the Spoyl.
And, after all this, when we were made bare
And lean, as ever Pharaohs Cattel were;
Such large Indulgence your brave Acts receive,
You'r free'd from Stigma's, none dare call you Knave,
Roundhead, or Crop-ear, but be entertain'd
For Friends, when you have our Possessions gain'd.
Yet, while we must not call you this nor that,
We needs must hold you th' Assassins oth' State.
But, this we utter not, for wee'r become
To speak more with our thoughts than with our tongue.
As to us Cavaliers Hugh Peters Preacht.
158
Or what's most deare to us: what would you more?
Take it; nay, in your seazure you'r so speedy,
As like Bould Men yee'ave taken it already.
Let our Estates your Beggary advance,
Onely reserve us our Allegeance
Which you ne'r car'd for: our sole task was toyl,
Restraint, hard duties, you receiv'd the Spoyl.
And, after all this, when we were made bare
And lean, as ever Pharaohs Cattel were;
Such large Indulgence your brave Acts receive,
You'r free'd from Stigma's, none dare call you Knave,
Roundhead, or Crop-ear, but be entertain'd
For Friends, when you have our Possessions gain'd.
Yet, while we must not call you this nor that,
We needs must hold you th' Assassins oth' State.
But, this we utter not, for wee'r become
To speak more with our thoughts than with our tongue.
Now, would not such desertless tyes as these,
Keep you from acting New Conspiracies?
“By this, you knew to Justice what belong'd,
“To leave your States to them whom you hadwrong'd.
Howsoe're Heav'ns Judgments shown, your own hand delves,
What Grace remitted, ruine to your selves.
Those whom Heav'n means to shatter, those it mads,
As may appear by these Rebellious Lads.
Keep you from acting New Conspiracies?
“By this, you knew to Justice what belong'd,
“To leave your States to them whom you hadwrong'd.
Howsoe're Heav'ns Judgments shown, your own hand delves,
What Grace remitted, ruine to your selves.
Those whom Heav'n means to shatter, those it mads,
As may appear by these Rebellious Lads.
| The Captive-captain | |