Vox Vulgi A poem in censure of the Parliament of 1661, by George Wither, now first edited from the original MS., together with an unpublished letter from Wither to John Thurloe, by Rev. W. Dunn Macray |
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To the right honorable the Earle of Clarendon Lord Chanceller of England.
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To the right honorable the Earle of Clarendon Lord Chanceller of England.
Sir, he that hath nought left, nor ought to do
Save only what Occasion tempts him to,
Shall need the influence of some such Star
As they who mark your motion say you are:
And such a light, whereby to steer my course,
To mee may vsefull be, lest I make worse
(By acting in the dark) what fame I would
Make, rather, to be better, if I could.
Save only what Occasion tempts him to,
Shall need the influence of some such Star
As they who mark your motion say you are:
And such a light, whereby to steer my course,
To mee may vsefull be, lest I make worse
(By acting in the dark) what fame I would
Make, rather, to be better, if I could.
Though, therfor, what I need will seem to be
Declard in vaine, to them who need not mee,
I now adventer to try what successe
God's Providence will give to this adresse,
And am resolved no eie henceforth shall veiwe
This Welcome-Home till it be seen of you,
In hopes 'twill in your sight find so much grace
That you unblamd, at least, will [let] it passe,
Though not approvd; for, if I may beleive
That character which common-fame doth give
Of you, and of that prudent moderation
Wherby you labour to reduce this nation
To better concord, and her wounds as well
Vpon the left side as the right to heale,
(Which doubtles is the nearest way to bring
Content both to the People and the King),
I shall presume that both his interest
And theirs you essay to mannage for the best,
And persevere in acting to that End
Whereto God your advancement did intend,
Which being well performd, He that begun
Vpon the ruines of old Clarendon
To raise your house, will raise it more and higher
Than I dare say, or you ought to desire.
Declard in vaine, to them who need not mee,
I now adventer to try what successe
God's Providence will give to this adresse,
And am resolved no eie henceforth shall veiwe
This Welcome-Home till it be seen of you,
In hopes 'twill in your sight find so much grace
That you unblamd, at least, will [let] it passe,
Though not approvd; for, if I may beleive
That character which common-fame doth give
Of you, and of that prudent moderation
Wherby you labour to reduce this nation
To better concord, and her wounds as well
Vpon the left side as the right to heale,
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Content both to the People and the King),
I shall presume that both his interest
And theirs you essay to mannage for the best,
And persevere in acting to that End
Whereto God your advancement did intend,
Which being well performd, He that begun
Vpon the ruines of old Clarendon
To raise your house, will raise it more and higher
Than I dare say, or you ought to desire.
If This, or I, or ought that may appear
To be in mee (by what is written here)
Shall in your judgment any way conduce
To publick service (or to private use
Not thereunto repugnant), you of those
Are hereby tendered a free dispose,
In order hereunto, without regard
To any selfends, or of more reward
Then opportunities and meanes to do
What conscience of my duties calls mee to.
Which I shall never want, because to mee
Neglects as healpfull as respects will be,
And poverty imbitterd with disgrace,
No lesse than wealth and powre in honor'd place,
Will an assistance bring to cary on
What is of mee required to be done.
To be in mee (by what is written here)
Shall in your judgment any way conduce
To publick service (or to private use
Not thereunto repugnant), you of those
Are hereby tendered a free dispose,
In order hereunto, without regard
To any selfends, or of more reward
Then opportunities and meanes to do
What conscience of my duties calls mee to.
Which I shall never want, because to mee
Neglects as healpfull as respects will be,
And poverty imbitterd with disgrace,
No lesse than wealth and powre in honor'd place,
Will an assistance bring to cary on
What is of mee required to be done.
To add more will be needles; for the wise
Cann make good use of that which Fooles despise,
Or think impertinent. You have on high
A worke to do, and so, belowe, haue I.
Wee are both servants to one God and King,
Although in offices much differing,
And, howsoeuer you shall entertaine
This my Adresse, it will not be in vaine,
For somwhat it hath hinted which doth need
Both your, and my, and evry reader's heed.
I may be someway fitt to be employd,
And by this Nation to be quite destroyd
Deserve not, though to God-ward much to blame.
But, whatsoere I seem, (my Lord), I am
Cann make good use of that which Fooles despise,
Or think impertinent. You have on high
A worke to do, and so, belowe, haue I.
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Although in offices much differing,
And, howsoeuer you shall entertaine
This my Adresse, it will not be in vaine,
For somwhat it hath hinted which doth need
Both your, and my, and evry reader's heed.
I may be someway fitt to be employd,
And by this Nation to be quite destroyd
Deserve not, though to God-ward much to blame.
But, whatsoere I seem, (my Lord), I am
Your honors humble servant, Nec Habeo, nec Careo, nec Curo
Nc ho, nc co, nc co.
A Postscript.
Your servant on your candor so presumesThat since this to your hand in private comes
It shall not (if offensive it may seeme)
Made vse of be to disadvantage him;
For he's as well pleas'd that should be exprest
Which showes what's worst in him, as what is best.
Et, Fiat Voluntas Dei.
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