The Works of Capt. Alex. Radcliffe In one Volume ... The Third Edition Augmented [by Alexander Radcliffe] |
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The Narrative.
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 | The Works of Capt. Alex. Radcliffe |  |
52
The Narrative.
I
Come prick up your Ears, if they are not gone,For this Deponent hath lost his own;
His Neck goes next 'tis forty to one,
Which no body can deny.
II
Now this Deponent doth depose,That he was once one of the Kings Foes,
But now he thanks God he's none of those:
Sure our Deponent will lie.
III
He swears that once there was Harry the Eighth,53
And that he cut off anothers Pate,
Which no body can deny.
IV
Even so (quoth he) I can witness bring,That the Q--- did consent to the death of the K---
But we are inform'd there was no such thing;
For our Deponent will lie.
V
He swears that before the Tower of BabelKain knock'd out the Brains of his Brother Abel;
Here he swears to a Truth and not to a Fable;
Which no body can deny.
VI
Even so (quoth he) some bloudy work54
But His Highness is neither a Jew nor a Turk
For our Deponent will lie.
VII
He swears that once in Noah's time,There was a great Floud that brought a great Stream,
And all were drown'd that cou'd not swim;
Which no body can deny.
VIII
And now (God bless us) we're all in a fright,For we had like t'have been ruin'd quite,
Our Throats should all have been cut in the night;
But our Deponent will lie.
IX
Further he swears that S. Peter from Heav'n,55
That whom he pleas'd were condemn'd or forgiven,
Which no body can deny.
X
Even so (saith he) Commissions went outFrom the Pope to raise both Horse and Foot,
That whom he pleas'd he might slash and cut;
But our Deponent will lie.
XI
Some where or other S. Paul does aver,That an Oath puts an end to all bustle and stir,
By which he confirms it is lawful to swear;
Which no body can deny.
XII
There was foolish swearing in former days,56
For 'has made more mischief than ever there was,
For our Deponent will lie.
| The Works of Capt. Alex. Radcliffe | |