Now for these prudent things that sit Without end and to none, And their committees, that towns and cities Fill with confusion; For the bold troops of sectaries, The Scots and their partakers, Our new British states, Colonel Burges and his mates, The covenant and its makers; For all these we'll pray, and in such a way As, if it might granted be, Jack and Gill, Matt and Will, And all the world would agree. "A plague take them all!" says Bess; "And a pestilence too!" says Margery: "The devil!" says Dick; "And his dam, too!" says Nick; "Amen! and Amen!" say I. JOAN'S ALE WAS NEW. THERE were six jovial tradesmen, They sat themselves down to be merry, The first that came in was a soldier, And a long broad-sword he drew : He swore he would fight for England's ground, He boldly drank their healths all round, The next that came in was a hatter, Sure no one could be blacker, And he began to chatter, Among the jovial crew : He threw his hat upon the ground, And swore every man should spend his pound, And boldly drank their healths all round, While Joan's ale was new. The next that came in was a dyer, And he sat himself down by the fire, For it was his heart's desire To drink with the jovial crew : He told the landlord to his face The chimney-corner should be his place, The next that came in was a tinker, For his brass nails were made of metal, And he swore he'd go and mend a kettle. Good heart! how his hammer and nails did rattle The next that came in was a tailor, Among the jovial crew : They sat and they called for ale so stout, The next that came in was a ragman, Among the jovial crew. They sat and called for pots and glasses, THE REFORMATION.1 TELL me not of Lords and laws, All that's done not worth two straws If men in power do rant it still, All our expense of blood and purse And will, whate'er comes of it. 1 This has been ascribed to Butler- I believe, without any reason. We've shuffled out and shuffled in And it can never be but so, Since knaves are still in fashion; Crimes are not punished 'cause they're crimes, Make satisfaction to a tittle; Boldly the underlings devour,— Our cobweb laws can't hold 'em ; Brothers still with brothers brawl, For two pronouns that spoil all, The wary lawyer buys and builds, To sacrifice his fury; And, when he thinks to obtain his right, He's baffled off or beaten quite By the judge's will or lawyer's sleight, See the tradesman how he thrives His estate to enlarge and double; Who may with his brother worships sit, And yet are brought before 'em. And his way to get all this No factious lecture does he miss, And scape no schism that's in fashion: Sings wisdom's hymns, that trot and pace But, when Death begins his threats, To call to mind his former cheats, Then at Heaven he turns and juggles : And the suborned priest for his hire Is blown up like a bubble: Who, wondering at's own sudden rise, Falls to his sports, drink, drabs, and dice, And makes all fly like stubble. And the Church, the other twin Is not purified a pin By all those broils in which they engaged us. We our wives turned out of doors, And took in concubines and whores, To make an alteration. Our pulpitors are proud and bold; They their own wills and factions hold, And sell salvation still for gold ; And here's our reformation! 'Tis a madness then to make Since we've possession, not enjoyment. THE SALE OF REBELLION'S HOUSEHOLD STUFF. REBELLION hath broken up house, And hath left me old lumber to sell; Will you buy the old Speaker's chair? Says old Simon the King, With his ale-dropped hose, and his Malmsey nose, Sing, hey ding, ding-a-ding, ding. Will you buy any bacon flitches, They're the sides of the old committees Here's a pair of bellows and tongs, And for a small matter I'll sell ye 'em ; They are made of the presbyter's lungs, I had thought to have given them once They are consecrate to the Church. Says old Simon, &c. Here's a couple of stools for sale, One's square, and t'other is round; |