THE CITIES LOYALTIE TO THE KING.
(Aug. 13th, 1647.)
The city of London made several demonstrations this year to support the Presbyterian party in the Parliament against the Independents and the army. In the latter end of September, after the army had marched to London, and the Parliament acted under its influence, the lord mayor and a large part of the aldermen were committed to the Tower on the charge of high treason; and a new mayor for the rest of the year was appointed by the Parliament.
To the tune of “London is a fine town and a gallant city.”
Why kept your train-bands such a stirre?
Why sent you them by clusters?
Then went into Saint James’s Parke?
Why took you then their musters?
Why rode my Lord up Fleet-street
With coaches at least twenty,
And fill’d they say with aldermen,
As good they had been empty?
London is a brave towne,
Yet I their cases pitty;
Their mayor and some few aldermen
Have cleane undone the city.
The ’prentices are gallant blades,
And to the king are clifty;
But the lord mayor and aldermen
Are scarce so wise as thrifty.
I’le pay for the apprentices,
They to the King were hearty;
For they have done all that they can
To advance their soveraignes party.
London, etc.
What’s now become of your brave Poyntz?
And of your Generall Massey? [29]
If you petition for a peace,
These gallants they will slash yee.
Where now are your reformadoes?
To Scotland gone together:
’Twere better they were fairly trusst
Then they should bring them thither.
London, etc.
But if your aldermen were false,
Or Glyn, that’s your recorder! [30]
Let them never betray you more,
But hang them up in order.
All these men may be coach’t as well
As any other sinner
Up Holborne, and ride forwarde still,
To Tyburne to their dinner.
London, &c.
God send the valiant General may
Restore the King to glory! [31]
Then that name I have honour’d so
Will famous be in story;
While if he doe not, I much feare
The ruine of the nation,
And (that I should be loth to see)
His house’s desolation.
London, etc.
THE LAWYERS’ LAMENTATION FOR THE LOSS OF CHARING-CROSS.
From a Collection of Loyal Songs, 1610 to 1660.
Undone! undone! the lawyers cry,
They ramble up and down;
We know not the way to Westminster
Now Charing-Cross is down.
Now fare thee well, old Charing-Cross,
Then fare thee well, old stump;
It was a thing set up by a King,
And so pull’d down by the Rump.
And when they came to the bottom of the Strand
They were all at a loss:
This is not the way to Westminster,
We must go by Charing-Cross.
Then fare thee well, etc.
The Parliament did vote it down
As a thing they thought most fitting,
For fear it should fall, and so kill ’em all
In the House as they were sitting.
Then fare thee well, etc.
Some letters about this Cross were found,
Or else it might been freed;
But I dare say, and safely swear,
It could neither write nor read.
Then fare thee well, etc.
The Whigs they do affirm and say
To Popery it was bent;
For what I know it might be so,
For to church it never went,
Then fare thee well, etc.
This cursed Rump-Rebellious Crew,
They were so damn’d hard-hearted;
They pass’d a vote that Charing-Cross
Should be taken down and carted:
Then fare thee well, etc.
Now, Whigs, I would advise you all,
’Tis what I’d have you do;
For fear the King should come again,
Pray pull down Tyburn too.
Then fare thee well, etc.