The Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684

by Unknown

THE LOYAL SUBJECTS’ HEARTY WISHES TO KING CHARLES II.

From Sir W. C. Trevelyan’s Broadsides in the British Museum.

He that write these verses certainly
Did serve his royal father faithfully,
Likewise himself he served at Worcester fight,
And for his loyalty was put to flight.

But had he a haid of hair like Absolom,
And every hair as strong as was Samson,
I’d venture all for Charles the Second’s sake,
And for his Majesty my life forsake.

To the tune “When Cannons are roaring.”

FIRST PART.

True subjects, all rejoice
After long sadness,
And now with heart and voice
Show forth your gladness.
That to King Charles were true
And rebels hated,
This song only to you
Is dedicated;
For Charles our sovereign dear
Is safe returned
True subjects’ hearts to cheer,
That long have mourned:
Then let us give God praise
That doth defend him,
And pray with heart and voice,
Angels, attend him.

The dangers he hath past
From vile usurpers
Now bring him joy at last,
Although some lurkers
Did seek his blood to spill
By actions evil;
But God we see is still
Above the Devil:
Though many serpents hiss
Him to devour,
God his defender is
By His strong power:
Then let us give him praise
That doth defend him,
And sing with heart and voice,
Angels, defend him.

The joy that he doth bring,
If true confessed,
The tongues of mortal men
Cannot confess it;
He cures our drooping fears,
Being long tormented,
And his true Cavaliers
Are well contented;
For now the Protestant
Again shall flourish;
The King our nursing father
He will us cherish:
Then let us give God praise
That did defend him,
And sing with heart and voice,
Angels, attend him.

Like Moses, he is meek
And tender-hearted;
And by all means doth seek
To have foes converted;
But, like the Israelites,
There are a number
That for his love to them
’Gainst him doth murmur:
Read Exodus,—’tis true
The Israelites rather
Yield to the Egyptian crew
Than Moses their father:
So many phanaticks,
With hearts disloyal,
Their hearts and minds do fix
’Gainst our King royal.

SECOND PART.

Like holy David, he
Past many troubles,
And by his constancy
His joys redoubles;
For now he doth bear sway
By God appointed,
For Holy Writ doth say,
Touch not mine Anointed.
He is God’s anointed sure,
Who still doth guide him
In all his wayes most pure,
Though some divide him.
Then let us give God praise
That doth defend him,
And sing with heart and voice,
Angels, attend him.

Many there are, we know,
Within this nation,
Lip-love to him do show
In ’simulation;
Of such vile hereticks
There are a number,
Whose hearts and tongues, we know,
Are far asunder;
Some do pray for the King
Being constrained;
Who lately against him
Greatly complained;
They turn both seat and seam
To cheat poor tailors,
But the fit place for them
Is under strong jailors.

Let the King’s foes admire
Who do reject him;
Seeing God doth him inspire,
And still direct him,
To heal those evil sores,
And them to cure
By his most gracious hand
And prayers pure.
Though simple people say
Doctors do as much,
None but our lawful King
Can cure with a touch;
As plainly hath been seen
Since he returned,—
Many have cured been
Which long have mourned.

The poorest wretch that hath
This evil, sure
May have ease from the King
And perfect cure;
His Grace is meek and wise,
Loving and civil,
And to his enemies
Doth good for evil;
For some that were his foes
Were by him healed;
His liberal cause to bless
Is not concealed;
He heals both poor and rich
By God’s great power,
And his most gracious touch
Doth them all cure.

Then blush, you infidels,
That late did scorn him;
And you that did rebel,
Crave pardon of him;
With speed turn a new leaf
For your transgresses;
Hear what the preacher sayes
In Ecclesiastes,—
The Scripture’s true, and shall
Ever be taught;
Curse not the King at all,
No, not in thy thought:
And holy Peter
Two commandments doth bring,—
Is first for to fear God,
And then honour the King.

When that we had no King
To guide the nation,
Opinions up did spring
By toleration;
And many heresies
Were then advanced,
And cruel liberties
By old Noll granted.
Even able ministers
Were not esteemed;
Many false prophets
Good preachers were deemed.
The Church some hated;
A barn, house, or stable
Would serve the Quakers,
With their wicked rabble.

And now for to conclude:
The God of power
Preserve and guide our King
Both day and hour;
That he may rule and reign
Our hearts to cherish;
And on his head, good Lord,
Let his crown flourish.
Let his true subjects sing
With hearts most loyal,
God bless and prosper still
Charles our King royal.
So now let’s give God praise
That doth defend him,
And sing with heart and voice,
Angels defend him.

London, printed for John Andrews, at the White Lion, near Pye-Court.

KING CHARLES THE SECOND’S RESTORATION, 29TH MAY.

Tune, “Where have you been, my lovely sailor bold?”

You brave loyal Churchmen,
That ever stood by the crown,
Have you forgot that noble prince
Great Charles of high renown,
That from his rights was banish’d
By Presbyterians, who
Most cruelty his father kill’d?—
O cursed, damned crew!
So let the bells in steeples ring,
And music sweetly play,
That loyal Tories mayn’t forget
The twenty-ninth of May.

Twelve years was he banish’d
From what was his just due,
And forced to hide in fields and woods
From Presbyterian crew;
But God did preserve him,
As plainly you do see,
The blood-hounds did surround the oak
While he was in the tree.
So let, etc.

As Providence would have it,
The hounds did lose their scent;
To spill the blood of this brave prince
It was their whole intent.
While that he was in exile,
The Church they pull’d down,
The Common-prayer they burnt, sir,
And trampled on the crown.
So let, etc.

They plunder’d at their pleasure,
On lords’ estates they seiz’d,
The bishops they did send away,
They did just as they pleas’d.
But General Monk at last rose up,
With valiant heart so bold,
Saying, that he no longer
By them would be controul’d.
So let, etc.

So in great splendour
At last he did bring in,
Unto every Torie’s joy,
Great Charles our sovereign.
Then loyal hearts so merry
The royal oak did wear,
While balconies with tapestry hung—
Nothing but joy was there.
So let, etc.

The conduits they with wine did run,
The bonfires did blaze,
In every street likewise the skies
Did ring with loud huzzas,—
Saying, God bless our sovereign,
And send him long to reign,
Hoping the P—n crew
May never rule again.
So let, etc.

Soon as great Charles
Our royal King was crown’d,
He built the Church up again,
The meetings were pull’d down.
No canting then was in the land,
The subjects were at peace,
The Church again did flourish,
And joy did then increase.
So let, etc.

The cursed Presbyterian crew
Was then put to the flight,
Some did fly by day,
And others run by night.
In barns and stables they did cant,
And every place they could;
He made them remember
The spilling royal blood.
So let, etc.

May God for ever
Bless the Church and Crown,
And never let any subject strive
The King for to dethrone.
May Churchmen ever flourish,
And peace increase again;
God for ever bless the King,
And send him long to reign.
So let, etc.

THE JUBILEE,
OR
THE CORONATION DAY.

From Thomas Jordan’s “Royal Arbor of Loyal Poesie,” 12mo, 1664. Mr Chappell states—“As this consists of only two stanzas, and the copy of the book, which is now in the possession of Mr Payne Collier, is probably unique, they are here subjoined.”

Let every man with tongue and pen
Rejoice that Charles is come agen,
To gain his sceptre and his throne,
And give to every man his own;
Let all men that be
Together agree,
And freely now express their joy;
Let your sweetest voices bring
Pleasant songs unto the King,
To crown his Coronation Day.

All that do thread on English earth
Shall live in freedom, peace, and mirth;
The golden times are come that we
Did one day think we ne’er should see;
Protector and Rump
Did put us in a dump,
When they their colours did display;
But the time is come about,
We are in, and they are out,
By King Charles his Coronation Day.

THE KING ENJOYS HIS OWN AGAIN.

(1661.)—From Hogg’s Jacobite Relics.

Whigs are now such precious things,
We see there’s not one to be found;
All roar “God bless and save the King!”
And his health goes briskly all day round.
To the soldier, cap in hand, the sneaking rascals stand,
And would put in for honest men;
But the King he well knows his friends from his foes,
And now he enjoys his own again.

From this plot’s first taking air,
Like lightning all the Whigs have run;
Nay, they’ve left their topping square,
To march off with our eldest son:
They’ve left their ’states and wives to save their precious lives,
Yet who can blame their flying, when
’Twas plain to them all, the great and the small,
That the King would have his own again?

This may chance a warning be
(If e’er the saints will warning take)
To leave off hatching villany,
Since they’ve seen their brother at the stake:
And more must mounted be (which God grant we may see),
Since juries now are honest men:
And the King lets them swing with a hey ding a ding,
Great James enjoys his own again.

Since they have voted that his Guards
A nuisance were, which now they find,
Since they stand between the King
And the treason that such dogs design’d;
’Tis they will you maul, though it cost them a fall,
In spight of your most mighty men;
For now they are alarm’d, and all Loyalists well arm’d,
Since the King enjoys his own again.

To the King, come, bumpers round,
Let’s drink, my boys, while life doth last:
He that at the core’s not sound
Shall be kick’d out without a taste.
We’ll fear no disgrace, but look traitors in the face,
Since we’re case-harden’d, honest men;
Which makes their crew mad, but us loyal hearts full glad,
That the King enjoys his own again.