Round-bellied, for a dignity designed.
Two marked circumstances of resemblance conclude the inuendo,—his noble birth, and superficial learning;
But little learning needs in noble blood.[273]
It may be doubted, whether the reverend father was highly pleased with this sarcastic description, or whether he admitted readily the apology, that the poet, speaking in the character of the heretical church, was obliged to use Protestant colouring.
The close correspondence of the fable with the real events may be farther traced, and admit of yet more minute illustration:
The Raven, from the withered oak,
Left of their lodging,——
may be conjectured to mean Tennison, within whose parish Whitehall was situated, and who stood in the front of battle during all the Roman Catholic controversy. As Petre is the Martin who persuaded the Catholics not to leave the kingdom, his preparations for maintaining their ground there are also noticed:
He ordered all things with a busy care,
And cells and refectories did prepare,