To the Gent.] You'll excuse me, if I don't know your Name and Title.
Gent. Sir Polydorus Hogstye, of Beast-Hall in Swine-County.
Esop. Very well.
May it please your Majesty; Polydorus Hogstye, of Beast-hall in Swine-County, most humbly represents, That he hates to pay Taxes, the dreadful Consequences of 'em being inevitably these, That he must retrench two Dishes in ten, where not above six of 'em are design'd for Gluttony.
Four Bottles out of twenty; where not above fifteen of 'em are for Drunkenness.
Six Horses out of thirty; of which not above twenty are kept for State.
And four Servants out of a Score; where one half do nothing but make Work for t'other.
To this deplorable Condition must your important Subject be reduc'd, or forc'd to cut down his Timber, which he wou'd willingly persevere against an ill run at Dice.
And as to the Necessity of the War for the Security of the Kingdom, he neither knows nor cares whether it be necessary or not.