[32.] I consume my mother that bare me, I eat my nurse that fed me, then I dye leaving all blind that saw me.

Solution. Meant of the flame of a Candle, which having consumed both wax and weeke, goeth out leaving them in the dark that saw by it.

The following shows the extent to which political satire can be carried, and its wit and rarity must be my apology for introducing it:—

The PARLIAMENTS X Commandements

  1. [79.]Thou shalt have no other Gods but the LORDS and COMMONS assembled at Westminster.
  2. Thou shalt not make any Addresses to the King, nor yeeld obedience to any of his Commands; neither shalt thou weare any Image either of him or his Posterity; thou shalt not bow down unto him, nor Worship him, for Wee are jealous Gods, and will visite such sinnes unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate us, and will not observe our Votes, Orders, and Ordinances.
  3. Thou shalt not take the Names of Us, your GODS in vaine, for we cannot hold you guiltlesse that take our Names in vaine.
  4. Remember that thou keep holy the Fast Day, for that is Our Sabbath; in it thou shalt doe no manner of Work, for we have blessed that Day, and hallowed it.
  5. Thou shalt neither yeeld Honor nor Obedience to the King (thy Countries Father) or thy Naturall Father or Mother, so Wee will make thy dayes long in the lands which we shall take from the ungodly and wicked ones, to bestow upon thee.
  6. Thou shalt Remove the Wicked One from his Throne, and his Posterity from off the face of the Earth.
  7. Thou shalt edify the Sisters, and abundantly increase and multiply the Saints.
  8. Thou shalt get all thou canst; part from nothing; doe no right, take no rong, neither pay any Debts.
  9. Thou shalt be a Witness for us, against whomsoever we judge to be Wicked, that so We may cut them off, that the Saints may enjoy abundance of all things.
  10. Thou shalt enjoy thy Neighbours House, his Wife, his Servant, his Maid, his Oxe, or his Asse, or any thing that belongs unto him; Provided he first be Voted (by US) to be a wicked or ungodly Person.

All these Commandements Wee require you, and every of you with all diligence to observe; and We your LORDS and GODS will incline your hearts to keepe the Same.

The Parliaments PATER NOSTER.

Our Fathers, which think your Houses of Parliament to be heaven; you would be honoured as GODS, because CHARLES his Kingdome is come unto you; your wills must be done on earth, as unto the God of heaven; you have gotten the day, and dispose of our daily bread; you will not forgive any, neither must you look to be forgiven; you lead us into rebellion and all other mischiefs, but cannot deliver us from evil. Yours is the Kingdom, the power and glory, Parliament everlasting. Amen.

The ARTICLES of the FAITH.

I Beleeve in CROMWELL, the Father of all Schisme, Sedition, Heresy and Rebellion, and in his onely Son Ireton, our Saviour, begotten by the Spirit in a hole, borne of a winching Mare, suffered under a house of Office at Brainford, he deserves to be drawn, hang'd and quartered, and to remain unburied: for he descended into Hull, the third day he rose up in Rebellion against his KING, and now sitteth at the right hand of the gods at Westminster. He beleeves there is no Holy Ghost, nor Catholique Church, nor forgiveness of sins, but the Communion of the Sisters, the resurrection of his Members, and Parliament everlasting. AMEN.