From the Loyal Garland, 1686. Reprinted for the Percy Society, and edited by J. O. Halliwell.
Room for a gamester that plays at all he sees,
Whose fickle fancy suits such times as these,
One that says Amen to every factious prayer,
From Hugh Peters’ pulpit to St Peter’s chair;
One that doth defy the Crozier and the Crown,
But yet can house with blades that carouse,
Whilst pottle pots tumble down, derry down,
One that can comply with surplice and with cloak,
Yet for his end can independ
Whilst Presbyterian broke Brittain’s yoke.
This is the way to trample without trembling,
’Tis the sycophant’s only secure.
Covenants and oaths are badges of dissembling,
’Tis the politick pulls down the pure.
To profess and betray, to plunder and pray,
Is the only ready way to be great;
Flattery doth the feat;
Ne’er go, ne’er stir, sir—will venture further
Than the greatest dons in the town,
From a coffer to a crown.
I’m in a temperate humour now to think well,
Now I’m in another humour for to drink well,
Then fill us up a beer-bowl, boys, that we
May drink it, drink it merrily;
No knavish spy shall understand,
For, if it should be known,
’Tis ten to one we shall be trepanned.
I’ll drink to them a brace of quarts,
Whose anagram is call’d true hearts;
If all were well, as I would ha’t,
And Britain cured of its tumour,
I should very well like my fate,
And drink my sack at a cheaper rate,
Without any noise or rumour,
Oh then I should fix my humour.
But since ’tis no such matter, change your hue,
I may cog and flatter, so may you;
Religion is a widgeon, and reason is treason,
And he that hath a loyal heart may bid the world adieu.
We must be like the Scottish man,
Who, with intent to beat down schism,
Brought in the Presbyterian
With canon and with catechism.
If beuk wont do’t, then Jockey shoot,
For the Church of Scotland doth command;
And what hath been since they came in
I think we have cause to understand.
THE SOLDIER’S DELIGHT.
(Made in the late times.)
From the Loyal Garland, 1686. Reprinted for the Percy Society, and edited by J. O. Halliwell.