Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684 Part 14

Cheare up, kind countrymen, be not dismay'd, True news I can tell ye concerning the nation; Hot spirits are quench'd, the tempest is layd, (And now we may hope for a good reformation).

The Parliament bold and the counsell of state Doe wish them beyond sea, or else at Virginie; For now all their orders are quite out of date, Twelve Parliament men shall be sold for peny.

Full twelve years and more these rooks they have sat, To gull and to cozen all true-hearted people; Our gold and our silver has made them so fat, That they lookt more big and mighty than Paul's steeple.

The freedome of subject they much did pretend, But since they bore sway we never had any; For every member promoted self-end, Twelve Parliament men are now sold for one peny.

Their acts and their orders which they have contrived, Was still in conclusion to multiply riches: The Common-wealth sweetly by these men have thrived, As Lancas.h.i.+re did with the juncto of witches. (38) Oh! our freedome was chain'd to the Egyptian yoak, As it hath been felt and endured by many, Still making religion their author and cloak, Twelve Parliament men shall be sold for a peny.

Both citie and countrey are almost undone By these caterpillars, which swarm'd in the nation; Their imps and their goblins did up and downe run, Excise-men, I meane, all knaves of a fas.h.i.+on: For all the great treasure that dayly came in, The souldier wants pay, 'tis well knowne by a many; To cheat and to cozen they held it no sinne, Twelve Parliament men shall be sold for a peny.

The land and the livings which these men have had, 'Twould make one admire what use they've made of it, With plate and with jewels they have bin well clad, The souldier fared hard whilst they got the profit.

Our gold and our silver to Holland they sent, But being found out, this is knowne by a many, That no one would owne it for feare of a shent, Twelve Parliament men are sold for a peny.

'Tis judged by most people that they were the cause Of England and Holland, their warring together, (39) Both friends and dear lovers to break civill lawes, And in cruell manner to kill one another.

What cared they how many did lose their dear lives, So they by the bargain did get people's money, Sitting secure like bees in their hives?

But twelve Parliament men are now sold for a peny.

THE SECOND PART

To the same tune.

They voted, unvoted, as fancy did guide, To pa.s.se away time, but increasing their treasure (When Jack is on c.o.c.k-horse hee'l galloping ride, But falling at last, hee'l repent it at leisure).

The widow, the fatherlesse, gentry and poore, The tradesman and citizen, with a great many, Have suffer'd full dearly to heap up their store; But twelve Parliament men shall be sold for a peny.

These burdens and grievances England hath felt, So long and so heavy, our hearts are e'en broken, Our plate, gold and silver, to themselves they've dealt (All this is too true, in good time be it spoken).

For a man to rise high and at last to fall low, It is a discredit: this lot fals to many, But 'tis no great matter these men to serve so, Twelve Parliament men now are sold for a peny.

The generall (40) perceiving their l.u.s.tfull desire To covet more treasure, being puft with ambition, By their acts and their orders to set all on fire, Pretending religion to rout superst.i.tion: He bravely commanded the souldiers to goe In the Parliament-house, in defiance of any; To which they consented, and now you doe know That twelve Parliament men may be sold for a peny.

The souldiers undaunted laid hold on the mace, And out of the chaire they removed the speaker: The great ones was then in a pittifull case, And Tavee cryd out, All her cold must forsake her. (41) Thus they were routed, pluckt out by the eares, The House was soone empty and rid of a many Usurpers, that sate there this thirteen long yeares; Twelve Parliament men may be sold for a peny.

To the Tower of London away they were sent, As they have sent others by them captivated; Oh what will become of this old Parliament And all their compeers, that were royally stated.

What they have deserved I wish they may have, And 'tis the desire I know of a many; For us to have freedome, oh that will be brave!

But twelve Parliament men may be sold for a peny.

Let's pray for the generall and all his brave traine, He may be an instrument for England's blessing, Appointed in heaven to free us againe, - For this is the way of our burdens redressing: For England to be in glory once more, It would satisfy, I know, a great many; But ending I say, as I said before, Twelve Parliament men now are sold for a peny.

Ballad: A Christmas Song When The Rump Was First Dissolved

From the King's Pamphlets, British Museum. The Rump Parliament, in an excess of Puritanic acerbity, had abolished the observance of Christmas, and forbidden the eating of puddings and pies, as savouring of Popery.

Tune - "I tell thee, d.i.c.k."

This Christmas time 'tis fit that we Should feast, and sing, and merry be.

It is a time of mirth; For never since the world began More joyful news was brought to man Than at our Saviour's birth.

But such have been these times of late, That holidays are out of date, And holiness to boot; For they that do despise and scorn To keep the day that Christ was born, Want holiness no doubt.

That Parliament that took away The observation of that day, We know it was not free; For if it had, such acts as those Had ne'er been seen in verse or prose, You may conclude with me.

'Twas that a.s.sembly did maintain 'Twas law to kill their sovereign, Who by that law must die; Though G.o.d's anointed ones are such, Which subjects should not dare to touch, Much less to crucify.

'Twas that which turn'd our bishops out Of house and home, both branch and root, And gave no reason why; And all our clergy did expel, That would not do like that rebel - This no man can deny.

It was that Parliament that took Out of our churches our SERVICE BOOK, A book without compare; And made G.o.d's house (to all our griefs), That house of prayer, a den of thiefs'

Both here and everywhere.

They had no head for many years, Nor heart (I mean the House of Peers), And yet it did not die; Of these long since it was bereft, And nothing but the tail was left, You know as well as I.

And in this tail was a tongue, Lenthal (42) I mean, whose fame hath rung In country and in city; Not for his worth or eloquence, But for a rebel to his prince, And neither wise nor witty.

This Speaker's words must needs be wind, Since they proceeded from behind; Besides, you way remember, From thence no act could be discreet, Nor could the sense o' the House be sweet Where Atkins was a member.

This tale's now done, the Speaker's dumb, Thanks to the trumpet and the drum; And now I hope to see A Parliament that will restore All things that were undone before, That we may Christians be.

Ballad: A Free Parliament Litany

From the King's Pamphlets, British Museum. - (A. D. 1655.) To the tune of "An Old Courtier of the Queen's."

More ballads! - here's a spick and span new supplication, By order of a Committee for the Reformation, To be read in all churches and chapels of this nation, Upon pain of slavery and sequestration.

From fools and knaves in our Parliament free, LIBERA NOS, DOMINE.

From those that ha' more religion and less conscience than their fellows; From a representative that's fearful and zealous; From a starting jadish people that is troubled with the yellows, And a priest that blows the coal (a crack in his bellows); From fools and knaves, etc.

From shepherds that lead their flocks into the briars, And then fleece 'em; from vow-breakers and king-tryers; Of Church and Crown lands, from both sellers and buyers; From the children of him that is the father of liars; From fools and knaves, etc.

From the doctrine and discipline of NOW AND ANON, Preserve us and our wives from John T. and Saint John, Like master like man, every way but one, - The master has a large conscience, and the man has none; From fools and knaves, etc.

From major-generals, army officers, and that phanatique crew; From the parboil'd pimp Scot, and from Good-face the Jew; From old Mildmay, that in Cheapside mistook his queu, And from him that won't pledge - Give the devil his due; From fools and knaves, etc.

From long-winded speeches, and not a wise word; From a gospel ministry settled by the sword; From the act of a Rump, that stinks when 'tis stirr'd; From a knight of the post, and a cobbling lord; From fools and knaves, etc.

From all the rich people that ha' made us poor; From a Speaker that creeps to the House by a back-door; From that badger, Robinson (that limps and bites sore); And that dog in a doublet, Arthur - that will do so no more; From fools and knaves, etc.

From a certain sly knave with a beastly name; From a Parliament that's wild, and a people that's tame; From Skippon, t.i.tchbourne, Ireton, - and another of the same; From a dung-hill c.o.c.k, and a hen of the game; From fools and knaves, etc.

From all those that sat in the High Court of Justice; From usurpers that style themselves the people's trustees; From an old Rump, in which neither profit nor gust is, And from the recovery of that which now in the dust is; From fools and knaves, etc.