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Some for the Gospel, and massacres

Of spiritual Affidavit-makers,
That swore to any human regence

Oaths of supremacy and allegiance,

Yea, though the ablest swearing Saint
That vouch'd the bulls o' th' Covenant :
Others for pulling down th' high places
Of Synods and Provincial Classes,
That us'd to make such hostile inroads
Upon the Saints, like bloody Nimrods:
Some for fulfilling Prophecies,
And th' extirpation of th' Excise ;

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And some against th' Egyptian bondage
Of Holy-days and paying Poundage:

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Some for the cutting down of Groves,
And rectifying bakers' Loaves;
And some for finding out expedients

Against the slav'ry of Obedience :

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Some were for Gospel-ministers,

And some for Red-coat Seculars,

As men most fit t' hold forth the Word,
And wield the one and th' other sword:

Some were for carrying on the Work
Against the Pope, and some the Turk;

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Some for engaging to suppress

The camisado of Surplices,

That Gifts and dispensations hinder'd,

And turn'd to th' outward man the inward; 300

More proper for the cloudy night

Of Popery than Gospel-light:

Others were for abolishing

That tool of matrimony, a Ring,

With which th' unsanctify'd bridegroom 305

Is marry'd only to a thumb

(As wise as ringing of a pig,

That us'd to break up ground, and dig),

The bride to nothing but her will,

That nulls the after-marriage still :

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Some were for the utter extirpation

Of Linsey-woolsey in the nation;
And some against all adolising

The Cross in shop-books, or Baptising:

Others, to make all things recant

The Christian or Surname of Saint,

And force all churches, streets, and towns,

The holy title to renounce :

Some 'gainst a third estate of Souls,

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And bringing down the price of Coals:

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Some for abolishing Black-pudding,

And eating nothing with the blood in ;
To abrogate them roots and branches,
While others were for eating Haunches
Of warriours, and, now and then,
The Flesh of kings and mighty men ;
And some for breaking of their Bones
With rods of ir'n by secret ones ;
For thrashing mountains, and with spells
For hallowing carriers' packs and bells;
Things that the legend never heard of,
But made the Wicked sore afeard of.

The quacks of government (who sate

At th' unregarded helm of State,

And understood this wild confusion

Of fatal madness and delusion,

Must, sooner than a prodigy,

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Portend destruction to be nigh)

Consider'd timely how t' withdraw,

And save their windpipes from the law;

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For one rencounter at the bar

Was worse than all they'ad 'scap'd in war;

And therefore met in consultation

To cant and quack upon the nation ;

Not for the sickly patient's sake,

Nor what to give, but what to take ;
To feel the pulses of their fees,
More wise than fumbling arteries;
Prolong the snuff of life in pain,
And from the grave recover-gain.
'Mong these there was a politician
With more heads than a beast in vision,

And more intrigues in ev'ry one
Than all the Whores of Babylon;

So politic as if one eye

Upon the other were a spy,

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anfory ache Earl of Shaftsbury

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For by trepanning th' old to ruin,

He made his int'rest with the new one;
Play'd true and faithful, though against
His conscience, and was still advanc'd :

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Could turn his word, and oath, and faith,

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As many ways as in a lath;

By turning, wriggle, like a screw,

Int' highest trust, and out, for new :

For when h' had happily incurr'd,

Instead of hemp, to be preferr'd,

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And pass'd upon a government,

He play'd his trick, and out he went:

But being out, and out of hopes

To mount his ladder (more) of ropes,

Would strive to raise himself upon

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The public ruin and his own;

So little did he understand

The desp'rate feats he took in hand;

For when h' had got himself a name

For frauds and tricks, he spoil'd his game,

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Had forc'd his neck into a noose,

To shew his play at fast and loose;

VOL. II.

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