12 The revival of Loyalty in public spirit. The clouds dispers'd, and drove away Despair, Princes are God's Anoynted, and the Crown, All Officers, whether of Sword or Gown, Are sworn t' uphold the Rights of England's Crown; How can we judge of this but as a Plot Whitens the Negro, makes the sound man lame. "A Prince o' th' Bloud is a regardless thing! It once hath been admir'd in that bright Prince, [In White-letter: as re-issued in 1685.] 30 40 50 60 Attempts have been made in more modern days to annul or degrade the Oath of Allegiance, which is here so emphatically mentioned. These attempts have hitherto failed, and long may they do so. We give three poems, probably by distinct authors, which must have powerfully influenced public opinion in March, 1681. The broadside version of the earliest of the three poems is entitled A Dialogue between the Ghosts of the Two Last Parliaments, at their late interview: which title we reserve for the two later portions. [Bagford Collection, III. 40.] The Ghost of the Old House of Commons to the New Dne, appointed to meet at Oxford, 168%. [=The Westminster's Ghost's Advice.] FROM ROM deepest Dungeons of Eternal Night, I have been sent to tell your tender Youth A seasonable and important Truth. I feel (but Oh! too late) that no disease And, of all other, the most tempting things 5 Are too much Wealth and too indulgent Kings. But by Degrees, with industry and skill: 10 And some, whose meaning hath at first been fair, Grow Knaves by use and Rebels by despair. Keep the first Blossoms from the blast of Sin; Did first my mind from true Obedience draw, 15 20 I chang'd true Freedom for the Name of Free, All that oppos'd me were to be accus'd, And by the Laws illegally abus'd.1 The Robe was summon'd, M[aynar]d in the head,2 25 1 In some copies this is printed " And by the Law I Legally abus'd." I=Aye. 2 Sir John Maynard, born 1602, and survived until 1690. A serviceable man to any ruthless faction who desired their victims to be slaughtered: he had successfully managed the condemnation of Wentworth Earl of Strafford in 1649, of Archbishop Laud in 1644, and of William Viscount Stafford in 1680. The innocence of each was of no account, so long as a show of legality could be made and their heads removed. Truly is it said of Maynard, "in legal murder none was so deeply read," and none so willing to ensure its perpetration. 14 Westminster-Parliament Ghost's Advice. I brought him to the Bar, where once he stood Of the brave Strafford, when three kingdoms rung 30 Pris'ners and Witnesses were waiting by, These had been taught to swear, and those to dye, Burnet] and O[ates] employ'd the Reverend Gown. 35 The King's Three Crowns were their rebellious aim. [Sir Patience W., Slingsby B. And took for mine the B[ethels] and the W[ards]: 40 All that this happy Island could afford [=Shaftesbury. 45 50 He had excepted by a strict Decree; A Sacred Tree, which Royal Fruit did bear, 55 I could attempt, and he endure no more. If [By Wentworth Dillon, Earl of Roscommon.] 60 65 Roscommon's utterance was prophetic, and more speedily fulfilled than even the prophet himself could have expected. But the time was urgent, every unnecessary day's delay increased the danger, and two considerations hurried on the swift Dissolution. In the first place, the Commons by their uncompromising arrogance showed unmistakeably that no service to the King or country could possibly be done by them their irreconcileable hostility was displayed from their very entrance, with armed supporters, proud looks, and threatening words or gestures, as of men desirous to begin a revolt. Secondly, though they knew not this, the King had obtained certain intelligence of the fresh secret subsidy given to him by Louis XIV., and therefore not even the precarious chance of supplies being granted to him by the Commons was any longer of an importance sufficient to out-balance the danger of their longer sitting to work mischief with Exclusion, or perversion of evidence against the Court in the case of Fitz-Harris. These three preceding poems form useful examples of the steadied Loyal spirit that was again pervading political society of the better class, at the date when the Oxford Parliament was summoned. Faction had been busy and clamorous, looking for certain victory. But it counted its chickens before they were hatched, and most of them were addled. How well people understood that the Exclusion of James from succession to the throne was the "one thing forbidden them, one thing and no more," is shown in the following poem, as Answer to Wentworth Dillon's Ghost of the Westminster Parliament: [Bagford Collection, III. 40; Luttrell Coll., II. 162.] A Dialogue Between the Ghosts of the Two Last Parliaments, at their late Interview,' -Fuimus Troes. Nitimur in vetitum.2 Oxford Ghost. [After the speedy Dissolution of the Oxford Parliament, March, 168f.] H Ail, great Prophetick Spirit! who could see Through the dark glass of ripening time, what we Too true have found, and now too late complain, That thou, great Spirit, shou'dst foretell in vain ; Had we been modestly and timely wise. "Free may you range," said'st thou, "through every Field, And what else more luxurious Gardens yield Is thine; what e're may please, what e're delight 10 Of all the plenty of so vast a Store One thing forbidden is, one [thing] and no more. By late and sad Experience of what's past, Probatum est, ipse Dixit: Do not taste! Swift Ruine's there, and sure Destruction." How great a Truth, had it in time been known! 16 This was the broadside-title employed when the three Ghostly addresses were reprinted. D.M. (David Mallet), London, issued a broadside, entitled "Great News from Westminster; or, A Congratulation upon the happy Assembling of the Lords and Commons in PARLIAMENT, according to his Majesties Prorogation of the 16th of this instant January," 1638. It begins thus: All haile, great Isle ! still may thy Fame increase, Since thy great Councils, who have rais'd thy name 2 Fuimus Troes; fuit Ilium, et ingens Gloria Teucrorum.-Æneis, ii. 325. (Luttrell Collection, II. 149.) Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimusque negata.—Ovid. Amor. iii. 4. |