HE power of princes rests in the consent
Of only those who are obedient;
Which if away, proud sceptres then will lie Low, and of thrones the ancient majesty.
TO THE KING ON HIS COMING WITH AN ARMY INTO THE WEST.
ELCOME, most welcome to our vows and us,
Most great and universal Genius!
The drooping West, which hitherto has stood As one in long-lamented widowhood,
Looks like a bride now, or a bed of flowers,
Newly refresh'd both by the sun and showers;
War, which before was horrid, now appears
Lovely in you, brave Prince of Cavaliers!
A deal of courage in each bosom springs
By your access, O you the best of kings!
Ride on with all white omens, so that where
Your standard's up, we fix a conquest there.
Robert Herrick.
KINGS AND TYRANTS.
WIXT kings and tyrants there's this difference known,
Kings seek their subjects' good, tyrants their
TO THE KING, UPON HIS TAKING OF
LEICESTER.
HIS day is yours, great Charles! and in this war
Your fate and ours alike victorious are.
In her white stole now Victory does rest,
Ensphered with palm on your triumphant crest;
Fortune is now your captive; other kings
Hold but her hands; you hold both hands and wings.
THE DOWNFALL OF CHARING CROSS.
NDONE, undone, the lawyers are;
They wander about the town;
Nor can find the way to Westminster,
Now Charing Cross is down:
At the end of the Strand they make a stand,
Swearing they are at a loss,
And chaffing say, that's not the way,
They must go by Charing Cross.
The Parliament to vote it down
Conceived it very fitting,
For fear it should fall, and kill them all
In the house, as they were sitting.
They were told, god-wot, it had a plot,
Which made them so hard-hearted,
To give command it should not stand,
But be taken down and carted.
Men talk of plots: this might have been worse
For anything I know,
Than that Tomkins and Chaloner
Were hang'd for long ago.
Our Parliament did that prevent,
And wisely them defended,
For plots they will discover still,
Before they were intended.
But neither man, woman, nor child,
Will say, I'm confident,
They ever heard it speak one word
Against the Parliament.
An informer swore, it letters bore,
Or else it had been freed;
I'll take, in troth, my Bible oath
It could neither write nor read.
The Committee said, that verily
To Popery it was bent;
For aught I know, it might be so,
For to church it never went.
What with excise, and such device,
The kingdom doth begin
To think you'll leave them ne'er a cross,
Without doors nor within.
Methinks the Common-council should
Of it have taken pity,
'Cause, good old cross, it always stood
So firmly to the city.
Since crosses you so much disdain,
Faith, if I were as you,
For fear the king should rule again,
I'd pull down Tyburn too.
ON THE LOSS OF A GARRISON, MEDITATION.
NOTHER city lost! alas poor King!
Still future griefs from former griefs do spring.
The world's a seat of change; kingdoms and Kings
Though glorious, are but sublunary things.
Crosses and blessings kiss; there's none that be
So happy, but they meet with misery.
He that erewhile sat centered to his throne,
And all did homage unto him alone;
Who did the sceptre of his power display
From pole to pole, while all this rule obey,
From stair to stair now tumbles, tumbles down,
And scarce one pillar doth support his crown.
Town after town, field after field,
This turns, and that perfidiously doth yield:
He's banded on the traitorous thought of those
That, Janus like, look to him and his foes.
In vain are bulwarks, and the strongest hold,
If the besieger's bullets are of gold.
My soul, be not dejected; would'st thou be
From present trouble or from danger free?
Trust not in rampires, nor the strength of walls,
The town that stands to-day to-morrow falls.
Trust not in soldiers, though they seem so stout;
When sin's within, vain is defence without.
Trust not in wealth, for in this lawless time
Where prey is penalty, there wealth is crime.
Trust not in strength or courage; we all see
The weakest ofttimes do gain the victory.
Trust not in honour, honour's but a blast
Quickly begun, and but a while doth last.
They that to-day to thee Hosanna cry,
To-morrow change their note for Crucify!
Trust not in friends, for friends will soon deceive thee,
They are in nothing sure, but sure to leave thee.
Trust not in wits, who run from place to place
Changing religion as chance does her face;
In spite of cunning, and their strength of brain,
They're often catch, and all their plots are vain.
Trust not in council; potentates or kings
All are but frail and transitory things.
Since neither soldiers, castles, wealth or wit,
Can keep off harm from thee, or thee from it:
Since neither strength nor honour, friends nor lords,
Nor princes, peace or happiness affords,
Trust thou in God, ply Him with prayers still,
Be sure of help; for He both can and will.
THE COMMONERS.
(Written in 1645.)
OME your ways,
Bonny boys
Of the town,
is your time or never.
Shall your fears
Or your cares
Cast you down?
Hang your wealth
And your health
Get renown,
We are all undone for ever.
Now the King and the Crown
Are tumbling down,
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