A SPEECH AGAINST PEACE AT THE CLOSE COMMITTEE.

To the tune of, ‘I went from England.’

1 But will you now to peace incline,
   And languish in the main design,
       And leave us in the lurch? 
   I would not monarchy destroy,
   But as the only way t’enjoy
       The ruin of the church.

2 Is not the Bishops’ bill denied,
   And we still threaten’d to be tried? 
       You see the King embraces
   Those counsels he approved before: 
   Nor doth he promise, which is more,
       That we shall have their places.

3 Did I for this bring in the Scot? 
   (For ’tis no secret now) the plot
       Was Saye’s and mine together;
   Did I for this return again,
   And spend a winter there in vain,
       Once more t’invite them hither?

4 Though more our money than our cause
   Their brotherly assistance draws,
       My labour was not lost. 
   At my return I brought you thence
   Necessity, their strong pretence,
       And these shall quit the cost.

5 Did I for this my country bring
   To help their knight against their King,
       And raise the first sedition? 
   Though I the business did decline,
   Yet I contrived the whole design,
       And sent them their petition.

6 So many nights spent in the City
   In that invisible Committee,
       The wheel that governs all;
   From thence the change in church and state,
   And all the mischief bears the date
       From Haberdashers’ Hall.

7 Did we force Ireland to despair,
   Upon the King to cast the war,
       To make the world abhor him,
   Because the rebels used his name? 
   Though we ourselves can do the same,
       While both alike were for him.

8 Then the same fire we kindled here
   With what was given to quench it there,
       And wisely lost that nation: 
   To do as crafty beggars use,
   To maim themselves, thereby t’abuse
       The simple man’s compassion.

9 Have I so often pass’d between
   Windsor and Westminster, unseen,
       And did myself divide: 
   To keep his Excellence in awe,
   And give the Parliament the law? 
       For they knew none beside.

10 Did I for this take pains to teach
   Our zealous ignorants to preach,
       And did their lungs inspire;
   Gave them their texts, show’d them their parts,
   And taught them all their little arts,
       To fling abroad the fire?

11 Sometimes to beg, sometimes to threaten,
   And say the Cavaliers are beaten,
       To stroke the people’s ears;
   Then straight, when victory grows cheap,
   And will no more advance the heap,
       To raise the price of fears.

12 And now the books, and now the bells,
   And now our act, the preacher tells,
       To edify the people;
   All our divinity is news,
   And we have made of equal use
       The pulpit and the steeple.