“A GENERAL SALE OF REBELLIOUS HOUSEHOLD STUFF. “Rebellion hath broken up House, And hath left some old Lumber to sell; Come hither and take your choice-- I’ll promise to use you well. Will you buy th’ old Speaker’s chair, Which was warm and easy to sit in, And oftentimes hath been made clean, When as it was fouler than fitting? Will you buy any Bacon-flitches They’re the fattest that ever were spent; They’re the sides of th’ old Committees Fed up with th’ Long Parliament. Here’s a pair of bellows and tongs, And for a small matter I’ll sell ’em; They’re made of the Presbyters’ lungs To blow up the Coals of Rebellion. Here’s the besom of Reformation, Which should have made clean the floor; But it swept the wealth out of the nation, And left us dirt good store. Here’s a roll of States tobacco If any good fellow will take it; It’s neither _Virginia_ nor _Spanish_, But I’ll tell you how they do make it; ’Tis _Covenant_ mixt with _Engagement_, With an _Abjuration Oath_; And many of them that did take it, Complain it is foul in th’ mouth. A Lantern here is to be bought, The like was scarce ever begotten, For many a plot ’t has found out, Before they ever were thought on. Will you buy the _Rump’s_ great saddle Which once did carry the nation? And here’s the Bit and the Bridle, And Curb of Dissimulation. Here’s the Breeches of the _Rump_ With a fair dissembling cloak, And a _Presbyterian_ Jump With an _Independent_ Smock. Here’s Oliver’s Brewing vessels, And here’s his Dray and slings; Here’s Hewson’s awl and his bristles, With divers other odd things. And what doth the price belong To all these matters before ye? I’ll sell them all for an old song, And so I do end my story.” From the pages of Pepys we are reminded that members of parliament were paid for their services up to Charles II.’s reign. It might be expected that the secretary’s “Diary” would contain some pertinent observation upon elections; he has set down a good deal upon parliamentary matters that is curious and enlightening, but the diary ceases in May, 1669, and the more remarkable election contests commenced later. Samuel Pepys was evidently as indifferent as were the courtiers of his day to the relatively vital importance of the Commons to the State. While accompanying the reforming member William Prynne, who had accused Sir G. Carteret of selling places,[4] from Whitehall to the Temple, the diarist in return for the hospitality of his coach, endeavoured to obtain some information by the way as to the manner of holding parliaments, and whether the number of knights and burgesses were always the same. To which Prynne replied--