Caricatures and cartoons -- Great Britain; English wit and humor; Great Britain -- History -- Humor; Humorous poetry
William III. His place is filled by William Three
1689-1702 His son-in-law from Dutch countree.
This Orange sprig most brave of men
With Mary reigns and all things then
Went well with us. Macaulay's page
Hails him as Hero of the age.
In this reign of William Three,
Laws were harsh 'gainst burglary;
For they'd a very drastic way
And hanged the 'Bill Sykes' of that day.
National Debt In sixteen-nine-four we have heard
1694 The National Debt was first incurred;
To careful folk who would invest
'Twas not devoid of interest.
Another National Debt we owe
To Iron Jelloids which the foe
Depression's worries keep at bay
And drive our nervous fears away.
Bill of Rights The 'Bill of Rights,' a Charter grand,
1689 In sixteen-eight-nine frees this land
From all encroachments of the Crown
Hoi Polloi are no longer down.
Queen Anne Good Queen Anne we know is dead;
1702-1714 She reigned twelve years but it is said
'Mrs. Morley,' Marlborough's wife
Ruled her more than half her life.
Marlborough This was the Duke of Marlborough's day,
Who beat the French in every fray;
Known for his famous victories
At Blenheim and at Ramillies.
In seventeen-seven by statute passed
English and Scotch unite at last;
'One coinage and one Parliament'
Both Nations ever since content.
About this time, so runs the story,
Much is heard of 'Whig and Tory';
And shortly after there was rife
Many a sign of party strife.
Dr. Watts Good Dr. Watts' moral lays
1674-1748 Were much reputed in these days;
And still we lisp at Mother's knee
'How doth the little Busy Bee.'
Pope Pope, letter-writer and great poet,
1688-1744 Most quotable of all (ye know it),
At Twickenham penned his caustic verse
Epigrammatic, smooth and terse.
George I. The House of Stuart being ended,
1714-1727 George of Hanover (descended
From daughter of King Jamie One)
Comes over to ascend our throne.
Of English George knew not a word,
Most awkward, not to say absurd,
At Cabinet Councils to preside;
So from this time the practice died.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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