[_A Dialogue, &c._ (_1647_.) This occurs also in the _Rump_ (1662, reprinted London, N. D.). A MS. copy is found in Rawlinson MS. Poet. 26 of the Bodleian, at fol. 94, with the title '_A Dialogue between 2. Zelots concerning &c. in the new Oath_.' 'The Oath' is the famous one formulated in 1640 by Convocation. Fuller, who was proctor for the diocese of Bristol (and who would have been fined heavily for his part, 'moderate' as he was, if the Puritan Ultras of the Commons could have had their way), has left much about it. This oath, to be taken by all the clergy, imported approval of the doctrine, discipline, and government of the Church, and disclaimed, twice over, 'Popish' doctrine and the usurpations of the see of Rome. Unluckily the government of the Church was defined as 'by archbishops, bishops, deans, and archdeacons, _&c._', which last was, in the absence of any other handle, seized by the Puritan party as possibly implying all sorts of horrors. Cleveland banters them well enough, but hardly with the force and directness which he was to show later. The Royalists were then under the fatal error of underrating the strength of their opponents, and the gullibility of the people of England.] [Line: 2 'vicar', _1647_, _1651_, _1653_, _MS._: 'vicarage' _1677_. 'children' _1651_, _1653_: I have been waiting a long time to know what 'children's threes' means. It occurs elsewhere, but to my thinking as an obvious reminiscence of Cleveland.] [Line: 7 shotten] 'like a herring that has spawned', 'thin'.] [Line: 8 in cuerpo] 'in body-clothes', 'cloakless'. _1647_, _1651_, _1653_ 'Querpo': _MS._ 'Quirpo', with 'cuerpo' written above it.] [Line: 12 _1677_ extends '&c.' to 'et caetera'. This is a mistake, as the actual ampersand occurred in the oath and gave some slight assistance to the cavillers. Cleveland's expressions--'tail tied on a knot' (l. 14), 'curled lock' (l. 26), 'numerous folds' (l. 32)--lose their point without the ampersand. _1677_ also has '_may_ conster', which though possible enough, seems to me neither necessary nor even much of an improvement.] [Line: 17 _1677_, less euphoniously, 'Whil_st_'.] [Line: 22 A reading of the _Rump_ version, 'Than all the Idolaters of the letter', though almost certainly a mere mistaken correction, has some interest.] [Line: 23 fell] sett _MS._] [Line: 24 Goliah] This form occurs in all the texts.] [Line: 25 In this and other lines that follow much of the quaintness is lost by 'extending' the '&c.' of the older editions.] [Line: 28 were] are _1677_, _MS._]