THEY voted, unvoted, as fancy did guide, To passe away time, but increasing their treasure (When Jack is on cock-horse hee’l galloping ride, But falling at last, hee’l repent it at leisure). The widow, the fatherlesse, gentry and poore, The tradesman and citizen, with a great many, Have suffer’d full dearly to heap up their store; But twelve Parliament men shall be sold for a peny. These burdens and grievances England hath felt, So long and so heavy, our hearts are e’en broken, Our plate, gold and silver, to themselves they’ve dealt (All this is too true, in good time be it spoken). For a man to rise high and at last to fall low, It is a discredit: this lot fals to many, But ’tis no great matter these men to serve so, Twelve Parliament men now are sold for a peny. The generall {40} perceiving their lustfull desire To covet more treasure, being puft with ambition, By their acts and their orders to set all on fire, Pretending religion to rout superstition: He bravely commanded the souldiers to goe In the Parliament-house, in defiance of any; To which they consented, and now you doe know That twelve Parliament men may be sold for a peny. The souldiers undaunted laid hold on the mace, And out of the chaire they removed the speaker: The great ones was then in a pittifull case, And Tavee cryd out, All her cold must forsake her. {41} Thus they were routed, pluckt out by the eares, The House was soone empty and rid of a many Usurpers, that sate there this thirteen long yeares; Twelve Parliament men may be sold for a peny. To the Tower of London away they were sent, As they have sent others by them captivated; Oh what will become of this old Parliament And all their compeers, that were royally stated. What they have deserved I wish they may have, And ’tis the desire I know of a many; For us to have freedome, oh that will be brave! But twelve Parliament men may be sold for a peny. Let’s pray for the generall and all his brave traine, He may be an instrument for England’s blessing, Appointed in heaven to free us againe,— For this is the way of our burdens redressing: For England to be in glory once more, It would satisfy, I know, a great many; But ending I say, as I said before, Twelve Parliament men now are sold for a peny. A CHRISTMAS SONG WHEN THE RUMP WAS FIRST DISSOLVED. From the King’s Pamphlets, British Museum. The Rump Parliament, in an excess of Puritanic acerbity, had abolished the observance of Christmas, and forbidden the eating of puddings and pies, as savouring of Popery. Tune—“I tell thee, Dick.”