Then, then, quaff it round, No deceit in a brimmer is found; Here’s no swearing: Beer and ale makes you prate Of the Church and the State, Wanting other discourse worth the hearing. This strumpet your muse is, to ballad or flatter, Or rail, and your betters with froth to bespatter, And your talk’s all dismals and gunpowder matter; But we, while old sack does divinely inspire us, Are active to do what our rulers require us, And attempt such exploits as the world shall admire us. AS CLOSE AS A GOOSE. By Samuel Butler.—(A.D. 1657.) This ballad ridicules the tender of the Crown of England to Oliver Cromwell by Alderman Pack, M.P. for London. AS close as a goose Sat the Parliament-house, To hatch the royal gull; After much fiddle-faddle The egg proved addle, And Oliver came forth _Noll_. Yet old Queen Madge, {43} Though things do not fadge, Will serve to be queen of a May-pole; Two Princes of Wales, {44} For Whitsun-ales, And her grace, Maid Marion Claypole. {45} In a robe of cow hide Sat yeasty Pride, {46} With his dagger and his sling; He was the pertinenst peer Of all that were there, T’ advise with such a king. A great philosopher Had a goose for his lover That follow’d him day and night: If it be a true story, Or but an allegory, It may be both ways right. Strickland {47} and his son, Both cast into one, Were meant for a single baron; But when they came to sit, There was not wit Enough in them both to serve for one. Wherefore ’twas thought good To add Honeywood, But when they came to trial Each one proved a fool, Yet three knaves in the whole, And that made up a _pair-royal_. THE PRISONERS. Written when O. C. attempted to be King. By Alex. Brome. COME, a brimmer (my bullies), drink whole ones or nothing, Now healths have been voted down; ’Tis sack that can heat us, we care not for clothing, A gallon’s as warm as a gown; ’Cause the Parliament sees Nor the former nor these Could engage us to drink their health, They may vote that we shall Drink no healths at all, Not to King nor to Commonwealth, So that now we must venture to drink ’em by stealth. But we’ve found out a way that’s beyond all their thinking; To keep up good fellowship still, We’ll drink their destruction that would destroy drinking,— Let ’um vote _that_ a health if they will. Those men that did fight, And did pray day and night For the Parliament and its attendant, Did make all that bustle The King out to justle, And bring in the Independent, But now we all clearly see what was the end on’t.