The Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684
History
The Cavalier Songs and Ballads of England from 1642 to 1684
Ballads, English; English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
There’s neither _Swallow_, _Dove_, nor _Dade_,
Can soar more high, or deeper wade,
Nor show a reason from the stars
What causeth peace or civil wars;
The Man in the Moon may wear out his shoon
By running after Charles his wain:
But all’s to no end, for the times will not mend
Till the King enjoys his own again.
Though for a time we see Whitehall
With cobwebs hanging on the wall
Instead of silk and silver brave,
Which formerly it used to have,
With rich perfume in every room,—
Delightful to that princely train,
Which again you shall see, when the time it shall be,
That the King enjoys his own again.
Full forty years the royal crown
Hath been his father’s and his own;
And is there any one but he
That in the same should sharer be?
For who better may the sceptre sway
Than he that hath such right to reign?
Then let’s hope for a peace, for the wars will not cease
Till the King enjoys his own again.
[Did _Walker_ no predictions lack
In Hammond’s bloody almanack?
Foretelling things that would ensue,
That all proves right, if lies be true;
But why should not he the pillory foresee,
Wherein poor Toby once was ta’en?
And also foreknow to the gallows he must go
When the King enjoys his own again?] {1}
Till then upon Ararat’s hill
My hope shall cast her anchor still,
Until I see some peaceful dove
Bring home the branch I dearly love;
Then will I wait till the waters abate
Which now disturb my troubled brain,
Else never rejoice till I hear the voice
That the King enjoys his own again.
WHEN THE KING COMES HOME IN PEACE AGAIN.
From a broadside in the Roxburghe Collection of Ballads. It appears to
have been written shortly after Martin Parker’s original ballad obtained
popularity among the Royalists, and to be by another hand. It bears
neither date nor printer’s name; and has “God save the King, Amen,” in
large letters at the end.
OXFORD and Cambridge shall agree,
With honour crown’d, and dignity;
For learned men shall then take place,
And bad be silenced with disgrace:
They’ll know it to be but a casualty
That hath so long disturb’d their brain;
For I can surely tell that all things will go well
When the King comes home in peace again.
Church government shall settled be,
And then I hope we shall agree
Without their help, whose high-brain’d zeal
Hath long disturb’d the common weal;
Greed out of date, and cobblers that do prate
Of wars that still disturb their brain;
The which you will see, when the time it shall be
That the King comes home in peace again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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