THE
PARLIAMENTS
Thanks to
The Citie:
For their kinde complyance with them in all their Treasons from time
to time committed against His Majesties Honor, Crowne
and Dignitie.
DEDICATED
To the Loyall and treacherous Citizens: the valiant and cowardly
Citizens; the wise and foolish Citizens; the wealthy and
poor Citizens; the square and Round-headed
Citizens; the honored, and the Horn-
ed Citizens.
BY
Mercurius Melancholicus:
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YOu Loyall Citizens,
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I call you as you were,
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In times of old till now,
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For many a hundred yeer.
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What is the reason now
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you are Disloyall growne,
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And have forsaken quite
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The Royall English Crowne?
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You Treacherous Citizens,
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I call you, as you are,
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How comes it so to passe
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that you with Judas share?
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Blot out your Dagger now
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your Arms their chiefest grace;
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Jack Straw in stead shall put
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his Thatching-Knife in place.
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You Valiant Citizens,
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I call you, as you were,
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Time out of mind, untill
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this present Conquering yeare:
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It pities me to see
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how hartless you are growne,
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That dare not budge nor stir
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for to preserve your owne.
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You cowardly Citizens,
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I call you as you are,
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Our miseries they increase,
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be sure you shall have share:
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How beardless boyes doe tread,
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(the world will laugh to see)
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Your honor in the dust,
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with shame and Obloquie.
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You wise grave Citizens,
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I call you as you were,
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Whilst you your selves maintaind
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your Priviledges cleare:
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My heart doth burst to see
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your King, your Laws, your Rights,
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Abusd, infringd, orethrowne
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all by your oversights.
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You foolish Citizens,
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I call you, as you are,
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Of Goods, of Rights, of Lives,
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you shall be stripped bare;
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Where are your eyes become?
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you cannot see at all
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How neare you are unto
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a lamentable fall.
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You wealthy Citizens,
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I call you as you were,
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Whilst in protection you
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were of your Soveraigne deare:
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But now the case is alterd
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the clean contrary way,
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Your Riches are become
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the plundring Souldiers prey.
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You poore base Citizens,
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I call you as you are,
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In what a case are you?
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how mean, how vile, how bare?
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What you yourselves have got,
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nor you, nor yours enjoy.
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Dam-me its mine will sweare
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some upstart Souldiers boy.
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The second Part. To the same Tune.
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Square-headed Citizens,
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I call you as you were,
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Whilst you the helme of Justice
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most equally did steere,
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But now your giddy heads
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have turnd you all so round,
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Of Law, or of Relig[i]on
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we can have nothing found.
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Round-headed Citizens,
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I call you as you are,
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For by your orbed forms,
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You put all out of square:
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The Kingdom quite undone,
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your selves shall not escape,
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Expect no further bliss,
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but Murder, Theft and Rape.
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You honored Citizens.
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I call you as you were,
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Whilst you reservd a strength,
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to keep your selves from fear;
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But all your Holds are lost,
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by your grave wisedomes pates,
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If you your Houses keep,
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Its more then is your fates.
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You horned Citizens,
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I call you as you are,
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What cockolds could endure
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Corrivalls thus to share?
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Content I doe confess,
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It is a Wittalls part,
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Let nothing I have said,
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pray strike you to the heart.
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Farewell kinde Citizens,
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all things but Horns are deare,
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And no one may we thanke
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but you, for this same geare.
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