A POEM upon Mr. TYTUS OATES,
The first Discoverer of the late Popish Plot.
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BEhold the Chief and Happy Instrument,
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Whom Providence for Britain's Safety sent.
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Westminster taught him, Cambridge bred him, then
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Left him instead of Books, to study Men.
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And those he studied with so true an Art,
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As deeply div'd into the very Heart
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Of Foul Conspiracy. He smil'd the while
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To see the busie Jesuit vainly toil,
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Contrive, design, and pamper his lewd Hate
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Of Prince condemn'd for Excommunicate,
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In hopes of his Cajol'd Assassinate.
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But here the far-fam'd OATES, for far his Fame
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Is spread ere this, (to Odescalchis shame)
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By Acts that seem'd Illegal, ventur'd on,
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To make that Legal which himself had done.
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Crimes cease to be so, where the main Intent
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Shews the whole Act religiously meant.
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No more than what brave Cushai did long since,
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'Gainst Rebel Son to Father and to Prince:
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And in the Noble Persian well approv'd,
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That farr beyond himself his Sovereign lov'd.
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The Wise Director shew'd his prudent art,
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On such a Stage so well to act his part,
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That cunning Loyolas more cunning Sect
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Could not his true and lawful aims detect.
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Submissive Constancy no less appear'd,
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And no less Courage that so little fear'd.
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The fatal Consequence of smart Revenge,
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(Wherein the Jesuits are no Sons of Change)
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With Bloudy Hands and Minds prepared still,
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If Kings themselves, the meaner OATES to kill.
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For had they known his aim, be you secure,
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Th'had more Cravats than one t'have made him sure.
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Fools to deny the Fact! His very Name
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Speaks the whole Truth in one short Anagram:
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While TESTIS OVAT in an easie sense
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Yields him the Triumph of his Evidence.
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And left that he should fail, Themselves provide
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By raising Proofs in Crimson Murder dy'd,
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While the red Streams of Honour'd Godfreys Bloud
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So mournfully convince, and cry so loud.
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Who, had they their own Campanella read,
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Would sure have weigh'd th' Imprudence of the Deed,
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And nere have been so sillily unholy
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To stain their vile Impiety with Folly.
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But when the Fact was done, more fondly vain,
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Not onely to deny the Fact, but Man!
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Makes their Foes smile, their Favourers despair,
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While TESTIS OVAT sounds in every Ear.
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But wonder not the Plot should be maintain'd,
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An Act of Truth, where Jesuits have a hand:
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They whose curs'd Principles are such, that all
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Mankind disputes their first Original;
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Whether by savage Beasts or Men begot,
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Since all Mankind abhors the Bloudy Knot,
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And where-foe'r they come, exterminates
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Their fury from their Kingdoms and their States;
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More Cannibals than Samoedes, that quaff
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Whole Streams of Bloud, and onel' at Ruine laugh
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not the first Attempt, so boldly made
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Against the Hearts of Kings, by them betrayd:
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Two Henry's (both of France) but lately fell
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Deplored Victimes to this Brood of Hell:
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But thus t' attempt against the Sacred Brest
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Of Him that nere disturb'd their Hornets Nest,
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The Prince of Piety, who governs so,
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That his large Charity to all may flow!
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Was that which all Hospinian far exceeds,
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And his black Scroll of all their Impious Deeds.
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But He that sav'd him in the Royal Oke,
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Sav'd him again from this more dismal stroke;
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While this Triumphing Witness brings to light
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Their dark Contrivances and Deeds of Night.
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May this Triumphing Witness then go on,
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Till the deep Bottom of the Plot be known;
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And while he onely the bold Truth declares,
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Enjoy the Honour of his Loyal Cares.
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