SInce Oaths are Solemn, Serious Things,
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The best Security to Kings;
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And since we'ave all Allegiance swore
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To J--- as King, or Successor;
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I can't imagine, how we may
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Swear that or Fealty away.
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Nought sure but Death or Resignation
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Can free us from that Obligation.
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All Oaths are vain, both those and these,
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If we may break 'em, as we please.
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And did I fairly swallow both,
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Who'de give a Farthing for my Oath?
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If you affirm, as many do,
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They both consistent are, and true.
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I ask, Can you Two Masters serve,
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And never from your Duty swerve?
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Or can you True Allegiance bear
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To Two at once, and not forswear?
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What's due to J--- if W--- have,
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And J--- have what you W--- gave?
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It's plain, you're false to both, and shou'd
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Or take no Oaths, or make 'em good,
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Which here you cannot, if you wou'd.
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Nor will these Oaths, as some contend,
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To your own private Meaning bend.
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You swear to each as to a King,
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And ought to mean the self same Thing.
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And 'tis Allegiance Full and True
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Is sworn to both, to both as due.
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To say, The People have a Right
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Kings to depose, as they see fit,
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Is Pop'ry, or as bad as it.
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There is no Law, or Charter for't:
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Kings can't be try'd in any Court.
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Bradshaws High Court had but the Name
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Of Justice, and was Bradshaws Shame.
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But that's by all condemn'd------
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Or he that dares such Presidents plead,
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Deserves, like him, to lose his Head,
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And hang for't, or alive or dead.
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Now to condemn the King untry'd,
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Seems something worse than Bradshaw did.
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'Tis English Priviledge to be heard.
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Before the Judge can give Award.
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I know, some Conquest plead, and say,
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The King was driv'n and forc'd away.
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Convention though pleads Abdication,
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Because unforc'd he left the Nation.
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Hard 'tis these Things to reconcile:
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He chose to leave us his Will.
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These Pleas and Proofs are opposite,
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And cannot both be True and Right:
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A Sign their Cause is desperate,
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They'd something say, but know not what.
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Their Non-agreement is enough
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To shew each Plea of theirs wants proof.
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Now as for Conquest, Why shou'd we
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Make Slaves of People that are Free?
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Why shou'd we make so much ado
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'Bout what Prince ne'er pretended to?
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He from Convention took the Crown:
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Convention plac'd him in the Throne:
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Convention gave him all his Pow'r:
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Convention made the Oaths you swore.
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And therefore if to him we'de swear,
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'Tis as their High Commissioner.
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And if they have no Right to chuse,
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We may Allegiance refuse.
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We may and ought to keep't entire
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For Lawful King, and Lawful Heir.
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If People say, they have such Right:
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They ought to shew how they came by't.
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If People made their Sov'reign Lord,
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They ought to shew it by Record.
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The Law o'th' Land says no such Thing:
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By Law Succession makes the King.
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They can't plead Scripture, if they wou'd;
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The Scripture says, All Pow'r's from God.
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God says himself, By me Kings Reign;
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'Tis he doth Higher Pow'ers Ordain.
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'Tis he doth make them all Supream;
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The People's Choice is People's Dream.
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Nor can you prove by Law of Nature,
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That Princes are the People's Creature.
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'Tis plain, the People never gave
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What they ne're had, nor cou'd they have;
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I mean, the Power, which Princes bear:
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If People had it, make't appear,
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And tell us who, and when, and where.
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Our King has Pow'r o're Subjects Lives,
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By Law he takes away, or gives.
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