ENGLANDS VOTE
FOR
A FREE ELECTION
OF
A Free Parliament.
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GReat God of Nations, and their Right,
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By whose high Auspice Brittain stands
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So long, though first 'twas built on Sands;
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And oft had sunk but for thy might.
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In her own Mainland-storms and Seas:
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Be present to her now as then,
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And let not proud and factious men
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Oppose thy Will with what they please.
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Our Free full Senate's to be made;
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O, put it in the publick voice
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To make a legal worthy choice:
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Excluding such as would invade
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The Common-wealth. Let whom we name
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Have Wisdome, Foresight, Fortitude,
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Be more with Faith, then Face endu'd;
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And sturdy Conscience above Fame.
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Such, as not seek to get the Start
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In State, by Faction, Power, or Bribes,
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Ambitious Bawds: But move the Tribes
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By Vertue, Modesty, Desert.
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Such, as to Justice will adhere,
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Whatever great one it offend;
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And from the embraced Truth not bend
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For Envy, Hatred, Gifts or Fear.
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That by their Deeds will make it known,
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Whose Dignity they do sustain;
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And Life, State, Glory, all they gain,
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Count it Great Brittains, not their own.
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Such the old Bruti, Decii were,
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The Cippi, Curtii, who did give
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Themselves for Rome: and would not live,
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As men, good only for a year.
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Such were the great Camilli too;
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The Fabii, Scipio's; that still thought
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No work at price enough was bought,
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That for their Country they could do:
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And to her honour so did knit,
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As all their Acts were understood
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The Sinews of the Publick Good,
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And they themselves one Soul with it.
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These men were truely Magistrates;
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These neither practis'd Force, nor Forms,
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Nor did they leave the Helm in Storms;
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And such they are make happy States.
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