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EBBA 36815

British Library - C.38.i.25
Ballad XSLT Template
A
LETTER
FROM
LEWIS the Great, to J--- the Less,
His Lieutenant in IRELAND.
WITH
Reflections by way of ANSWER to the said LETTER,

I.
TO J------ our Lieutenant this greeting we send:
As you hope to preserve us your Patron and Friend,
As you trust to the virtue of us and your Wife,
Who leads in your absence a dissolute life;
Now you've sold us your Land,
Obey our Command,
As your Spouse does our P---o when e're it will st---d,
And what I enjoyn you be sure to observe,
Since you know not to Rule, I will teach you to Serve:

II.
To reduce our new Subjects, we sent you 'tis true,
But be sure take upon you no more than your due;
Submit to the Fetters your self have put on,
You've the Name of a King but the Majesties gone.
For your brave Son-in-Law,
The valiant Nassaw,
Who values not you nor my self of a straw,
Will neither be cullied nor bubbled like you,
I've a Prospect already of what he will do.

III.
Let not Infant or Bedrid your pity implore,
You've lost all your Kingdrms by that heretofore,
A Hereticks life like a Dog's I do prise,
Murther all that oppose you, or 'gainst you dare rise:
They were Subjects to you,
Therefore make 'em all rue,
And either give them, or I'le give you your due:
I acknowledge your folly has made me more wise,
I see with my own, and not Jesuits Eyes.

IV:
These Courses in Ireland, I charge you to steer,
In the Head of your Army be sure to appear,
You're a Souldier of Fortune and fight for your pay,
You know your reward, if you once run away;
Either Conquest or Death,
I to you bequeth,
And therefore prepare for a Shrowd or a Wreath:
So thus I commit you to one of the Two,
If I see you no more here, I bid you adieu.

I.
WHen that Remnant of Royalty J---y the Cully,
Had receiv'd this Epistle from Lewis the Bully,
His Countenance chang'd, and for madness he cry'd,
I've the Devil to my Friend, and his Dam to my Bride;
Sure I am the first
That's in all things accurst,
Nor can I determine which Plague is the worst,
That of losing my Realms or the News I've receiv'd,
Which from any hand else, I cou'd ne're have believ'd.

II.
I find they agreed when for Ireland they sent me,
And if I knew how, 'tis high time to repent me;
I've abandon'd my reason to pleasure a Trull,
Who has made me her B------le, her C---ld and F---l;
We're all in the Pit,
Our designs are besh---t,
And hither I'me sent to recover my Wit:
If this be the Fortune proud Este does bring,
Wou'd I'de been a Tinker instead of a K---.

III.
Had I co------ge to dye I'de refuse to survive,
I'm buried already altho I'm alive,
My Story's like that to unfortunate Jack,
Ive shuflnd and cut till Ive quite lost the Pack:
He that trusts to the Pope,
No better must hope,
Or to Lewis or she whom that Pagan does grope:
For no Monarch must ever expect a good Life,
Who is rid by a Priest, or a damn'd Popish Wife.

V.
May Lewis succeed me in all Circumstance,
His Arms uncessful where'e e're he advances,
May his ill gotten Laurels be blasted and dry,
May a Shrowd be deny'd him when e're he does dye;
May his Land be o'rerun,
By that Champion our Son:
So Ile close up with her who that mischief begun;
May the Curse of three Kingdoms forever attend her,
While to William and Mary my Crown I surrender.


FINIS.

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